Archives – Page 34 – The UncommonWealth

Archives

Sterilization at the Virginia State Penitentiary

The genesis of this post came from reading Paul Lombardo’s 2009 book, Three Generations, No Imbeciles: Eugenics, the Supreme Court and Buck v. Bell. My…

Roger ChristmanMarch 4, 2015

Archives Conservation Digital Projects

Henry County Cohabitation Register Update

The conservation of the original pages of the Henry County Cohabitation Register has recently been completed. Previously, only a poorly and confusingly microfilmed version of this…

Sarah NerneyFebruary 25, 2015

Archives

Madison County Chancery Causes Online

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce that digital images for Madison County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1794-1912, are now available online through the Chancery…

Greg CrawfordFebruary 18, 2015

Archives

Love Hurts, Ooooooooo, Oooooo, Love Hurts.

While working on a project involving the Middlesex County Chancery Causes, I noticed a case that was filled with scandal and intrigue. The case is…

Mary Dean CarterFebruary 11, 2015

Certificate of Survival issued to Grayson B. Boyer, 2 May 1945.

Archives

A ‘Salty’ take on survival

In cataloging the papers of Grayson B. Boyer (1915-1970) of Grayson County, Virginia, one cannot help but notice the dramatically-titled and cheekily-illustrated “Certificate of Survival”…

Jessica Tyree BurgessJanuary 28, 2015

Archives

We Know What’s Best For You: The Virginia Division of Motion Picture Censorship

From 1922 to 1966, the Virginia Division of Motion Picture Censorship was responsible for reviewing all motion picture films and their associated advertising materials– banners,…

Joanne PorterJanuary 22, 2015

Archives

"We want the machine to work…not as an office ornament" – Charles Keiley vs. the Hooven Automatic Typewriter Company

One of my Sunday pleasures is reading David Segal’s bi-weekly “The Haggler” column in the New York Times. “The Haggler” tries to resolve reader-submitted 21st century horror stories of…

Roger ChristmanJanuary 14, 2015

Archives

Hampton Coroner Records Reveal Social History

Dr. Paul Parker, medical examiner of Elizabeth City County, Virginia, wrapped up a 19 April 1935 coroner’s inquest by ruling that “Dorothy McGaha Reeves came…

Vince BrooksDecember 18, 2014

Archives Manuscripts & Special Collections The Stacks

Big Find Friday: Reference staff to the rescue

Here on Out of the Box we like to take the occasional Friday to let patrons of the Library of Virginia tell our readers of…

Jessica Tyree BurgessDecember 12, 2014

Archives Digital Projects

"Nothing but…"

The Runkle family of Greene County, Virginia, had seven children, among them three sons who all served in the Confederate army. The Civil War 150 Legacy…

Library of VirginiaDecember 3, 2014

Archives Digital Projects

Stafford County Chancery Goes Digital

2014 has been a special year filled with special events for Stafford County. Celebrating its 350th anniversary, the county held numerous community-based historical celebrations to mark the…

Callie FreedNovember 26, 2014

Archives Manuscripts & Special Collections

The Asylum Poisonings: Death, Politics, and “Low Cussedness” in Staunton

In 1883, the year when Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson solved the case of the Speckled Band, an equally baffling real-life killing drew another noted…

Bill BynumNovember 19, 2014

Archives Digital Projects The Stacks

October 30th is Ask An Archivist Day on Twitter!

Do you have burning questions for an archivist here at the Library of Virginia or elsewhere? Questions like, What’s your favorite document? Where did you…

Vince BrooksOctober 29, 2014

Archives Digital Projects

Elizabeth City County Chancery Causes Online

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce that digital images for Elizabeth City County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1747-1913, are now available online through the Chancery…

Sarah NerneyOctober 29, 2014

Archives

To Be Sold: Hester Jane Carr’s Story

T his is the last in a series of four blogs related to the “To Be Sold” exhibit which opens on October 27 at the…

Greg CrawfordOctober 22, 2014