African American History – Page 4

Archives

The Veney Family of the Northern Neck: Rachel’s Story

In 1791, Rachel Veney’s mother Sarah won a case in the district court of Northumberland County for her freedom and the freedom of her descendants.…

Greg CrawfordJune 9, 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 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

Education & Programming

We Demand Complete Realization: The Slow Legal Fight for Enfranchisement

CONTENT WARNING: Materials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and…

Jessi BennettSeptember 11, 2020

Archives Education & Programming

“On Account of Race”: Disenfranchisement of Black Voters in Virginia

The history of African American disenfranchisement and exclusion in Virginia is a lengthy one. This blog post is meant to serve as an introduction and…

Jessi BennettSeptember 9, 2020

Archives

Black Businesses in Antebellum Virginia

During the antebellum period in Virginia, enslaved men and women who gained their freedom did have the potential to enter into their own business and…

Robert HinesJuly 15, 2020

Newspapers

Why Juneteenth?

In mid-October of 1899, Richmond's Black Community prepared to have a three day celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation complete with a large downtown parade. The Richmond…

Jessi BennettJune 19, 2020

Digital Projects Public Libraries

Public Library Spotlight: A Preservation Partnership

This is a post in our new series highlighting the people and programs of the public libraries of Virginia. To view more posts about our…

Jessi BennettApril 13, 2020

Archives

“Irrespective of Race or Color”: African Americans and the Making of a New Virginia Constitution

On 17 April 1868, exactly seven years after a Virginia convention had voted to secede from the United States, another Virginia convention voted to approve…

John DealApril 17, 2019

Archives

The Remarkable Hodges Family of Princess Anne County and Norfolk

During the night of 23 April 1829, six African American men made a daring escape from the Norfolk County jail. One of them was William…

Brent TarterMarch 6, 2019

Archives Digital Projects The Stacks

Library of Virginia and Virginia Museum of History & Culture Merge Databases of Records of Enslaved Virginians

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) and the Library of Virginia are cooperating to provide greater access to African American history and genealogy…

Greg CrawfordFebruary 21, 2019

Archives

From Lancaster to Lunenburg: Betty Chapman’s Story in Virginia Untold

In 1788, the Virginia General Assembly reformed the state judicial courts in order alleviate congestion in the General Court, which had caused unreasonable delays in…

Greg CrawfordFebruary 11, 2019

Newspapers

Reading Obituaries as Historical Texts

On February 19, 1887, the Afro-American Churchman published an obituary for Reverend Samuel V. Berry. From this entry, we learn how Rev. Berry received his…

Kim BowmanSeptember 5, 2018

Archives

"The Body of an Infant There and Then Laying Dead”: Infanticide in Coroner’s Inquisitions At The Library of Virginia

Editor’s Note: The Library of Virginia, in partnership with Virginia Humanities, sponsors residential fellows during the academic year to conduct in-depth research in the Library’s…

Kristen GreenJune 27, 2018

Newspapers

Virginia’s Lost Papers

As part of an ongoing effort to give voice to nineteenth-century African Americans through digital projects like Virginia Untold and Virginia Chronicle, the Virginia Newspaper…

Kyle RogersJune 26, 2018