Browse Items (196 total)

On May 10, 1773 the British Parliament passed the Tea Act which granted The British Eat India Company a monology on importing tea. A tax on tea and other imported goods had been around since the Townsend Revenue Act became law in 1767. In December…

Although initially pledging to keep the country out of the European conflict, on April 2, 1917, President Wilson stood before Congress and issued a declaration of war against Germany. "The world must be made safe for democracy," he stated, framing…

The broadside image is that of Equal Suffrage League of Virginia (ESL) which was founded in 1909 in Richmond. The ESL became one of the most influential suffrage organizations in the country. Among the twenty founding women, co- founder, women’s…

This photograph depicts a woman and a child sitting on a sofa. The woman is holding a book, presumably reading to the child. In earlier eras books were an expensive luxury only afforded by a very few. The advent of the printing press made it easier…

During the 1920s in America, a dramatic change in communication and entertainment occurred. Radio allowed people to connect with others across the country and eventually the world. The cover of the November 1924 issue of Wireless Age shows how new…

This act from the General Assembly granted William Pennock a government contract for a transportation company. Having a reliable way to transport people and goods across the state is important for a healthy economy. By granting this contract, the…

This photograph depicts a trolley conductor standing on the observation deck of one of the trolleys owned by the Washington, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon Electric Railway. Standing close to him is a man wearing a suit and hat, presumably one of the…

Washington County is the first known locality in the United States to be named for George Washington. It was created from Fincastle County in 1776. At the time of the creation of this map, the county covered 600 square miles.  Twelve percent of the…