Immigration – The UncommonWealth

Archives Education & Programming Newspapers

“One of the Most Unique Papers”: Documenting Chinese American Citizenship in Virginia

On a Monday morning in May of 1903, six men waited in the Richmond federal courthouse to learn whether they would remain in Virginia or…

Jessi BennettMay 28, 2025

Archives Education & Programming Virginia Authors

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2025

The Library of Virginia is observing Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! During the entire month of May, look for a display of books…

Cara GriggsMay 2, 2025

Archives

All Preparations for a Colony: The Saxon Colonization Project

So, a Bavarian immigrant, a Prussian nobleman, and a Revolutionary-War-hero-turned-debtor walk into a bar…. At least that’s probably the way this would start if it…

Vince BrooksMarch 10, 2025

Public Libraries

Public Libraries Welcoming New Neighbors

At Massanutten Regional Library (MRL), one of the principal ways we serve refugees and immigrants is through accepting I-94 forms, and/or foreign driver’s licenses as…

Guest ContributorDecember 11, 2023

Archives Virginia Authors

Migration of Paperwork

For many entering the United States, bureaucratic paperwork is one of their first encounters with the United States government. Deepak Singh, author of How May…

Library of VirginiaApril 19, 2023

Archives

Alien Lands: Land Ownership and Inheritance Laws for Immigrants in Virginia

“Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a colony of aliens who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of Anglify…

Vince BrooksNovember 18, 2020

Archives

Abandoned Papers: The Naturalization Certificates of Ow Chuck Sam and Eng Yick Yu

Unclaimed property from banks, estates, or other repositories often ends up in the possession of the Virginia Department of the Treasury. If they are not…

Cara GriggsDecember 4, 2019

Archives

“He is the petitioner”: The Military Petitions for Naturalization of Camp Lee’s Nurses during World War I

From 1795 to 1952, the United States’ naturalization process required a declaration of intention followed by a petition for naturalization. On 9 May 1918, Congress…

Cara GriggsNovember 13, 2019

Archives The Stacks

Vestiges of Vietnam: Gathering Stories of the Refugee Experience

Editor’s Note: The Library of Virginia, in partnership with Virginia Humanities, sponsors residential fellows during the academic year to conduct in-depth research in the Library’s collections.…

Kim O'ConnellMay 20, 2019

Manuscripts & Special Collections

Ich Liebe Dich! Vintage Valentines

Happy Valentine’s Day to our Out of the Box readers! Valentine’s Day is perhaps the most critiqued of any holiday for being “made-up,” but as…

Claire RadcliffeFebruary 14, 2019

Archives

"To Pass Without Delay or Hindrance": Passports in the Unclaimed Property Collection

A passport is both a highly practical and importantly symbolic item. It provides not only identification but also identity, allowing the bearer to travel to…

Claire RadcliffeMarch 7, 2018

Archives

From Russia Without Love

It has been said that there is a thin line between love and hate, and apparently love and obsession. Or so appears to be the…

Joanne PorterNovember 13, 2013

Archives

Buying and Selling Servants

Two types of immigrants came to America without paying their own passage—indentured servants and redemptioners. Indentured servants would sign a contract, called an indenture, before…

Louise JonesSeptember 11, 2013

Archives

“I Declare My Intention to Become a Citizen of the United States of America …”

On November 3, a naturalization ceremony will be held at the Library of Virginia. A group of people from various nations will take an oath…

Greg CrawfordNovember 2, 2010