author
E. G. (Earl Gregg) Swem
1870–1965
Best known for creating the monumental Virginia Historical Index, this meticulous librarian and bibliographer helped generations of readers, historians, and genealogists find their way into Virginia's past. His long career at William & Mary left such a mark that the college later named its main library in his honor.
1 Audiobook
A Selected Bibliography of Virginia, 1607-1699
by E. G. (Earl Gregg) Swem, John M. (John Melville) Jennings
About the author
Born in Iowa in 1870, Earl Gregg Swem became an American historian, bibliographer, and librarian whose work was closely tied to the study of Virginia history. Before arriving at the College of William & Mary, he worked at the Library of Congress and the Virginia State Library, building the deep reference skills that would define his career.
Swem served as librarian at William & Mary from 1920 to 1944. He was known not only for strengthening the college's collections, but also for making the library more usable and welcoming. His most famous achievement was the Virginia Historical Index, a massive reference work that became a standard tool for historians and genealogists researching Virginia.
After retiring, he continued working on historical and editorial projects, and his influence remained strong enough that William & Mary named its library for him. Remembered as a patient organizer of knowledge as much as a scholar, he turned careful indexing and bibliography into lasting public service.