Collections : [College of William and Mary]

College of William and Mary

Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Primary Collecting Areas:
Williamsburg and surrounding area Virginia; Southern United States; African American life and culture; Hip Hop History; Movies and film studies; Travel, exploration, and adventure; Veterans papers; Distinguished alumni papers; College of William & Mary; Dogs
Description:
The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) houses one of the largest and most significant collections of rare and unique materials of any educational institution of comparable size in the United States. Focused on Virginia history but with nationally and internationally important collections, the Manuscripts Collection includes letters, diaries, journals, scrapbooks, business records, organizational minutes, and other items that provide evidence of events great and small and the daily lives of Americans of all backgrounds. The Rare Books Collection, with volumes dating from the 15th century to the present, is strong in dogs, Virginia-related items, early Virginia family libraries, gardening and natural history, religion, book arts, printing history, travel, science, and medicine. The University Archives documents the history of William & Mary from 1693 to the present, including a wide range of materials from administrative records, student organization records, and alumni papers to photographs, audio-visual materials, and artifacts.
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Start Over Repository College of William and Mary Collection Collection of Spanish Language Manuscripts, 1551/1858

Account for Fortification Work in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1801 Box 1, Folder 15

The document concerns the reconstruction costs for a major area of Puerto Rico's defenses, started in 1767 by Alejandro O'Reilly, who was appointed by King Charles III as an advisor for the work on one of the Spanish Empire's most valuable ports. He initiated a twenty-year renovation effort and outlines the work for the forts San Cristobal and el Morro. Two drafts list the total cost of all works performed by year for 1767 to 1800. The defenses had also suffered damages in the 1787 earthquake and the rebuilding efforts are documented as well in the itemized accounts. Of note: the summary was provided by the seller and has not been verified for accuracy.

  1. College of William and Mary
  2. Collection of Spanish Language Manuscripts, 1551/1858
  3. Box 1

Collection of Spanish Language Manuscripts, 1551/1858 1.00 Linear Feet

Includes printed and manuscript material written in Spanish and originating from Spain and Spanish-speaking countries in North America and South America. The collection is currently being processed and new items will be added on an ongoing basis. For this reason, the indicated date range is approximate at this point. This collection has multiple creators, which have not been indexed at this time.

  1. College of William and Mary

Cuadro Estadistico De La Parroquia De Sn. Martin Huaquechula (Mexico), 1853 Box Manuscripts Oversize Box 5, Folder 1

A handwritten census table of the town of Huaquechula in the state of Puebla, signed at the bottom by a priest named Cura G. Mendez. It includes the population of Huaquechula and 22 nearby towns, occupations of the inhabitants, longitude and latitude, boundaries, climate, endemic diseases, and roads and their conditions. There are also notes which detail the priest's report on the condition of the churches in the area. The document was purchased in honor of Bruce Christian.

  1. College of William and Mary
  2. Collection of Spanish Language Manuscripts, 1551/1858

Don Francisco de Borjas Legal Document (Peru), 1615 Box 1, Folder 8

The manuscript may be an official document from Peru during Spanish colonial rule. The document is in Spanish and is signed by Don Francisco de Borjas, who may have been the Viceroy of Peru when it was written. The first seven pages of the document are missing and it contains approximately 80 pages.

  1. College of William and Mary
  2. Collection of Spanish Language Manuscripts, 1551/1858
  3. Box 1

Don Miguel Vendrell y Puig Mathematical Dissertation (Veracruz, Mexico), 1794 Box 1, Folder 14

The dissertation outlines plans for the transport of water from the Rio Jamapa to the new city of Veracruz. Don Miguel Vendrell y Puig presented his mathematical dissertation to VSS which the town council/hall held on September 4, 1794. He begins by expressing thanks for the powerful recommendation [?] given to him by Attorney General Don [?] Lagoa de Miranda so that he could compile some useful ideas for the transport of water to this city. He mentions the Caballero Don Pedro Gorostisa who rests in peace. He claims his hydraulic machine can transport the water with extreme ease. He states that a project for transporting water should meet these circumstances: 1a Short, 2a Cheap, 3a Secure, 4a Easy to Clean, [Check/Register], Put Together, and Clean. The document includes drawings for a portion of the machine.

  1. College of William and Mary
  2. Collection of Spanish Language Manuscripts, 1551/1858
  3. Box 1

Content Warning

ARVAS is an aggregator of archival resources. ARVAS does not have control of the descriptive language used in our members’ finding aids.

Finding aids may contain historical terms and phrases, reflecting the shared attitudes and values of the community from which they were collected, but are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical or mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Many institutions and organizations are in the process of reviewing and revising their descriptive language, with the intent to describe materials in more humanizing, inclusive, and harm-reductive ways. As members revise their descriptive language, their changes will eventually be reflected in their ARVAS finding aids.