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Cast Your Vote for the Library’s Annual People’s Choice Awards! |
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Image from Dunmore's War Pittsburgh Payroll, before May 1774. The volume includes the names of militia companies and the soldiers stationed at Fort Pitt (present-day Pittsburgh) during Dunmore's War. The information recorded includes the number of days served by each soldier and their payment. |
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Library Receives NSDAR Preservation Grant to Conserve & Digitize Founding-Era Records |
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The Library of Virginia Foundation has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in support of a Library of Virginia project to conserve and digitize four small volumes from the five-volume set of Dunmore’s War Public Service Claims from 1775. The records have tremendous historical and genealogical value. The volumes record the settlement of accounts with militia soldiers who served in Dunmore’s War and with private individuals who provided support in the form of supplies to aid the war effort. Few original records exist from this region of Virginia. Funding for this project was made possible through the sponsorship of the James River Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. To learn more about how you can save Virginia’s archival treasures, please contact Elaine McFadden at elaine.mcfadden@lva.virginia.gov. |
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Book Talks on Revolutionary-Era History Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary |
| Join us for two free upcoming book talks that spotlight overlooked aspects of Revolutionary-era history. These events are part of the Library’s programming commemorating Virginia’s role in the 250th anniversary of American independence. On Thursday, June 12 at 6:00 p.m., author and journalist Andrew Lawler will discuss his latest book, "A Perfect Frenzy: A Royal Governor, His Black Allies, and the Crisis that Spurred the American Revolution,” about Lord Dunmore, the colony’s infamous royal governor. On Wednesday, July 9 at noon, author Alan Pell Crawford talks about his latest book, "This Fierce People: The Untold Story of America’s Revolutionary War in the South,” which seeks to upend the essential American myth that the War of Independence was fought primarily in the North. |
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Don’t miss a pop-up display of Library of Virginia collection items related to Lord Dunmore that author Andrew Lawler used in his research for "A Perfect Frenzy." The materials will be on display from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on June 12 and can be viewed before or after Lawler’s 6 p.m. talk. |
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| Virginia Humanities Fellow Talk Examines “Fugitive Data Portraits: Self-Emancipation in Virginia” |
| Join us on Wednesday, June 18 at noon for a free virtual talk from data analyst, web developer and Virginia Humanities Research Fellow Tev'n Powers on his archival research project and website “Fugitive Data Portraits: Self-Emancipation in Virginia.” |
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Powers used Library of Virginia records from counties across the Commonwealth to learn about the lived experiences of enslaved Black people and to document those who self-emancipated during the Civil War. His website features interactive data visualizations that illuminate trends and patterns in what is documented of Black Virginians’ escapes from slavery. Contextualized by individual accounts of self-emancipation, these data portraits provide a glimpse into the identities and experiences of some of Virginia’s earliest freedom fighters. |
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Library Supports Summer Reading Programs at Virginia’s Public Libraries |
| Summer reading programs serve as valuable outreach tools for libraries, offering children, teens and adults opportunities to retain and enhance their reading skills and participate in informational and entertaining programming. The Library of Virginia supports public libraries’ summer learning and reading programs with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum of Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act. This summer’s theme, “Color Our World,” focuses on arts and creativity ranging from painting to photography to writing. Public libraries receive printed materials, access to a comprehensive programming manual and an online tracking program. |
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Shown from left to right are Virginia Commonwealth University interns Jessica Vigil, Maria Habibi and Billy Bearden. |
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Summer Interns Assist With Projects and Explore Careers in Libraries & Archives |
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The Library of Virginia has welcomed the first two interns in the 2025 Transforming the Future of Libraries and Archives program. Virginia Commonwealth University intern Jessica Vigil will work with our Researcher Engagement team on public history, programming and exhibitions, while Maria Habibi, also with VCU, will work in our Digital Initiatives & Web Presence division. The TFLA internship program is supported by EBSCO, the Universal Leaf Foundation, the Lynn Rainville and Baron Schwartz Transformation Fund and generous donations from individuals made to the Library of Virginia Foundation. If you would like to support this educational program or others like it, please contact Elaine McFadden at elaine.mcfadden@lva.virginia.gov. We’re also welcoming VCU intern Billy Bearden, who will be working with our Virginia Newspaper Program team this summer. We hope that our interns’ experiences will inspire consideration of careers in libraries, archives or museums. |
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| Engage With Civic Season: Juneteenth to the 4th of July |
| In partnership with Made by Us, a coalition of history museums and civic education organizations, the Library of Virginia will host Civic Season, an initiative to inspire and empower young (and older) Virginians to become more active citizens. From Juneteenth (June 19) through July 4th, we encourage you to explore a series of civic challenges on thought-provoking topics from the Library’s resources. |
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LVA On the Go Continues Its Statewide Tour in June |
| The Library of Virginia’s On the Go van is touring the state to bring some of the Library’s resources, staff expertise and programming to locations across the Commonwealth. Upcoming location visits include the Williamson Road Branch of the Roanoke Public Library on Saturday, June 14, and the Picnic in the Park festival in Poquoson on Friday, June 27. Visitors will engage with local history, family history, educational materials and more. For more information, contact Peter North at 804.692.3536 or peter.north@lva.virginia.gov. |
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| Signed Books Make Great Gifts! |
| Find autographed titles online here or stop by the Virginia Shop at the Library to browse our full selection. Get free shipping on any online order over $50 with code VA250. Valid through July 31, 2025. Visit the Virginia Shop in person Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — or shop online anytime at thevirginiashop.org. |
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