The UncommonWealth – Voices from The Library of Virginia

Archives Manuscripts & Special Collections

More Than a Policy: Enslaved Life Insurance and Virginia’s Industrial Economy

Many of us know what a life insurance policy looks like. Even if we have never owned one, we understand its basic purpose: a person…

Michelle Evans OliverAugust 24, 2026

The Stacks

Storing Isn’t Managing: The Government Records Problem Hiding in Plain Sight

The evolution of the management of government records has surpassed the complexities of paper formats. Government entities are taking measures to facilitate digitization projects, which…

Teshawna ThreatAugust 19, 2026

Uncategorized

Newly-Available Archival Accessions, April 1-June 30, 2026

The Library of Virginia maintains the most comprehensive collection of information about Virginia’s history, culture, and government. We hold more than 200 million manuscript items,…

Trenton HizerAugust 17, 2026

Perseverance Pays Off: How One 19th century Individual Restored His Rights

In recent years, readers may have become familiar with the term “conservatorship.” Most prominently, this topic has been connected to one of the most popular…

Callie FreedAugust 12, 2026

Public Libraries The Stacks

Bridging Virginia’s Digital Divide: The Essential Role of Public Libraries

Across Virginia, public libraries are not only places to borrow books; they are essential hubs for digital connection. For many households, the library is the…

Cindy ChurchAugust 10, 2026

Archives Digital Projects Education & Programming The Stacks

Introducing the Ideas in Action Project

But first things first, I’m Eric Johnson, the coordinator of the Ideas in Action: Virginians Petition Their Government, 1776-1786 project, a three-year initiative at the…