Special Collections Research Center
Special Collections Research Center
Williamsburg Historic Records Association Collection
The Williamsburg Historic Records Association (WHRA) is an organization dedicated to collecting and preserving records of post-colonial Williamsburg, James City County, and York County. It gives all its material to the Special Collections Research Center of the College of William and Mary's Swem Library. There the documents are processed, kept in a climate-controlled environment, and made available to researchers.
WHRA has gathered thousands of diversified documents, ranging from a single photo to large collections of personal papers and organizational records. Especially important are 19th and 20th-century letters, diaries, wills, deeds, photographs, books, maps, newspaper clippings, scrap books, pamphlets, medical records, programs of events, church and school records, membership lists of local organizations, phone books and school year books.
If you have such records, you can write to the WHRA at P.O. Box 1708, Williamsburg, VA 23187.
An annual meeting is held each Spring to discuss acquisitions and to hear a speaker on local history.
Guidance in finding materials is available at the SCRC's Access Tools page.
For further information about the collection, contact Susan Riggs, Manuscripts and Rare Book Librarian, at 757-221-3095.