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Robert Skipwith Diaries

 Collection
Identifier: Mss. 65 Sk4

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

Diaries, 1834-1898, of Robert Skipwith kept in Goochland County, Va., Richmond, Va. and Powhatan County, Va. Much of Skipwith's life is documented by these 14 diaries and topics include weather, personal affairs (the loss of his wife, and his aging), farming, social life in his neighborhood, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Virginia politics. He often included genealogical information on individuals when he recorded their deaths.

Skipwith's 1862-1865 diary has been digitized and can be accessed by clicking on the "View associated digital content" link below.  The original is housed in the Special Collections Research Center.  Privately owned Skipwith diaries have also been digitized and made available in the same location with permission of the owner.

Dates

  • Creation: 1834-1898

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access:

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 publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library. Photocopying of these diaries is not permitted.

Biographical Information:

Robert Skipwith (1810-1904) was born at Amelia County, Va., the son of George and Mary Murray and spent his life in Goochland County, Va., Richmond, Va. and in Powhatan County, Va. He apparently attended the University of Virginia and worked from 1840-1846 on the James River and Kanawha Canal and in Pennsylvania during early 1847. Skipwith married Jane Rolfe Bolling (1809-1867) on July 7, 1847 in Goochland County, and settled at "Bolling Hall," Goochland County, where he remained until Jane's death in 1867. He later moved to Richmond and married Lizzie Jones, then purchased a home, "South East," Powhatan County, and was living there in 1898.

Extent

14.00 Items

Acquisition Information:

Deposit

Related Materials:

Robert Skipwith Papers (Mss. 74s Sk3), Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Robert Skipwith Diaries (Originals Privately Owned and Held Outside of Swem Library - Digitized Copies Available)

Title
Guide to the Robert Skipwith Diaries
Author
Finding Aid Authors: Special Collections Staff.
Date
2007-07-07
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
The collection description/finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository

Contact: