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.

Custodial History:

A portion of this collection was removed from the University Archives Faculty-Alumni File Collection in 2016.

Preferred Citation:

Leonard L. Born Papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries

Acquisition Information:

Acc. 1988.66 was received on 3/24/1988.

Biographical Information:

Leonard L. Born was a student at William and Mary from 1923-1927.

Scope and Contents

The collection includes papers written by Born during the course of his attendance at William & Mary, mainly for English classes. There is also correspondence from 1985 and loose pages from a photo album believed to have been assembled by Born, while a student at William & Mary. The contents are primarily photographs of campus and Williamsburg area from the 1926-1927. Additional photographs relate to life in rural, early twentieth century Virginia, the Newport News Shipyard, Carter's Grove Plantation, and the myths of Blackbeard. Also includes some photographs of locations outside of Williamsburg such as Mount Vernon and New York City.

Also added is the typescript for his article published in The Alumni Gazette in May, 1968 titled "The College Then: 'To see what 40 years had wrought' [An alumnus reminisces on the late 20s]." Also contains personal letters received from European and American institutions and others regarding his travels and research interests in Europe and in the architecture and history of William & Mary, and his particular interest in an Irish well cover of St. Patrick's. There is also a 1985 letter from Exxon Company, U.S.A., denying Mr. Born's proposal to mine iron ore and coal in Columbia.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• African Americans
• College of William and Mary--Alumni and alumnae
• College of William and Mary--History--20th century
• College of William and Mary--Students--Social life and customs
• Course work
• Jamestown (Va.)--History--20th century
• Photographs
• Reminiscences
• Williamsburg (Va.)--History--20th century
• Williamsburg (Va.)--Photographs
• Yorktown (Va.)--History--20th century