Thomas R. Dew was born on December 5, 1802, the son of Thomas Dew and Lucy E. Gatewood Dew. Dew graduated from William & Mary in 1820. He was appointed to teach political law in 1826 and in 1836 was made president of the university. He died in 1846, shortly after his marriage to Natalia Hay. A free-trader and a pro-slavery advocate, Dew's works included Lectures on the Restrictive System, Review of the Debate in the Virginia Legislature of 1831 and 1832 (later incorporated into the Pro-Slavery Argument) and Digests of Laws, Customs, Manners, and Institutions of the Ancient and Modern Nations. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki:
Acc. 1983.121 was delivered to President John Stewart Bryan by F. H. Moore on February 15, 1939.
Acc. 2013.026 was purchased from eBay in February 2013.
The Southall letter was removed from the College Papers collection as was the communication with Abel Upshur. The Upshur item was removed from the Tucker papers and placed in the College Papers by previous SCRC staff.
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Office of the President, Thomas Roderick Dew Records, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Dew Family Papers, Mss. 65 D51, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
This collection includes correspondence from Dew as well as an account book.
Note, dated October 16, 1837, written by Dew to Judge Abel P. Upshur, concerning the granting of credit to students by merchants. The note is handwritten on a printed Resolution by the Board of Visitors, adopted July, 1836.
Letter, dated October 18, 1837, written by Dew to William H. Harrison, principal of the Academy at the Wigwam in Amelia, Virginia, and defends the institution of slavery in the United States. The letter begins "I am glad to find that you agree with me on the subject of slavery. Every day convinces me of its blessings in southern latitudes, & I think you are right in regard to Liberia - Man cannot be uplifted from barbarism to civilization without the aid of slavery. All history demonstrates this proposition." Most of the letter concerns a list of books related to slavery and where they can be acquired, including Edmund Ruffin, a strong proponent of slavery. Dew also discusses life at William & Mary, noting the enrollment of 100 students and that most of the brightest pupils were sent from Harrison's academy.
Letter, dated July 13, 1842, written by Dew to George Southall, concerning violations of the law prohibiting the dealing with students on credit.
The account book includes stocks and bonds owned by Dew (1833-1846), notes on anatomy, the account of William & Mary College with Dew (1836-1840), personal accounts of Dew (1836-1844), names of students in Dew's junior and senior classes (1836-1846), the diary of an unknown person (Sept. 1, Oct. 9, 1852), a quotation from Thomas Moore, notes on farming, and William & Mary College graduates (1835, 1839-1846).
Collection was reprocessed prior to 2019 and inventory updated in 2022. Some items from the original inventory were moved to other collections and have not been located as of 2022: Photocopies and notes on the portrait of Thomas Dew owned by William & Mary; unidentified book with inscription: "Presented to W. S. Peachy by his friend, Thos. R. Dew, prof. Wm & Mary College"; Letter of introduction for Col. C. de la Pena, professor of modern languages at William & Mary, 22 February 1830; Thomas R. Dew, Dewsville near New Town, King & Queen, Virginia, to Prof. J. Millington, Philadelphia with lists of the books Dew has recently purchased for the college library;corrections for a publication and additional footnotes To be inserted, on public speeches in France, England, and America, and on Mr. Randolph's process of composing speeches. On same leaf as end of a letter draft, signed, dated 1 June 1841; T. R. Dew praises conditions and new buildings at Eastern Asylum of Virginia under Dr. Galt, 13 March 1846; material gathered by Dr. Stephen S. Mansfield during the preparation of his dissertation "Thomas Roderick Dew: defender of the southern faith" and correspondence between Mansfield and persons, including collateral Dew descendants, regarding the dissertation; published article on Dew; and miscellaneous printed matter containing information on the Dew family; and the original letter from Thomas Dew to William H. Harrison, Acc. 2013.026.
Letter to William H. Harrison (Oct. 18, 1837)
Letter to George Southall (July 13, 1842)
Communication from Dew to Judge Abel P. Upshur (Oct. 16, 1837)
Giving his detailed arguments in favor of his existing arrangements of the course structure and fees for classes in history. The resolution is dated July, 1836 and the note is dated Oct. 16, 1837. Addressed to Judge A.P. Upshur, Williamsburg, Virginia.
