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 1912
College of William and Mary

Kelvin Ramsey collection of stereoviews

2.13 Linear Feet 3 stereoview boxes

Addition includes three boxes (359 sterviews) labeled "college life".

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College of William and Mary

Earl Gregg Swem Genealogy Collection

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. 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

A book, map, and several pamphlets (1896-1958). Box 1, Folder 4

A book, map, and several pamphlets (1896-1958) on Richmondton, New York, located in Staten Island, where a part of the Swem family settled. a 1947 booklet describing Mount Holly, New Jersey, the home of Mathias Swem and Ezra Brown Swem. 1896. "Staten Islands Names. Ye Olde Names and Nicknames." Booklet of names and descriptions of area; p. 62 marks "Swaim's or LaForge Lane." 76 pp. PV. Including map of region. 1 p. 1937. "The Historic Village of Richmond and Vicinity Staten Island, New York" History of Richmond and various sites, mentioning Swaim [Swem] Family as town citizens. 6 pp. PV. 1938. "Hagstrom's Map of Richmond (Staten Island), New York." Swaim [Swem] Avenue is shown on map. 1 map. 1 p. 1938. "The Work of the Staten Island Historical Society and the Historical Museum." Pamphlet of the history, operation, goals and accomplishments of the Staten Island Historical Society. 4 pp. PV. 1939. "The Story of the Voorlezer's House." Pamphlet of the history of Voorlezer House in Richmond, New York and of the area; appeals for donation to restore building. 8 pp. PV. 1947. "The Story of Mount Holly, New Jersey." Booklet about the town in which Mathias Swem, great-grandfather of Earl Gregg Swem, lived and where E[zra] B. swem, grandfather of Earl Gregg Swem, was born. 45 pp. PV. March 1953. "National Genealogical Society Quarterly: Dutch Systems in Family Naming: New York and New Jersey." Article of genealogical research methods; note by Earl Gregg Swem calls this "a very valuable contribution ." Part I: 12 pp. PV. Part II: 9 pp. PV. Cy of PV. 9 pp. February 15, 1956. "Richmondtown Restoration, Staten Island, City of New York." Information on the restoration of Richmondtown, Staten Island, New York; picture of Swaim [Swem] house. 1 p. PV. April-June 1956. "The Staten Island Historian." Information on the restoration of Richmondtown, Staten Island, New York; picture of Swaim [Swem] Barn. 16 pp. PV. April-June 1958. "The Staten Island Historian." Information about "Oude Dorp" (Old Town), the village where Anthony Swaim's [Swem's] father, Tys Barentsen, settled. 8 pp. PV.

