James D. Blackwell Papers

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
Restrictions:

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.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

James D. Blackwell Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:
452.00 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

James D. Blackwell Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

Letters and accounts of James DeRuyter Blackwell, Sr., lawyer and poet, his wife Judith Emma (Edmonds) Blackwell of Warrenton, Virginia and of members of their family including their son, James De Ruyter Blackwell, Jr.

There are letters written from Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia concerning social life, and letters concerning the hiring of enslaved persons and the illnesses of enslaved female persons.

Furthermore, the collection includes a genealogy of Blackwell family and three bound manuscript volumes of poetry by James De Ruyter Blackwell, Sr., as well as a letter, 6 September 1879, of John S. Mosby, concerning his work as American consul in China.

Biographical / historical:

James De Ruyter Blackwell, Jr. was born 17 May 1870. He was educated at Bethel Military Academy [Fauquier County, Virginia] as a civil engineer. Worked as a civil engineer on various railroads including electric streetcar system. He was on the Board of Survey for Boston and was City Engineer of Seattle, Washington. He also was in private practice. He died 5 September 1929. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Arrangement:

Organization: Organized into five series: 1. Letters, 2. Accounts, 3. Papers of James D. Blackwell, 4. Biographical and genealogical information regarding James D. Blackwell and the Blackwell family, and 5. Miscellaneous items. Arrangement: Series 1 is arranged chronologically; Series 2 is arranged alphabetically by name.