Earl Gregg Swem Library records Guide to the Earl Gregg Swem Library records UA 32

Guide to the Earl Gregg Swem Library records UA 32


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Special Collections Research Center

William & Mary Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections

William & Mary Special Collections Staff

Repository
Special Collections Research Center
Identification
UA 32
Title
Earl Gregg Swem Library records 1920-2024
Quantity
255.00 Linear Feet
Creator
Swem Library
Creator
Cook, Margaret C.
Creator
Currie, Clifford W.
Creator
Haskell, John D.
Language
English

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use:

Portions of this collection may be restricted for privacy reasons. Consult a staff member for assistance. 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 Access:

Acc. 1985.084 is restricted. Portions of Acc. 2008.147 are restricted. Material protected by privacy laws is also restricted. Consult a staff member for assistance. All other portions of the collection are available to researchers.

Conditions Governing Access

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.

Custodial History:

Acc. 1999.20 Library Personnel Files destroyed 9/2007; two cubic feet of non-permanent correspondence was destroyed on 3/12/2008; T1990.11 was destroyed on 2/12/2008; Acc. 1990.3, Acc. 1989.130, and Acc. 1992.25 Library Personnel files are scheduled for destruction on 4/8/2009; Acc. 1988.114, 1988.88, and Acc. 1980.132 are scheduled for destruction on 4/8/2009. Acc. 1984.014 was deaccessioned on 7/11/2012 and is set for destruction on 8/8/2012 according to GS 111 101080.

Preferred Citation:

Earl Gregg Swem Library records, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Acquisition Information:

Acc. 1980.010 Public Services Assembly Records, acquired 02/04/1980; Acc. 1980.133 Library Records on Planning, Construction, and Dedication of Swem Library, acquired 12/08/1980; Acc. 1981.015 Librarian's General Correspondence, acquired 02/12/1981; Acc. 1982.035 Swem Library Self-Study, acquired 06/10/1982; Acc. 1983.071 Library Administration Records,  acquired 11/01/1983; Acc. 1987.039 Library Faculty Association Records, acquired 04/23/1987; Acc. 1988.006 Swem Library Re-dedication Records, acquired 02/08/1988; Acc. 1989.126 Library Stacks Reorganization Records, acquired 09/05/1989; Acc. 1998.055 transferred during 1995; Acc. 2007.006 Audiovisuals, acquired 2007; Acc. 2007.008, construction records, transferred 5/25/07 from Kay Domine; Acc. 2007.042, 2004 scrapbook transferred 6/13/2007 from Cynthia Sadler; Acc. 2007.92 transferred 12/21/2007 from Carol McAllister; Acc. 2008.14 transferred 2/5/2008 from Kay Domine; Acc. 2008.147 accessioned from the backlog on 12/11/2008; Acc. 2008.216 accessioned from the backlog on 5/26/2010; Acc. 2009.081 was received on 11/8/1988; Acc. 2009.082-.083, Acc. 2009.085-.087 were received prior to 2007; Acc. 2009.110 was received on 10/16/1987; Acc. 2009.220 was received on 6/1/2009 via Connie McCarthy. Information about acquisitions received after 7/13/2009 is available by consulting a Special Collections Research Center staff member.

Processing Information:

Acc. 2008.147 was accessioned from the backlog on 12/11/2008 by Amy C. Schindler, University Archivist. All 2009 accessions were described by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specliast,. Acc. 2010.519 was accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specliast, in 9/2010. Acc. 2010.695 was accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 11/11/2010. Acc. 2010.708 was accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 11/17/2010. Acc. 2011.069 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 2/14/2011. Acc. 2011.598 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 9/22/2011. Acc. 2012.152 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 4/23/2012. Acc. 2012.423 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 12/20/2012.

Accruals:

Future accruals expected.


Historical Note:

Earl Gregg Swem Library is located on Landrum Drive (formerly Old Campus Drive), across new campus from Andrews Hall. The library is named for Earl Gregg Swem, College Librarian from 1920-1944.