  1. Series 1: Mss. 82 Swem 4

Cartes de visite, photographic prints. Box 2, Folder 12

Cartes de visite, photographic prints of Leota Swem, Theodor Swem and family. 1884. Carte de visite, 4 1/4 x6 1/2, black and white, three quarters length, front view of Leota Swem, 18 years old, in her graduating dress, High School, Cedar Rapids, [Iowa]. 1 item Ph. (P35) 1914. Photographic print, 5 1/4 x3 1/2, black and white, head and shoulders view of Leota Swem. 1 item Ph. (P36) 1914. Photographic print, 2x3, black and white, head and shoulders view of Leota Swem. 1 item Ph. (P37) 1946. Photographic print, 2x3, color, full length, front view of Susie Swem and her Aunt Leota. 1 item Ph. (P38) undated. Photographic print, 4 1/4 x3 1/4, black and white, full length, front view of Leota Swem with Emeline Swem, sitting on a porch swing, wearing fur coats. 1 item Ph. (P39) undated. Photographic print, 2 3/4 x 4 3/4, black and white, Leota Swem, in a light colored dress, sitting on a porch step, with Emeline Swem, in middle, and an unidentified woman. 1 item Ph. (P40) 21 December 1947. Photographic print, 4x5, black and white, full length, front view of Mr. and Mrs. Theodor Swem on their wedding day. Theodor Swem was the nephew of Earl Gregg Swem. 1 item Ph. (P41) 23 August 1958. Photographic print, 3 1/2x5, black and white, waist length, front view of Barbara rae Swem (daughter of Theodor Swem), seated at a table with birthday cake. 1 item Ph. (P42) August 1958. Photographic print, 3 1/2x5, black and white, full length, front view of Ginny Swem (Theodor Swem's daughter), standing outside in a poodle skirt and white blouse, holding a purse with both hands. 1 item Ph. (P43) August 1958. Photographic print, 3 1/2x5, black and white, three quarters length, front view of Barbara Rae Swem, Dora Swem, and Ginny Swem, sitting on a coach together. 1 item Ph. (P44) Sept[ember] 1958/ Photographic print, 2 1/2x 5, black and white, head and shoulders, front view of Susannah Lea Swem (daughter of Edward R. Swem) sitting outside. 1 item Ph. (P45) 10 October 1958. Photographic, 3 1/2x5, black and white, head and shoulders, side view of Teddy (son of Theodor Swem), looking at his birthday cak. 1 item Ph. (P46) Nov[ember] 1958. Photographic print, 3 1/2x5, black and white, full length, front view of Teddy Swem, standing against a wall. 1 item Ph. (P47) Nov[ember] 1958. Photographic print, 3 1/2x5, black and white, full length, front view of Teddy Swem, standing against a wall, wearing an overcoat and hat. 1 item Ph. (P48) 10 Dec[ember] 1961. Photographic print, 3 1/2x5, black and white, three quarters length, front view of Ted's Swem's children, Teddy, Ginny, and Barbara Rae, seated on chair, looking at book. 1 item Ph. (P49) undated. Photographic print, 3 7/8x5, black and white, three quarters length, front view of Mr. and Mrs. Theodor Swem and infant daughter Barbara Rae, seated on couch. 1 item Ph. (P50) undated. Photographic print, 3x4, black and white, head and shoulders, front view of Theodor Swem; composite picture of him, wearing a dark suit. 1 item Ph. (P51) undated. Photographic print, 2 5/8x3 1/2, black and white, head and shoulders, front view, Theodor Swem; composite picture of him, wearing a polka dot tie. 1 item Ph. (P52)

  1. Series 1: Mss. 82 Swem 4
College of William and Mary

Richard Wright Collection of Graphic Images of African Americans

21.68 Linear Feet 52 boxes

This collection, compiled by Richard Wright, 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

Morecock Collection

0.50 Linear Feet

Papers, 1881-1937 and n.d., relating to the history of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, Va. collected by members of the Morecock family of Williamsburg, Va. Includes photographs, pamphlets, Christmas cards, postcards, and wood-cut prints depicting the Powder Magazine, Bruton Parish Church, the Courthouse of 1770, the Yorktown Monument, the church tower at Jamestown as well as souvenirs of the Yorktown Centennial, 1881 and the Jamestown Exposition, 1907.

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College of William and Mary

Blow Family Papers

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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Blow Family Papers 43.00 Linear Feet

Cocke, John Hartwell, 1780-1866

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.

College of William and Mary

Abby Edwards diary

0.1 Linear Feet

Diary, 1911-1913, of Abby Edwards of Riverside California. Includes information about Edwards' trips to the beach, her depression and treatments for it, people that she visited, and events she attended, among others. There is also a letter, 1897, from Frank Edwards to Abby that was tucked inside the diary.

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Abby Edwards diary 0.1 Linear Feet

Edwards, Abby

Diary, 1911-1913, of Abby Edwards of Riverside California. Includes information about Edwards' trips to the beach, her depression and treatments for it, people that she visited, and events she attended, among others. There is also a letter, 1897, from Frank Edwards to Abby that was tucked inside the diary.

