Latest Post
Welcome Drew McNaughton: Our New Library Systems Administrator!
Posted March 5, 2026
Introducing the newest member of the Digital Services team, Drew McNaughton!
W&M Libraries Blog
Recently Processed: Helen Rodgers Weber Letters
Posted
A good romantic love story has universal appeal.
Hip Hop in the SCRC
Posted
William & Mary's Hip-Hop Collections features two unopened CD cases of "Urban Legend" by Richmond MC, JayQuan.
Who's Susie?
Posted
As an archival processor in Swem's Special Collections Research Center, Mariaelena DiBenigno, PhD candidate, has been reading a lot about World War II.
I Belong
Posted
For four days, Tijeras Avenue and 2nd Street in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico was immersed with people who worked in libraries, and most were people of color.
Student Voices: Keyyatta Bonds
Posted
My name is Keyyatta Bonds, and I am part of the second cohort of the William & Mary Libraries Mosaic Program. I am Sophomore at the College, planning to major in International Relations (even though taking more ECON classes is not what I envisioned for my future).
Women in World War I: Preserving Humanity in History
Posted
On December 25, 1918, Edith Neele Gibbons, of Cleveland, Ohio, was aboard the S. S. Coronia en route to London.
The Resurrection of Frankenstein
Posted
This year is the 200th anniversary of the release of Mary Shelley's classic Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.
Open Access & Open Education Resources (OER)
Posted
October 21 is the start of Open Access Week, that time every year when we salute all things open access. This year, W&M Libraries is focusing on Open Education Resources (OER), which are freely accessible, openly licensed text, media, and other digital assets that are useful for teaching, learning, and assessing as well as for research purposes.
October is Archives Month!
Posted
During the month of October we celebrate National Archives Month! Often the profession of an archivist can seem ambiguous, since the role can entail varied duties and areas of expertise.
Lord Botetourt Coffin Plate Returns - Come See It!
Posted
This exhibit celebrates the return of Lord Botetourt's coffin plate to the University Archives and commemorates the anniversary of his death on October 15, 1770. This is the first time it has been exhibited on the William & Mary campus since 1956.
Sally Daingerfield's "Plastic" Photograph Album Cover from 1867
Posted
Recently, Kim Sims, university archivist, and Christina Luers, archives collections specialist, had a unique opportunity to view scientific artifacts at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Special Collections Staff Participate in SAA
Posted
August 12-18 was the Society of American Archivist's Annual Conference, held in Washington, D.C. This year, two William & Mary staff members presented at the conference: Christina Luers, CA, Archives Collections Specialist for Special Collections Research Center, and Jay Gaidmore, Director of Special Collections. Their sessions were among 73 presentations at this year's conference that were selected from a record-setting 277 submitted proposals.
A 1926 Summer Cruise
Posted
Cruising for pleasure in 1926 was not quite the same as a cruise ship vacation ride today.
What is Text & Data Mining (TDM)?
Posted
TDM helps us discover, through the analysis of complex data sets, new information in the form of trends, patterns, and relationships.
W&M Flight School & the College Airport
Posted
In September 1931 William & Mary established a department of aeronautics.
A SCRC Volunteer's Exploration of Maps
Posted
I greeted my most recent assignment as a volunteer at the Special Collections Research Center enthusiastically.
A New Guide for the Budding Genealogist
Posted
There is no doubt that the Williamsburg area is steeped in history. From the first permanent British settlement in the U.S. at Jamestown to the battlefield at Yorktown, and of course Colonial Williamsburg right next to the William & Mary campus, the area it is truly America's Historic Triangle.
What does a digital scholarship librarian do anyway?
Posted
When people meet me, they often ask what I do, and when I give them my title, Digital Scholarship Librarian, they are just as unclear on my job duties as before they asked. Then, I flesh out the role a bit more. Essentially, I work to promote and support scholarship which goes on around campus.
Must Love Dogs: Royal Pooches
Posted
Last week, I had the opportunity to meet HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and show him some of the rich materials held in Special Collections. I wanted to make sure to highlight the dog book collection, and I came across titles related to HRH's grandfather, King George V, as well as his first cousin, Queen Elizabeth II. Of the ones I chose to display, the following titles are my favorites.
What Happens in a Research Appointment? (RA Series #1)
Posted
Many students are intimidated by making a research appointment because they don't know what will or can happen. I'm here to dispel the myths and rumors around the conundrum that is the Research Appointment. This blog post will be the first in a series about how we conduct our Research Appointments.