"The Special Collections Research Center at the Earl Gregg Swem Library features a wealth of material relating to African-American history. Among the holdings are 76 collections with content concerning slavery. The collections range from the well-known family papers of Tucker-Coleman, Skipwith, Tyler, Jerdone and Austin-Twyman to some little known and quite early documents from Warwick County, dating from 1700, including an indenture (1717) of “Batteran” to be a carpenter’s apprentice. The collections include 13 letters written by slaves—letters which show the struggle to keep the family together during the horrors of bondage. Also included are manuscript account books, which include not only financial records regarding slaves but occasionally record births and deaths."

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