P.O. Box 40
Chesterfield, VA 23832
804-777-9663
About
the Society
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Chesterfield Facts
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Archeology
Cemeteries
Genealogy & Reunions
Located at Castlewood on Iron Bridge Road and Krause Road, the Library
of the Chesterfield Historical Society is a research facility. Our holdings
focus primarily on the history of the county and its families. The collection
has been carefully assembled through the years by members and friends
of the Society and preserved for the use of this and future generations.
We invite the public to make use of our library free of charge.
The Library Committee maintains manuscript collections, vertical files,
maps, and pictures.
If your old Bible has Chesterfield connections, please consider
making photocopies and contributing the family history to the Historical
Society Library. The need is great for researchers in the library.
Search the Chesterfield
County Public Library LINC catalog
RECORDS
AVAILABLE IN OUR LIBRARY
Books
Our books concentrate primarily on the history of Chesterfield County
and its families.
Subjects found here include:
Abstracts of marriage records, wills, and deeds
Archaeology
Architecture and historic houses
Bibliographies
Biographies
Family histories
Histories of the county, its churches, and schools
War muster rolls
We also have some books on surrounding cities and counties, including:
Amelia
Colonial Heights (which was once a part of Chesterfield)
Goochland
Henrico (from which Chesterfield was formed)
Powhatan
Prince George
Richmond (which has annexed areas from our county)
Maps
We have a comprehensive collection of county maps, 1607-1991, including:
Civil War maps
Coal mine maps
Land patent maps
Land plats
Road maps
Survey maps
All are individually listed in a card catalog.
Manuscripts
We have numerous original documents, including:
Church minute books
Family Bible records
Family diaries and letters
Family scrapbooks
Genealogical charts
General merchandise store ledgers
Health Department records
Personal reflections
School record books
A listing of these heading is broken down in the card catalog.
Picture
Collection
Over 1,000 old Chesterfield photographs and negatives portraying life
in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including:
Residents
County officials, citizens, and families
Sites
Schools, churches, historic houses, Civil War sites, railroads, and coal
mines
Events
County fairs, unveiling ceremonies, school and church activities, and
early transportation.
A card catalog listing of individual subjects is available
Copies of photos may be purchased for personal or commercial use. Consult
a librarian for prices.
Cemetery
Records
An alphabetical file of over 12,000 known burials in Chesterfield County
recorded from:
Family graveyards
Church cemeteries
Small community cemeteries
Miscellaneous published sources.
There are individual files on each cemetery in the county, many with photographs,
family information, and deed searches.
We have a card file of burials in Maury Cemetery, 1870-1910, covering
the period before Manchester was annexed by the City of Richmond
Vertical File
An extensive alphabetical file of:
Newspaper clippings
Magazine clippings
Brochures
Programs from various events
All are related to Chesterfield citizens, sites, and events
Family History File
Files alphabetically by surnames and listed also in a card catalog, these files
include correspondence and contributions received from researchers, including:
Family group sheets
Pedigree charts
Miscellaneous family papers
We provide an exchange service for persons researching the surnames.
We also have numerous pedigree charts on file with an accompanying index.
We continue to acquire digital archives on CD and microfilm.
Census Records
Microfilm and books of census records, 1740-1900, of Chesterfield with
accompanying indices are in our collection.
A reader-printer is provided for the convenience of researchers.
Periodicals
Several genealogical periodicals are in our library with a complete collection of The Southside Virginian.
In addition, we preserve our Society's newsletter, The Messenger, and our magazine, The Journal, both of which are indexed.
Rare Books
The collection includes out-of-print books and original manuscripts, such as:
Family Bibles
Early county histories
Personal diaries
These original records are available to the serious historian by prior appointment.
Many have been photocopied for general use.
Copy Service of materials which are not under copyright:
Use of copy machine .20 per sheet
From film .50 per sheet
Requests by mail .25 per sheet
To Purchase:
Family group sheets .10 each
Pedigree charts .10 each
Library Rules
1. Use only pencils; no pens are permitted.
2. No food or beverages, No smoking.
3. Please do not re-shelve books. We will gladly do this for you.
4. Handle materials with care. Do not rest your note pad on library books or other items.
Hours
Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Closed on municipal holidays.
On snow days, please telephone for information. 804-777-9663
Original Site Created 2/25/98 by Angela Wilderman
Current site created 7/04 by Heidi Helbling