Detailed discussions of plans for the library were held in 1963 and the groundbreaking ceremonies were held later that year on October 11, 1963 at Phi Beta Kappa Hall. The actual groundbreaking occurred a few weeks after the ceremonies. The cornerstone of the library was laid on October 22, 1964 and the building was scheduled for completion around December 1965. The building officially opened on January 4, 1966 although it was not fully complete. The official dedication ceremony for the library was held on Charter Day, February 12, 1966. The Tucker-Coleman Room of the library was dedicated on November 11, 1966.

At the time of its completion, the ground floor of Swem Library contained the Botetourt Gallery, an auditorium, the Institute of Early American History and Culture offices, a rare book room, an honors room, a museum, an audio/visual department, a film preview room, and a faculty lounge. The first floor contained a reserve room, an after-hours reading room, a reference department, and typing and meeting rooms. The second floor contained administration rooms, conference rooms, and stacks.

There was a fire in the Botetourt Theater in 1972 that destroyed a projection booth. A Micro Computer Lab opened in the library on February 13, 1984.

Construction officially began on an addition to the front of the library on March 3, 1986 to provide extra stack space, reading areas, administrative offices, and a 24-hour study room and snack area. The addition was dedicated on February 5, 1988. A seven-year renovation was officially completed on February 5, 2005, with rededication ceremonies occuring during Charter Day weekend.

Scope and Contents

This collection includes both processed series and unprocessed accessions of records created by the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William and Mary including those from component offices and individual staff members. A majority of the collection contains correspondence from the dean of the libraries and library administration. Inventories for some series and accessions are available in the Special Collections Research Center and links to PDFs of those inventories can be provided when available.

Arrangement of Materials:

The collection is arranged into 20 series: Series 1: Librarians' General Correspondence; Series 2: Library Administration; Series 3: Library Accounting; Series 4: Acquisitions Department; Series 5: Bibliographic Services; Series 6: Circulation Department; Series 7: Development; Series 8: Reference Department; Series 9: Special Collections; Series 10: Library Construction; Series 11: Exhibits and Special Events; Series 12: Library Materials; Series 13: Self-Study Records; Series 14: Classified Staff Association; Series 15: Library Faculty Association; Series 16: Library Committees and Projects; Series 17: Serials; Series 18: Publications; Series 19: Science Libraries; and Series 20: Accession 2023.111 Memoriam to Carol S. Linton.

Related Material

Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Records (UA 29); University Archives Artifact Collection (UA 13); University Archives Audiovisual Collection (UA 58); University Archives Photograph Collection (UA 8).

Architectural plans and drawings that were once part of Acc. 2007.008 were separated from this collection and added to the Facilities Management Records (UA 29) in 2011.

Separated Material

Acc. 2008.216 was accessioned as part of the backlog in manuscripts and was added to this collection on 6/8/2010.

Acc. 2009.081 was separated from Acc. 1988.114 on 3/17/2009; Acc. 2009.110 was separated from Acc. 1980.132 on 3/23/2009.

The audiovisual material included with Acc. 2010.312 was pulled from this collection and was added to the University Archives Audiovisual Collection on 5/21/2010.

The audiovisual material included with Acc. 2010.336 was pulled from this collection and was added to the University Archives Audiovisual Collection on 6/16/2010.

Correspondence between Earl Gregg Swem and Howard Chapin were separated from Acc. 1980.115 and were added to the SCRC donor files in July 2010.

The photographs included with Acc. 2010.519 were pulled from this collection and were added to the University Archives Photograph Collection on 9/27/2010.

Acc. 2011.069 was previously part of the College Papers Collection and was integrated into this collection in February 2011.

Two compact discs of images from the Preston Hall fire book recovery and water damage in Swem Library were pulled from Acc. 2011.210 and were added to the University Archives Audiovisual Collection (UA 58) in April 2011.

Architectural plans and drawings that were once part of Acc. 2007.008 were separated from this collection and added to the Facilities Management Records (UA 29) in 2011.


Subjects and Indexing Terms


Physical Characteristics or Technical Requirements:

A portion of this collection is stored offsite. Consult a staff member for details.


Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Significant Places Associated With the Collection

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Container List

id287818
Series 1: Librarian's General Correspondence
circa 1920-1991
Scope and Contents

This series contains the correspondence of the Librarians and Deans of the Library.

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id74798
Series 2: Library Administration
1922-2010
Scope and Contents

This series contains many different formats and subject areas, that have been arranged for now in the order in which they were received (+ by accession no.) (Acc. Acc. 1983.071, Acc. 1984.053, Acc. 1985.069, Acc. 1988.086, Acc. 1988.114, Acc. 1988.116, Acc. 1989.130, Acc. 1990.003, 1992.025, Acc. 1993. 58, Acc. 1998.048, 1999.041, Acc. 1999.076, Acc. 2009.086, 2009.220, Acc. 2009.404, Acc. 2010.001, Acc. 2010.280, Acc. 2010.312, Acc. 2010.336, Acc. 2010.708, Acc. 2011.xxx, Acc. 2014.209)

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id74799
Series 3: Library Accounting (Acc. 1983.030)
1928-1988
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1983.030: Ledger books covering departmental and periodical expenditures, special fund expenditures, and other library expenditures, 1928-1988.

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id74800
Series 4: Acquisitions Department (Acc. 1981.014, Acc. 1983.072, Acc. 1985.063, Acc. 2015.127)
1908-2001
Scope and Contents

Special Funds Records (Acc. 1981.014); Donor Records (Acc. 1983.072); Library Accession Records; Book Donation Records (Acc. 2015.127)

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id74801
Series 5: Bibliographic Services (Acc. 1985.084, Acc. 1986.035 Acc. 1991.049)
1973-1986
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1985.084: Classified staff applications and evaluations, 1975-1983. Confidential. Acc. 1986.035: Meeting Minutes of the cataloging staff and a report on alternatives to the card catalog, 1973-1980. Acc. 1991.049: Class syllabi collected by the library to see if it owned the books being assigned, 1985-1986.

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id74802
Series 6: Circulation Department (Acc. 1989.124: Acc. 1999.012)
1945-1989
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1989.124: Circulation statistics, 1945-1974. Acc. 1999.012: Minutes of the Circulation Automation Committee, 1985-1989.

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id74803
Series 7: Development
?-2010
Scope and Contents

Acc. 2010.335: Contains one binder of all the gift plates created to be placed into books in Swem Library's collection. Included in the binder is an index of all the current gift plates through June 2010. As of July 1, 2010, the gift plates will no longer be added to Swem Books but will continue to have a note in the catalog.

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id74804
Series 8: Reference Department Records (Acc. 1998.079)
1991-1993
Scope and Contents

Memos to faculty members and copies of syllabi sent to the Reference Department

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id74805
Series 9: Special Collections Research Center Records (Acc. 1980.011, Acc. 2009.085, Acc. 2011.598)
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1980.011: Rare Books and Manuscripts Department correspondence, undated; Acc. 2009.085: Two drawings of the exterior and first floor interior of the "Warren E. Burger Special Collections Library." The drawings are 21"x16 3/4" and are in good condition; Acc. 2011.598: Contains office files collected by Margaret Cook while she was Curator of Manuscripts at the College of William & Mary.. Included in the files are monthly reports of the department, correspondence of Margaret Cook regarding the department's holdings, Friends of the Library newsletters, and news articles about various manuscript collections.

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id74806
Series 10: Library Construction (Acc. 1980.133, Acc. 1984.061, Acc. 1984.062, Acc. 2007.08(a) Acc. 2008.104(a), Acc. 2012.152)
circa 1960-2006
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1980.133: Records about equipment, furniture, measurements, cornerstone laying, donors, dedications, and specifications regarding the Earl Gregg Swem Library. The materials are arranged alphabetically by subject, 1960s. Acc. 1984.061: Architects' proposals for an addition to Swem Library made by firms not chosen for the project, 1984. Acc. 1984.062: Proposal for an addition to Swem Library made by Perry, Dean, Rogers and Partners, the firm chosen for the project, 1984. This accession also contains materials from the Preplanning Study prepared by Hardwiske, Ekstrom, and Associates in 1983. Acc. 2008.104: Drawings and records for construction and renovation project (1998-2006) including samples of material used for furnishings and such as carpet, tile, etc. Acc. 2012.152: Contains reports, research, and feedback regarding renovations of Swem Library from 1991-1998. Included are design plans from different design companies, research on other library construction projects throughout the U.S., and feedback from the William & Mary. community as to the kind of library they would like to have. [There is not descriptions yet for Acc. 2007.08(a)]

