Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

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.

Custodial History

This letter was part of the Faculty-Alumni File Collection, and in 2015 it was accessioned as a its own manuscript collection (Acc. 2015.115).

Biographical / Historical

Herbert Augustine Claiborne, Jr. attended William & Mary from 1836-1839 and was originally from New Kent County, Virginia.

Scope and Contents

Letter written by William & Mary alumnus Claiborne replying to William & Mary alumnus Griswold's invitation to return to Williamsburg, an invitation given by the "Committee to the approaching Celebration." The letter was written eight days after the 1859 fire and speaks to its rebuilding and the perseverance of the College, its faculty, and alumni.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• College of William and Mary--Alumni and alumnae
• College of William and Mary--History--19th century
• Griswold, Joseph G.