Richmond, Virginia History Internet Resources
This site is intended to help researchers interested in Richmond, Virginia history with the growing number of unique Internet resources available to them. Below is a list of nearly 90 web sites focusing on some aspect of Richmond history. This page also attempts to list the large number of Richmond area libraries, museums, and repositories whose holdings of Richmond history may have the information researchers seek.
If you know of a Richmond, Virginia history site, please email Special Collections and Archives with information about the site and please include its URL.
Links to sites on: African American History
Architecture | Cemeteries | Civil War History |
Jewish History
Richmond Neighborhoods | Well Known (and not so well known) Richmonders
Other Research Resources | Richmond Area Museums, Libraries, and Repositories
Black History Museum and Cultural Center -- Includes information on exhibitions, hours of operation, and special events. The Museum seeks to become a permanent repository for visual, oral and written records and artifacts commemorating the lives and accomplishments of Blacks in Virginia.
Freeing Art from Wood: The Sculpture of Leslie Garland Bolling -- Online exhibit created by the Library of Virginia on the life and work of Leslie Garland Bolling (1898-1955), a native of Richmond where "the African American community developed into a vibrant center of activity that drew on business and economic connections with Harlem in New York City."
Gabriel's Conspiracy -- Part of PBS's Africans in America series, the site details Gabriel's Rebellion as it transpired in the late eighteenth century.
Image from the Through the Lens of Time: Images of African Americans from the Cook Collection.
Jackson Ward - A new online resource on Jackson Ward and its architecture is available from VCU Libraries' Digital Collections site.
Langston Hughes and Richmond, Virginia -- Online exhibit on Langston Hughes' trip to Richmond, Virginia in 1926 using materials from the Hunter Stagg Papers housed in Special Collections and Archives, VCU Libraries.
Resources on Slavery in Richmond, Virginia - This site was created in 2009 by VCU Libraries to help document the history of slavery in Richmond. Its sponsors include the Richmond Slave Trail Commission and the public history program of VCU's Department of History.
Richmond Planet -- An online exhibit entitled "Born in the Wake of Freedom: John Mitchell, Jr. and the Richmond Planet." Sponsored by the Library of Virginia.
Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church -- Maintained as part of VCU Libraries' Virginia Black Archives Project, the site includes information about the Reverend John Japser (1812-1901) and the church he founded, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, one of Richmond's oldest African American churches.
Souvenir Views: Negro Enterprise & Residences, Richmond, Va. Text and images of this rare and important work documenting Richmond's African American community. The book was originally published in 1907. The site is part of the Library of Congress' American Memory Collection.
Through the Lens of Time: Images of African Americans from the Cook Collection. Site contains nearly 300 nineteenth and early twentieth century images. Sponsored by the Valentine Richmond History Center and VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives.
Voices of Freedom -- Researchers can access eleven videotaped interviews of leaders and activists in Virginia's Civil Rights movement. Interviewees include many Richmonders (Oliver Hill, Henry Marsh and others) and Richmond topics. The complete transcripts of these full interviews are also available from this site.
Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods (ACORN) - This organization seeks to "identify vacant, derelict and/or tax delinquent buildings in the older neighborhoods of Richmond, Virginia" and to "to promote the purchase and renovation of the vacant and abandoned structures." This site provides the visitor with information about different architectural styles, Richmond neighborhoods and more.
Arhitectural Resoruces in Special Collections and Archvies - Some of the most architecturally significant buildings of 19th and 20th century Richmond, Virginia are located on, or adjacent to, the campuses of Virginia Commonwealth University. Richmond's architectural history is one of the major areas of collection in VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives. This site includes information about resources for those interested in conducting research on Richmond's architectural hsitory.
Byrd Theatre -- Great images of the interior of this historic movie palace. Also features information about events at the theatre and "things unique to the Byrd." Features links to the Theatre Historical Society and others.
Charles M. Robinson -- An attractive and informative web site on one of Richmond's most gifted and prolific architects, Charles M. Robinson (1867-1932).
