Browse Items (192 total)

On November 7, 1774, residents of York boarded the British ship Virginia and dumped two half-chests of tea into the York River. The first Virginia Revolutionary Convention that met in August of that year had adopted a resolution to refuse to purchase…

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…

CONTENT WARNING: Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved…

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…

These two engravings by the Scottish-born artist William Charles (1776–1820) contrast the resistance—or lack thereof—to the British invasions of Alexandria, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland during the War of 1812. Having their cities under attack…

CONTENT WARNING: Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved…