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The James L. Farmer, Jr. Papers principally document Farmer's career at Mary Washington College (now University of Mary Washington), as well as his various additional political and social activities during that time. The papers were transferred from Farmer's home and office in Spotsylvania County. The papers include correspondence, printed materials, photographs, audiovisual materials, and other items reflective of his activities towards the end of his life, as well as memorials and reflections at the time of his death collected by others.

This collection contains records produced by the Board of Visitors. These records contain, but are not limited to: meeting minutes, correspondence, manuals, speeches, actions, memoranda, resolutions, materials pertaining to individual board members, and general documents.

The collection consists of materials that have been transferred to UMW Archives from the Office of University Relations and Communications, dating from 1984-2008. The majority of the collection's content includes public media materials such as television and radio appearances, and newspaper and magazine articles. The collection also includes correspondence, secretarial notes, speeches written by James Farmer, and documenation of some of Dr. Farmer's many awards and honors. These materials document James Farmer's career at the University of Mary Washington so the bulk of the contents pertain to the late 1980s and 1990s. This collection offers insight into the life of James Farmer's career as an educator and public figure later in his life.

This collection is arranged into twenty-four main series, in thirty-eight record storage boxes for a total of about 16 linear feet. The first series is senior staff papers from the President's Office during Dr. Anderson's administration. Other series cover commencement records, honor convocation lists, campus buildings and grounds records, annual reports, state of Virginia papers, national educational papers, various university program documents, Southern educational materials, financial records and documents, student affairs materials, special events materials, inauguration papers, Board of Visitors materials, presidential correspondence, various academic committee papers, community relations documents, faculty affairs materials, papers on conferences and workshops, the President's Book Club materials, Dr. Anderson's speeches, and the last series is reserved for miscellaneous materials.