Posts – Page 52 – The UncommonWealth

Archives

The Legacy of John Henry James

On 12 July 1898, an Albemarle County grand jury met to hear evidence against an African American man named John Henry James accused of assaulting…

Greg CrawfordJune 6, 2018

Archives

More Than an Entry in a Register: Local Government Convict Registers

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

Newspapers The Stacks

Into the Woods: VNP Visits the CCC

Looking for something fun to do this summer? Well, look no further. Recently, the staff of the Virginia Newspaper Project returned newspapers to the Civilian…

Kelley EwingMay 17, 2018

Archives

"Soon, the grievance will cease to exist": Chief Inspector of Vessels Reports

On 17 March 1856, the General Assembly adopted a law entitled, “An Act providing additional protection for the slave property of citizens of this commonwealth.”…

Tom CrewMay 16, 2018

Archives

It’s a Tram Shame: A Spotsylvania County Petition

In 1906, Thomas M. Henry of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, had a grand idea. He would build a road to carry an electric tram from Fredericksburg to…

Joanne PorterMay 9, 2018

Newspapers

Virginia Chronicle and Chronicling America

If you read this blog, you might know that the Virginia Newspaper Project (VNP) contributes digitized newspapers to two websites, Chronicling America and Virginia Chronicle.…

Olin JohnsonMay 7, 2018

Archives The Stacks

Warren County Chancery Causes Digitized

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce that digital images for Warren County chancery causes, 1837-1912, are now available online through the Chancery Records…

Greg CrawfordMay 7, 2018

Archives Digital Projects

Homeland is "creating a heck of a lot of buzz and excitement with our citizens!"

Homeland’s season 7 finale aired last Sunday night. Showtime’s critically acclaimed drama stars Claire Danes as CIA Officer Carrie Mathison and Mandy Patinkin as her…

Roger ChristmanMay 2, 2018

Archives The Stacks

Women with Dirty Hands: Archival Apprentices in the State Archives

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

Newspapers

Our Own Community Press

In August of 1976, gay and lesbian members of Norfolk's Unitarian Universalist church formed a branch of the Unitarian Universalist Gay Caucus (UUGC), and quickly decided…

Olin JohnsonApril 18, 2018

Manuscripts & Special Collections

The Art of the Annual: The Virginia Yearbook Digitization Project

In 2015, I started the Library’s yearbook digitization project to scan yearbooks from all around Virginia on behalf of public libraries. Thanks to funds from…

Rose SchooffApril 18, 2018

Newspapers

“We Are Passing Through A Metamorphosis From The Old To The New.” Ashland, Bowling Green & Hopewell: A Virginia Newspaper Vanishing Act

The above quote is from the inaugural issue of the newly merged, freshly hyphenated Ashland Herald-Progress of 1919. The editor requests the reader’s forbearance as the…

Henry MorseApril 16, 2018

Archives

"No home defendant": Liberian Emigrants from Prince Edward County

Often, researchers will utilize several collections or sources housed at the Library in order to get to the truth of a matter, or to gain…

Tracy HarterApril 11, 2018

Archives

"If My Name You Want to See Look on Page 33"

This Service Song Book, which was “Prepared for the Men of the Army and Navy,” was used by the YMCA at Camp Lee during World…

Claire RadcliffeApril 4, 2018

Newspapers

Easter on Virginia Chronicle

Maud ruins a new Easter suit, Uncle Sam feeds the chicks of prosperity, Easter bargains, poison-free Easter egg dye, a delightful Easter egg hunt, and…

Kelley EwingApril 1, 2018