Virginia Compiled Genealogies

United States   Virginia    Genealogy

Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special collections and indexes of genealogical value. Sometimes these must be searched in person. Some important genealogical collections for Virginia research are described below.

Manuscript Collections

Virginia Colonial Records Project. This project includes 14,704 surveys of Virginia-related material in archives of Great Britain, Ireland, and France and 963 microfilm reels of original documents. The database index lists 500,000 personal names and ship names. The Library of Virginia has put the index on the Internet. They also have interlibrary loan of the films of original documents.

For a list of the sources, see:


 * A Key to Survey Reports and Microfilm of the Virginia Colonial Records Project. Richmond: Virginia State Library and Archives, 1990. (Family History Library book 975.5 H23k)

Also see the Library of Virginia Basic Search: Virginia Colonial Records Project online database index

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Genealogical Collection.

This collection consists of transcripts of Bible records, cemetery records, church records, marriage records, death records, obituaries, and wills. It was microfilmed in 1971 at the DAR Library in Washington, DC, and is available on 44 films at the Family History Library. The volumes are generally arranged by county and many have individual indexes. These are listed in several entries in the Family History Library Catalog under Daughters of the American Revolution (Virginia).

Ardery Collection, ca. 1750-1970. This is a set of volumes and files that contain information gathered by Julia Hoge Spencer Ardery from the 1920s to the 1960s on Virginia and Kentucky families. The information was extracted from newspaper accounts, family newsletters, family Bibles, military records, historical journals, and vital records. The collection is indexed, but most of the volumes and files are in several alphabetical series.

The original collection is at the Margaret I. King Library (University of Kentucky, Special Collections and Archives, 110 King Library North, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0039; Telephone: 606-257-8611; Fax: 606-257-8379). The Family History Library has a copy of part of the collection on 81 films microfilmed in 1970 beginning with film 831459. The King Library has additional files (not microfilmed) on more than 100 families. A list of the family surnames was published by the Kentucky Genealogical Society in:


 * Brian D. Harney,Cumulative Index to "Bluegrass Roots", 1973-1984 (Frankfort, Ky: Kentucky Genealogical Society, 1985). (Family History Library book 976.9 B2b index.)

[collection&amp;columns=*,0,0 Genealogical Notes (Collection)]. This is a collection of typewritten and handwritten genealogical manuscripts by many different researchers. They were filmed at the Library of Virginia (Family History Library films 029883-89). The manuscripts are arranged alphabetically by surname. The records of each family are also listed in the Surname Search of the Family History Library Catalog.

Printing Your Family History
Pulling together a family history is without question one of the most rewarding activities you can do. The end product will provide a wonderful depository for family stories, traditions, and other memories. The fruits of your labors will be appreciated for years to come.

Brigham Young University's Print and Mail Production Center offers facilities and consultants to assist genealogists in printing their family histories. Their consultants can answer questions regarding formatting, layout, scanning photos, and can assist in the printing process.

Print and Mail Production Center's facilities include state of the art digital printing equipment, offset presses, and a full service bindery.

See also A Guide To Printing Your Family History

Published Collections, Indexes, and Guides
Some helpful indexes to many published accounts of families are in the books by Stuart Brown, Robert Stewart, Earl Swem (see below), and P. G. Wardell (see Virginia Biography). Useful published sources include:


