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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl 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: Special Collections Staff.
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:
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:
William Lamb Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
The materials in this collection were donated in various batches between 1938 and 1993 by W. H. Lamb (1938, 1939, 1945), Mrs. A. A. Bilisoly and Miss Ella Waddy Lamb (1939), Mrs. Ralph Magraw (1960 and 1967), and Larry Walker (Acc. 1993-49 received 7/19/1993). Acc. 1989-23 received 5/25/1989.
Biographical Information:
William Lamb was born on 7 September 1835 and lived in Norfolk, Virginia for most of his life. He was educated at the College of William and Mary and edited the Southern Argus. During the Civil War, he commanded Fort Fisher, N.C. After the war, he was a coal dealer, an advocate of direct trade with Europe, mayor of Norfolk and a member of the Republican Party. Lamb was Rector of the College of William and Mary. He died 23 March 1909.
Scope and Contents
Diaries, 1855, 1859-1861, 1864-1909, (52 volumes) of Col. William Lamb (1835-1909), written while a student at the College of William and Mary, newspaper editor, Civil War commander of Fort Fisher, N.C. (1862-1865), coal merchant, Norfolk businessman and mayor (1880-1886), and member of the Board of Visitors and Rector of William and Mary.
Collection also includes diary, 1861, and some letters of his wife Sarah Annie Chaffee Lamb as well as page proofs and other material relating to the publication of "Letters from the Colonel's Lady." (Winnabow, N.C., 1965).
Two additions to the collection (1993.49 and Sm. Coll. Add. 13) include photographs of Mrs. William Lamb and daughter Sally Lamb, William Lamb, Jr. and Frances [?], speeches, pamphlets and illustrations as well as a scrapbook of newspaper clippings relating to the Battle of Fort Fisher and William Lamb. Diaries, 1855-1903 available in typescript.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- American diaries--Women authors
- American newspapers--Virginia--Norfolk
- College of William and Mary--Alumni and alumnae
- College of William and Mary--History--19th century
- College of William and Mary--History--20th century
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Fort Fisher (N.C.)
- North Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Orders (military records)
- Photographs
- Photostats
- Speeches, addresses, etc.
- Typescripts
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Universities and Colleges--Virginia--Faculty
General
Other Information:
A PDF document of this inventory is available online.
Additional information may be found at http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/findingaids/39_1_L16_William_Lamb_Diaries.pdf
Physical Characteristics or Technical Requirements:
Photocopying is only allowed from the diary typescripts.
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Lamb, Sarah Anne Chaffee, 1837-1892
- Lamb, William, 1838-1909
Container List
Some diaries have been digitized. Please follow the links.
- Original Diaries of William Lamb
- id150017
Typescripts of William Lamb's Diaries1855-1909Scope and Contents
Contains typescripts of the diaries of William Lamb. Typescripts must be used in place of the originals.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 id150018
Typescripts of diaries1855-1879
- Mixed Materials box: 5 id150019
Typescripts of diaries1880-1909
- Mixed Materials box: 4 id150018
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 1 id90579
Blockade Running SpeechesScope and Contents
Typescript of the address made by Col. William Lamb in 1893 before the Military Society of Massachusetts on the subject of blockade running during the War Between the States and 2nd address to the Phillips Exeter Academy, 1886.
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 2 id90580
Blockade Running ArticlesScope and Contents
Four articles on blockade running during the Civil War.
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 3 id90581
S.S. Hebe NotesScope and Contents
Typewritten notes by Col. Lamb on the fight over the British S.S. Hebe and one plate showing the Whitworth Gun.
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 4 id90582
Resolutions - Battle of Fort Fisher1907Scope and Contents
Typewritten resolutions signed by the representatives of the Confederate survivors of the Battle of Fort Fisher and presented to Col. Lamb, January 14-15, 1907.
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 5 id90583
Fort Fisher Paper1893 and 1896Scope and Contents
Paper written on Fort Fisher at the request of the Cape Fear Camp of Confederate Veterans of Wilmington, N.C., May 1893. Read before the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts on February 4, 1896.
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 6 id90584
Williamsburg in the Civil WarScope and Contents
Scope and Contents Paper on the Civil War plus the City of Williamsburg, Virginia and its residents during the Civil War. Line one" The Venerable City of Williamsburg in which we are assembled is unsurpassed in this country for historical interests..."
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 7 id90585
Present State of VirginiaScope and Contents
Typed copy of the "The Present State of Virginia, and the College: by Messieurs Hartwell, Blair and Chilton."
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 8 id90586
PhotographsScope and Contents
Scope and Contents Hand colored photographic print of "Willie" [William Lamb, Jr.] taken at Providence, R.I. during the Civil War; photographic print of "Willie and Frances" taken at Providence, R.I. during the Civil War and photographic print of the epergne presented by owners of the Steamship Banshee to Col. William Lamb in recognition of his services at Fort Fisher.
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 9 id90587
IllustrationsScope and Contents
"Burning of the Night Hawk;" "Plan of Second Attack on Fort Fisher, Jan. 13, 14, 15, 1865 and showing the position of Vessels;" "Map of the Cape Fear River and the Approaches to Wilmington, N.C." and "Armament of Fort Fisher and Adjacent Batteries."
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 10 id90588
PamphletsScope and Contents
Message of William Lamb, Mayor, of the City of Norfolk, Virginia to the select and common Councils together with municipal reports for the twelve months ending June 30, 1880. Old St. Paul's Church, 1739-1945. Norfolk, Virginia. An address on the laymen of the church given at the Bicentennial Celebration by Robert B. Tunstall with a guide to the church.
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 11 id61739
Photocopy of Confederate Log Book from Fort Fisher1864 May 20 - November 10Scope and Contents
Photocopy of Confederate log book from Fort Fisher, May 20, 1864 to November 10, 1864. William Lamb was in charge of Fort Fisher at the time. Also includes a copy of the obituary of Sarah Chaffee, one of the Lamb daughters, in 1862. This addition is filed at the end of Box 4 of 39.1 L16.
- Mixed Materials box: 6 Folder: 12 id61735
Copy of a Photograph of Mrs. William Lamb and Her Daughter Sally1864Scope and Contents
Copy of a photograph of Mrs. William Lamb and her daughter Sally from the original which was found in Colonel William Lamb's copy of Running the Blockage owned by Larry Walker. Note under the photograph said it was taken in 1864. Accession 1993.49.
- Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Folder: 1 id90715
Newspaper Clippings Scrapbook about the Battle of Fort Fisher1862-1881 and undatedScope and Contents
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings about the fall of Fort Fisher.
- Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 2 Folder: 1
Photostat Copies of 2 LettersScope and Contents
Photostat copy of November 24, 1906 letter from William Lamb to Pinkie. 3 photostat copies of Christmas 1906 letter from William Lamb to Pinkie with his portrait on the page. 2017 addition.
- Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 2 folder: 1
Knight of the Order of Wasa Certificate0.15 Linear Feet1899 November 28SwedishScope and Contents
2017 addition.
Letters written chiefly by Sarah Chaffee Lamb to her parents. A 1861 diary written by Sarah Chaffee Lamb. Includes page proofs and other material relating to the publication of "Letters from the Colonel's Lady: Correspondence of Mrs. William Lamb...1861-1865 (Winnabow, N.C., 1965) edited by Cornelius M.Dickinson Thomas. Gift of Cornelius Dickinson Thomas, Clarendon Plantation, Winnabow, North Carolina.
- Mixed Materials box: 7 Folder: 1
Sarah Chaffee Lamb Diary1861Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. Ralph McGraw, October 19, 1960.
- Mixed Materials box: 7 Folder: 2
Original Letters of Sarah Chaffee Lamb1957, 1960Scope and Contents
Sarah Chaffee to her Mother, September 11, 1857 and Sarah C. Lamb, Norfolk, to her cousin, Miss Kate Chaffee. December 3, 1859.Includes transcript. (gift of Mrs. Ralph Magraw.)
- Mixed Materials box: 7 Folder: 3
Transcript of Sarah Chaffee Lamb LettersScope and Contents
Typed transcripts of Sarah Chaffee Lamb letters.
- Mixed Materials box: 7 Folder: 4
Proofs with Notes and Explanations of Publication of Sarah Chaffee Lamb's Letter Book
- Mixed Materials box: 7 Folder: 5
Proofs of Publication of Sarah Chaffee Lamb's Letter Book