Archives – Page 33 – The UncommonWealth

"There is yet enough left of the old barbarism of slavery": Violence in Post-Emancipation Virginia

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

Gregg KimballJune 10, 2015

Archives

A Wedding, a Death, and a Pension: Charles and Sarah Butler’s Story

Portsmouth, Virginia, occupied by the Union army, was the scene of a wedding in November 1863. The happy couple was Charles “Charley” Butler, a private…

Bill BynumJune 3, 2015

Archives

“Lafayette, we are here!”

Twenty years ago, a small group of businessmen and former diplomats conceived a plan to build an authentic replica of the French frigate Hermione, the…

Sandra TreadwayMay 27, 2015

Archives

The Conscientious Objector: Desmond T. Doss

In keeping with Out of the Box’s recent anniversary theme, today’s post spotlights Lynchburg native Desmond T. Doss (1919-2006), the first conscientious objector to receive…

Roger ChristmanMay 21, 2015

Archives

Artists for Victory

Today is the 70th anniversary of the V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day), marking the end of World War II in Europe. To mark the…

Roger ChristmanMay 8, 2015

Archives

The Sinking of the Lusitania: 100 Years Later

Today marks the centennial of the sinking of the Lusitania, usually acknowledged as the first step towards the United States’ entry into World War I.…

Claire RadcliffeMay 7, 2015

Archives

The Vietnam War and Virginia

Today is the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. On 30 April 1975, Saigon, the capitol of South Vietnam, fell to the North Vietnamese Army. …

Roger ChristmanApril 30, 2015

Archives

The Long Wait for Freedom: A Montgomery County Freedom Suit

This is part two of a two part post on a fascinating freedom suit discovered during the Montgomery County Circuit Court Records Project. Part one of the…

Regan SheltonApril 29, 2015

Archives Digital Projects

Spotsylvania County Chancery Causes Online

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce that digital images for Spotsylvania County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1812-1913, are now available online through the Chancery…

Joanne PorterApril 24, 2015

Archives

Flora’s Plight: A Montgomery County Freedom Suit

This is part one of a two part post on a fascinating freedom suit discovered during the Montgomery County Circuit Court Records Project. Part two of…

Regan SheltonApril 22, 2015

Archives The Stacks

A Day in the Archives with Who Do You Think You Are?

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I was called to a meeting in the Library’s Special Collections reading room on a busy day in…

Gregg KimballApril 20, 2015

Archives Education & Programming The Stacks

Why Research Family History?

Those born in Virginia (or those who have lived here for any length of time) will either nod approvingly or roll their eyes at this…

Gregg KimballApril 17, 2015

Archives Manuscripts & Special Collections

There Are No Small Preventions, Only Smallpox

Before the Commonwealth of Virginia began officially recording vital statistics in 1853, many people recorded the births, deaths, and marriages in their families in the…

Tricia NoelApril 15, 2015

Archives Digital Projects

Dinwiddie County Resources Online

Recently, the Library of Virginia’s Local Records Services staff visited the Dinwiddie County Circuit Court Clerk’s office in preparation for the spring grants cycle of…

Vince BrooksApril 13, 2015

Archives Digital Projects

Kaine Email Project @ LVA – Who is Rusty Shackleford?

This is the eighth in a series of posts spotlighting recently released email from Governor Tim Kaine’s administration. These posts are not meant to be comprehensive but to…

Roger ChristmanApril 1, 2015