Series 5: Colonial Williamsburg Oral History Project

Scope and content:

Contains nine compact discs featuring audio recordings that were part of Colonial Williamsburg's Oral History Project and were used by Columbia University for the study of linguistics. The original recordings were completed in July 1930 and the transcripts were recorded again in April 1953. The majority of the oral histories dealt with what Williamsburg was like before the restoration. Speakers on the recordings include Vernon Geddy, Executive President of Colonial Williamsburg; Earl Gregg Swem, Librarian of the College of William & Mary; W.A.R. Goodwin, Rector of Bruton Parish Church; Gardiner Tyler Brooks, Williamsburg real estate and insurance executive; and J.A.C. Chandler, President of the College of William & Mary.

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Parent restrictions:

The collection is open to all researchers unless otherwise noted on the recording or transcript.

Researchers may only use the electronic version of the Frances Robb interview.

Series 5: Colonial Williamsburg Oral History Project, can only be accessed for in-house use only. 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.

Parent terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Permission for the Lester Cappon and Frances Robb interviews must be obtained from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

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