Jones, W. Melville, Papers Guide to the W. Melville Jones Papers UA 6.026

Guide to the W. Melville Jones Papers UA 6.026


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Special Collections Research Center

William & Mary Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections

Finding Aid Authors: PJ Bell, Zach Hilpert.

Repository
Special Collections Research Center
Identification
UA 6.026
Title
W. Melville Jones Papers 1930-1982
Quantity
1.00 Linear Feet
Creator
Jones, W. Melville, 1901-1992
Language
English

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use:

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.

Conditions Governing Access:

This 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.

Preferred Citation:

W. Melville Jones Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Acc. 1999.075, 2006.019 and Mss. Acc. 2006.067.

Processing Information:

The first scrapbook that was digitized and returned to the donor was arranged and described by PJ Bell in 2006. Zach Hilpert arranged and described the second scrapbook and other materials in March 2007.


Biographical Information:

A 43-year professor, administrator, and booster at the College of William and Mary, Dr. W. Melville Jones (1901-1992) joined the College's English faculty in 1928 after serving as an instructor at Ohio State University (1924-1925) and the University of Richmond (1925-1928). As a faculty member in the Department of English, Dr. Jones served first as an assistant professor and, after earning his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1953, was named full professor in 1954 and chancellor professor in 1963. Dr. Jone's career took on a new aspect in the last two decades of his employment at William and Mary, as he served as Dean of the Faculty from 1958 to 1964, and Dean of the College from 1964 to 1968. When Virginia recognized William and Mary as a full university in 1968, Dr. Jones became the Collegr's first vice president. His final position with the university was as Vice President of Academic Affairs. Upon his retirement in 1971, he was named Chancellor Professor of English, Emeritus. Dr. Jones was on leaves of absence in 1931-1932, Fall 1956, Spring 1957, and Fall 1957. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Scope and Contents

This collection documents activities and events at the College of William and Mary during the career of W. Melville Jones. It is primarily composed of material collected in scrapbooks.

The first scrapbook was digitized and the original returned to the donor. For the digital scans of the first scrapbook, the papers are arranged as a model of the original volume. The papers are arranged chronologically with two loose photographs without a date filed at the end. Identification numbers are listed on the back of each photocopied page for association with the digital file. The digital files were printed and are available for use by researchers. A detailed description of each page is available in the inventory section of this finding aid.

The second scrapbook is maintained for the most part in its original order and format, though some blank pages have been removed from the volume. All loose material in the scrapbook was rehoused in folders and can be found in box 1 along with the photocopied pages of the digitized scrapbook. Box 1 also includes five folders containing information related to Dr. Jone's personal and professional interests.

Arrangement of Materials:

The collection is arranged alphabetically and chronologically within each series.

Subjects and Indexing Terms


Physical Characteristics or Technical Requirements:

The first scrapbook was digitized and the original returned to the donor. For the digital scans of the first scrapbook, the papers are arranged as a model of the original volume. The digital files were printed and are available for use by researchers.


Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Container List

id507
Series 1: Personal and Professional Interests
1949-1957
Scope and Contents

Series 1 consists of five folders. Materials in this series are related to the 350th anniversary commemoration events at Jamestown, along with documents related to the 1951 William and Mary football scandal, and information on studies undertaken by the College's Curriculum Committee.

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id671
Series 2: Scrapbooks
1930-1982
Scope and Contents

This collection includes two scrapbooks kept by former dean of the College of William and Mary, W. Melville Jones. The first scrapbook details a wide range of campus events and celebrations including the annual 18th century Christmas party, President Davis Paschall's inauguration, Charter Day celebrations, and various commencement ceremonies. In addition, the scrapbook highlights the personal and professional achievements of Dr. Jones, including his induction into the Draper's Company, an ancient English guild. This first scrapbook reflected Dr. Jones' efforts to strengthen the relationship between William and Mary and British universities. The second scrapbook primarily contains photographs from commencement ceremonies (1963-1971), Charter Day festivities (1963-1972) and the 1969 convocation. In addition, this scrapbook also includes newspaper clippings of both the inauguration and retirement of William and Mary President David Paschall, the inauguration of William and Mary President Thomas Graves, and Dr. Jones' own retirement.

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