A Selected Bibliography of Virginia, 1607-1699 — Key Ideas to Explore

The Foreword as a Statement of Method

The foreword functions as a methodological manifesto. Swem and Jennings describe their arrangement as "designed for browsing," with secondary works grouped by subject and primary materials arranged chronologically. This structure prioritizes serendipitous discovery over strict academic citation. The compilers also acknowledge their collaborators, including James A. Servies, whose "rare gift of discerning bibliographical values" is praised. Such acknowledgments humanize the compilation process and hint at the subjective judgments involved. The foreword's tone is collegial and encouraging, urging readers to "hasten with joy to the nearest college or reference library." This warmth contrasts with the dry entries that follow, suggesting the compilers saw their work as a gateway to further research.

Entry-Level Choices: Abbreviation and Annotation

Each entry in the bibliography is a study in concision. For example, the entry for John Smith's A true relation (1608) lists the original London edition, a Boston reprint, and two modern reprints in collected works. The compilers omit full publication details, relying on abbreviations like "Am. antiq. soc., Trans." and "Force tracts." This shorthand assumes a reader familiar with standard reference works. Some entries include brief annotations, such as "Includes 'The description of the now-discovered river and country of Virginia; with the liklyhood of ensuing ritches,' p. 59-62." These annotations highlight specific contents, guiding the reader to particularly valuable sections. The compilers also cross-reference entries, as when they note that a letter is "Reprinted: John Smith, Travels and works, ed. by Arber, v. 1, p. xl-lv." Such cross-references create a web of connections within the bibliography.

The Role of Primary Sources: Chronology and Selection

The bibliography's primary source section is organized by date, from "before 1607" to 1699. This chronological arrangement emphasizes the sequential development of Virginia's early history. The compilers include a mix of official documents (charters, council letters), personal accounts (letters from John Smith and Gabriel Archer), and promotional works (sermons by William Crashaw and Robert Gray's A good speed to Virginia). The inclusion of sermons and promotional tracts alongside more straightforward narratives reveals the compilers' interest in the ideological and religious dimensions of colonization. For instance, Crashaw's sermon is listed with its full title, which includes the phrase "preached in London before the right honorable the Lord La Warre." This title alone conveys the sermon's occasion and audience, hinting at the intersection of religion and colonial enterprise.

Diction and Tone in the Bibliographic Entries

The language of the entries is consistently neutral and factual, but occasional word choices reveal the compilers' perspective. For example, they describe Robert Gray's A good speed to Virginia as "Offering most excellent fruites by planting in Virginia," quoting the subtitle directly. This verbatim inclusion preserves the promotional rhetoric of the original. Similarly, they note that a letter by John Ratcliffe is "to the Earl of Salisbury," emphasizing the political connections of early colonists. The compilers also use the term "reprinted" frequently, signaling the availability of these texts in modern editions. This choice reflects their goal of making rare materials accessible. The overall tone is one of scholarly detachment, yet the careful selection of which details to include—such as the mention of "Tyndall's map" with a facsimile reproduction—shows a curatorial eye for what will aid the researcher.

This bibliography is best approached as a curated pathway into seventeenth-century Virginia sources. The compilers' decisions—what to include, how to abbreviate, and how to arrange—are themselves historical evidence of mid-twentieth-century scholarly priorities. Readers should note the foreword's emphasis on accessibility and the entries' reliance on standard reference works. For those beginning research, the cross-references and annotations offer a map of the field, while the chronological arrangement provides a sense of historical progression. The bibliography rewards browsing, as the compilers intended.

There’s something tender about how Swem and Jennings chose what mattered from Virginia’s first century—every entry a small act of faith. It reminds me of thumbing through the Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Destructors" to "Diameter" Volume 8, Slice 3 — Themes and Context as a kid, feeling that any random page might hold a quiet world. Both feel like curated windows, not doors.