Hi, Virginia.
For public records, the Library of Virginia at 9th and Broad should be your first stop. Get off I-95 at the Medical College of Virginia exit and go west on Broad (up hill) to 9th; turn right on 9th (one way) and pull into parking on left, under the Library. http://www.lva.virginia.gov/whoweare/visit/hours.htm
Through their website, you can organize your visit in advance, and access the digitized materials. There are also many terrific "research guides" on the website to help you know what's available. They also have an extensive collection of bible records, local histories, and other materials. Admission is free. Unfortunately, the traffic in that area is a mess right now because of utility work and construction, so be patient and allow a few extra minutes to get in and out.
http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
For other rare records, documents, family papers, etc., after exhausting LVA's resources (if you can), then you'll want to go to the Virginia Historical Society (admission $5/day, or free with membership). It's a short drive from LVA. To avoid most of the contruction (and many confusing turns to get around it, from LVA, go south on 8th (one way, towards Broad Street), go several blocks then turn right on Main Street (it's one-way). You can take Main all the way to Boulevard, turn right on Boulevard, and then shortly on the left you'll see the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the United Daughters of the Confederacy headquarters, and the Virginia Historical Society, all in a row on a long, combined block. There's a new wing under construction on the south side of VHS, so the entrance is now around the back, a short walk from the parking lot (turn left on the side street, then left into the parking lot). The card catalog to VHS's collections is now on-line. There's also an old-fashioned card catalog still there (no longer maintained), but I don't know if all of those cards are on the on-line catalog. (Others on this list may know.)
http://www.vahistorical.org/
When you leave VHS, go north on Boulevard (away from Main) about two blocks to Monument Avenue, and take in the statues of some of Virginia's favorite sons, from Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, to Arthur Ashe. Turn right on Monument and take it to Lombardy (where it become one way) and make a u-turn. Then follow Monument back across Boulevard. The Ashe monument is the last (and most recent). Shouldn't miss seeing Monument Avenue when you're that close!
(When you're at LVA, the information desk in the lobby usually has some information about area attractions and events. Or, for more extensive Virginia travel information, you may want to visit the tourist information office in the State Capitol Bell Tower, in the lower, SW corner of Capitol Square (a two block walk from LVA, walking downhill on 9th street (against traffic). The Capitol and it's hill are also under reconstruction to get ready for the expected influx of visitors during the Jamestown quadracentennial(sp?) celebration in 2007. The Capitol is still open now, but at some point soon I believe it will be closing for awhile. But, on the way to the bell tower you'll still be able to see (to the west of the building) our magnificent statue of George Washington on horseback, surrounded by statues of other famous Virginians. http://www.dgs.state.va.us/CapSquare/ )
Good luck, and most of all, have fun!
Rosanna in Richmond
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 20:18:00 -0500
From: "Virginia E. Phillips" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Richmond, VA area research
I will shortly be making a trip to the Richmond, VA area and would like to
know the
Best place to research genealogical items. I have several family lines that
were
>From that area, namely Brooks, Hudson, Rowlett and Bradshaw. My trip will
only be
For 2 days so I want to make the best use of my time. Can anyone recommend
the
Best library in the area?
Thanks,
Virginia Phillips
Aberdeen, MD
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