Alexandria Library

Alexandria

The Alexandria Library is a public library that offers various Genealogy and History resources. Its Local History/Special Collections division houses various sources related to early Alexandria, including Maps, Microfilm, Photographs, and dozens of Manuscript Collections. Some standouts from the manuscript collections include the Alexandria, Virginia City Records, the Ramsay Family Papers Collection, and the U.S. Seizure and Confiscation Book. Other resources are described in the Library’s Alexandria House Histories.

Augusta County Historical Society

Staunton

Housed inside Staunton’s R. R. Smith Center for History and Art, the Augusta County Historical Society actively collects documents, photographs, and books related to the history of Augusta County and its municipalities. Its Archives include several thousands manuscripts, with many dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. A full list of the Society’s archival holdings can be found here. The Society offers other Resources, including Local Cemetery Records.

Carol M. Newman Library

Blacksburg

As the main library for Virginia Tech, the Carol M. Newman Library boasts an impressive collection of early American sources. Its Special Collections and University Archives oversees several Collecting Areas. Strengths include the history of food and drink, women’s history, and the history of the Appalachian South. There are also over 500 unique manuscript collections pertaining to the American Civil War. Research Guides are available and finding aids can be browsed on Virginia Heritage. Researchers can also search the Special Collections through the Library’s Catalog. Much of the Special Collections’ material has been digitized and can be viewed with Special Collections and University Archives Online.

Carrier Library

Harrisonburg

Carrier Library serves as the central library for James Madison University. Its Special Collections focus on the history of the Central Shenandoah Valley, with some materials dating back to the 18th century. These items consist of Rare Books, Broadsides, Maps, and Manuscript Collections. A significant amount of the manuscripts pertain to the mid-19th century and the American Civil War. Much of the Special Collections’ material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Exhibits and Digital Collections.

Central Rappahannock Heritage Center

Fredericksburg

The Central Rappahannock Heritage Center collects and preserves the documentary history of Caroline County, King George County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, and the City of Fredericksburg. Its Collections are made up of over 120,000 archival materials and photographs, some of which date to the early 1700s. Various source types are present, including indentures, maps, deeds, wills, court records, land records, slave manuscripts and manumission papers, orderly books, ledgers, and so much more. Researchers can search the Center’s holdings through its Online Database. Some of the Center’s photographs are digitized and can be viewed through its Gallery.

Earl Gregg Swem Library

Williamsburg

The Earl Gregg Swem Library serves as the principal library for the College of William & Mary. Its Special Collections Research Center preserves the College’s rare prints and archival materials, much of which document the colonial and early national history of Virginia. These Collections are quite vast and include Books & Periodicals, the University Archives, and Manuscripts. Standouts from the manuscripts include papers of the Blair, Carter and Tyler families, and personal papers from Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, and James Monroe. Several Search Tools are available to researchers, including Collections Guides, Research Guides, and Swem Library’s Catalog. A large portion of Swem Libary’s materials have been digitized and can be viewed through its Exhibits and its Digital Archive.

Fairfax County Historic Records Center

Fairfax

Located in the Fairfax County Courthouse, the Fairfax County Historic Records Center collects and preserves the records of the Fairfax Circuit Court. These Holdings date back to the county’s founding in 1742 and include Wills, Deeds, Term Papers, Fiduciary Bonds, Chancery and Military records, Voting Records, Transportation files, and Other Records related to the Circuit Court and county governance. Notable Records include the Washington Wills. Other records kept at the Fairfax County Courthouse include Land Records, Vital Records, and the Fairfax Court Slavery Index.

Fenwick Library

Fairfax

Fenwick Library serves as the main library for George Mason University. Its archival holdings are administered by its Special Collections Research Center. The Research Center’s materials cover various aspects of Virginia’s early history, with many collections dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. These Collections are are arranged by subject, including Local History, Humanities & Social Sciences, University Archives, and Rare Books. Researchers can also browse the collections Alphabetically. Much of Fenwick Library’s special collections can be viewed online through its Digitized Collections and its Online Exhibitions.

The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington

Mount Vernon

The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington is a world renowned research library that focuses on colonial America, the American Revolution, and the life and leadership of George Washington. Its collections consist of Washington’s books and manuscripts, the personal papers of his immediate and extended family, and a robust selection of 19th century newspapers. Both a Library Catalog and a Special Collections Catalog are available to assist researchers. Much of the Library’s special collections have been digitized and are available through its Digital Collections. The Library also offers various Research Fellowships each year.

James Graham Leyburn Library

Lexington

Located at Washington and Lee University, the James Graham Leyburn Library maintains a solid selection of early Virginia sources. Its Special Collections & Archives are responsible for preserving and curating the Library’s Physical Collections. These include over 10,000 photographs and prints, 60,000 rare books, and over 1,000 manuscript collections. The manuscripts are arranged into various Record Groups. Leyburn Library also offers researchers various Subject Guides. Items held by the Special Collections can be searched in Leyburn’s Online Catalog. Much of the Library’s materials have been digitized and can be viewed in its Digital Archive.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library

Williamsburg

The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library is the research arm of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. As such, the Library focuses on British North America, the American Revolution, and the early United States. Its holdings include nearly 160 Manuscript collections dating from the 17th to early 19th century. Finding Aids and a Manuscripts Guide are available. Other resources at the Library include the Virginia Gazettes, Research Reports, and the York County Project. Items held by the Library can be searched in its Online Catalog. More research tools offered by the Library can be found here. Much of the Library’s material can be accessed digitally through its Exhibits, Digitized Manuscripts, and Digital Library. The Library also offers Fellowships each year.

