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 Date range 1842
College of William and Mary

Southall Papers, 1807/1904

43.01 Linear Feet

Papers of the Southall family of Williamsburg, Va. including correspondence, 1828-1830, of Peyton Alexander Southall but mostly comprised of the legal correspondence, 1831-1851, of George Washington Southall and documents concerning lawsuits and civil proceedings in many Virginia counties and including account books, 1832-1846, of George Washington Southall. Prominent correspondents include Lemuel Jackson Bowden, Richard Coke, John Augustine Deneufville, Thomas Roderick Dew, George Frederick Holmes, James Alexander Seddon, Abel Parker Upshur and Henry Alexander Wise.

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College of William and Mary

Carter Family Papers, 1667/1862, bulk 1792/1861

8609.00 Items 28 Century Boxes

The collection includes: correspondence and land records of Robert "King" Carter; correspondence and land records of his sons Robert Carter (1704-1731) and Landon Carter (1710-1778); correspondence, accounts, land records and the appointment to the Virginia Council of Robert Carter (1728-1804), son of Robert Carter (1704-1731); correspondence, diaries, land records and accounts of Robert Wormeley Carter (1734-1804), son of Landon Carter of Sabine Hall; and correspondence and land records and papers concerning the estate of Robert Carter's grandson, Landon Carter (1757-1820).

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College of William and Mary

Earl Gregg Swem Genealogy Collection, 1719/1982

1.25 Linear Feet

Papers collected by Earl Gregg Swem concerning the genealogies of his family and the family of his wife Lilia Hansbrough Swem. Families on which there is data include Swem (Swaim), Luce, Gregg, Wright, Farish and Smith. Includes written histories, documents, genealogical charts, correspondence, and newspaper clippings.

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1834 marriage announcement of Edward Smith., 1834/1937 Box 1, Folder 9

1834 marriage announcement of Edward Smith. 1936 letter to Earl Gregg Swem about researching the Smith family, relatives of Mrs. Earl Gregg Swem. "Smith of King George County, Virginia and Some Allied Families," a 1937 volume researching of Smith ancestry. undated notes and articles, including notes on the death of Austin Smith and a family tree. October 1, 1834. announcement of marriage between Edward Smith and Maragret S. Dade, as appeared in the Fredericksburg Virginia Herald. 1 p. TC. Including TC by G.H.S. King, October 10, 1957, adding that Edwrad Smith had been appointed Clerk of King George County Court. March 19, 1936. Susan Henderson Wright, Portsmouth, Virginia to Earl Gregg Swem, Agrees to research the ancestry of his wife's family. 6 pp. 1937. "Smith of King Gerorge County Virginia and Some Allied Families." Notes on the ancestors of Mrs. Earl Gregg Swem. 12 pp. TMs. undated. Excerpt from Debow's Review and Industrial Resources, Statistics, etc. Volume XXVI - January-June 1859. Article entitled "The Valleys of Virginia - The Rappahannock," by George Fitzhugh. 5 pp. TCy of PV. Including the poem "I'm Waiting For Ships That Never Come In," no author, undated. 1 p. undated. Information about the death of Austin Smith, the great grandfather of Mrs. Earl Gregg Swem. 1 p. C. undated. Notes about the death of Austin Smith and Sydney Smith, relatives of Mrs. Earl Gregg Swem. 1 p. AMs. undated. Notes on births, marriages, and deaths of Smith family. 1 p. AMs. undated. Family tree of the Smiths, ancestors of Mrs. Earl Gregg Swem. Erarl Gregg Swem noted errors on the tree and made corrections. (See oversize file). 1 p. XCy of d.

  1. Series 1: Mss. 82 Swem 4, 1719/1982

Copies of legal documents regarding Anthony Swem, Cornelius Swime, Mathias Swem, and Amanda Swem, 1719/1974 Box 1, Folder 1

