Virginia, Historical Society Papers - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains images from the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, Virginia. The collection includes, church records, vital and related records, school records, veteran soldier home records, and genealogy collections. The records cover the years 1607 to 2007.

The Virginia Historical Society was founded in 1831. Their mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret the Commonwealth’s history, to link the past with the present and inspire future generations.

Indexed Collections
 * Bible Records, 1700-1900
 * Fredericksburg City, death records, 1853-1896

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know the following:
 * The place where the event occurred
 * The approximate date the event occurred
 * The name of the individual or individuals such as the names of the bride and groom

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the marriage date and place as the basis for compiling a new family group or for verifying existing information
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth to find the family in census records
 * Use the residence and names of the parents to locate church and land records
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family
 * Occupations listed can lead you to other types of records such as employment or military records
 * The name of the officiator may be a clue to their religion or area of residence in the county
 * The name of the undertaker, mortuary, or cemetery could lead you to funeral and cemetery records, which often include the names and residences of other family members
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been born, married, or died in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * The information in the records is usually reliable, but depends upon the reliability of the informant
 * Earlier records may not contain as much information as more recent records
 * There is also some variation in the information given from one record to another record

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking for, What Now?

 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames
 * Check for an index. There are often indexes created by local genealogical and historical societies
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Virginia.
 * Virginia Guided Research
 * Virginia Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Virginia Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Waverly K. Winfree, compiler ; Nelson D. Lankford, editor ; Sara B. Bearss, indexer. Guide to the manuscript collections of the Virginia Historical Society. Richmond, Virginia : Virginia Historical Society, 1985. FHL 975.5 H23vh

 Church Records   Vital and Related Collections  School Records  Military Records  Genealogical Collections
 * Cumberland County, Guinea Presbyterian Church record, 1831-1842
 * Fairfax County, Frying Pan Spring Baptist Church record, 1791-1908
 * Mathews County, Salem Methodist Episcopal Church record
 * Prince William County, Occoquan Baptist Church record, 1794-1842
 * Stafford County, Chappawamsic Baptist Church record, 1766-1919
 * Bible records, 1700-1900
 * Fredericksburg City, Death records, 1853-1896
 * Fredericksburg City, Death records, 1953-1986
 * Newspapers, marriage and obituary index, 1736-1820
 * Richmond Times Dispatch, marriages and obituaries index cards, 1903-1909
 * Fredericksburg City, School board records, 1901-1904
 * Nelson County, superintendent school records, 1872-1880
 * Richmond, Chimborazo School records, 1868-1869
 * Virginia, Lee Camp Soldiers' Home records, 1885-1919
 * Genealogical notes, 1607-present
 * Louis Napoleon Agee papers, 1935-1991
 * Lucy Harrison Miller Baber papers, 1961-1993
 * Lucy Lane Erwin papers, 1889-1968
 * Malcolm Everett Gardner Papers, 1933-1979
 * Margaret Woods Hampton papers, 1854-1987
 * Martha W. Hiden Collection, 1900-1958
 * Richie May Jarrett papers, 1956-1993
 * Rebecca Johnston papers, 1925-1952
 * Sadie Scott Kellam Collection, 1861-1972
 * Livingston Collection, Court records, 1607-1865
 * Livingston Collection, Genealogical records, 1962-1979
 * Livingston Collection, Guardian records, 1732-1995
 * Livingston Collection, Marriage records, 1636-1825
 * Livingston Collection, Military records, 1742-1833
 * Livingston collection, Will records, 1751-1867
 * Bayne Palmer O'Brien papers, 1972-1978

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Catalogue of the manuscripts in the collection of the Virginia Historical Society, and also of some printed papers. Richmond, Virginia : Wm. Ellis Jones, 1901

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.