Citizens in the United States have many democratic principles and practices to be thankful for and among these, voting in our elections remains an important…
Annie GannonSeptember 23, 2020
CONTENT WARNING: Materials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and…
Jessi BennettSeptember 11, 2020
The history of African American disenfranchisement and exclusion in Virginia is a lengthy one. This blog post is meant to serve as an introduction and…
Jessi BennettSeptember 9, 2020
Even after the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1920, many people in the United States continued to be denied the right…
Sonya ColemanSeptember 2, 2020
For access purposes, archivists sort local government records held by the Library of Virginia into twenty-three categories, as well as numerous sub-categories encompassing the alphabet…
Callie FreedMay 24, 2018
As everyone should be aware, it’s almost time to vote for a new governor of Virginia. Election Day is next Tuesday, 7 November, but going…
Ginny DunnNovember 2, 2017
On 22 October 1867, African American men cast votes for the first time in Virginia; this significant event was recorded in poll books in counties…
Paige NealOctober 23, 2017
On Monday, 16 October 2017, the City of Roanoke will dedicate Holton Plaza, a new park named in honor of former Virginia Governor A. Linwood Holton (1970-1974). Out of…
Roger ChristmanOctober 13, 2017
The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce the release of the Electoral College Digital Collection. The Library has a variety of records scattered across several…
Roger ChristmanDecember 15, 2016
We love our letterhead here in the processing sections of the Library of Virginia. One can come across such interesting, varied, and colorful examples while…
Vince BrooksJanuary 16, 2013
On 6 November 2012, Barack Obama and Joe Biden were re-elected President and Vice President of the United States. Or were they? As we all…
Roger ChristmanDecember 12, 2012
On 13 November 1860, J.S. Moore of Indiana wrote a letter to his Virginia relative Doctor Thomas Moore. Much of the letter has to do…
Greg CrawfordNovember 7, 2012
In honor of the upcoming Election Day, today’s post presents a record that illustrates the struggles that some Virginians experienced while attempting to exercise the…
Sarah NerneyNovember 2, 2011
