African Americans--Virginia--Williamsburg
Subject
Subject Source: Local sources
Found in 17 Collections and/or Records:
Abraham Family photographs
Collection
Identifier: SC 01862
Content Description
A collection of 27 8x10 silver gelatin prints that includes photographs of Dana Abraham's family. Each photograph is black and white with white borders, and spans from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023. Most of the photographs are of young women and girls of the Abraham family, with some elderly members of the family also included. The photographs are representative of the Abraham family's bond. Statement from creator and donor Dana Abraham: "The bond my family shares is something truly...
Dates:
2022-2023
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Dave Brown to Laura Letter
Collection
Identifier: SC 01257
Scope and Contents
Letter from Dave Brown, Williamsburg, Virginia to Laura where he refers to a book, Alone by Marion Harland, describes the negroes and their activities in the area and tells about the sale of a farm, his job and commissions. 4 pp. September 6, 1878. Letter is fragile and in need of repair.
Dates:
1878 September 6
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Bucktrout-Smith Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 00142
Scope and Contents
Papers of Richard M. Bucktrout, merchant and mortician in Williamsburg, Virginia. Includes correspondence, receipts, financial papers, records of soldiers killed at the Battle of Williamsburg and legal papers, dated 1855 to 1869. List of deaths at the Seminary Hospital from July to November 1861 in Williamsburg, Virginia and coffins made for soldiers dying in Williamsburg in July-August 1861.The business papers of Sydney Smith, dated 1874 to 1929.Lists names of people...
Dates:
1855-1929
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Charles Edward Gary, Jr. Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 00017
Scope and Contents
These papers contain correspondence, photographs, business papers, artifacts, certificates, and other materials related to Charles Edward Gary, Jr. Mr. Gary was a prominent African American business owner in Williamsburg, operating for decades the West End Valet Shop off Prince George Street. The collection comprises business ledgers and other West End Valet Shop records over several years, as well as legal documents pertaining to the Valet Shop and Gary family estates such as leases and...
Dates:
circa 1870s-2000s; Majority of material found in 1940-1980
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Herbert and Doris Crump Rainey Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 00203
Content Description
This collections consists of photographs and papers primarily belonging to Doris Crump Rainey, but also her husband Herbert Rainey, who both lived in Williamsburg. Doris was involved with a local neighborhood association of women called the Philodendron Club; some local Baptist churches, especially Mt. Ararat Baptist Church; and with her 40th and 50th high school reunion from the class of 1945 Bruton Heights School (BHS). The papers and photos also show that the Raineys were involved in the...
Dates:
Other: circa 1945-2013
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Edwin Taliaferro Collection
Collection
Identifier: UA 6.116
Scope and Contents
The collection includes two manuscript volumes two and three of "A Rational Grammar of the French Language," written by Taliaferro, circa 1860 (the whereabouts of volume one are unknown), letters, Taliaferro's obituary, and photocopies of manuscripts written by Taliaferro but in private ownership.The first letter is written by Edwin in Williamsburg to his brother, William Booth in Gloucester, and dated January 14, 1866. Edwin is disappointed he wasn't able to visit at Christmas...
Dates:
1860, 1866, 1971
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Galt Papers (II)
Collection
Identifier: Mss. 78 G13 (II)
Scope and Contents
Papers, 1840-1862, of John M. Galt II concerning his work at the Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia. Includes correspondence, reports, clinical notes, medical diaries, financial papers, and printed material. Two scrapbooks of newspaper clippings were added to the collection in 2011 and are in Box 17. The subject matter is mental health with topics such as insanity, murder, suicide and criminal behavior. Some clippings are about Eastern State Hospital (Virginia...
Dates:
1840-1862
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
John Hulit and Charles correspondence
Collection
Identifier: SC 01819
Content Description
Content warning: The John Hulit and Charles correspondence contains racist language. The materials have been processed for fair use and research purposes.
