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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
SCRC staff
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, 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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Ann Geddy Cross and Vernon M. Geddy, III, through the Williamsburg Historic Records Association
Biographical / Historical
Several of the documents reference "L.W. Lane" and it can be difficult to discern which family member is being referenced. The below geneology may assist in identifying who authored/is associated with the materials.
Captain L.W. Lane, Sr. (born January 6, 1839, died April 27, 1933) Colonel L.W. Lane, Jr. (born August 31, 1891, died March 7, 1934) L.W. Lane III (born February 1, 1892, died September 24, 1934)
Scope and Contents
Collection includes materials related to the Lane and Cole families of Williamsburg, Virginia including wills, voting ballots, property reciepts, deeds, photographs, contracts, estate documents, invitations, diaries, and correspondence. The materials detail the political, economic and social issues in Williamsburg during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Specific Virginia properties are named, i.e. "Lilliput" and "Lightview." The emancipation of named enslaved individuals are in the last will and testament of Ezechael Lane, and the hiring of an enslaved man named William by L.W. Lane and William K. Davis in January 1862.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Deeds--Virginia--Williamsburg
- Elections--Virginia
- Slaves--Virginia--Williamsburg
- Virginia--Landowners
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--19th century
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--20th century
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Cole, Henry Denison, 1856-1938
- Lane, Levin Winder, Sr.
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Deeds--Virginia--Williamsburg
- Virginia--Landowners
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--19th century
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--20th century
Container List
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
Diary of H.D. Cole1896-1936English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
Jesse and Catherine Cole Correspondence1830 SeptemberEnglish
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
Cole Family PortraitsEnglish
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
C.P. Armistead Letter of Resignation to H.D. Cole1896 January 30English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Ashton Dovell, Gubernatorial Campaign Platform1941English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6
"Roberts Affair" memo1952EnglishScope and Contents
Short note, stamped with Miss Mary Inman, 308 Griffin Avenue, Williamsburg, that details when Julia Tyler, daughter of William & Mary President Lyon G. Tyler, allegedly roomed with Portia Washington, daughter of Booker T. Washington at Wellesley College. Williamsburg residents R.J. Armistead and Preacher Roberts threatened to publish a story about the roomate situation, and they were both summarily told by William & Mary students and faculty that such an action would result in bodily harm i.e. "tarred & feathered" and "beat to a pulp."
Story was originally shared with Inman by Vernon Geddy, Jr.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7
Correspondence between the Rockefeller and Geddy families, photocopied1951, 1955English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8
Local Election Materials1882-1932EnglishScope and Contents
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
Democratic Tickets1884-1908English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
Republican Tickets1880-1893English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11
Miscellaneous Political MaterialsEnglish
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 12
Newspaper ClippingsEnglish
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 13
Supplemental InformationEnglishScope and Contents
Photocopied newspaper articles, folder details, provided by donor
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
Lane Family Correspondence1884-1935English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15
L.W. Lane, Grocery Store Account Book1909-1910EnglishScope and Contents
Notebook is mostly blank, with four pages of penciled notation at the front.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 16
L.W. Lane, Stock Certificates, First National Bank of Williamsburg1916-1919English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 17
L.W. Lane, Financial Records1906-1934English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 18
Estate of J.B.C. Spencer1919-1934EnglishScope and Contents
Materials included in the financial records of L.W. Lane
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 19
Insurance, Tax Payments, and Receipts for Properties in James City County and Williamsburg1885-1932English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 20
L.W. Lane, Insurance Policies for Properties1916, 1918, 1933English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 21
L.W. Lane, Insurance Documents for Waller Street Tenant House1916English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 22
L.W. Lane, Settlement of Tax Payment on Crenshaw Estate1888 February 11English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 23
L.W. Lane, Rental Papers1922, 1926English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 24a
Land Deeds and Tax Documents (1 of 2)English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 24b
Land Deeds and Tax Documents (2 of 2)English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 25
L.W. Lane, Financial Letters and NotesEnglish
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 26
Deeds for "Lightview" in Gloucester County1871-1891English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 27
Letter from B.S. Ewell to L.W. Lane1877 September 1Letter is in pieces. Handle with care.English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 27
Bond, L.W. Lane to pay Peter Powell1861 January 25EnglishScope and Contents
Bond is in pieces. Handle with care.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 28
L.W. Lane and Parke Jones, materials related to "Lilliput" property1860-1869English
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 29
Contract for enslaved man named William1862 January 1EnglishScope and Contents
Contract outlines the hire of William by L.W. Lane and William K. Davis from William's enslaver, Armistead Davis. The requirements for William's summer and winter clothes are described at length.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 30
L.W. Lane, Contract for Electric Current1918 September 19English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1
L.W. Lane's land sale to Power City Investment Co.1916-1918English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
Bond, L.W. Lane and Esso Standard Oil1926 JanuaryEnglish
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
L.W. Lane, Sr. Materials1869-1886EnglishScope and Contents
Materials related to Lane's tenure as Treasurer and Deputy Sheriff of James City County
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
Shield's Point Land and Timber1876-1909EnglishScope and Contents
Materials include deeds and correspondence related to the timber business
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
James H. Lane Correspondence1895-1899EnglishScope and Contents
Correspondence written on Alabama Polytechnic Institute (A.M. College) stationary
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6
Biographies of James H. Lane1946 and undatedEnglishScope and Contents
Handwritten biography, titled "James H. Lane and His Battles," appears to be written in Land's handwriting.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7
James H. Lane's History of WilliamsburgEnglish
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8
Last Will and Testament of Ezechael Lane1794 April 15EnglishScope and Contents
Will sets free nine enslaved persons and some of their children; lands and enslaved person to his grandson; specifically mentions Point Comfort, Piankatank River, Mathews County.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 9
Kate C. Young Tax Receipts1888-1910English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 10
Kate C. Young Tax Receipts1911English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11
Kate C. Young, Checks1903, 1911-1912English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 12
Kate C. Young Deeds1899-1911English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 13
Kate C. Young, Financial Documents1887-1910English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 14
Kate C. Young, Insurance Policy1911EnglishScope and Contents
Deed is for a property on Victoria Avenue in West Hampton, Virginia
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 15
Deeds for City of Williamsburg Properties1882-1913English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 16
Deeds for York County Properties1884-1911English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 17
Correspondence between W.S. Spencer and Martha Lane Spencer1878English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 18
Death of Spencer Lane1927 February 7English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 19
Oyster Business Records1900-1911English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 20
W.W. Vest's Receipts1881-1890English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 21
Nu Chapter House Corporation Bonds1920English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 22
Letter and Bond1921EnglishScope and Contents
Signed by B.R. James, of Kappa Sigma Fraternity
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 23
R.W. Lane, Jr. Insurance Documents1930 SeptemberEnglish
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 24
L.W. Lane, Jr. York County Tax Receipts1931 DecemberEnglish
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 25
Miscellaneous Financial DocumentsEnglish
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 26
WWI Mobilization Regulations1917English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 26
Redemption Liberty Loan Form1927English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 27
Invitation to the Alumni Celebration of the 166th Anniversary of the College of William & Mary1859 February 19English
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 28
Final Celebration Program for William & Mary's Phoenix and Philomathean Societies1879 June 30English