Library of Virginia

Richmond

Formerly the Virginia State Library and Archives, the Library of Virginia (LVA) serves as the official repository and reference library for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The LVA houses the world’s largest selection of material related to the governance of Virginia. Some notable collections include Civil War Records, Governors’ Letters Received, Map Collections, and Virginia Land Patents and Grants. Also present are Kentucky Records and West Virginia Records. Research Guides & Indexes of the LVA’s collections are available. Researchers may also search the LVA’s online catalog, Discovery. Other resources include the Circuit Court Records Preservation Program, the Virginia Constitutions Digital Collection, and the Virginia Newspaper Project. The LVA also offers various digital resources, including Exhibits and Virginia Memory.

Thomas Balch Library

Leesburg

The Thomas Balch Library is an independent research library committed to collecting and preserving the documentary heritage of Leesburg, Loudoun County, and northern Virginia. Its Collections date back to the 18th century and include census records, deeds and wills, maps, newspapers, rare books, tax rolls, and much more. There are also various Archives & Manuscripts pertaining to several topics, including Virginia History, African American History, the American Revolution, and the Civil War. Several Research Guides & Book Indices are available. Holdings of the Thomas Balch Library can be searched through the Loudoun County Public Library’s Catalog. The Library also offers several Digital Exhibits.

University of Virginia Library

Charlottesville

The University of Virginia (UVA) Library maintains an extensive collection of early American sources. Its Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library manages over 16 million material objects. These Collections include a robust selection of Rare Books and nearly 13 million Manuscripts which are particularly strong in Virginia’s colonial and early national histories. Standouts include the Cabell Family Papers, the Albert H. Small Declaration of Independence Collection, the Thomas Jefferson Papers, and many others. Finding Aids are available, and researchers can search the Special Collections holdings in the UVA Library’s online catalog, Virgo. Other resources at UVA’s Library include Subject Guides, Exhibitions, Newspapers, the University of Virginia Archives, and records of both the Virginia Government and the United States Government. Those interested in the Civil War may find UVA’s John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History of interest. The UVA Library also offers various Fellowship Opportunities each year.

Virginia Baptist Historical Society

Richmond

Located at the University of Richmond, the Virginia Baptist Historical Society preserves and curates the documentary history of Virginia’s Baptists. Its Baptist Collection includes church and associational records dating back to 1762. Over 500 congregations are represented in the Collection. Other archival materials include manuscripts and personal papers, photographs, art, material objects, and the University of Richmond Archives. Partnering with the Historical Society is the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies, which offers several Fellowships to undergraduate scholars researching Baptist history and culture.

Virginia Museum of History & Culture

Richmond

Formerly the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) houses more than 9 million items related to Virginia’s past. Its Research Library provides access to unique Collections of primary and secondary sources, including books, manuscripts, maps, broadsides, and sheet music. VMHC’s Reynolds Business History Center focuses exclusively on the acquisition and preservation of records related to Virginia businesses and commerce. Much of these records date to the 19th century, but there are some from the 18th century as well. One of VMHC’s digital projects is the Confederate Memorial Literary Society Image Collection, which digitizes thousands of photographs and rare prints held by the American Civil War Museum. Another project is Unknown No Longer, a digital archive of the VMHC’s African American sources. Several Research Resources are available, including Finding Aids, Guides for Researchers, Indexes, the Library Collections Catalog, and the Museum Collections Catalog. The VMHC maintains various Exhibits in its Museum, many of which can be viewed online. Much of the VMHC’s materials have been digitized and can be viewed on Virginia Memory. VMHC also offers different forms of Research Support, including fellowships and research awards.

Other Virginia Archives & Sources

The Library of Virginia maintains a list of the commonwealth’s local historical and genealogical societies. Several of Virginia’s 95 counties preserve and make available their earliest records; check with county clerks’ offices, especially those with historic records divisions. However, be aware that many of Virginia’s county records have been lost or destroyed, especially in the wake of the Civil War. Another useful resource is Virginia Heritage, which consolidates the finding aids of various Virginia repositories into a single searchable database.

It is worth noting that Virginia’s boundaries have undergone significant changes over time. Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, western Maryland, Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have all been considered part of Virginia at some point and their local repositories often contain sources on Virginia’s governance of and connection to these spaces. Virginia’s westward expansion is well documented in the popular and vast Draper Manuscript Collection at the Wisconsin Historical Society, microfilm editions of which are held at most research libraries. Several nearby repositories that hold Virginia sources include the American Philosophical Society, the Filson Historical Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Marietta College Library, the William L. Clements Library, and the Wilson Library Special Collections. Sources on Virginia can also be found at the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.

Virginia’s history is well documented outside the United States, especially in the United Kingdom. Archives with significant sources on early Virginia include the National Archives at Kew, the British Library, the British Museum, the London Metropolitan Archives, and the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford. Another useful resource is the text-searchable Virginia Colonial Records Project, which consists of over 14,000 survey reports of sources related to Virginia held in British, French, and Irish archives.