by Emily Croom, November 1996
Everyone who works on Virginia genealogy or history, especially in the colonial and early national periods, should use the Swem Index. This is the familiar name for the extensive Virginia Historical Index, by Earl Gregg Swem, long-time librarian of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. This monumental two-volume work was originally published in 1934 and was reprinted in 1965 by Peter Smith of Magnolia, Massachusetts. Although Swem was employed by the college, the index was not a publication of the college or any other institution or society. It was the brainchild of a group of members of the Virginia Historical Society but was paid for with private contributions.
The index offers comprehensive coverage of eight important Virginia publications. Entries refer searchers to the pertinent publication, volume and page number with a code, such as 7V45. The first number is the volume; the second is the beginning page number of the referenced material. The letter refers to the publication:
Index entries span over three hundred years of life in Virginia, but the majority relate to the colonial period. In fact, the eight publications were chosen for the index because of their emphasis on the colonial period. Swem believed that the later history of Virginia could be properly understood only if the colonial period was better known, more thoroughly studied, and wisely interpreted. Contrary to some contemporary opinions, the editor also believed that modern study of the colonial period was far from exhausted and, in reality, had just begun. Continuing discoveries and new interpretations at Colonial Williamsburg affirm Swem’s conviction. When it was new, the index was an inventory of what had been published on colonial Virginia and was an effort to give researchers greater access to the information in these sources. In this context, genealogists are important factors in the study of the colonial era, in determining not only the identity and makeup of the families but also the way those ancestors fit into the society and events that surrounded them.
Entries include family and individual names, business and place names, historical and life events, headings for institutions and groups of people, and a myriad of cultural and historical topics. Surnames are spelled as they are in the original source, but cross-references to alternate spellings are sometimes given. Under each surname is listed each given name with its individual reference, as in Howat, James, 5N66. Sometimes the subheading family appears, as in Garner, family, 10V224. Often this kind of reference is to the family in general and not a listing of individual family members. On the other hand, named individuals can appear in the sources in many contexts: among siblings in a Bible record, on a tax or census list, on a military or college roster, as subject of a court case or letter, as a practitioner of a particular craft or occupation, in a marriage or land record, or in a family or local history narrative.
No entry exists for Virginia as a place name since the entire work concentrates on Virginia. However, headings are included for Virginia and West Virginia counties and towns and for other state and colonies, such as Kentucky, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and some of their counties and towns. One example is Georgia, Flournoy family in, 3V70. Entries for counties and towns give a good overview of coverage and may cross-reference other subjects that we would not have thought to look for. For example, the Augusta County entry lists many surnames and such other topics as Quakers in, 6W(2)39; settlers go to, for protection, 2V104; and tithables, 1773, 28V81. Listings such as the first two may or may not yield information on specific ancestral families, but references such as tithables, 1773 often guide the searcher to a list of eligible taxpayers and therefore are a valuable source for locating people in a given place and time.
Events, activities, occupations, and groups of people form a sizable portion of the index entries. The hundreds of topics range from marriages, divorce, courts, census, education, journals, racing, ferries, fords, taxes, and warehouses to ministers, clergy, health officers, Indians, and free Negroes. Subheadings may send readers to general information on each topic or to specific individuals engaged in the activity. Two important headings of this kind for genealogists are Bible Records and Bibles, which identify families whose Bible records are published in the source periodicals.
Examples of institutional entries are schools, colleges, academies, jails, and churches. The heading for churches lists many individual congregations as well as related subtopics, including fines for non-attendance. Hundreds of entries relate to cultural items, which are often very specific and can provide valuable information on how or why things were made or done in daily and business life. Some of the indexed subjects are building materials, bricks, drinks, cloth, clothing, furniture, tools, utensils, houses, saddlebags, bridles, ink powder, and inkstands. Under the heading Horses, for example, are a number of subheadings, including Phillips family; price of, 1700; and hair of, for wig making.
Who could not spend hours browsing through such an index and wishing for time to read and study the many subjects that sound intriguing? After all, the successful genealogist is also an historian, delving into all kinds of subjects that affected the lives of ancestors. In this process, we sometimes forget to use periodicals. The Swem Index helps correct this oversight by whetting our intellectual appetites and by giving us easy access to valuable information. Clayton Library takes away our excuses by providing all the materials.
[Emily Croom is a member of Clayton Library Friends and author of Unpuzzling Your Past: A Basic Guide to Genealogy, The Genealogist’s Companion & Sourcebook, and the new book, now available, The Unpuzzling Your Past Workbook: Essential Forms and Letters for All Genealogists.]