Coming Soon: Exploring Virginia’s Historic Records

A comprehensive publication on Virginia research written by Barbara Vines Little, a recognized expert on Virginia research.

  • Emphasizes the interpretation of information found in Virginia records based on the law and practice of the time and place.
  • Contains extensive bibliographies for each chapter including manuscript, in-print, and online sources as well as specialized indexes.
  • Provides a discussion of Virginia law over time and its effect on aliens, children including orphans, the enslaved, indentured servants, and women.
  • Incorporates brief case studies demonstrating the application and interpretation of the information in specific instances.
  • Discusses geography and its influence on migration.
  • Covers an extensive list of records and sources:
    • Census
    • Land
    • Local court records (order and minute books, dockets, loose papers, and fee books) as well as appeal court records and court reports
    • Military (including local militia) and the various conflicts
    • Probate
    • Religious and ethnic groups
    • Taxes
    • Vital statistics (death, marriage, and divorce records—both state and local) as well as substitutes for missing records such as Bibles, church records, newspapers, family papers, diaries, and journals

Be sure to visit the VGS booth at the NGS 2023 Family History Conference in Richmond to learn more, view sample chapters, and sign up for advance publication notification. If you won’t be at the conference, you can sign up for advance publication notification at https://forms.gle/wcvwpDeCKDeasZcs6.