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View related multimedia and links Finding Aids to the Collections of the
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library

The Finding Aids are in various formats: database, html and pdf files. To read a pdf file, Adobe Acrobat is necessary. Download the acrobat reader to view or print the Finding Aids in PDF format.

Colonial Williamsburg Publications Indexes
Genealogical Resources Guides
Photographic Collection Guides and Picture Indexes
Special Collections Guides by Format
Special Collections Finding Aids to Specific Collections

Colonial Williamsburg Publications Indexes

Colonial Williamsburg Journal Index (Database)- An author/title keyword index, 1978 - 2004, to the colorfully illustrated journal which features the culture, arts and political heritage of Virginia's 18th-century colonial capital. Photocopies of articles can be requested through interlibrary loan. Updated September 2004.

The Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter Index, 1980 - 2004 (PDF) is published by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Department of Interpretive Education to index their publication,The Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter. Updated Summer 2004.

Research Reports (Database) - Search historical, architectural, archaeological, and cultural reports on 18th-century Williamsburg by author, title, and date. The reports, written by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation staff are available in the Reference Department or on microfiche through interlibrary loan. Updated February 2004.

Genealogical Resources Guides

Seventeenth-Century Virginians (PDF) describes selected books, microfilm and Internet sites to consult when looking for information about seventeenth century Virginians. While these resources are all available in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, they may also be obtained in other libraries.

Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg Area Virginians (PDF) describes selected resources to consult when looking for eighteenth century people in James City and York Counties, as well as the city of Williamsburg. While these resources are all available in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, they may also be obtained in other libraries.

Revolutionary War Virginians (PDF) describes selected resources to consult when looking for information about patriots and loyalists. While these resources are all available in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, they may also be obtained in other libraries.

Photographic Collection Guides and Picture Indexes

Albert Durant Photograph Collection (HTML)
This unique photography collection depicts the African-american experience in Williamsburg, Virginia from the 1930's to the 1960's

F.S. Lincoln Photographic Collection (Database) - [link to detailed explanation]
A master collection of photographs and negatives of Colonial Williamsburg taken in 1935 to show the newly restored town.

Postcard Index (Database) - The postcard collection consists of postcards of Williamsburg dating from the early 1900s to the present, including images of the town prior to its restoration. In addition, the collection contains a small number of postcards of neighboring historic sites, such as Jamestown and Yorktown.

Guide to Selected Photographic Collections (PDF) includes detailed inventories and descriptions of selected processed photographic collections owned by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and housed in the Visual Resources Department at the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library. Contact the Visual Resources Department for reproductions.

Trades Index to Auction Catalogs (Database) - Sotheby's and Christie's catalogs (1983-1999) of 18th- and early 19th-century drawings and paintings are indexed for objects of interest to trades-people of Colonial Williamsburg. Topics indexed include wearing apparel, agricultural implements, household accessories, weapons, trade and leisure activities.

Special Collections Guides by Format

Manuscript Collections Guide (PDF)includes detailed inventories and descriptions of all processed manuscript items owned by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and housed at the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library. For basic information on these items and more acquisitions that have not yet been included in this guide, see the Accessions Database.

Photocopied Manuscript Collections Guide (PDF) includes listings and inventories of all processed photocopies housed at the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library. Not all original manuscripts used for these photocopies belong to Colonial Williamsburg. For basic information on these items and recent acquisitions that have not yet been included in this guide, see the Accessions Database.

Transcript Collections Guide (PDF) includes listings and inventories of all processed transcripts housed at the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library. Not all original manuscripts used for these transcriptions are owned by Colonial Williamsburg. For basic information on these items and recent acquisitions that have not yet been included in this guide, see the Accessions Database.

Microforms Short Title/Subject Catalog (PDF) provides title and subject access to all processed microfilm and microfiche collections (as of 1996) owned by Colonial Williamsburg and housed at the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library with the exception of the Virginia Colonial Records Project microfilm. Not all original manuscripts filmed belong to Colonial Williamsburg. For basic information on these items and recent acquisitions that have not yet been included in this guide, see the Accessions Database.

Special Collections Accessions Database (Database) - Many manuscripts, maps, microfilm, photocopies and transcripts acquired by the Special Collections Department since 1927. The Accessions file closed as of April 9, 2004. (See PDF finding aids for additional acquisitions.)

Special Collections Finding Aids to Specific Collections (PDF)

The Robert Anderson Papers (PDF) contain the business, political, and legal papers; business and personal correspondence; and daybooks and ledgers for the varied interests and ventures of Robert Anderson (1781-1859), a Williamsburg and Yorktown merchant, Whig politician, agent for the Mutual Assurance Society and the Aetna Insurance Company, director of the James City Steamboat Company, and holder of extensive real estate in Williamsburg and Yorktown.

The Sol Feinstein Collection of the American Revolution Microfilm (PDF) is a privately gathered collection of approx. 2300 manuscripts focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on the American Revolution. Virginians whose manuscripts are in the collection include: Francis Fauquier, Peter Fontaine, Robert Carter, Thomas Fairfax, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Lee, Henry Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Betty Washington Fielding, Fielding Lewis, James Madison, James Maury (letterbook), James Monroe, Edmund Randolph, St. George Tucker, Virginia Governor's office, Virginia petition, Virginia Court Summons, Surry Co., Va., George Washington, Col. Augustine Washington, Martha Washington, other Washington family members and many others. Some of the letters by these people were written from Williamsburg.

The Major-Marable Papers (PDF) contain plantation, business and personal papers (1703-1929) of the Major and Marable families of Charles City and Sussex Counties (Virginia). The papers document the economic life of planters and merchants in colonial, post-revolutionary and antebellum Virginia. Subjects include plantation management and overseers; estate administration; litigation over delinquent accounts; family medicine; school tuition; tobacco and corn crops; shoe making; management, sale and ownership of slaves; and runaway slaves.

The John Norton and Sons Papers (PDF) include letters, bills, accounts, receipts, and bills of lading of this mercantile firm. The majority of the letters were written to John Norton (1719-1777), of London, or his son, John Hatley Norton (1745-1797), the firm's representative in Yorktown, Virginia, during the period 1766-1798.

The Robinson Papers, 1684-1915 (PDF) includes original seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth century manuscripts, official documents, sketches, and photographs, as well as copies of original letters and documents relating to Charles W. Robinson and his ancestors. His ancester, Christopher Robinson arrived in Virginia, from England, in approximately 1668 and built a plantation, Hewick. The bulk of the material relates to Charles W. Robinson's efforts to trace and register his family pedigree with London's Herald's College.

The Shirley Plantation Collection (PDF) includes an inventory and descriptions of the plantation and family papers (1650-1989) of the Carter family of Shirley Plantation located on the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. Included are 16,000 items, 93 volumes, 1,400 photographs, and 1,000 books. The original documents are on deposit with Colonial Williamsburg.

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