R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Virginia
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Law And Legislation
Maps
Military Records
Minorities
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESLook this term up in the glossary.

The following archivesLook this term up in the glossary. and librariesLook this term up in the glossary. have collections or services helpful to genealogical researchers:

800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219-1905
Telephone: 804-692-3500
Fax: 804-692-3556
The research collections of the Library of Virginia are divided between the General Library and the Research and Information Services Division. The General Library contains printed materials, while the Research and Information Services Division consists of government records and other historical documents.
State records in the Research and Information Services Division are described in:
Salmon, John. S., comp. A Guide to State Records in the Archives Branch. Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1985. (FHL Book 975.5 A3sj; computer number 430945.)
The Library of Virginia has also published two excellent preliminary guides to the pre-1904 county and municipal records and also publishes annual updates:
Ray, Suzanne Smith. A Preliminary Guide to Pre- 1904 County Records in the Archives Branch, Virginia State Library and Archives. Richmond, Va.: Library and Archives, [1988?]. (FHL 975.5 A3r; computer number 480155.)
Hart, Lyndon H. A Preliminary Guide to Pre-1904 Municipal Records in the Archives Branch, Virginia State Library and Archives. Richmond, Va: Library and Archives, [1988?]. (FHL 975.5 A3h; computer number 480156.)
Virginia State Library. Archives and Records Division. Annual Reports of Archival Accessions. Richmond, Va.: Library and Archives, 1971–. (FHL book 975.5 A35v; computer number 447185.)
  • National Archives—Mid-Atlantic Region

5000 Wissahickon Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Telephone: 215-597-3000
Fax: 215-597-2303
  • University of Virginia

Alderman Library
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Telephone: 804-924-3021
Fax: 804-924-1431
A helpful guide to this library is Virginia Genealogy, A Guide to Resources in the University of Virginia Library (Charlottesville, Va.: The University Press of Virginia, 1983; FHL book 975.5 D23u; computer number 218745).
  • College of William and Mary

Earl Gregg Swem Library
P.O. Box 220
Williamsburg, VA 23187
Telephone: 804-221-3500
Fax: 804-221-3088
  • Handley Library

P.O. Box 58
Winchester, VA 22601
Telephone: 540-662-9041
Fax: 540-722-4769
  • Jones Memorial Library

2311 Memorial Avenue
Lynchburg, VA 24501
Telephone: 804-846-0501
Fax: 804-846-0501

Computer NetworksLook this term up in the glossary. and Bulletin BoardsLook this term up in the glossary.

Computers with modemsLook this term up in the glossary. are important tools for obtaining information from selected archives and libraries. In a way, computer networks themselves serve as a library. The Internet, certain computer bulletin boards, and commercial on-line services help family history researchers:

You can find computerized research tips and information about ancestors from Virginia in a variety of sources at local, state, national, and international levels. The list of sources is growing rapidly. Most of the information is available at no cost.

Addresses on the Internet change frequently. As of April 1997, the following sites are important gateways linking you to many more network and bulletin board sites:

http://www.usgenweb.com/
A cooperative effort by many volunteers to list genealogical databases, libraries, bulletin boards, and other resources available on the Internet for each county, state, and country.

http://www.rootsweb.com/roots-l/usa/
A useful list of sites and resources. Includes a large, regularly updated research coordination list.
For further details about using computer networks, bulletin boards, and news groupsLook this term up in the glossary. for family history research, see the United States Research Outline (30972), 2nd ed., "Archives and Libraries" section.

FamilySearch™Look this term up in the glossary.

The Family History Library and some Family History Centers have computers with FamilySearch™. FamilySearch is a collection of computer files containing several million names. FamilySearch is a good place to begin your research. Some of the records come from compiled sourcesLook this term up in the glossary.; some have been automated from original sourcesLook this term up in the glossary..

Computers with FamilySearch™ do not have access to computer on-line services, networks, or bulletin boards. However, those services are available at many public libraries, college libraries, and private locations.

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[FamilySearchTM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/9/2001]