Jackson Ward - A new online resource on Jackson Ward and its architecture is available from VCU Libraries' Digital Collections site.Richmond Commission of Architectural Review Slide Collection - An online resource from VCU Libraries' Digital Collections site. This site contains more than 7,000 color photographs of the city of Richmond. Taken over a period from 1965 to 2000, these images document many of the changes within the city. In some cases the images serve as a record for properties which have since been either renovated or demolished. Ranging from close-ups of architectural details and shots of single buildings to photos of entire city blocks and aerial shots, the subjects depicted include office buildings, houses, warehouses, construction sites, alleys, storefronts, historical buildings, cemeteries, gardens, and garages.
Richmond Geographic Information Systems -- An interesting site maintained by the City of Richmond that includes the historic status of Richmond properties.
Richmond National Register Travel Itinerary - This a comprehensive site for information about Richmond's architecture. The site was developed by the Richmond Department of Community Development's Planning and Preservation Division in conjunction with the National Park Service. VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives supplied many of the historic images used in this site.
"Seventy Five Years of Film and Dance" Grace Street Theater, Richmond, Virginia -- VCU's Grace Street Theater is a little known but successful example of restoration and adaptive use of a historic property. The theater opened in 1935 and the site is sort of a timeline history using numerous resources housed in VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives.
Virginia Department of Historic Resources -- Provides information about regional offices, Heritage Tourism, Stewardship Programs, financial assistance, education, and more.
Virginia Heritage Site -- Two excellent examples of finding aids that make up the Virginia Heritage site are from the Library of Virginia and include a wealth of information about Richmond architecture - the Guide to the Richmond (Va.), Bureau of Permits and Inspections, Building permit architectural blueprints and specifications, 1907-1949 and the Guide to the Richmond (Va.) Office of the City Engineer, Architectural drawings, plans, and plats, 1809-1975.
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Burials of Hollywood Cemetery
-- The web site for the cemetery includes information for visitors, history, a map, and a genealogy page that lets researchers look up the burial dates for those buried here.
Hebrew Cemetery --
Excellent online exhibit on Richmond's Hebrew Cemetery maintained by
Congregation Beth Ahabah.
Robertson Hospital Register -- A Joint Project between VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives and the Museum of the Confederacy. Hospitals are listed alphabetically.
Civil War Richmond -- The focus of the site is Richmond's role in the war and includes a wealth of written accounts (newspaper and journal accounts during and after the war), photographs, and maps. An excellent site for researchers and scholars.
Museum of the Confederacy -- Comprehensive site about the White House of the Confederacy and its accompanying exhibitions. Also includes library link information about available collections.
Richmond National Battlefield -- Provides information about the new Civil War Visitor Center, park hours, special events, and other Civil War sites. Also includes information on the "embattled" city of Richmond from 1861-1865.
Beth Ahaba Museum and Archives -- Information about the museum, its holdings, and of congregation Beth Ahaba which formed in Richmond in 1841.
Hebrew Cemetery -- Excellent online exhibit on Richmond's Hebrew Cemetery maintained by Congregation Beth Ahabah.
Virginia Cemetery Project -- Sponsored by the Jewish Genealogical Society, the site offers a listing of Jewish Cemeteries in Richmond and Virginia including Beth-El Cemetery, the Hebrew Confederate Cemetery, Oakwood Hebrew Cemetery, and more. Provides contact information for all cemeteries.
Virginia Holocaust Museum -- With information on the Museum itself including it's mission statement, current exhibits, teacher's manuals, and more. The site includes a searchable database.
Church Hill Oral History Collection -- This collection consists of transcripts of 35 oral history interviews conducted in 1982 that were part of a Historic Richmond Foundation project to document the history of Richmond's Church Hill neighborhood. Interviewees range from well known Richmonders, including L. Douglas Wilder and Henry L. Marsh, to individuals born in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Jackson Ward - A new online resource on Jackson Ward and its architecture is available from VCU Libraries' Digital Collections site.
Monroe Park, Richmond, Virginia -- A history of Monroe Park, located in the Fan District and adjacent to VCU. There is also links to other sites on the park.
Richmond National Register Travel Itinerary - This a comprehensive site for information about Richmond's architecture. The site was developed by the Richmond Department of Community Development's Planning and Preservation Division in conjunction with the National Park Service. VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives supplied many of the historic images used in this site.
Well Known (and not so well known) Richmonders
Arthur Ashe -- This site reports to be the "official web site of Arthur Ashe," the acclaimed tennis player and activist who grew up in Richmond.
