Angela L. Flagg, APR, Chief Communications Officer
804.692.3653, angela.flagg@lva.virginia.gov
Virginia Archives Month Celebrates Photography in the Archives
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – The Library of Virginia is proud to join other archival institutions across the Commonwealth in celebrating Virginia Archives Month this October. This year’s theme, “Oh Snap!: Photography in the Archives,” celebrates the value of historic images.
Virginia Archives Month is part of the national observance of American Archives Month in October to raise public awareness about the importance of preserving and sharing cultural and historical documents from families, communities, states and the country at large. Archives are unique assets that allow society to tell its story, hold governments accountable and safeguard the rights of its citizens.
In addition to providing handouts and resources, archives across the state offer events and programs that showcase their collections, highlight the work of archivists and inform the public about meaningful ways they can engage with archival materials.
The Library of Virginia’s Archives Month activities include:
Public Tours of the Library
Saturday, Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. (Register at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15220121) and 2 p.m. (Register at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15220129)
- Saturday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. (Register at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15220138) and 2 p.m. (Register at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15220144) Oct. 25 tour attendees can also get creative at our makers station using images found in archival collections from across the Commonwealth.
Open House Events
Free and open to the public.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. (hourly) | Archivist Talks
Library staff members will share information about photographs, their care, and where to find them in collections. You’ll have the opportunity to engage directly with archival material.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (ongoing) | Makers Station Activity
Get creative at our makers station using images found in archival collections from across the Commonwealth.
Cyanotype Workshops With Em White
Saturday, Oct. 4 at 12 p.m. (Register at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15061459) and 2 p.m. (Register at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15224371)
Participants will learn the basics of cyanotype printing, one of the earliest photographic processes, and create their own prints in these workshops with visual artist and educator Em White.
Online Webinars
Thursday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. “Conserving, Preserving, and More: How to Care for Photographs” with Sarah Casto, the photograph and paper conservator at the Ohio State University Libraries. Register at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15345017.
- Thursday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. “Coming Together Through Archives: Archiving Underrepresented Virginia History,” a panel discussion with Blake McDonald, survey and grants specialist with the Department of Historic Resources; Nix Mendy, digital archivist with The Outwords Archive, Inc.; Katie Stueckle with the Southwest Virginia LGBTQ History Project; Clint Whitten, Ph.D., associate director of the Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech; and Lydia Neuroth, manager of the Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative project at the Library of Virginia. Register at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15358419.
Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. “A Hands-On Approach to the History of Photography” with Wendy Castenell, an assistant professor of art history in the Department of Art and Art History at Washington and Lee University. Register at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15210989.
Find more information about Virginia Archives Month 2025 at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/events/vam/2025. Programming assistance for these events is provided by the Friends of the Virginia State Archives. The group’s website offers archives-related merchandise for sale with proceeds supporting Virginia Archives Month programming and resources.
Find related images here:
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ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA
The Library of Virginia is the leading source of information on Virginia’s history, government and people. The Library’s collections, containing more than 134 million items, document and illustrate the lives of both famous Virginians and ordinary citizens. Our online resources draw nearly 2 million website visits per year, and our on-site records, exhibitions and events bring in thousands of visitors annually. The Library is located in downtown Richmond near Capitol Square at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Learn more at www.lva.virginia.gov.