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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
Anne T. Johnson.
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:
Colonial Hotel Records, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
2006.68 purchased by Special Collections, included 69 items; 2007.76, included 60 items, a gift from Wilford Kale via WHRA. Both collections came from the same source in Danville, Virginia.
Processing Information:
Arranged and described by Anne T. Johnson.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains reservation and information requests and carbon copy or rough draft replies about accommodations and meals at the Colonial Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia. It also includes business and financial correspondence concerning the Colonial Hotel. Most replies unsigned, but Mrs. Mary A. Johnston was the manager during 1929 and 1930. There are miscellaneous cards, envelopes, brochures and notepaper.
It includes a brochure from the New York Hippodrome for the week of 11/3/1913, original deed from P.F. and Maggie B. Conway to W.W. Robertson for property in Danville, Virginia, 5 issues of the Virginia Gazette and 2 issues of William and Mary Flat Hat.
Both Accessions came from the same source in Danville, Virginia.
Built in 1895, The Colonial Hotel, or Colonial Inn, was located where Chowning's Tavern was reconstructed. Williamsburg Restoration purchased it and renamed it the "Williamsburg Inn." It operated under that name until the new Williamsburg Inn was built in 1933.
Arrangement of Materials:
Accessions 2006.68 and 2007.76 were combined during processing.
Separated Material
One copy each of a 7 November 1930 and a 27 September 1929 issue of the Flat Hat, the student newspaper of the College of William and Mary, was transferred to the Archives.
A Colonial Inn ice cream scoop transferred to the Artifact Collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Correspondence
- Deeds
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--20th century
- Williamsburg (Va.)--Hotel
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--20th century
- Williamsburg (Va.)--Hotel
Container List
New York Hippodrome brochure for week of 3 November 1913 which includes program for Mssrs. Shubert's "America". Original signed deed dated 5 July 1920, where P.F. Conway and Maggie B. Conway, his wife, convey to W.W. Robertson, for $16,000, property on Holbrook Ave. in the city of Danville, Virginia. DB 110, p. 3, Danville, Virginia. 1913 and 1920. 2 items.
5 October 1928. Letter from William S. Scull Company to Colonial Hotel saying The American Railway Express Co. advised them that an unclaimed shipment of Boscul Coffee and Teabags is being held. 15 October 1928. Application letter for a waitress position by Miss Matidge LaSewelle of Tarboro, North Carolina. 18 October 1928. Letter from Eugene Curry of Rye, New York, to Colonial Hotel inquiring about rates and reservations. 24 November, 1928. Letter from American Hotel Supply Company concerning advertising cards. 4 items.
Includes bill from Wm. Deiches and Company in Baltimore. 4 May 1929 letter from (Mrs.) M. A. Johnston to Lane Bryant in NYC, NY returning 2 dresses that did not fit. 22 June 1929 carbon copy letter states that dining room is under new management from Mrs. James. Letter from Procter and Gamble Distributing Co. and to Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company. Menus are included in some replies. February 19, 1929 letter from The Straus Company suggests that the Colonial Hotel is having trouble paying bills. A September 12, 1929 letter from the State Commission on Conservation and Development asks if the Colonial Hotel wants more "Key to Inscriptions on Virginia Highway Historical Markers." 46 items.
Includes letter from Southern Hotel Association regarding hiring a secretary; letter from Gardiner T. Brooks requesting that the rent be paid in "advance" to the owners, the Holding Company, as is their policy; brochure from Educational Historic Tours, Toledo, Ohio; form letter from Virginia State Chamber of Commerce; carbon copy letter to the "Nik-o-Lok Company" noting "We beg to notify you that, on January 1, 1931, the Restoration owners are taking over the Colonial Hotel property…."; and form letter from Seeck & Kade, Inc. sending a calendar [not included] advertising Pertussin cough medicine. Menus are included in some replies. 1930. 61 items.
Christmas gift tag to Lynn, from Judy; Easter card from Anna, partial Christmas card written to Eliza, from Mollie where Mollie says "…think of me sitting up stairs in a wheeling chair…", note on Chesapeake Steamship Company notepaper which says "get Moore House, Yorktown", 2 reservation requests, 1 accountant advertisement letter and a Greensboro, North Carolina address, handwritten rough draft concerning signs written on Colonial Hotel note paper. n.d. 9 items.
Form letter from Peerless Lithographing, Co., Inc. of Chicago advertising stationery, 1 blank letterhead stationary from Greensboro [North Carolina] Bank and Trust Company, blank application from Virginia State Chamber of Commerce and form envelope addressed to Lawson H. Cooke, General Secretary, Virginia State Chamber of Commerce. n.d. 4 items.
6 issues of the Virginia Gazette, local newspaper for Williamsburg, VA and surrounding area. Most have an advertisement for Colonial Hotel. 28 February 1930 includes article on discovery of Bodleian Plate by Mary F. Goodwin. 9 May 1930. 16 May 1930 and 23 May 1930 includes article on fire at Bassett Hall. 30 May 1930 includes article on the undiscovered area of Jamestown Island by J. Luther Kibler. 18 July 1930.