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 Creator Jefferson, Benjamin J.
College of William and Mary

Benjamin J. Jefferson Diary, 1917/1920

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Diary of Benjamin John Jefferson, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WW I on June 27, 1917. In December, 1917 he was transferred to the destroyer USS Kimberly where he drilled and trained for duties aboard ship. The USS Kimberly went in commission on April 29, 1918, and Benjamin Jefferson was among the crew of the first deployment. His entries cover some of the stops in England and France, where the destroyer had the function of protecting other ships on the waters between France and England. The last diary entry relating to Jefferson's World War I tour of duty is for January 4, 1919. After that there are conversion tables, recipes for 'fat liquor' making and other notes on procedures relating to the tanning of animal hides as well as poems. Most of the later entries are undated, the latest date recorded is November 12, 1920. Excerpts from Diary were provided by the seller: "Wed. May 29 At Sea - Hunting for enemy Subs. They are operating in this locality but are keeping clear of us. Everybody is a little anxious. Thursday May 30 At Sea - 12:30 all hands were roused out of their slumber by general quarters. Sub was sighted 50 yards off our Port Bow. Opened fire, to our surprise the enemy did not return fire or submerge and we soon discovered that instead of an enemy submarine we were firing on an overturned schooner. This was our first big scare. No joke. Oct.13 Spent evening at the club, wild rumors about peace. Oct.14 Went on Patrol duty ashore, one arrest."

1 result

Benjamin J. Jefferson Diary, 1917/1920 0.01 Linear Foot

Jefferson, Benjamin J.

Diary of Benjamin John Jefferson, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WW I on June 27, 1917. In December, 1917 he was transferred to the destroyer USS Kimberly where he drilled and trained for duties aboard ship. The USS Kimberly went in commission on April 29, 1918, and Benjamin Jefferson was among the crew of the first deployment. His entries cover some of the stops in England and France, where the destroyer had the function of protecting other ships on the waters between France and England. The last diary entry relating to Jefferson's World War I tour of duty is for January 4, 1919. After that there are conversion tables, recipes for 'fat liquor' making and other notes on procedures relating to the tanning of animal hides as well as poems. Most of the later entries are undated, the latest date recorded is November 12, 1920. Excerpts from Diary were provided by the seller: "Wed. May 29 At Sea - Hunting for enemy Subs. They are operating in this locality but are keeping clear of us. Everybody is a little anxious. Thursday May 30 At Sea - 12:30 all hands were roused out of their slumber by general quarters. Sub was sighted 50 yards off our Port Bow. Opened fire, to our surprise the enemy did not return fire or submerge and we soon discovered that instead of an enemy submarine we were firing on an overturned schooner. This was our first big scare. No joke. Oct.13 Spent evening at the club, wild rumors about peace. Oct.14 Went on Patrol duty ashore, one arrest."

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