Census records, family trees, and written histories on the Swem Family. July 31, 1762. Document obligating Daniel Swime and Absalom Hankins, administrators of the estate of Cornelius Swime, to prepare an inventory of his estate. 2 pp. Handwritten notes on deed of land in Hanover County, New Jersey, to Mathias Swem. 2 pp. cy of DS. June 13, 1799. Handwritten notes on deed of Mathias Swem recording his membership and appointment as trustee of the Methodist Church in Wrightstown, NJ. 3 pp. Cy of DS. Including AN, by Earl Gregg Swem about importance of document, undated. 2 pp. March 14, 1814. Handwritten notes on deed of Mathias Swem to Pearson Hamilton. 1 p. Cy of D. 1800. Census record on Swem Family of Staten Island, New York sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, March 19, 1974. 2 pp. Pst. of D. Including AN, about possible relationships between different lines of the Swem family, undated. 1810. Census record on the Swem family of Staten Island, New York, sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, 19 Macrh, 1974. 1 p. Pst. of D. 1820. Census record of Swem Family of Staten Island, New York sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, March 19, 1974. 1 p. Pst. of D. 1830. Census records on the Swem Family of Staten Island, New York sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, March 18, 1974. 1 p. Pst. of D. 1850. Census records of Swem Family listed on the index of Ohio census sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, March 19, 1974. 1 p. Pst. of D. Including AN, about Marshall Boarman's research done on various lines of the Swem Family, undated. 20 Sep[tember], 1850. Census record of the Swems of Duchoquet T[o]w[nshi]p, Auglaize County, Ohio. 1 p. Pst. of D. Including AN, asking if the Ezera Swem listed in the census was the father of E.B. Swem, undated. 18 Nov[ember], 1850. Census records of Swem Family of Harrison Township in Darke County, Ohio sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, 19 March [10]74. Including AN, about the possible origins of the Swem families listed in census, undated. 7 Aug[ust], 1860. Census records of Swem Family of Wapsinonoc Township, in Muscatine County, Iowa sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marsha;; Boarman, 19 March 1974. 1 p. Pst. of D. Including AN, explaining that Ezra Swem and family were living in Belle Plaine, Iowa at the time of 1870 census, undated. 7 July, 1870. Census record of Swem Family of Belle Plaine Township, Benton County, Iowa sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, 19 March 1974. 1 p. Pst. of D. 16 June, 1880. Census records of Swem Family of West Liberty, Muscatine Co[unty], Iowa sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, 19 March 1974. 1 p. Pst. of D. Including TN, stating facts about Laurence Swem and Phebe Swem. April 1873. "Letter to a Brother," Grancille Stuart to James Stuart from the "Montana Magazine of History" mentions Amanda Swem who was Earl Gregg Swem III's great grand aunt; sent to Earl Gregg [Swem III] by Marshall Boarman, 19 March 19 74. 6 pp. Pst. of PV. 28 Sept[ember] 1900. Samuel Stuart's application for military pension; shows relation to Amanda Swem and Pheobe Stuart. Boarman's grandmother; sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman. 19 March, 19 74. 1 p. Pst. of D. 10 July, 1909. Application of Amanda [Swem] Stuart for widow's pension; shows relation to Samuel staurt and Pheobe Stuart, Boarman's grandmother; sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, 19 March, 1974. 1 p. Pst. of D. 19 March, 1974. Marshall Boarman, Washington, D.C. to Earl Gregg Swem III, Louisville, Ky. Elaborates on enclosed genealogical material on Swem Family. 2 pp. TLS. undated. Chapter from the History of Martha's Vineyard regarding the Luce family. 6 pp. Pst. of PV. undated. Information on New York and New Jersey Swems not yet known to be connected with the Earl Gregg Swem Family; sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, 19 March 1974. 8 pp. Pst. of TMs. undated. Family trees showing descendants of Amanda Swem; information sent to Earl Gregg Swem III by Marshall Boarman, 19 March, 1974. 6 pp. Pst. of TMs. Including undated, at bottom of page 1 showing Marshall Boarman's relationship with Earl Gregg Swem III as third cousins. AN.

  1. Series 1: Mss. 82 Swem 4, 1719/1982

Earl Gregg Swem Genealogy Collection, 1719/1982 1.25 Linear Feet

Swem, Lilia Hansbrough, 1876-1971

Papers collected by Earl Gregg Swem concerning the genealogies of his family and the family of his wife Lilia Hansbrough Swem. Families on which there is data include Swem (Swaim), Luce, Gregg, Wright, Farish and Smith. Includes written histories, documents, genealogical charts, correspondence, and newspaper clippings.

College of William and Mary

Richard Wright collection, 1806/2017

21.68 Linear Feet 52 boxes

The Richard Wright collection, compiled by Richard Wright and orginally referred to by Wright as "The Richard Wright collection of Graphic Images of African Americans," focuses on the evolution of the Black American image in print media, cartoons and comics. Wright organized his own historical timeline titled "Good Clean Fun: Blacks in Comics," also referred to as "Clean Fun: Blacks in Comics," in a series of binders with artist biographies and time period summaries. Item titles have been retained from the original labels.

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College of William and Mary

Ephemera Collection, 1800/2014

5 Linear Feet

The Ephemera Collection contains material primarily acquired for teaching. It includes material in various formats, most of which have been previously published. 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.

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19th Century Bills, 1836/1860 Box 11c

Contains three five dollar bills: one from the Franklin Bank of Boston, Massachusetts; one from the Ocmulgee Bank of Macon, Georgia; and one from the Clinton Bank of Westernport, Massachusetts.

  1. Series 1: Ongoing Accessions
  2. Box 11c

Ephemera Collection, 1800/2014 5 Linear Feet

The Ephemera Collection contains material primarily acquired for teaching. It includes material in various formats, most of which have been previously published. 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.

College of William and Mary

John Tyler, Jr. Papers, 1800/1928

13.75 Linear Feet

Series 1: Group A, Acc. 78 T97 and 1992.63: Papers, 1856-1895, of John Tyler, Jr., post Civil War Republican Party activist. Subjects covered by the collection include alcoholism, Republican Party politics, Presidential elections, political patronage, Reconstruction, Methodist Episcopal Church, Florida, Braxton Bragg, and the Fenian Brotherhood. Prominent correspondents include Charles Francis Adams, Chester Alan Arthur, Pierre G. T. Beauregard, James Gillespie Blaine, James Buchanan, Jefferson Davis, Benjamin Stoddert Ewell, Henry Stuart Foote, Nathan Bedford Forrest, James A. Garfield, John Brown Gordon, Horace Greeley, Wade Hampton, Rutherford B. Hayes, Andrew Johnson, Joseph Eggleston Johnston, L. Q. C. Lamar, William Mahone, Raphael Semmes, William Henry Seward, John Sherman, Leroy Pope Walker, and William Lowndes Young. Acc. 1992.63 consists of letters of John Tyler, Jr., son of the President, to Mrs. Laura Holloway, author of a book on the ladies of the White House. Letters written from Washington, D.C.

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2009.148 Addition, 1800/1903

Subseries 2, Acc. 2009.148 Additon. Papers relating to John Tyler, Jr. and his family. The predominant dates are 1860-1885. Correspondents include Letitia C. Tyler Shands, her husband William B. Shands, and Robert Tyler. Among the topics covered are the Civil War, Post Civil War politics, as well as family affairs. Includes poems, poems, military and political notes and documents, Letitia Christian Shands letters, Martha Rochelle Tyler correspondence, newspapers, political and legal documents.

  1. Series 3: Additions

John Tyler, Jr. Papers, 1800/1928 13.75 Linear Feet

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Series 1: Group A, Acc. 78 T97 and 1992.63: Papers, 1856-1895, of John Tyler, Jr., post Civil War Republican Party activist. Subjects covered by the collection include alcoholism, Republican Party politics, Presidential elections, political patronage, Reconstruction, Methodist Episcopal Church, Florida, Braxton Bragg, and the Fenian Brotherhood. Prominent correspondents include Charles Francis Adams, Chester Alan Arthur, Pierre G. T. Beauregard, James Gillespie Blaine, James Buchanan, Jefferson Davis, Benjamin Stoddert Ewell, Henry Stuart Foote, Nathan Bedford Forrest, James A. Garfield, John Brown Gordon, Horace Greeley, Wade Hampton, Rutherford B. Hayes, Andrew Johnson, Joseph Eggleston Johnston, L. Q. C. Lamar, William Mahone, Raphael Semmes, William Henry Seward, John Sherman, Leroy Pope Walker, and William Lowndes Young. Acc. 1992.63 consists of letters of John Tyler, Jr., son of the President, to Mrs. Laura Holloway, author of a book on the ladies of the White House. Letters written from Washington, D.C.

