Correspondence to and from members of the Fairfax Harrison Family regarding the Virginia Historical Index and ownership of the publishing rights. Individuals involved are Fairfax Harrison, Mrs. Ursula Harrison Baird, Mrs. Sally Harrison Dieke, Earl Gregg Swem and G. Jeter Jones of the First and Merchants National Bank.
Upon the death of Mrs. Hetty Fairfax Harrison, lawyers were trying to determine who had the publishing rights to the Virginia Historical Index. Correspondence between 1927 and 1959 tracks these rights. Fairfax Harrison contributed money for the publication via bank notes. Per a 1939 letter from First and Merchants National Bank to Mrs. Fairfax Harrison, the agreement was that after the notes had been paid, Mr. Harrison would receive the proceeds of future sales until the total amount of his advances are paid. Swem states in another letter that he turned over the copyright to Harrison. In 1960, a legal document transfers all rights to the Virginia Historical Society.
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Biographical Information:
Ursula Harrison Baird is the daughter of Fairfax Harrison. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Virginia Historical Index - Fairfax Harrison Family Correspondence, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary. https://scrcguides.libraries.wm.edu/repositories/2/resources/5458 Accessed October 25, 2020.
