Poll Books – The UncommonWealth

Vote For Me! Governor’s Election Records at the Library of Virginia

As everyone should be aware, it’s almost time to vote for a new governor of Virginia. Election Day is next Tuesday, 7 November, but going…

Ginny DunnNovember 2, 2017

Election Time: Poll Books of the 1867 Election

On 22 October 1867, African American men cast votes for the first time in Virginia; this significant event was recorded in poll books in counties…

Paige NealOctober 23, 2017

Archives Education & Programming

Remaking Virginia: “To Secure Justice for Ourselves”

This is the fourth in a series of four blog posts concerning post-Civil War Virginia and the lives of freedpeople after Emancipation. The posts precede the…

Mari JulienneJuly 1, 2015