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 1917
College of William and Mary

Julius J. Lankes Collection, 1917/1986

6.50 Linear Feet

Papers and artifacts, 1917-1946, of Julius John Lankes, artist, who lived many years of his life in Newport News, Va. Includes biographical data, notes concerning a Lankes exhibition at the College of William and Mary; printed books by Lankes; correspondence and documents concerning the publication of Virginia Woodcuts by Lankes; photocopies of letters concerning a visit to Robert Frost; photocopies of prints from Lankes woodcuts; and woodcut blocks. Additions (Sm Coll Add 12, 1996.42, 1996.55, 1997.13 and 1997.14) include copies of twelve letters from Sherwood Anderson to Lankes (mostly concerning Lankes' woodcuts), photocopies of woodcut designs and correspondence, as well as a reproduction of a Lankes self-portrait. The additions also include two checklists: Burl N. Osborn, " A Descriptive Checklist of the Woodcut Bookplates of J. J. Lankes (Millersville, Pa., 1937) and "The Descriptive List of J. B. Lankes' Christmas Cards, 1959-1983 as well as four original signed woodcuts.

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0002 - Peanut Man, No. 1, 1917 Box 3, Folder 29

J. J. Lankes woodcut design #2, PEANUT MAN I, dated February 18, 1917. Block destroyed about 1920. Offest by CopyCat September 1977 fro the hand-burnished second impression by artist.

  1. Box 3
  2. J. J. Lankes woodcuts Nos. 1-50
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

A book, map, and several pamphlets (1896-1958)., 1896/1956 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, 1719/1982

Cartes de visite, photographic prints., 1884/1961 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, 1719/1982
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

Morecock Collection, 1881/1937

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

Ernest L. Frye Papers, 1917/1918

0.1 Linear Foot

This collection contains letters, photographs, and other material documenting Ernest L. Frye's time in the 487th Aero Squadron during World War I. Included in the papers are letters from Frye to his brother and sister describing his fellow officers, reminiscing about friends back home in Oregon, his experience on the Aero squadron baseball team, and other matters. Photographs of Frye along with his fellow officers in the 487th and playing baseball, as well as programs for dances, leave passes, train passes, documents of promotion, poems, a government letter honoring the memory of Frye, and newspaper clippings regarding Frye playing baseball are also included.

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Ernest L. Frye Papers, 1917/1918 0.1 Linear Foot

Frye, Ernest L., 1896-1974

This collection contains letters, photographs, and other material documenting Ernest L. Frye's time in the 487th Aero Squadron during World War I. Included in the papers are letters from Frye to his brother and sister describing his fellow officers, reminiscing about friends back home in Oregon, his experience on the Aero squadron baseball team, and other matters. Photographs of Frye along with his fellow officers in the 487th and playing baseball, as well as programs for dances, leave passes, train passes, documents of promotion, poems, a government letter honoring the memory of Frye, and newspaper clippings regarding Frye playing baseball are also included.

College of William and Mary

Robinson Family Papers, 1725/1940, bulk 1793/1848

604.00 Items

Includes letters, chiefly 1793-1848, written to John Robinson from Merit M. Robinson and Ann Robinson of Smithfield, Va. and from his sons Moncure Robinson, Conway Robinson, Eustace Robinson, Alfred Robinson and Cary Robinson. The collection includes notebooks containing copies of letters, 1853, written by Conway Robinson on a tour of the British Isles and copies of letters, 1861-1864, written by Cary Robinson (1843-1864) while serving in the 6th Virginia Infantry Regiment as well as papers, 1881-1882, concerning property in Washington, D. C. belonging to the estate of John Marshall; and genealogical materials on the Leigh, Marshall and Robinson families. Prominent correspondents include Edward Colston, Benjamin Watkins Leigh and Gustavus Adolphus Myers.

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Robinson Family Papers, 1725/1940, bulk 1793/1848 604.00 Items

Robinson Family

Includes letters, chiefly 1793-1848, written to John Robinson from Merit M. Robinson and Ann Robinson of Smithfield, Va. and from his sons Moncure Robinson, Conway Robinson, Eustace Robinson, Alfred Robinson and Cary Robinson. The collection includes notebooks containing copies of letters, 1853, written by Conway Robinson on a tour of the British Isles and copies of letters, 1861-1864, written by Cary Robinson (1843-1864) while serving in the 6th Virginia Infantry Regiment as well as papers, 1881-1882, concerning property in Washington, D. C. belonging to the estate of John Marshall; and genealogical materials on the Leigh, Marshall and Robinson families. Prominent correspondents include Edward Colston, Benjamin Watkins Leigh and Gustavus Adolphus Myers.

College of William and Mary

Richard Lee Morton papers, 1756/2006, bulk 1930/1969

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, 1909/1930

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, 1909/1930 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

Sheet Music Collection, 1827/1974

55.80 Linear Feet

The Sheet Music Collection includes sheet music collected by the Special Collections Research Center.

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College of William and Mary

Geddy-Harris Archive Records, 1773/1959, bulk 1890/1940

4.20 Linear Feet

This collection contains deeds, abstracts of title, wills, and other legal documents from the law firm of Geddy, Harris, Franck Hickman in Williamsburg, Virginia. The bulk of the material consists of abstracts of title to real property located in Williamsburg, Virginia, and nearby counties, including the Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg, from the 1920s to the 1950s, as well as deeds to properties in Williamsburg and nearby counties from the 1880s to the 1950s.

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Abstracts of title, with ledger book, 1902/1959

Following is Stephen D. Harris's description of the ledger book and the collection of folded Abstracts listed in it: "An alphabetically tabbed (A-Z) ledger file with handwritten notation[s] which appear to be in the handwriting of Mary Inman. There are entries at each tab with a numerical reference by the entry (For example at Tab A '1 Amblers – Babcock, J. A.') From perusing the entries, the highest numerical reference appears to be '479'. In both of the boxes [Box 2 and Box 3] there are folded Abstracts of Title with a handwritten numerical reference on each and from perusing them they appear to run from '1 to 479'. Total number of abstracts is Four Hundred Seventy Nine (479). "The abstracts of title are mostly in typewritten form although there are several which are handwritten only. They were made in the 1920s to 1950s and the certifying attorneys include those noted above. [T. H. Geddy, Frank Armistead, V. M. Geddy, Ashton Dovell, B. D. Peachy and others] The real properties certified are located in James City County, City of Williamsburg, County of York and other jurisdictions adjoining to the west."

  1. Series 2: Abstracts of title, 1902/1959

Bank documents, 1909/1948 Box 4, Folder 32

These include promissory notes, other bank statements, and five small account books. Many of the documents involve V. M. Geddy as executor of the estate of M. L. Slater. The account books belonged to Francis Jerdone, for the period 1909-1930; John A. Barnes, 1919-1936; H. D. Cole, 1931-1936; Mary Lola Barnes, 1933-1936; and T. F. Rogers and B. D. Peachy, executors of Virginia Peachy Rogers, 1946.

  1. Series 6: Financial documents, 1909/1953
  2. Box 4

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