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id74807
Series 11: Exhibits and Special Events (Acc. 1982.064, Acc. 1984.055, Acc. 1986.044, Acc. 1988.006, Acc. 1998.002, Acc. 1998.055, Acc. 2008.216, Acc. 2009.082)
1957-1998
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1982.064: "Treasures of Swem Library," 1980. Contains color slides and the text of a lecture given by John D. Haskell. Acc. 1984.055: Materials from an exhibit of gifts to and from Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, 1957. Acc. 1986.044: Materials from an exhibit entitled "Statue of Liberty, 1886-1896," which was held at the Zollinger Museum. Contains a set of 26 poster-size photographs produced by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. Acc. 1988.006: Library Re-dedication records. Includes correspondence, speech transcripts, invitation lists, newspaper clippings, and other materials relating to the re-dedication of Swem Library on February 5, 1988 and the Charter Day ceremony on February 6, 1988. Acc. 1998.002: John Cotton Dana Award presented to Swem Library in 1994. It honors outstanding public relations among college and university libraries, and specifically recognizes the programs Swem Library organized during the College's tercentenary. Acc. 1998.055 Library scrapbook containing photographs, postcards, brochures, and other papers concerning tercentenary events. Acc. 2008.216: Galley proofs for the book, "Treasures of the College of William & Mary. Library" about "An Exhibition Commemorating the Rededication of the Earl Gregg Swem Library." Compiled by John D. Haskell, Jr. and Margaret C. Cook and published in 1988 by The College of William & Mary.. Includes copy of book. Also included are photographs of images used in the book. Acc. 2009.082: Cartoon featuring the opening of the MEWS Café in Swem Library. Features Swem Reference Desk staff and a Starbucks Coffee employee with customers of each saying "I'm looking for something from Kenya that's not too bitter in its underlying political themes." Created and signed by Bentley Boyd in August 1998. Oversized miscellaneous posters used in the Library 1946-1988.

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id74808
Series 12: Library Materials (Acc. 1984.016, Acc. 1987.106)
1875-1984
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1984.016: Visitors' Registers, 1966-1984. Two green bound volumes. Acc. 1987.106: Library Bookplates. Two notebooks containing photocopies of different bookplates used by the college library and loose copies of many of the bookplates. Also includes the first sketch of the Phi Beta Kappa bookplate. Items transferred from College Papers: Book donations: Barton Catalog. Endowments and gifts of books. ca 1900's Accessions and Charging Records 1875-1928.

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id74809
Series 13: Self-Study (Acc. 1982.035, Acc. 1982.029)
circa 1972 and undated
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1982.035: Reports, evaluations, correspondence and minutes of library departments, divisions, and committees involved in the library's 1972 self-study. Acc. 1982.029 (no description yet)

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id74810
Series 14: Classified Staff Association (Acc. 1979.087, Acc. 2010.519, Acc. 2010.695, Accession 2017.028)
circa 1978-2002
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1979.087: Memos, correspondence, and material about interviews from 1978. Minutes and agendas of the Association covering 1990-1992 and 1994-1996. Acc. 2010.519: Contains minutes, agendas, correspondence, photographs and other material related to the Classified Staff Association at the Earl Gregg Swem Library of the College of William & Mary.. Acc. 2010.695 contains photographs, fliers, and handouts for special events coordinated by the Classified Staff Association of Swem Library at the College of William & Mary.. Some of the events documented in the photographs include the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Classified Staff Association in 1998; various craft fairs; and a New Years party inside what would be the new Special Collections Research Center in 2002. Accession 2017.028 includes treasury information regarding the association.

