Research Library
Chesterfield Historica Society of Virginia Membership
CHSV Research Library :Founded in 1981, the Chesterfield Historical Society of VA research library collection contains around 25,000 items, 90% donated by local residents. FREE to visitors. Photocopy charges. Research request fee is $25.
Our Library Collection includes:
Ꚛ Maps: A comprehensive collection (1607-2019) of county and regional maps, including the Colonial era, Revolutionary War, Civil War, Coal Mining, Railroads and Rivers, and more.
Ꚛ Manuscripts: Original documents including diaries, church minute books, country store ledgers, family Bible records, letters, genealogy charts, and more.
Ꚛ Picture Collection: Over 5,500 County photographs, from tin-types to digital.
Ꚛ Rare Books: Includes out-of-print books and original manuscripts. Available to the serious historian by appointment. Many items have been photocopied for general use.
Ꚛ Cemetery Records: An alphabetical file of over 12,000 known burials in Chesterfield County recorded from family graveyards, church cemeteries and other resources
Ꚛ Vertical Files: An extensive alphabetical file on people, places and events in Chesterfield County, including newspaper and magazine clippings, brochures, programs and flyers as well as promotional materials and historic records.
Ꚛ Family History Files: Research files on Chesterfield County families.
Ꚛ Census Records: From Tithables in the late 1700s to 20th Century census indices.
Ꚛ Abstracts of Title Deed Searches: From the mid-1800s thru to the 1930s.
Ꚛ Periodicals: Copies of select newspapers as well as genealogical publications.
- Ask a Volunteer to assist you if you get stumped in your research.
Selecting a photograph below will give your a better view - such as the "Index Card Cabinet" (may be the original "Google" search system). We have the means to help you research Chesterfield County history.
Library Information
Chesterfield's Veterans Database
The Research Library's Chesterfield Veterans Database is an on-going project which records over 7,000 individuals from every conflict since 1611, from the Colonial period thru to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Completing the database form will help us to keep the database current.
Public Speaking Requests
We can provide speakers to deliver PowerPoint presentations on the work done by the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia. There is no charge. Please call (804) 796- 7121.
Notice of Closures: Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia offices will be closed when Chesterfield County is observing holidays. See the schedule here.
Research Requests
Thank you for the opportunity to assist in your research on people, places, and events in Chesterfield County history. As the birthplace of the second permanent English settlement in the New World with the first hospital, coal mines, ironworks, tobacco farming, and many other significant events, we have a history we are proud to share! We are only able to conduct research on Chesterfield County history and residents. Please note that there is a minimum charge of $25.00 per research request. Copies and postage are extra. Upon evaluation of your request, you will be contacted to discuss the request and anticipated charge.
Library Committee
Library Committee Chair:
Liess van der Linden-Brusse
Library Committee volunteers provide coverage in the Research Library in Historic Trinity Church, 10111 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832, Monday-Friday 10am-4pm on a mutually convenient Day & Time.
Mission: To collect, accession and preserve books, including rare books, maps and manuscripts, pamphlets and periodicals, vertical files on people, places and events in the County, family history files, a Picture Collection and a Veterans Database for the purpose of public research into county history. Also, to assist patrons with their research, and to handle research requests and projects received online or by phone. Meet: As needed.
Volunteer projects include accessioning, indexing, digitizing records on to the library Past Perfect system, research, abstracting data from Chesterfield County, Virginia state and Federal records, compiling brief histories on Chesterfield County topics such as business & industry, women of Chesterfield, high school histories, origins of street & road names, original land owners of county and state parks, and more. Each volunteer selects a project based on his/her field of interest.
To volunteer, please call: 804-796-7152, or email Committee Chair Liess van der Linden-Brusse See The New Film on the Library Committee.