The whole concept behind the Racial Integrity Act was white supremacy
founded on eugenics. So, family background, racial ancestry was the key.
The Registrar, Dr. Plecker, went on a campaign to make sure that people
of  different races were not allowed to marry--and to nullify the
marriages of those who had already married! J. Douglas Smith in
_Managing White Supremacy_details the whole remarkable, and sad, story.
Plecker went to great lengths to check genealogy thru court clerk's
offices, etc. and made elaborate family trees to demonstrate that
someone had a black ancestor. He particularly attacked Virginia's Indian
descendants. Though there was a "Pocahotas" exemption in the 1924 Act to
protect some of the "FFV" elements who claimed descendant from the
famous 17th century figure. See Smith's book and his footnotes for
further sources.

Jim Hershman

Jeremy Boggs wrote:

> I'm curious if anyone has information on the way Virginia's Racial
> Integrity act of 1924 affected genealogical research. How (if at all)
> was interest in genealogy affected as a result of the act? Did
> Virginia's Registrar of Vital Statistics (or other government office)
> keep genealogical records? Has anyone written any books or articles on
> genealogy and the act?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help,
>
> Jeremy Boggs
>
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