Archives – Page 8 – The UncommonWealth

Acts of Valor in World War II

On March 25th, we commemorate National Medal of Honor Day, providing an opportunity to explore the stories of the fifteen Virginians who were honored with…

Lauren CaravatiMarch 25, 2024

Archives

The Centennial of the Law to Preserve Racial Integrity

March 20th marks the centennial of Governor Elbert Lee Trinkle signing the Racial Integrity Act (RIA) into law. In simplistic terms, the RIA required every…

Ashley CraigMarch 20, 2024

Archives The Stacks

Description for All Virginians: Inclusive Description Efforts at the Library of Virginia

Since its establishment in 1823, the Library of Virginia has been managed and staffed largely by white, middle class, cisgender people. Consequently, the collections stored…

Library of VirginiaMarch 6, 2024

Archives Newspapers

No Sham Sales! Fashion Ads in Newspapers Over the Years

Occasionally we have researchers who want to know what fashion was like in a certain place in Virginia during a certain time. It might be…

Ginny DunnMarch 4, 2024

Archives Conservation

The Winners of $3.2 Million in Court Record Preservation Grants for 2024!

The Circuit Court Records Preservation Program (CCRP) Grant Review Board met on 13 February 2024 at the Library of Virginia to evaluate 124 records preservation grant…

Greg CrawfordMarch 1, 2024

Archives

Stolen Coats, Stolen Freedom

In July 1813, a Black man named Roger was charged in the Richmond City Hustings Court with stealing a “Sourtaurt great coat.” I was not…

Lydia NeurothFebruary 28, 2024

Archives Conservation

Records Room Road Trips: Rounding Out Summer 2023

In mid-August I began what might be termed the final leg of my summer CCRP travel schedule. Throughout the course of the spring and summer,…

Eddie WoodwardFebruary 21, 2024

Archives Digital Projects

Lost Records Localities Digital Collection Gets a New Look

Regular readers of The UncommonWealth, as well as seasoned local records researchers, are likely familiar with the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection. We have covered…

Vince BrooksFebruary 14, 2024

Archives Highlights

Records of the Virginia Revolutionary Conventions, 1774-1776 Now Online.

The first set of records from the Virginia Revolutionary Conventions, 1774-1776 collection are now available on the Library of Virginia’s Digital Collections Discovery site. The…

Greg CrawfordFebruary 7, 2024

Archives Newspapers

Law Enforcement in the Wild Southwest

When I received a request to find information in newspapers about a game warden in Wise County during the 1920s, I didn’t expect to find…

Annie HattonFebruary 5, 2024

Archives

Records Room Road Trips: The End…For Now

On a map, the destinations of my recent CCRP travel appear somewhat scattershot. The 2024FY CCRP grant cycle opened back in August, and a few…

Tracy HarterJanuary 24, 2024

Archives

Identifying a Ledger: A Noteworthy Business Record at the Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia started accessioning business records in 1911. State Librarian Henry Read McIlwaine recognized the importance of such records. “From this source by…

Kenneth ForestJanuary 22, 2024

Archives

Faxtual Information

Archives are full of old examples of different methods of storing and sharing information whether these be frakturs, index cards or poll books. Each present…

Jessi BennettJanuary 17, 2024

Archives Digital Projects

Red Cross Women and Donuts in World War II

The American Red Cross had over seven million volunteers during World War II and provided many services and supplies that impacted the war and troops1.…

Lauren CaravatiJanuary 3, 2024

Archives

“Arrest of A Yankee Kidnapper”

On the morning of July 23, 1856, ship mate Joseph Chadwick was sitting on the rail of the schooner Danville when he heard a strange…

Lydia NeurothDecember 20, 2023