According to a mysterious document in the Library’s holdings, an interstate crime ring consisting mostly of Virginians operated from Maryland to South Carolina in the…
Bill BynumJuly 3, 2023
In September 1895, Kit Leftwich (also known as Kit Leftridge) was indicted for the rape of Annie Fogarty, the 12-year-old daughter of his supervisor. The…
Guest ContributorDecember 6, 2017
In his debut novel, Forsaken, Ross Howell Jr. tells the story of an uneducated African American servant, Virginia Christian, who was tried for killing her white employer…
Roger ChristmanMarch 3, 2016
This is the third 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 ChristmanFebruary 24, 2014
Welcome to Mug Shot Monday Special Edition. This is the final post focusing on records at the Library of Virginia related to the “Hillsville Massacre.” In March 1913, Floyd…
Roger ChristmanMarch 14, 2012
Welcome to Mug Shot Monday Special Edition. Next Wednesday, 14 March marks the 100th anniversary of the infamous “Hillsville Massacre,” where five people were killed in a gunfight in…
Roger ChristmanMarch 7, 2012
Welcome to Mug Shot Monday (Halloween Edition)! This is the latest entry in a series of posts highlighting inmate photographs in the records of the Virginia Penitentiary. At…
Roger ChristmanOctober 31, 2011
The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce that the records of the Virginia Penitentiary (Accession 41558) are now available to researchers. The collection contains 289 bound…
Roger ChristmanSeptember 28, 2011
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
Editor's Note: Original post edited for clarity. For more information on Ida V. Belote see Souls of the Departed: Ida V. Belote On 16 August 1912,…
Roger ChristmanSeptember 14, 2010
These records are part of the Virginia State Penitentiary Collection, 1796-1991 (Accession 41558). Access to the execution files and four audio cassettes is restricted for…
Roger ChristmanMay 26, 2010
