Posts – Page 102 – The UncommonWealth

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"I shall die by my hands" – The Death Row Suicide of Joseph "Cocky Joe" Robinson

Joseph Robinson, alias “Cocky Joe”, was convicted on 9 April 1951 in the Portsmouth City Hustings Court for the 1943 murder of Marc A. Terrell…

Roger ChristmanApril 20, 2011

Manuscripts & Special Collections The Stacks

The Ordinance of Secession Coverage From the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Editor's Note: This media is no longer available. Check out this video of our own Tom Camden, Special Collections Director, discussing a rarely seen copy of…

Dale DulaneyApril 18, 2011

Archives Education & Programming

Virginia Signs Off

Editor's Note: Guest contributor Mari Julienne joins us this week with some timely background information on a pivotal document in the state’s history. Virginia’s signed Ordinance…

Mari JulienneApril 13, 2011

Archives

Volumes Provide a Rare Glimpse Into the Life of Slaves at Furnaces

In July 1814, entrepreneur William Weaver made a chance investment in the Virginia iron industry along with his new partner, Thomas Mayberry. Weaver and Mayberry…

Bari HelmsApril 6, 2011

Archives

Dear Governor

Editor’s Note: Guest contributor Brent Tarter offers the following post, pointing out some interesting finds made by the creators of the Library of Virginia’s Union or Secession exhibition.…

Brent TarterMarch 30, 2011

Archives

Pre-Civil War Chancery Causes Rediscovered in Middlesex County Courthouse.

Local Records archivists recently travelled to the Middlesex County Circuit Court Clerk’s office to transfer their pre-1913 chancery causes to the Library of Virginia as…

Greg CrawfordMarch 29, 2011

Archives

First L.A., then Manhattan. LVA Staff in the News.

Two Library of Virginia staff members were mentioned in recent newspaper stories in both the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times. Edwin Ray, Reference Services Librarian, was…

Dale DulaneyMarch 28, 2011

Archives

America’s Oldest Brewery Offers Governor Kemper a “Delicious Stimulant”

An interesting letter was recently uncovered while processing the Executive Papers of Governor James L. Kemper. The letter, dated 28 September 1874, is written by…

Craig MooreMarch 23, 2011

Archives

Antique License Plates

At the 24 February 1910, meeting of the Manchester Ordinance Committee, committee member W. W. Workman moved that the city auditor be requested to advertise…

Sarah NerneyMarch 16, 2011

Education & Programming The Stacks

New Children’s Book About LVA Published! Book Signing March 17.

Tameka Hobbs will sign copies of To Collect, Protect, and Serve: Behind the Scenes at the Library of Virginia at the Virginia Shop on March 17 from…

Dale DulaneyMarch 14, 2011

Manuscripts & Special Collections

Introducing… the Organization Records Guide

Fraternal orders. Military regiments. Agricultural societies. Women’s organizations. Religious associations. Political parties. Schools. The Library of Virginia houses more than 650 collections of organization records…

Trenton HizerMarch 9, 2011

Manuscripts & Special Collections

David Walker’s "Appeal" in the News

On 3 March 2011 the University of Virginia’s Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library announced that it recently purchased a copy of David Walker’s anti-slavery “Appeal…

Roger ChristmanMarch 4, 2011

Archives

Murder at the Second Market

Editors Note: This post is a modified version of an article that originally appeared in the former “Virginiana” section of Virginia Memory. The following story was gleaned from…

Roger ChristmanMarch 2, 2011

Archives Conservation

Grant Allows Jefferson’s Papers To Be Preserved

The Library of Virginia recently received a highly competitive Save America’s Treasures grant in the amount of $110,000 for the conservation of the gubernatorial papers of…

Dale DulaneyFebruary 23, 2011

Archives

Happy Belated Presidents Day

This writ of capias caught our eye for two reasons. First, it concerns George Washington. Second, Washington, probably with sword or firearm, refused to enter…

Dale DulaneyFebruary 23, 2011