A letter sent to John Hulit of James City County, Virginia from Charles, last name unknown, dated December 7, 1851. The letter provides a general description of Williamsburg, Virginia in regards to hunting. Derogative terminology used to describe Black people is contained in this letter.
Dates:
1851 December 7
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
James City County and City of Williamsburg Personal Property Tax Books
Collection
Identifier: Mss. 68 J23
Scope and Contents
This collection is composed of 69 Property Tax Books and 3 Land Tax Books for James City County, Virginia, 1866-1948, and 42 Property Tax Books and 2 Land Tax Books for Williamsburg, Virginia, 1865-1927. Most years contain two sections within one book: one section for "White" property owners and one section for "Colored" property owners. Many of the James City County records have separate books or are divided into Powhatan, Jamestown and Stone House districts. For the years...
Dates:
1865-1949
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
John Tuthill Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss. Acc. 2001.03
Scope and Contents
Papers of John Wills Tuthill, a United States 20th century diplomat. The collection includes papers from Tuthill's years as a student and professor, his State Department career, his private career with international organizations and his retirement years. He held many positions within the State Department, mostly in Germany and Europe, with his final posting as Ambassador to Brazil. As a private citizen, he was Director of the Atlantic Institute, President of the Salzburg Seminar, and...
Dates:
1933-1998
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Ketron Family Letter
Collection
Identifier: SC 00393
Content Description
Copy of a recollection of life in Williamsburg as an African American from the Ketron family, particularly concerning local draft board practices during the ramp up of involvement in the Vietnam conflict. The letter, directed to the attention of the Lemon Project on the campus of William and Mary, highlights the observations of this family and clear recollections that African American men, especially poorer men, were drafted in this town at a much higher rate than their white...
Dates:
2017 February 17
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Margaret Newbold Thorpe's "Life in Virginia by a Yankee Teacher" and "Life in North Carolina"
Collection
Identifier: SC 01457
Scope and Contents
Photostatic copy of "Life in Virginia by a Yankee Teacher", an account by a missionary school teacher, Margaret Newbold Thorpe, who taught black students at Fort Magruder and in Williamsburg, Virginia from 1866-1867. Photostatic copy of "Life in North Carolina," September 1869-1870, an account written by Margaret Newbold Thorpe Stokes about Warrenton, North Carolina. The accounts were apparently written in 1881 and 1907.The photostatic copies were likely made in 1951, when gifted...
Dates:
1951
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
N. F. McNorton Record of Whiskey Dispensed
Collection
Identifier: Mss. MsV M2
Scope and Contents
Record ranging in date from 1928-1932, entitled "Physicians Record of Prescriptions" kept by Nelson F. McNorton. The record contains an account of whiskey dispensed for medicinal purposes at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Richmond, and other locations in the Tidewater region of Virginia during Prohibition. Books such as these were supplied by the Treasury Department as part of the National Prohibition Act. Physicians recorded a serial number, date, name and address of patient, the quantity and...
Dates:
1928-1932
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
New Zion Baptist Church records
Collection
Identifier: MS 00323
Dates:
2014-2019
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Joseph Keith Newell Diary
Collection
Identifier: SC 00652
Scope and Contents
Diary, 19 March 1862 to 24 August 1862, of Joseph Keith Newell, a captain of the 10th Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil War. Diary runs from March to August of 1862, and describes the life of a Union soldier during the Peninsula Campaign. Describes his trip down the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., to Hampton, Virginia. Also includes a description of the Battle of Williamsburg, 5 May 1862, as well as his observations of the College of William & Mary. Newell also describes his...
Dates:
1862
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Julia W. Oxrieder Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss. Acc. 1990.46
Scope and Contents
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.
Dates:
1877-1998
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Virginia Cities Collection
Collection
Identifier: Mss. 39.4 V82ci
Scope and Contents
Artificial collection of papers relating to various cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Dates:
1663-1980
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center