Archives – Page 17 – The UncommonWealth

Random Reference: What Happened to Uncle Harry?

The best thing about being a reference archivist is that every time you pick up the phone you have no idea what the question will…

Dawn TinnellJune 7, 2021

Archives Highlights

The Veney family of the Northern Neck: Sarah’s Story

Around 1712, two women were transported by ship to Virginia’s Northern Neck. The elder was named Mary and the younger Bess, who was about 13…

Greg CrawfordJune 2, 2021

Archives

Universal Leaf Tobacco Company of China, Federal, Inc., U.S.A.

Tobacco has been an important part of Virginia’s economy for centuries, starting with the Virginia Indians who cultivated native plants and John Rolfe’s attempts in…

Cara GriggsMay 26, 2021

Archives Digital Projects

Wanted: Volunteers to Index Virginia Vital Records!

The Library of Virginia houses an extensive collection of vital records, including birth and death records, 1853-1896, and marriage records, 1853-1935. Genealogists and family historians…

Paige NealMay 24, 2021

Archives

The Creation of the Virginia Asian Advisory Board

On 19 January 2001, Rep. Leo C. Wardrup, Jr. (R-83) introduced HB 2859, which called for the creation of the Virginia-Asian Advisory Board (VAAB) “to…

Cara GriggsMay 12, 2021

Archives

Random Reference: Language Lessons

Want to learn another language? The Library of Virginia’s archival collections could be a place to start! Virginians learn new languages for a variety of…

Cara GriggsMay 3, 2021

Archives

“Endeavor to Restore Them” : Accessing the Records of Virginia’s State Hospitals

When we began our careers at the Library of Virginia, in 1995 and 1999 respectively, there existed a stigma around certain types of records, especially…

Library of VirginiaApril 28, 2021

Archives

Governor L. Douglas Wilder Records Available for Research

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce that the records of Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder have been fully processed and are available for research.…

Mike StromApril 14, 2021

Archives

Kidnapped into Slavery: The Freedom Suit of Francis Jackson

The 2013 film 12 Years a Slave adapted the historical memoirs of Solomon Northup, a free African American from New York who was kidnapped and…

McKenzie LongApril 7, 2021

Archives

Annie Missed the Mark…Just Once

Occasionally, we ask guest writers to share information or stories about researching in our collections, public library programming or activities, and other topics which Library…

Guest ContributorMarch 17, 2021

Archives Education & Programming

“Her prospects of election”: Virginia Women Run for Office

"The political woman will be a menace," warned anti-suffragists during the campaign for women's voting rights. Not only would women in politics threaten the family…

Mari JulienneMarch 3, 2021

Archives

Random Reference: Scrapbooking Anyone?

A few years ago, my mother and I were cleaning out some closets and I ran across a scrapbook she made as a college freshman.…

Ginny DunnMarch 1, 2021

Archives

Colley’s Calling: Reconstruction-Era Richmonders in Africa

On 13 September 1886, an ill W. W. Colley returned to Richmond, Virginia, from Liberia, trying once again to outrun scandal. However, the month-long boat…

Jessi BennettFebruary 17, 2021

Archives

Seeking Justice for The Martinsville Seven

Editor's Note: The Governor issued a posthumous pardon for the Martinsville Seven on 31 August 2021. Last week marked the 70th anniversary of the February…

Roger ChristmanFebruary 10, 2021

Archives Newspapers

‘Recreational warriors’ of the Gridiron: The Olympia Football Squad

Since 1967, Americans have been gathering around their televisions at this time of year to watch the pugnacity and pageantry that is the National Football…

Vince BrooksFebruary 3, 2021