Collections

This collection consists of thousands of contemporary photographs printed from Lexington, Virginia photographer Michael Miley's original glass plate negatives. The glass plate negatives were purchased from Henry Miley, Michael's son, in the 1930s by the Virginia Historical Society of Richmond now the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (V.M.H.C.). The project to create archival photograph prints from the collection was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities in the 1990s. The archival prints were made at Washington and Lee University. The images include both studio portraits and outdoor views of people and places in and around Lexington and Rockbridge County, Virginia. A majority of the studio portraits include surnames of the sitters. The original glass plates are stored at the V.M.H.C.

The papers of American writer Molly Elliot Seawell include personal diaries, correspondence, memoirs, photographs, news clippings, and other materials. Also included are photocopies of Seawell's business papers housed at the New York Public Library and at the Columbia University Library. The collection also contains other records from the Seawell family, mostly relating to Molly's aunt Maria Seawell Edwards, John T. Seawell and wife Isabella Josephine Brady, and Philip Hairston Seawell. The collection comprises four series: Diaries, 1900-1914; Personal Records, 1901-1916; Professional Records, 1889-1915; and Seawell Family Records, 1859-2001.

Prints and engravings removed from 18th century but mostly 19th century books or periodicals. Most prints cannot be matched with the book from which it came or the date. The location of the subject matter of each print or engraving is the primary criterion used in the organization of the collection.

Richard G. Joynt's collection of British manuscripts, from the 15th to the 20th century, of 88 letters and documents, 41 cut signatures, and many book engravings. The authors and signatures include kings, queens, prime ministers, nobles, military officers, authors, and other dignitaries. Personal matters, military orders and letters, religion, treaties, politics, intrique, and much more are covered in these letters, often interwoven with current events.

This collection contains letters, diaries, speeches, and other material written by Silas totten, a professor at the College of William and Mary. Included in the collection is a letter from Silas Totten to Ebenezer Faxon requesting him to come to the college and draw architectural plans for a new college building after the 1859 fire. Other letters in the collection were written by and to members of the Totten family. A certificate of Silas Totten's admission to the Holy Order of Priests and minutes from a meeting of students at the College of William and Mary are also included.

This collection contains a copy of "Portraits in the President's House," an essay Snell wrote for Fine Arts 306. The text of the essay is interleaved with copies of the portraits being discussed. Acc. 2011.671 contains notes from various classes Snell took at the College of William & Mary, including English, History, and French classes. There are also notes from courses Snell took at Boston University.