Library of Virginia

Happy 175th birthday to the Richmond Times-Dispatch! #OnThisDay in 1850, the very first issue of the Richmond Daily Dispatch — the precursor to the newspaper many Virginians read today — was printed. Virginia Chronicle, the Library's online newspaper database, has almost 9,700 issues of the Daily Dispatch (1852–1884), almost 5,800 issues of the Richmond Dispatch (1884–1903), more than 4,000 issues of the Times Dispatch (1903–1914) and almost 3,000 issues of the Richmond Times-Dispatch (1914–1922), bringing approximately 22,000 issues of the newspaper online. Learn more about this birthday in the RT-D's video at https://lnkd.in/eTKNDBpj Browse Virginia Chronicle to view historic issues at https://lnkd.in/eJCurVzq #newspapers #RVA

The Library is seeking a Director of Government and External Relations. As a senior advisor to the Librarian of Virginia and a key member of the agency’s leadership, the position will provide strategic direction for the Library’s legislative, government and external relations programs. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eFZpPZSG #jobalert

Historian Jody Lynn Allen visited the Library yesterday for an author talk and book signing on her new work, “Roses in December: Black Life in Hanover County from Civil War to Civil Rights,” the inspiring chronicle of a Black community in Virginia fighting for civil rights over the course of a pivotal century. Thank you to Allen and all who joined us! Visit our Calendar to find other compelling events like this one at https://lnkd.in/exg6_A_T You can view more photos from this event at https://lnkd.in/egepd9xB and watch a recording of the talk at https://lnkd.in/eY2ssdfr

The latest issue of the CCRP News is out! Our newsletter for and about the Circuit Court Records Preservation Program is produced by the Library’s local records archivists twice a year. Although primarily geared toward Virginia’s 120 circuit court clerks and their staffs, it may be of interest to those familiar with the CCRP program. https://bit.ly/CCRPFall25

The Friends of the Virginia State Archives hold their 25th Annual Slatten Lecture at the Library of Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 8, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Featured speaker Barbara Vines Little, who is nationally recognized as one the foremost genealogical lecturers on women, legal research, land platting and Virginia genealogical research, will present four in-person lectures drawing on her many years of research using the resources at the Library of Virginia and other institutions. Cost: $55 ($40 for Friends of the Virginia State Archives members) includes a box lunch. Register by Nov. 3 at https://lnkd.in/euipjcts. For more information, contact [email protected] or Anne Taylor Brown, at [email protected]. #archives #VirginiaHistory

Local historian and radio personality Gary L. Flowers led attendees on a 20-stop walking tour of Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward neighborhood on Saturday as part of programming related to our current exhibition, “House to Highway: Reclaiming a Community History,” on view at the Library through Feb. 28, 2026. Thank you to Flowers and all who joined us. Learn more about the exhibition and related programs, including a daylong symposium on Oct. 25, at https://lnkd.in/gb9Gb9_M. "House to Highway" exhibition-related programming is provided with support from Virginia Humanities and the Mellon Foundation. #HouseToHighway #RVA #BlackHistory #VirginiaHistory The JXN Project #JacksonWard

Thank you to ABC 8NEWS WRIC - Nexstar Media Group for sharing our news about next month's virtual book talk with Pulitzer Prize–winning author Kathleen DuVal on her latest book, “Native Nations: A Millennium in North America.” Join us online on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at noon for this free event commemorating National Native American Heritage Month. https://lnkd.in/eqYEajqN

October is Family History Month! Whether you’re just starting to explore researching and preserving your family’s history or are ready to dive deeper, you’ll find guidance and inspiration in our Family History YouTube playlist. Find more than 30 helpful videos on topics from Introduction to Genealogical Research to Reading Old Handwriting to Tips for Personal Digital Archives at https://lnkd.in/e8KZHMa3 #familyhistory #genealogy

In honor of National #ElectronicRecordsDay, our Records Management staff is sharing some basic guidance for those looking to gain control over their e-records. Check out their helpful advice in today's post on the Library’s blog, The UncommonWealth.https://https://lnkd.in/e8vKEuNS

Attention, Virginia high school students & teachers: Our 2026 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Student Creative Expressions Contest is now open! Strong Men & Women, a yearly Black History Month program presented by Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia, honors distinguished Virginians, past and present. Students can enter the related contest for a chance to win an Apple MacBook Air and $1,000 for their school. This year’s contest prompt asks students to respond to the promise of rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the Declaration of Independence in honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of American Independence. Submissions can be performance pieces, digital projects or creative writing works. The deadline is Nov. 16, 2025. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e9k3srpV #studentcontest #VirginiaHistory #changemakers #womenshistory #blackhistory