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.

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.

Preferred Citation:

Independence Day Oration, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Acc. 2014.221 was received by Special Collections in November 2014. The purchase was made possible by the Hooker Fund.

Processing Information:

Accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, in April 2015.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a handwritten oration containing ruminations on the Declaration of Independence and the need for education to prevent the fragmentation of the union. The speech also memorializes Henry Clay, Senator from Kentucky, who had died recently. The booklet is unsigned.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Clay, Henry, 1777-1852
• Speeches, addresses, etc.
• United States. Declaration of Independence