Colonel Ebirt t-shirts, 2023

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 publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Colonel Ebirt t-shirts, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
2 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Colonel Ebirt t-shirts, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

Two Colonel Ebirt T-shirts, with an illustration of William and Mary's unofficial mascot, Colonel Ebirt created by Williamsburg-based Parkway Printshop. Colonel Ebirt is tribe spelled backwards and was the unofficial mascot for William & Mary from 2001-2006.

Biographical / historical:

Images of Native Americans along with the term "Indian" was used as the athletic logo and mascot of William & Mary until 1978. However, feathers were used as a part of the logo post 1978 until 2007. The decisoon was made to phase out the use of the images and term "Indian" in response to the NCAA, who argued that they were offensive to Native Americans. From 2001-2006 a temporary mascot was used and Colonel Ebirt was born, Ebirt is tribe spelled backwwards and was represented as a green frog. The mascot was fully adopted by the athletic department from 2001-2006. In 2009 it was a committee was drawn, appointed by then William & Mary President Taylor Reveley to decide a new mascot and the Griffin was chosen.

Acquisition information:
Purchased with the assistance of the Armand and Mary Galfo Swem Library Fund.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard