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

NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIPLook this term up in the glossary.

In the colonial era, the general assemblyLook this term up in the glossary. and the governor granted citizenshipLook this term up in the glossary. to aliens. Some of these records have been published in the sources listed in the “Public Records” section of this outline.

Later naturalization recordsLook this term up in the glossary. could be filed in a city, county, state, or federal court. Naturalization information is usually found in the ordersLook this term up in the glossary. and minutesLook this term up in the glossary. of the various local courts that were kept by the county clerk in each courthouse.

Most of the surviving original county court record books before 1865 have been transferred to the Library of Virginia. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most of these. They are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under VIRGINIA, [COUNTY] - COURT RECORDS. Copies of declarationsLook this term up in the glossary., petitionsLook this term up in the glossary., and certificatesLook this term up in the glossary. still at the county courthouse can be obtained by contacting the clerk's office.

Records of the Eastern U.S. District Court held at Richmond and Alexandria, and the Western U.S. District Court, held at Charlottesville and Big Stone Gap, are at the National Archives—Mid-Atlantic Region. The Family History Library has filmed naturalizations for the Eastern District for 1867-1938 and Western District for 1908-1929. The Library of Virginia has some U.S. court records for 1790-1861.

For naturalization records after September 1906, you can also contact a local office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.


Return to top of page


NEWSPAPERSLook this term up in the glossary.

The Library of Virginia, Virginia Historical Society, and University of Virginia have large collections of newspapers for the state. The Family History Library has acquired very few copies of newspapers from Virginia. A bibliography of Virginia newspapers is:

Cappon, Lester J. Virginia Newspapers 1821-1935: A Bibliography with Historical Introduction and Notes. New York: D. Appleton Century, 1936. (FHL book 975.5 B33c; fiche 6104102; computer number 469035.)

Earlier newspapers are discussed in:

Brigham, Clarence Saunders. History and Bibliography of American Newspapers, 1690-1820. 2 vols. Worcester, Mass.: American Antiquarian Society, 1947, 1975. (FHL book 973 A3bc; computer number 263021.)

The Family History Library has copies of some published indexes of newspapers, such as:

Cappon, Lester J. and Stella F. Duff. Virginia Gazette, Index 1736-1780. Williamsburg, Va.: Institute of Early American History and Culture, 1950. (FHL book 975.54252 B32c; film 1036212 items 2-3; fiche 6051225; computer number 333104. The newspapers for these years are on FHL films 029718-23; computer number 409779.)

Hall, Virginius Cornick. Abstracts of Marriage and Obituary Notices in Virginia Newspapers Before 1820. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1987. (On 4 FHL films 1508537 and 1508567-69; computer number 534238.)

The Library of Virginia has indexes to obituaries and marriage notices printed in the Richmond Whig and the Richmond Enquirer from 1804 to 1857. Some of this information has also been published in:

McIlwaine, H.R. Index to Obituary Notices in the Richmond Enquirer from May 9, 1804 through 1828, and the Richmond Whig from January 1824 to 1838. 1921. Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1974. (FHL book 975.5 A1 no. 52; film 908702 item 6; computer number 215726.)

Return to top of page

Previous Document   Next Document

©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
[FamilySearchTM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/9/2001]