 * Fleet, Beverley. Virginia Colonial Abstracts. 34 volumes in 3. 1937-1949. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1988. (Family History Library book 975.5 N2fb 1988; some volumes are on microfilms: see Virginia Colonial Abstracts in the Author/Title Catalog.) Includes court, land, probate, vital, tax, and militia records with indexes.
 * Hart, Lyndon H., III, comp. A Guide to Genealogical Notes and Charts in the Archives Branch, Virginia State Library. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia State Library, 1983. (Family History Library book 975.5 D23ha) Inventories 1,000 files by family name.
 * Swem, Earl Gregg. Virginia Historical Index. Two Volumes in four. 1934-1936. Reprint, Gloucester, Massachusetts: Peter Smith, 1965. (Family History Library book 975.5 H22s; films 485948-49; fiche 6046961.) This lists many genealogies that were published in periodicals.
 * Stewart, Robert Armistead. Index to Printed Virginia Genealogies. 1930. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co, 1970. (Family History Library book 975.5 D22s 1970; 1965 ed. on film 962558 item 2 or fiche 6019375.) This book indexes about 650 Virginia family and local histories published before 1930.
 * Brown, Stuart E., Jr. Virginia Genealogies: A Trial List of Printed Books and Pamphlets. Two Volumes. Berryville, Virginia: Virginia Book, 1967, 1980. (Family History Library book 975.5 D23b.) These volumes reproduce card catalogs of about 3,000 family and local histories listed in books and periodicals published before 1980. This is a supplement to Robert Armistead Stewart's book (see above).
 * Pecquet du Bellet, Louise. Some Prominent Virginia Families. Four Volumes. 1907. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1976. (Volumes 1, 3, 4 on Family History Library film 1036136, Volume 2 on film 844907; fiche 6046974.) Includes more than 100 early families. Based on published histories, biographies, and periodicals. Indexed in Vera Meek Wimberly, [to+Some+prominent+Virginia+f&amp;columns=*,0,0 Index [to] Some Prominent Virginia Families . . .] (Conroe, Texas: Montgomery County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society, 1980; Family History Library book 975.5 D2p index).
 * Genealogies of Virginia Families: From Tyler's Quarterly. . . . Four Volumes. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1981. (Family History Library book 975.5 D2gvf.) Alphabetical (by author's surname) reprints of hundreds of articles.
 * Genealogies of Virginia Families: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. Five Volumes. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1981. (Family History Library book 975.5 D2gv.) Alphabetical (by author's surname) reprints of hundreds of articles.
 * Genealogies of Virginia Families: From the William and Mary College Quarterly . . . Five Volumes. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1982. (Family History Library book 975.5 D2gvw.) Alphabetical (by author's surname) reprints of hundreds of articles.
 * Jester, Annie Lash, and Martha Woodruff Hiden. Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5. Third Edition. 1956. Reprint, n.l.: Order of the First Families of Virginia, 1607-1624/5, 1987. (Family History Library book 975.5 H2j 1987.) In addition to listing early settlers, this book has detailed genealogical information on their descendants to 1700.
 * Wardell, Patrick G. Virginians &amp; West Virginians, 1670-1870. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1986. (Family History Library book 975 D2wp.) This includes genealogical information abstracted from History of Virginia (see Virginia History).
 * Rider, Fremont, ed. American Genealogical- Biographical Index. Volumes 1-186+. Middletown, Connecticut: Godfrey Memorial Library, 1952-. (Family History Library book 973 D22am ser. 2; on 31 Family History Library films beginning with 1698167.) An earlier version of 48 volumes was published as The American Genealogical Index, 1942-1951. Over four million brief citations (name, date, and source) to manuscripts, periodicals, and books. The earlier version had reference to 350 sources that have been included in the second version. The second version has consulted an additional 500 sources. Emphasis is on eastern states. There is a compact disc edition, and an Internet indexat Ancestry as well.

To help interpret citations and locate the original sources, use the colored pages in some volumes or use the book:


 * Clark, Patricia L., and Dorothy Huntsman, eds. 'Key Title Index to the American Genealogical-Biographical Index : Register of Family History Library Call Numbers . Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (Family History Library book 973 D22am index; film 1698167 item 4; fiche 6088377.) Shows sources that are at the Family History Library and their call numbers. Many genealogies have also been published in periodicals (see Virginia Periodicals).

Online Sources


 * Basic Search: Virginia Colonial Records Project online database index, courtesy: Library of Virginia.