Life, Death & Archives

The primary purpose of an archive is to act as a center for memory. This memory can be preserved in emails sent 2 months ago or a journal kept 200 years ago. As centers of memory, archives therefore act as living memorials to the individuals and communities they serve. Archives grow, adapt, and transform but the function remains constant, preservation of memory.

With memory comes the inevitability of the human experience, beginnings and endings. Archives are full of both. Records of life. Records of activity, and action. However, these records are often available in archives due to endings. The end of a governor’s term. The death of a grandparent. The financial insolvency of a business. Therefore, in more ways than one, Archives also act as centers of death. To highlight the function of Archives as both places of memorial and memorial, the theme for Virginia Archives Month 2026 is Remember Me: Death and Memorial in the archives.

Records Concerning Death

Records concerning death reveal more about an individual than simply the ending. While the original purpose of the record many be to document a person’s death, in many cases these also act as reflections on an individual’s life. For example, Civil death registrations and certificates frequently contain information regarding occupations, health conditions, names of parents, siblings, and spouses, as well as hints to the activities of the deceased. Death records can also offer valuable insight into the lived experiences of surviving relatives. For instance, they may help explain abrupt or substantial shifts to a family’s economic or social circumstances or shed light on decisions regarding remarriage, relocation, or the division of property. Literal death registrations and certificates are only part of the broader historical record concerning death.

Account Receipt from Jas. T Morriss, General Furnishing Undertaker.

John G. Archer vs Admr of William Archer, 1886-005, Chesterfield Chancery Causes.

Examples of Life through Death in the Archives

Additional sources, such as those listed below, may appear to have little to do with the life of an individual. However, these unsuspecting collections can reveal not only information about causes of death and location of burial, but also the communities, individuals, and environments that shaped everyday life of the deceased.

Business Records

Records related to death such as stone carver, funeral homes (such as L. T. Christian Funeral Home), and casket makers can provide information around wealth, burial rites, and symbolism as it relates to a community’s culture around memorialization and death.

Cemetery Records

Cemetery records, such as those for Evergreen and Woodland Cemeteries, may contain the typical interment records, which include names, birthdates (if available), gender, and plot location, but also provide information on family groups, organization the individual was a part of, as well as religious distinctions.

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Chancery Records

Chancery causes concerning estate divisions and debt are in many cases brought before the court after the death of someone. Although these cases result from death, the wills, depositions, contracts, and other exhibits in these cases can provide detailed information about how a person, family unit, or business operated.

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Commission Records

State sponsored commissions concerning past wars tend to produce extensive documentation regarding veterans of these conflicts. While these may contain similar information to military service records, there may also be information concerning an individual’s role in their community before and/or after their military service.

Coroner’s Inquisitions

The inquests and testimonies found in coroners’ inquisition contain various insights into familial relationships, community relationships, descriptions of environments, occupations, and more. The purpose of the inquisition is to determine a cause of death, but in some instances, these records also provide a real glimpse into how someone lived.

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Governors’ Records

There is information scattered throughout Governors’ records, but Clemency Records are particularly interesting. In cases of homicide, manslaughter, and similarly violent crimes, these records can provide additional information concerning the life of a victim and the alleged perpetrator. Letters may reveal more information about motives and relationships that are not present in court filing. Petitions and cards may reveal the standing of the alleged perpetrator in the community, their time in prison, or the power of organizations and local networks.

Newspapers

From obituaries to headlines. From features to local news. Newspapers consistently cover beginning, endings, and everything in-between.

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Unclaimed Property records

Unclaimed property is retained by the Treasurer after being declared unclaimed property. After 20 years, records of historic and research value from abandoned safety deposit boxes come to the Library of Virginia. Although these records often come to the Library because of someone’s life transitions or death, these records include photographs, deeds, letters, ephemera, and all sorts of information about the individual’s life.

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