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Location: First floor of Swem Library (Map)
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Email: spcoll@wm.edu

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Digital reproduction will be limited beginning May 1, 2023 with digitization expected to resume the middle of October 2023. 

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About Us

The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) at Swem Library connects students, faculty, and researchers with rare and unique materials, including: 

  • original manuscripts 
  • photographs 
  • rare books 
  • maps 
  • audiovisual media 
  • and more 

Special Collections is open to all researchers for onsite research, but with limited capacity in our reading room. We strongly encourage requesting an appointment to ensure that we will be able to accommodate your visit. We may need to limit your appointment to two hours depending on demand. Please email us at spcoll@wm.edu with requests for appointments, research consultations, and any other questions.

Please note: The reading room will close to patrons at 3:00pm on September 28 for event setup.

Digitization update for fall 2023

Swem Library is moving things around! Due to summer construction plans affecting our Digital Services department, digital reproduction will be limited beginning May 1, 2023 with digitization expected to resume October 2023. This temporary hold will affect all new reproduction requests larger than 10 pages.  

Please visit our Digital Archives to view Special Collections' material already available online.  

Thank you for your understanding! We look forward to assisting you with your digitization projects coming this September.

Spotlight

Manuscripts

Ivy Li '23 Photograph, Documenting Life During COVID-19

This collection of personal reflections and experiences during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic includes this photo taken on March 21st at Los Angeles International Airport. "Although it was midnight, the airport was full of people waiting to board on planes. Most of them were going to return to their home countries."

Manuscripts

Jefferson H. Clark Collection

The Jefferson H. Clark collection contains a variety of materials from Clark’s service in World War I, including photographs, documents, Clark’s helmet, and this surgical kit. 

Oral Histories

Satoshi Ito Oral History Interview

Professor Ito shares his experience in a Relocation Center in Arkansas during World War II, the evolution of W&M's Department of Sociology, and his volunteer efforts with the Anti-Racism Commission, Diocese of Southern Virginia, the New Kent County Democratic Committee, and the Human Rights Committee of Eastern State Hospital. 

Spotlight

Passengers in face masks and protective clothing wait for flights at the Los Angeles Airport.

Ivy Li '23 Photograph, Documenting Life During COVID-19

This collection of personal reflections and experiences during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic includes this photo taken on March 21st at Los Angeles International Airport. "Although it was midnight, the airport was full of people waiting to board on planes. Most of them were going to return to their home countries."

Open black leather surgical kit with various steel tools.

Jefferson H. Clark Collection

The Jefferson H. Clark collection contains a variety of materials from Clark’s service in World War I, including photographs, documents, Clark’s helmet, and this surgical kit. 

Several hand painted covers of zines.

Latinx Zines

Special Collections has an ever-growing collection of self-published books, or zines, including numerous zines made by Latinx authors and creators. 

First page of Nanny Waller's diary dated 1848.

Nanny C. Waller Diary

The diary, 1849-1851, of Nanny C. Waller, Williamsburg, Virginia which includes religious writings, discussion of a cholera epidemic, and of her family.

Profile photo of Satoshi Ito.

Satoshi Ito Oral History Interview

Professor Ito shares his experience in a Relocation Center in Arkansas during World War II, the evolution of W&M's Department of Sociology, and his volunteer efforts with the Anti-Racism Commission, Diocese of Southern Virginia, the New Kent County Democratic Committee, and the Human Rights Committee of Eastern State Hospital. 

Highlights from the Archives

An Acquired Taste

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Current Exhibit

All Exhibits
  • Cabinet card portrait of Algernon Charles Swinburne standing in front of steps and ivy covered brickwork

    "Life Hath Mutable Wings"

    The Sheila and Terry Meyers Collection of Swinburneiana

    Special Collections Lobby
    April 10, 2023 to January 22, 2024

    English poet Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) is a figure of fascinating contrast. Diminutive in stature yet larger-than-life in personality, in uncertain health but also highly energetic, in the first half of his career he flouted Victorian social standards with the provocative subject matter of his poetry and his scandalous personal life. Yet in his later years he eschewed much of his former passionate excess and became socially respectable.