Inventory of the Colonial Hotel Records 1913-1930 Colonial Hotel Records Mss. Acc. 2006.68 and 2007.76

Inventory of the Colonial Hotel Records 1913-1930

A Collection in the
Special Collections Research Center
Accession Number Mss. Acc. 2006.68 and 2007.76


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Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Special Collections
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8794
USA
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Email: spcoll@wm.edu
URL: http://swem.wm.edu/scrc/

© 2009 By the College of William and Mary. All rights reserved.

Repository:
Special Collections Research Center
Identification:
01/Mss. Acc. 2006.68 and 2007.76
Title:
Colonial Hotel Records 1913-1930
Quantity:
69.00
Creator:
Johnston, Mary A. Colonial Hotel Management arrangement
Language of Materials
The papers are in: English
Abstract:
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.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred Citation

Colonial Hotel Records, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information

The materials were acquired by Special Collections Research Center on 11/15/2006.

Processing Information

Arranged and described by Anne T. Johnson.

Biographical Note

Mary A. Johnson was manager of the Colonial Hotel, Williamsburg, Virginia. There may be additional information concerning this individual in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki

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, VA, 5 issues of the Virginia Gazette and 2 issues of William and Mary Flat Hat.

Built in 1895, The Colonial Hotel, or Colonial Inn, was located where Chowning's Tavern was reconstructed. Williamsburg Restoration purchased it and renamed it "Williamsburg Inn." It operated under that name until the new Williamsburg Inn was built in 1933.

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.


Index Terms

    Genre/Form of Material:

  • Correspondence
  • Deeds
  • Geographic Name:

  • Williamsburg (Va.)--Hotel

Detailed Description of the Collection

Folder 1
Brochure and Deed, 1913 and 1920 ,

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.

Folder 2
Correspondence, 1928 ,

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.

Folder 3
Correspondence, 1929 ,

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.

Folder 4
Correspondence, 1930 ,

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.

Folder 5
Correspondence, undated ,

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.

Folder 6
Envelopes and Forms, undated ,

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.

Folder 7
Newspapers, 1930 ,

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.