Archives – Page 29 – The UncommonWealth

Archives

Virginia Untold: Petitions to Remain

As told in an earlier blog, James Dunlop of Petersburg emancipated his slave, John Brown, in April 1822 through a deed of manumission. One would…

Greg CrawfordFebruary 15, 2017

Archives

It’s A Virginia Thing: Helping One Native Colleague at a Time

Back in 2010 when I was processing the Nelson County chancery suits, I found a remarkable genealogical chart of the prominent Carter family. From that…

Callie FreedFebruary 8, 2017

Archives

Mug Shot Monday: Michael Bertone, No. 18654 and No. 21579

This is the latest entry in a series of posts highlighting inmate photographs in the records of the Virginia Penitentiary. Michael Bertone, the subject of this…

Roger ChristmanFebruary 6, 2017

Archives

York County’s Forgotten Founder

York County, originally named Charles River County for King Charles I, was one of the eight Virginia shires (counties) first enumerated in 1634. A document…

Callie FreedJanuary 25, 2017

Archives Conservation The Stacks

Court Records Preservation Pioneers: Martha Woodroof Hiden

The naming of the local history and genealogy reading room at Newport News Public Library after Martha Woodroof Hiden is well deserved. Born in Orange…

Eddie WoodwardJanuary 18, 2017

Archives

A Last Resort: Madison County Reenslavement Petitions

In 1856, the General Assembly decided that free African Americans could petition their county or city court to be enslaved. These individuals had to be…

Cara GriggsJanuary 11, 2017

Archives

Mug Shot Monday: Willie Williams, No. 17280

This is the latest entry in a series of posts highlighting inmate photographs in the records of the Virginia Penitentiary. Willie Williams’, the subject of this week’s post,…

Roger ChristmanJanuary 9, 2017

Archives Conservation The Stacks

Westmoreland County Cohabitation Registers Now Online

Last summer, the Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk Gwynne Chatham contacted the Library of Virginia concerning old marriage records that staff discovered in her office.…

Greg CrawfordJanuary 4, 2017

Archives

Here We Go A-Caroling

The Out of the Box bloggers will be taking a break for the holidays, but we’ll be back in the new year! In the meantime,…

Claire RadcliffeDecember 21, 2016

Archives

Mug Shot Monday: William H. Oehlert, No. 11708 and 17831

This is the latest entry in a series of posts highlighting inmate photographs in the records of the Virginia Penitentiary. William Oehlert had a lengthy criminal record,…

Roger ChristmanDecember 19, 2016

Archives Digital Projects The Stacks

Electoral College Digital Collection Released

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce the release of the Electoral College Digital Collection. The Library has a variety of records scattered across…

Roger ChristmanDecember 15, 2016

Archives Manuscripts & Special Collections

Pearl Harbor: December 7, 1941

With those words, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan. Millions of Americans learned about the attack and heard the president’s…

Roger ChristmanDecember 7, 2016

Archives Digital Projects The Stacks

Library Makes New Batch of Emails from Governor Timothy M. Kaine Administration Available Online

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce the release of 10,441 emails from the administration of Governor Timothy M. Kaine (2006-2010). This latest batch…

Roger ChristmanNovember 30, 2016

Archives

The Value of a Man: The Muse Brothers of Franklin County

People looked at the Muse Brothers, Georgie and Willie, and saw something different. Some saw objects of pity. Some saw objects of ridicule. Some saw…

Vince BrooksNovember 23, 2016

Archives

Mug Shot Monday: John Henry Green, No. 44916

This is the latest entry in a series of posts highlighting inmate photographs in the records of the Virginia Penitentiary. John Henry Green, known as the…

Roger ChristmanNovember 14, 2016