James Branch Cabell -- Created by VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives, this site provides information about one of Richmond's most well respected writers.
"Friends and Rivals: James Branch Cabell and Ellen Glasgow." -- Tells the story of two of Richmond's most successful writers who were both supportive and envious of the others' works. Maintained by VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives.
Anne Clay Crenshaw and the Women's Suffrage Movement in Virginia -- Includes vintage photographs, a comprehensive biography, and facts about her involvement in the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia. Maintained by VCU Libraries's Special Collections and Archives.
Edgar Allan Poe - Learn about Poe from the experts in Richmond, the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond.
Theresa Pollak, Artist and Teacher -- Provides images of Pollak, the founder of VCU's School of the Arts, her paintings and drawings, a chronological listing of events in her career and personal life, and more. Maintained by VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives.
Tom Robbins -- The AFTRLife (an acronym for alt.fan.tom-robbins) is a web site dedicated to Tom Robbins, described by this site as "the cosmic/comic American author." Tom Robbins lived in Richmond during his days (late 1950s-early 1960s) at Richmond Professional Institute (now VCU). He is still fond of the city and many of his novels' settings and characters sprung from Richmond.
Fred O. Seibel, Political Cartoonist -- Seibel (1886-1968) was the editorial cartoonist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch for more than 40 years. The site focuses on correspondence between Seibel and some well-known political figures. Includes an on-line guide to the collection of Seibel papers. Maintained by VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives.
Bruce Base -- Concert and song information about Bruce Springsteen -- who played numerous concerts in Richmond in the early 1970s. This site attempts to list ALL the known concerts that Bruce and his bands have played with details (if available) of the tracks and the times. The site has images of tickets, passes, adverts and set lists for over 1000 shows.Elvis in Richmond - Lots of information about the Richmond Mosque (today's Landmark Theatre) and its musical history.
American Memory Site - The Library of Congress -- An excellent resource for research on all aspects of American history. Rare and important images and documents pertaining to Richmond, Virginia can be found here as well.
Rarely Seen Richmond -- Vintage Postcard Views of Richmond -- Nearly 700 postcard images, most dating from 1900 through 1930, can be searched and viewed. Maintained by VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives.
The Shockoe Examiner - A blog on the history of Richmond, Virginia - includes links to many Richmond blogs and other Richmond history resources.
Virginia Heritage Site -- Virginia Heritage is a consolidated database of finding aids to manuscript and archival collections and provides information about historical materials that document Virginia history. It searches the finding aids or guides to collections found in most of Virginia's repositories including the Library of Virginia, the Virginia Historical Society, and many of Virginia's colleges and universities. For researchers interested in using primary source materials and documents on topics related to Richmond and Virginia history, begin with this source. Two excellent examples are finding aids from the Library of Virginia that include a wealth of information about Richmond architecture - the Guide to the Richmond (Va.), Bureau of Permits and Inspections, Building permit architectural blueprints and specifications, 1907-1949 and the Guide to the Richmond (Va.) Office of the City Engineer, Architectural drawings, plans, and plats, 1809-1975.
VA-HIST (Virginia History) Discussion Group -- A discussion list for research and writing about Virginia history. Researchers can learn more about the work of other scholars, inquire about the location of sources, debate issues, raise questions, and learn about current events in the field.VCU Libraries Digital Collections - materials primarily from VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives, ranging in subject matter from African American history in Virginia to Richmond's past and present, from the comic book and cartooning arts to the history of VCU itself. Collections are presented in a variety of formats, including photographs, art, text, video, and audio.
VCU Libraries' Online Exhibits -- A listing of the growing number of online exhibits maintained by VCU Libraries. Many of these exhibits focus on some aspect of Richmond history.
Museums, Libraries, and Repositories
Agecroft Hall -- Information about Agecroft Hall, the 15th century Tudor estate that had been moved from England to Richmond in the 1920s. The site includes directions, admissions, and events.
Allen E. Roberts Masonic Library -- Located in Richmond, this library houses works on the history of Freemasons in the United States with a major emphasis on Virginia. The site includes highlights from the library's collection of Masonic records and links to other Internet sites on the Civil War, genealogy, local history, and the Revolutionary War. Library hours, telephone, and location are also provided.