Letter from President Thomas R. Dew to George Southall, attorney, concerning violations of the law prohibiting the dealing with students on credit. (transferred from College Papers)
Draft of letter replying to Harrison's letter of October 8 in which Harrison complimented Dew's publications. Discusses availability of his publications on economy and history Dew is "glad to find that you agree with me on the subject of slavery. Every day convinces me of its blessings in southern latitudes. I think you are right in regard to Liberia - Man cannot be uplifted from barbarism to civilization without the aid of slavery - All history demonstrates this proposition." College has opened with bright prospects, nearly 100 in attendance. Students from Harrison's seminary have always been among the most successful at the college. Includes drafts of orders to Messrs. Smith & Palmer, Richmond, to deliver a copy of Dew's lectures on the Restrictive System to Harrison; and to Edmund Ruffin, Petersburg, to deliver a copy of Dew's Historical Notes to Harrison. Photocopy.
One volume, 9" by 13.5", containing lists of stocks and bonds owned by Dew (1833-1846, pages 1-11); the college's account with Dew (1836-1840, p. 28-35, 65, 69);, his personal accounts (1836-1844, p. 36-42, 54-57, 59, 61, 63-64, 130-139, 476-482); lists of his junior and senior students (1836-1846, p. 204-245); lists of graduates from 1835, 1843-1846(p. 463, 464, 474, 475, 477); notes on anatomy (page 12, 76-86, 123-129, 140, 288, 363; and farming (p. 345, 360-361); and a 2-page diary of an unknown person from September 1 - October 9, 1852 (p. 249-250). 482 pages.
Gift of Dr. Stephen S. Mansfield during the preparation of his dissertation "Thomas Roderick Dew: defender of the southern faith," a copy which is in Swem Library, LD6051 .W517 1836 M3 1980.
Photocopied and typed material from other repositories. Typed transcript of letter from John Tyler to Thomas R. Dew, January 16, 1836. Typed transcript from T.R. Dew to B.B. Minor, February 29, 1835. Typed transcript of letter from Dew to T.W. White, April 24, 1835. Photocopy of letter from T.R. Dew to William H. Harrison, October 18, 183[8].
Communication of Wm. Harper and Thomas R. Dew, in relation to the memorial of the Committee of the Free Trade Convention against the Tariff, 13 February 1832 (Doc. No 82, House of Representatives, 22d Congress, 1st Session) Thomas R. Dew, Review of the debate [on the abolition of slavery] in the Virginia Legislature, 1831-32, in The Political Register, vol. 2 (Washington: 16 October 1833). 2 copies Bibliographic notes by E. G. Swem.
Photostat copy of "Great Question of the Day" by Thomas R. Dew. Possibly 1840.
Thomas R. Dew, Essay on the interest of money, and the policy of laws against usury (Shellbanks, Va.)(1834); T. R. Dew, handwritten communication to the Board of Visitors of the College of William & Mary, 3 July 1836 (Giving his detailed arguments in favor of his existing arrangements of the course structure and fees for classes in history); An address on the influence of the federative republican system of government upon literature and the development of character, prepared to be delivered before the Historical and Philosophical Society of Virginia at their annual meeting in 1836 (Richmond: Southern Literary Messenger, 1836); Southern Literary Messenger, March 1940, reprint of Dew's 1836 address.
Photographs, photocopies of photographs, programs, and other information concerning Dew's grave in France and the memorial service and reburial of his remains in Williamsburg in 1939.
Published biographical information on William Donbar Evans, John Garnett Dew, James Harvie Dew, Benjamin Franklin Dew, reference to information on Natilia Hay; and a coat of arms entitled Dew family, by an unknown artist.
Thomas R. Dew to Governor W.B. Giles introducing Col. Charles de la Pena, 1830 February 22. Thomas R. Dew to Prof. John Millington with of list of books he had purchased for William & Mary, 1836 September 7. Appears to be a critique of a book written about Mr. Randolph. undated. (purchased) Complimentary comments written by Thomas R. Dew about the "Eastern Asylum of Virginia." 18?? March 13. (gift of Annie Galt, 1937)
Item 1981.105: Coffin Plate of Thomas R. Dew, 1939 One coffin shipping plate that reads "T.R.D. Williamsburg Virginia U.S.A." It was attached to a box bearing Thomas R. Dew's coffin from Paris to Williamsburg in 1939.