College of William and Mary

United States Federal Nineteenth Century Government Publications, 1826/1878

2 Linear Feet

Government publications printed by the U.S Government Printing Office (GPO) and others from the 1820s-1890s. The formats include legislation, annual reports, histories, speeches, resolutions, reports, rebuttals and more. Topics include abolition of slavery, Mexican War, information and reports about the Civil War, Army register for 1858, annual reports for railroads and banks, historical paper on Christ Church in Norfolk, Virginia (1878), Governor Pierpoint's address to "People of Virginia" (May 19, 1865) and more. This collection appears to be material purposely removed from larger bound reports. Many of the topics relate to matters that concern Virginia and other southern states.

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Congressional Reports, 1830/1873

Reports from the House of Representatives and the Senate from the 21st Congress to the 42nd Congress, but not representative of all the congresses or sessions. In order by report number within each session.

College of William and Mary

Blow Family Papers, 1613/1960, bulk 1770/1875

43.00 Linear Feet

Papers, 1770-1875, of the Blow family of "Tower Hill," Sussex County, Va. and of the Waller family. Prominent correspondents in the collection include Philip Barraud, John Hartwell Cocke, Henry Lee and Edmund Ruffin. Most of these accessions were integrated as the collection was partially processed, but some are boxed separately.

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College of William and Mary

Robb-Bernard Papers, 1665/1980, bulk 1850/1950

26.00 Linear Feet

Papers, 1800-1901, of and relating to John Hipkins and John Hipkins Bernard (mostly accounts); of and relating to members of the Hipkins, Bernard and Robb families; and relating to the Hipkins-Bernard-Robb home "Rose Hill," Caroline County, Va. (later renamed "Gay Mont") and to Bernard's lands in Alabama, Texas and Arkansas. Includes diaries, correspondence, poems, accounts and account books of women (Elizabeth Hipkins, Jane Gay Robertson Bernard, and Helen Struan Bernard Robb); and legal documents and letters of John Taylor of Caroline. Of special interest are the diaries of Eugenia D. Robb while serving with the American Red Cross in Germany and Japan during and after World War II (1999.56A).

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65 R54, 1800/1901

Original Accession.

Acc. 1983.28 Addition, 1818/1919

Vols. 3 and 4 of Powhatan Robertson's European tour, 1818-1819. Manuscript diaries.

College of William and Mary

Tucker-Coleman papers, 1664/1945, bulk 1770/1907

124.00 Linear Feet

Papers, primarily 1770-1907, of the Tucker and Coleman families of Williamsburg, Winchester, Lexington, Staunton and Richmond, including papers of: St. George Tucker (1752-1827), Nathaniel Beverley Tucker (1784-1851), Henry St. George Tucker (1780-1848), Ann Frances Bland (Tucker) Coalter (1779-1813), John Coalter (1769-1838), and John Randolph of Roanoke (commonplace book is in box 64B), as well as other family members.

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Abel Parker Upshur (1791-1844), Washington, D.C. to Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, 1842 Box 50, Folder 6

Accepts Webster's fiscal scheme because, though not perfect, it is workable and one must be accepted. Glad Tucker draws Professor Wilson to Virginia. Strangers pay more attention to a steam engine or a sprinning jinny in a northern village than to the dignified remains of an older time as found in Virginia.Unable to help young Waldie. Murdaugh must wait. Has no vacant offices for friends. Congress is stupid in not putting the country in a state of defense.

  1. Series 1: Correspondence, 1664/1880
  2. Box 50, 1841/1843
  3. Folder 6: Correspondence, 1842

Abel Parker Upshur (1791-1844), Washington, D.C. to Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, 1842 Box 50, Folder 6

Lord Ashburton appointed to settle disputes between England and America. Delicate questions involved. Congress is stupid. Leaders are to blame. Thompson goes to Mexico. Wilson has not arrived. Lord Murfett is here. This is not a place where one makes friends. Family is with him.

  1. Series 1: Correspondence, 1664/1880
  2. Box 50, 1841/1843
  3. Folder 6: Correspondence, 1842

Abel Parker Upshur (1791-1844), Washington, D.C. to Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, 1842 Box 50, Folder 7

Harrison is capable of libeling him. Tyler's administration is devoted to public good. Congress does nothing. There is a plot to make Henry Clay president. Bozarth ? has not yet arrived. Sent deed for Coke but land is really in James City County, not York. Wife is ill.

  1. Series 1: Correspondence, 1664/1880
  2. Box 50, 1841/1843
  3. Folder 7: Correspondence, 1842

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