Anderson Gallery, VCU School of the Arts -- The Anderson Gallery is the Museum of the Arts for Virginia Commonwealth University and is a part of the School of the Arts of VCU.
Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) -- Founded in 1889, the APVA is the oldest statewide preservation organization in the nation. The site includes a searchable state wide map that lists three Richmond properties - the Old Stone House, the Cole-Diggs House, and the John Marshall House.
Beth Ahaba Museum and Archives -- Information about the museum, its holdings, and of congregation Beth Ahaba which formed in Richmond in 1841.
Black History Museum and Cultural Center -- The museum "seeks to become a permanent repository for visual, oral, and written records and artifacts commemorating the lives and accomplishments of Blacks in Virginia." The site includes information on exhibitions, hours of operation, and special events. Also provides textual information about the formation of the museum in the 1980s.
Chesterfield County Library -- Includes access to their library catalog and various search engines.
Children's Museum of Richmond -- Information about the museum and its exhibits.
Hanover Tavern Foundation -- From the 1780s until the 1830s, Hanover Tavern was the main transportation route between Richmond and Washington. Before that it was the home of Patrick Henry. The site includes information about the building's history and the activities sponsored by the Hanover Tavern Foundation.
Henrico County Library -- This site includes information on the county's libraries and events.
Historic Richmond Foundation -- General Information about historic tours of the area. With facts and images of Richmond buildings including Monumental Church, the Stewart-Lee House, and the National Theatre.
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College -- Their library page includes useful information about the college.
John Tyler Community College -- Basic site with email addresses of their library staff.
Library of Virginia -- Search their On-Line catalog to find everything from nineteenth-century business records to genealogical information and books. The library's home page offers information on digital library programs, exhibits, employment and more. The Library of Virginia is a must for anyone interested in Richmond, Virginia history. Their web site includes many unique online databases that focus specifically on Richmond history.
Maymont -- One of Richmond's most popular attractions, Maymont is a Victorian house Museum on a 100 acre park. The site includes a good deal of valuable information about the house and the residents who built it. Also offers information about the formal gardens, the park, the carriage collection, the nature center, and special events.
Museum of the Confederacy -- Comprehensive site about the White House of the Confederacy and its accompanying exhibitions. Also includes library link information about available collections.
Poe Museum -- A macabre and interesting site with facts about Poe's life in Richmond, selected works, and much more.
Randolph Macon College -- Access to their catalog is provided. Their Special Collections department includes a large collection of materials devoted to the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Richard Bland College -- Includes information about their library and its resources.
Richmond Public Library -- Search the online catalog or take a look at actual newspaper articles detailing the "Seven Hills of Richmond," "The Train in the Tunnel" calamity and other topics. These articles are part of one of the public library's most valuable resources, its Richmond Newspaper Clippings Collection which was begun in the 1930s. For those doing research on a Richmond history topic, this collection is one of the most important resources available.
T.C. Williams School of Law, UR -- Includes access to their library.
Science Museum of Virginia -- The museum has dozens of ongoing exhibits and shows IMAX films daily.
Union Theological Seminary -- Access to their catalog and information about the William Smith Morton Library.
University of Richmond -- Library Catalog and other information is provided.
Valentine Richmond History Center -- With information on programs and resources, collections, contact information, the historic Wickham House and much more, the site includes photographs of items in the collection and images of John Wickham's nineteenth-century mansion.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Special Collections and Archives [Monroe Park Campus, Cabell Library]
Special Collections and Archives [Medical Campus, Tompkins-McCaw Library]
Virginia Department of Historic Resources -- Provides information about regional offices, Heritage Tourism, Stewardship Programs, financial assistance, education, and more.
Virginia Historical Society -- Searchable everything, including easy access to photographic collections, manuscripts, rare books, broadsides, and everything else the museum offers. Also features information about exhibits, fellowships, membership, and more.
Virginia Holocaust Museum -- With information on the Museum itself including the Museum's mission statement, current exhibits, teacher's manuals, and more. The site includes a searchable database.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts -- This site offers information about what's new at the Museum. With current events and new exhibits. Also features some digitized images which can be explored according to categories: African, Ancient, Mediterranean, Asiatic, European, and Russian.
Virginia Union University -- Site includes access to their library catalog and information about their library, the L. Douglas Wilder Library and Learning Resource Center.
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