The Library of Virginia Best Sources for Virginia Research by Time Period

Best Sources for Virginia Research by Time Period

Identifying which records in the Library of Virginia's collections will be useful to you in your research largely depends on what time period you are studying.

1607-1680 | 1680-1782 | 1782-1853 | 1853-1896 | 1896-1935 | Any Time Period

Time Period	Best Sources for Virginia Research
Interpreting Colonial Dates	Before 1752, Virginia, along with all British territories, used the Julian calendar. The legal year began on 25 March and continued through 24 March, after which a new year began. 24 March 1700, therefore, would be followed by 25 March 1701. Since many European countries had already adopted a new calendar (the Gregorian calendar, which is currently in use), writers may have used either the old style (Julian), new style (Gregorian), or both. For example, 11 February 1700 may have been referred to as 11 February 1700 (old style), 11 February 1701 (new style), or 11 February 1701/2 (both).
1607-1680	Adventurers of Purse and Person, F229 J9 2004 Colonial Records Project Wills and Estate Records Index (Torrence) F225 T85 1972 Land Office Searchable Online Database Cavaliers and Pioneers, F225 N842 1992 Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, F232 N86 G72 1987 Records of the Virginia Company, F229 V86 1993 Virginia Historical Index (Swem)
1680-1782	Church Records, Z7778.V8 V8 2002 Chancery Records Index Colonial Records Project Wills and Estate Records Index (Torrence) F225 T85 1972 Journals of the House of Burgesses, J87 V6 or Film 251a Land Office Searchable Online Database Cavaliers and Pioneers, F225 N842 1992 Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, F232 N86 G72 1987 Revolutionary War Records and Public Service Claims Tithables (Colonial tax lists) The Virginia Gazette (newspaper beginning 1736, indexed to 1780 by Cappon) Virginia Historical Index (Swem) Virginia's Colonial Soldiers, F229 B7 1988
1782-1853	Chancery Records Index Church Records, Z7778.V8 V8 2002 Index to Virginia Estates, 1800-1865 (Pippenger), F225 .P57 2001 Wills and Estate Records Index (Torrence) F225 T85 1972 Journals of the House of Burgesses, J87 V6 or Film 251a Land Office Searchable Online Database Cavaliers and Pioneers, F225 N842 1992 Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, F232 N86 G72 1987 Land Tax Records Military Records for the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Mexican War Personal Property Tax Records U.S. Census Population and Special Schedules (beginning 1810) Census Substitutes: Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-1787, HA682 F71 Heads of Families, 1790 (based on 1782-1785 state census), F230 U5 1998 1787 Census of Virginia (based on Personal Property Tax lists), F225 S38 1987 Virginia Historical Index
1853-1896	Chancery Records Index Confederate Service and Pension records Index to Virginia Estates, 1800-1865 (Pippenger), F225 .P57 2001 Land Tax Records Personal Property Tax Records U.S. Census Population and Special Schedules Vital Statistics (Birth, Death, and Marriage)
1896-1935	Chancery Records Index Confederate Pension records Land Tax Records Personal Property Tax Records U.S. Census Population and Special Schedules (to 1930) Vital Statistics (Birth, Death, and Marriage) (Marriage through 1935; Death, 1912-1939)
Any Time Period	Bible Records, Manuscripts, Personal Paper(search the Archives and Manuscripts Catalog) City and County Records Maps Newspapers Published County Abstracts and Indexes - search the Books, Journals... Catalog Published County and Family Histories (search the Books and Journals catalog by subject)