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id74811
Series 15: Library Faculty Association (Acc. 1987.039, Acc. 1998.051)
1975-1976
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1987.039: Correspondence and press clippings from 1975-1976. Acc. 1998.051: Bylaws, memos, minutes, and clippings related to the Association, 1975-1976.

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id74812
Series 16: Library Committees and Projects (Acc. 1979.005, 1984.063, 1989.028, Acc. 1999.038, Acc. 1989.126, Acc. 1999.038, Acc. 2008.147, 2009.083, Acc. 2013?)
1965-2013
Scope and Contents

Acc. 1979.005: Arts and Sciences Faculty Library Committee files, 1965-1969. Includes correspondence, financial statements, and book budgets. Acc. 1980.010: Agendas, meeting minutes, correspondence, and reports of the Public Services Assembly, 1973-1978. Acc. 1981.096: Library Orientation Committee correspondence, 1974-1981. Includes memos and letters to and from the committee. Some correspondence introduces new staff members while others cover the production and distribution of the Swem Staff Information Booklet. The script of the library's orientation film is also included. Acc. 1984.063: Arts and Sciences Faculty Library Committee files, 1965-1980. Includes statistical data, acquisition lists, documents about the 1974 self-study, and correspondence. Acc. 1989.028: Library Staff Development Committee files, 1985-1987. Includes drafts and final copies of the staff survey and committee report, a computer printout of the results, memos, and minutes. Acc. 1989.126: Library Stacks Reorganization files, 1988. Contains bid proposals and evaluations, memos and correspondence about the 1988 move, and memos about William B. Meyer, Inc., charging more than the contracted price. Acc. 1999.038: Public Access Committee files, 1988-1990. Includes minutes, search hints, screen designs, a LION user survey, funding files, First Search files, and a history of the committee. Acc. 2008.147: Friends of the Library. This material accession included some material which is restricted such as donor files. Also included are FOTL board meeting minutes and newsletters, circa 1980s-1990s. Acc. 2009.083: Contains reports and documents from various Swem committees from 1990-2007, including the Policy and Planning Group; Exhibits; Administrative Council; Manger's Council; and Electronic Theses and Dissertations Task Force. This accession also includes records from campus-wide committees, such as the Campaign for William & Mary. from 2002-2007, and the 1998 Strategic Planning Committee; and a scrapbook of clippings about the Library and photos of Library Staff. Library Advisory Policy Committee (2013)

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id89972
Series 17: Serials Department (Acc. 2011.210)
1976-1997
Scope and Contents

Acc. 2011.210 contains subject files from 1976-1997 related to the United States Newspaper Project to index, preserve, and provide access to various newspapers from around the Commonwealth of Virginia. A small file related to the Math Library is also included.

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id61016
Series 18: "Publications"
39 Linear Feet 39 boxes?
circa 1939-2015
Scope and Contents

This material was previously part of the University Archives Publications Collection and has temporarily been added as one series Eventually, most of the records included here, will need to be added to other series as the collection is being reprocessed. For a detailed listing see the box description.

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id177431
Series 19: Science Libraries (Acc. 2012.423; 2 boxes)
1981-1996
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, photographs, blueprints, and other material related to the science libraries. Included are blueprints and drawings of the Geology Library in Tercentenary Hall, later McGlothlin-Street Hall; photographs of the stacks; and reports related to the holdings of the science libraries.

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Series 20: Accession 2023.111 Memoriam to Carol S. Linton
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Series 21: Accession 2023.239 administrative papers
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, William & Mary event publications, printed materials and ephemera documenting the activities of William & Mary Dean of Libraries, Carrie Cooper.

Processing Information

Unprocessed

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Series 22: Accession 2023.071: Drawing
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Series 23: Accession 2024.019 scrapbook
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Series 25: Accession 2024.043 Fliers
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Series 26: Accession 2024.283 report
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Series 27: Accession 2024.289 brochure
Mixed Materials Binder in a box: Series 23 box 1 2024 April 10
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Series 28: Accession 2024.167 Newletters and Throne Issues
1995-2008
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