In 1811, the Commonwealth of Virginia decided to set aside money for public education for the first time in its history. Various previous attempts to…
Alan ArellanoNovember 23, 2022
During the early 20th century, the Lost Cause mythology had firmly taken root in the South. One of its most vocal advocates was Mildred “Millie”…
Greg CrawfordSeptember 14, 2022
Next month, the Common Ground History Book Group, LVA’s virtual non-fiction book club, will return for a discussion with Kathryn Miles, author of Trailed: One…
Library of VirginiaAugust 26, 2022
We cover a lot of serious and heavy topics on the UncommonWealth blog but every once in a while we like to present something just…
Jessi BennettJune 1, 2022
Last Friday we took a look at some of the ways that Virginia high school yearbooks have celebrated their graduates in the past, but there…
Jessi BennettJune 4, 2021
The high school classes of 2020 and 2021 will always stand out for their unique senior year experience. We’ve had to invent new ways to…
Jessi BennettMay 28, 2021
As you work, study, and play from home the Library of Virginia has much to offer within our online resources. Here is just a taste…
Cindy MarksMarch 20, 2020
The start of August brings with it the excitement and anticipation of numerous young men and women as they prepare for their first year in…
Tracy HarterAugust 7, 2019
The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce the release of 26,988 emails from the administration of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (2006-2010). This latest batch…
Roger ChristmanOctober 18, 2018
As the start of the K-12 school year looms, and college students gear up for their fall semester, the Library of Virginia peers back at…
Kyle RogersAugust 14, 2018
The Library of Virginia recently acquired a family photograph collection identified as belonging to the Brooks/Ellis families. A composition book labeled “Bessie Miller December 1902”…
Vince BrooksJuly 4, 2018
The following post was adapted from an article in the January/February 2006 Library of Virginia newsletter and additional research on the topic by Jennifer Davis…
Vince BrooksApril 25, 2018
College students have never been known for their avoidance of alcohol, and it was no different in the 1930s, despite the fact that alcohol was…
Claire RadcliffeAugust 30, 2017
This is the second in a series of four blog posts concerning post-Civil War Virginia and the lives of freedpeople after Emancipation. The posts precede…
Joseph M. ThompsonJune 17, 2015
