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

The 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

List of Surnames of Mixed Race Virginia Families Trying to Pass as "Indian" or White, Special Collections Research Center, William and Mary Libraries.

Content Description

A list of names, separated by Virginia counties and cities, of families identified as attempting to "pass." This list was likely compiled by the law firm established by Senator Robert Opie Norris, Jr. around 1904, or its successor firm, Clarke and Clarke. The list has notes next to some names providing alternate spellings, and in the case of the Beverly family from Amherst, a longer statement about the methods they used to "evade the situation." The full official title typed on the document reads, "Surname, By Counties and Cities, of Mixed Negroid Virginia Families Striving to Pass as ""Indian"" or White."

Content warning for derogatory language.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• African Americans--Virginia--History--20th century
• Race discrimination
• Race relations--United States--History--20th century
• Virginia--Genealogy