Diary Box Small Collections Box 64, Folder 1

College of William and Mary

Richard Lee Morton papers

15.00 Linear Feet

Papers, chiefly 1930-1969, of Richard Lee Morton, professor of history at the College of William and Mary from 1919 to 1959. Series 1 includes personal and professional correspondence, lectures and notes relating to his research on Virginia history, and material relating to his community activities in Williamsburg, Va. Includes correspondence of his wife Estelle (Dinwiddie) Morton, land grants, 1756 and 1774, signed by Robert Dinwiddie and Lord Dunmore, Confederate currency and bonds, genealogical materials on the Watkins and Morton families and photographs.

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College of William and Mary

Abraham Lincoln Ephemera from England

0.1 Linear Feet

Newspaper articles, pamphlets, and other ephemera from England about Abraham Lincoln. Some items relate to the relationship between Manchester, England and Abraham Lincoln, and the Barnard Statue dedicated there in 1919. Manchester supported Lincoln during the American Civil War, and suffered greatly because much of their community depended on the cotton industry. Some clippings are about the Lincoln Collection of Osborn H. Oldroyd which was sold to the U.S. Government in 1925. Many clippings and publications are about Lincoln's view on alcohol and as a role model for Temperance Societies. Includes a photograph of Black Soldiers in World War I looking at a statue of Lincoln.

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Abraham Lincoln Ephemera from England 0.1 Linear Feet

Newspaper articles, pamphlets, and other ephemera from England about Abraham Lincoln. Some items relate to the relationship between Manchester, England and Abraham Lincoln, and the Barnard Statue dedicated there in 1919. Manchester supported Lincoln during the American Civil War, and suffered greatly because much of their community depended on the cotton industry. Some clippings are about the Lincoln Collection of Osborn H. Oldroyd which was sold to the U.S. Government in 1925. Many clippings and publications are about Lincoln's view on alcohol and as a role model for Temperance Societies. Includes a photograph of Black Soldiers in World War I looking at a statue of Lincoln.

College of William and Mary

Robb-Bernard Papers

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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Acc. 1983.28 Addition

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

Acc. 1985.41 Addition

The collection is mainly comprised of correspondence from the various Robbs and Bernards, as well as their relations the Uptons, who were originally from southern Maine. As well as the correspondence, there are also a few other items, such as Frances Upton's journal from a family trip to Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, between July 4 and August 9, 1928. Other items of interest are letters from a Netherlands woman named Mary to Frances Upton immediately following World War II (1945-1955,) along with letters home from Robert Upton during World War II

Acc. 1986.32 Addition

Twentieth-century Robb and Upton (maiden name of Mrs. Patton) family papers. List of dates of correspondence and names of correspondants filed at beginning of box.

College of William and Mary

Julia W. Oxrieder Papers

0.60 Linear Feet

The personal papers of Julia W. Oxrieder include materials related to Williamsburg, Virginia, documents of interest she collected related to her many interests, and personal material about her life and work in Williamsburg. Many items are copies of biographies, newspaper articles, and ephemera documenting local history including folklore, education, Williamsburg people and organizations, African Americans, and other topics.

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Acc. 1995.03 Addition Box 1, Folder 4

Copy of essay "Women in the Business World" by Julia Oxrieder, dated 1995, about women in Williamsburg and copies of three issues of the Peninsula News: March 19, 1904; September 7, 1901; September 21, 1901.

Acc. 1996.04 and 1996.22 Additions Box 1, Folder 6

Two biographical sketches of teacher Clara Baker from Williamsburg and extracts from the Virginia Gazette, 1905-1916, concerning the Williamsburg Female Institute, copies of bulletins from the Williamsburg Female Institute, originals in the Virginia State Library. and other Williamsburg news.

Acc. 1998.39 Addition Box 1, Folder 9

Copies of articles relating to the Harris Family, an African American family in Williamsburg, Virginia. Collection includes letters to Dr. Samuel Harris, an eye doctor in Boston and Elizabeth Harris Moton, wife of Major Moton of Hampton Institute.

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