By Tami Back, William & Mary Libraries
A statewide consortium led by the Library of Virginia has received a $749,939 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to conserve and digitize collections documenting the history of American independence and Virginia's early government.
William & Mary Libraries is one of five institutions awarded the grant as part of a consortium that includes The Library of Virginia, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Washington and Lee University, and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
“We're grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with our consortium partners on this important work, and to the National Endowment for the Humanities for its support,” said Librarian of Virginia Dennis T. Clark. “By conserving and digitizing these collections, we ensure that the record of Virginia's role in American independence and the formation of its government remains accessible for generations to come. “ The project will conserve nearly 2,000 items and digitize nearly 5,000 pages of Revolutionary-era materials across the five partner institutions, with the goal of preserving and sharing Virginia’s history and making it accessible to students, teachers, scholars, lifelong learners, and the public.
William & Mary Libraries will use grant funding to conserve, digitize and transcribe select American Revolution collections, including the Leven Powell papers, Jonathan Boucher papers, Colonel James Madison Account Book and Almanac and items from the Tucker-Coleman papers.
“The collections we’ve selected highlight the history of the American Revolution and the early establishment of Virginia’s government,” said Afua Ferdnance, head of processing at William & Mary Libraries and project lead. “We are thrilled to partner with NEH to conserve and illuminate these important materials to the public.”
About W&M Libraries’ collections
The Leven Powell papers, 1774-1806 consist of materials that document Revolutionary War officer, Virginia planter, politician and merchant Leven Powell (1737 – August 23, 1810). This collection has already been digitized. Materials in the collection contain correspondence that reflect military and civilian events in Virginia during the Revolutionary War, Virginia politics and foreign relations in the early national period. Other materials include financial records concerning the Revolutionary War and Loudoun County, VA. Highlights of the collection include correspondence referencing the Battle of Great Bridge (1775), and a copy of resolutions passed by freeholders of Loudoun County opposing the oppressive British legislation and establishing a boycott of all East India products.
The Jonathan Boucher papers consist of correspondence documenting the professional and personal life of Jonathan Boucher, an English Clergyman, teacher and American Revolutionary War loyalist. Correspondents include those to and from John James, James Maury, Charles Daubeny, Sir Frederick Morton Eden, William Knox, and William Stevens. Subjects include Virginia social customs and politics between the years 1759 and 1771, Boucher's experiences in, and views of, the American Revolution, Boucher's role in the struggle for unity in the Scottish Anglican Church, and his concern with schism and dissent in the Church of England.
Colonel James Madison Account Book and Almanac (1777-1779) belonged to Colonel James Madison Sr. (March 27, 1723 – February 27, 1801), the father of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison (March 16, 1751-June 28, 1836). James Madison Sr. was a Virginia planter, politician and Colonel in the Virginia Militia during the United States Revolutionary War. The Almanac includes names of Virginian military men such as Colonel Taylor, Captain Daingerfield, Robert Johnson, James and Ambrose Madison (his sons), John Page, Thomas Shackelford, James Tomlinson, William Wright, and James Finney. Accounts are for the purchase of flour, shoes, stockings, wagons, and other sundry goods for the military. There are also transactions for money to raise for soldiers and to buy iron and cotton in support of the Army. Other documented information includes astronomy and calendar events, travel time from various cities, country populations, directions for tanning hides, and cures for Flux and Pleurisy.
The Tucker-Coleman papers (1770-1907) documents the Tucker and Coleman families of Williamsburg, Winchester, Lexington, Staunton and Richmond, Virginia. The collection primarily contains the papers of: St. George Tucker (1752-1827), Nathaniel Beverley Tucker (1784-1851), Henry St. George Tucker (1780-1848), Ann Frances Bland (Tucker) Coalter (1779-1813), John Coalter (1769-1838), and John Randolph. The Tucker-Coleman papers contain correspondence documenting the Revolutionary War.
For more information on the grant-funded consortium project, visit the Library of Virginia’s website.