The records of the Office of the Bursar are some of the earliest and most comprehensive records of William & Mary, some from the 18th century survive to the present day! The accounts document the financial interactions of William & Mary and its personnel in the 18th-19th centuries. While many people might not associate accounting records with interesting historical revelations, the Bursar records are an excellent example of how a wealth of diverse information can be tucked away in the seemingly mundane. For instance, a folder titled "Bursar Accounts, 1804-1818," with documents titled "Accounts of Receipts and Expenditures" contains a trove of information regarding the College's involvement with slavery.
Scholars have recently begun asking questions about universities' involvement with the slave trade.[1] In 2009, students and faculty at William & Mary called for a full investigation into the College's role in perpetuating slavery and racial discrimination.[2] In response, the Lemon Project was created. The Office of the Bursar Records contains multiple references to slavery and enslaved people, including enslaved people held by the College. These documents help shed new light on the extent of the College's role in slavery. Due to a lack of primary sources, very little is known about individual enslaved people compared to the system of slavery as a whole. These records contain important fragmentary evidence that, with other documents, could enable researchers to craft a more comprehensive narrative.
This document shows payments to enslaved people held by William & Mary. It is not always clear which enslaved people were held by the College and which hired by the College. Note that Lemon was paid for corn and postage; Betty (the cook) was paid for 2 months hire; and Lemon and Pompey received money at Christmas.
[1] Craig Steven Wilder, Ebony and Ivy: Race, Slavery, and the Troubled History of America's Universities (New York: Bloomsbury Press, 2013).