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:

Lester E. G. Travis, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Acc. 2014.246 was received by Special Collections in February 2014. The letter was purchased from the Dulin fund.

Processing Information:

Accessioned and minimally described by Tim Eklund, Special Collections staff, in February 2015.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of one letter sent from Rikers Island, New York by a soldier, Lester Travis, writing to his sister, Ann Divine in Loch Sheldrake, New York.  Rikers Island was at that time a training camp, and Travis discusses trips into New York City itself, mutual acquaintances, and the arrival of African-American volunteers.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• African Americans--History--19th century
• New York--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
• Rikers Island (N.Y.)--History--19th century