Vol. 7, No.1

1930 Virginia Census!

        We know an attention grabbing headline when we see one. Last fall, the Alexandria Library, Special Collections pre-ordered the 1930 Census microfilm for Virginia. Virginia is one of the few states for which a Soundex was prepared, and that too was pre-ordered. The National Archives will ship the 1930 Census starting April 1, 2002. Beginning April 1, our recorded telephone greeting will be updated daily to inform callers when the film arrives at the Library; please call us, 703-838-4577 for the Alexandria Library 1930 Virginia Census update.

        The staff started fielding questions about the 1930 census last summer, so we know there is a high level of anticipation in the genealogical community. And for those who are curious and are already scheduling their time at the National Archives, the other Soundex states are: Alabama; Arkansas; Florida; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Mississippi; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; and West Virginia.

18th Century Personal Ads

        Due to the efforts of City Architectural Historian, Dr. Peter Smith, a very large and rich vein of material was captured from 18th century newspapers, chiefly about architecture, building supplies, planning requirements, infrastructure improvements, etc. This material was recently printed and organized by researcher Mr. Wes Pippenger and donated to us. There are irresistible nuggets of the charming, the weird (spontaneous human combustion?), and the highly entertaining.

        One we couldn't resist is the following personal ad from theMaryland Gazette, February 10, 1774:

        "It was never designed for man to live alone.
        "Wanted, a young woman who is between 15 and 22, who can take care of a single man's linens and otherwise attend to him, in case of indisposition, to make tea and occasionally amuse him with a tete a tete. As a very genteel sallary[sic] will be given, 'tis expected that the lady will be likely as to person, and cheerful in her temper; such an one will not be offended at this manner of address.
        "The advertiser is serious, and in earnest. He hopes an idle curiosity will not lead any one to be impertinent. A letter directed to D.M.L to be left at the printing office will be duly attended to.
        "The utmost honour[sic] and secrecy may be depended upon."

Now, Just for Fun, A Contest!

        Re-write the 18th century ad above to the style of a 21stcentury personal ad that we might see in the newspaper. Nothing that would invite the arrest on morals charges of the gent or the young lady, please; this is a family newsletter. Entries submitted by April 15, 2002 will be judged and the winning entry and its author will be included in our next issue. Submit your entry through our website or the mailing address noted elsewhere in this issue.

The 1880 Census for All

        The cognoscenti are aware of the uniqueness of the 1880 census and the soundex access to it. (Only households in which there were juveniles under the age of ten were "soundexed;" this had to do with the 1930s and the potential problem of people in their 60s during the 1930s proving their age eligibility for Social Security.) Well, thanks to modern technology, we now have the 1880 census for the entire country, with an every name index on 55 CD-ROMs. Oh, what fun! We couldn't pass this one up. Take it for a test drive.

New Materials

The Alexandria Herald, June 3, 1811 - June 2, 1819. Extant copies at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Quite literally, new news! So much more than that which was covered by the Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria researchers, please add this one to your list of new favorite resources. Microfilm 00077 Gift, Friends of the Local History Collection.

The Alexandria Herald, June 9, 1813 - December 28, 1825. No one is seeing double! Extant copies at the Library of Congress. Quite literally, more new news! So much more than that which was covered by the Alexandria Gazette. Do add this one to your list of new favorite resources. Microfilm 00078 Gift, Friends of the Local History Collection.

Domesticating History; The Political Origins of America's House Museums, by Patricia West. As expected, it started with Mount Vernon. VA REF 973 Wes Margaret M. Mourot for the Mourot Decorative Arts Fund.

From Craft to Profession; the Practice of Architecture in Nineteenth-Century America, by Mary B. Woods. Local fave Glenn Brown has a couple of mentions. VA REF 720.2373 Woo

Index to U.S. Military Pension Applications of Remarried Widows for Service between 1812 and 1911. Transcribed by Virgil D. White. More for the genealogist. VA REF 929.373 Whi Presented by the Friends of the Local History Collection in Honor of Patrick G. Wardell, November 10, 2001, "Meet the Author"

Materials & Techniques in the Decorative Arts; An Illustrated Dictionary. Ed by Lucy Trench. From "abalone" to "zwischengoldglas" with plenty of stops in between. VA REF 745.028 Mat Margaret M. Mourot for the Mourot Decorative Arts Fund.

Richmond Beers; A Directory of the Breweries and Bottlers of Richmond, Virginia, by Danny Morris and Jeff Johnson. No Virginiana collection is complete without this lavishly illustrated volume. VA REF 338.7663 Mor

Thomas ap Catesby Jones; Commodore of Manifest Destiny, by Gene A Smith. Virginia native and resident, late in life, of Fairfax County. VA REF B JONES Smi The Effie Dunstan Fund for Early Virginia History.

Unruly Women; The Politics of Social & Sexual Control in the Old South, by Victoria E. Bynum. Study of 19th century women who colored outside the lines. VA REF 305.4097 Byn.

Virginia Militia in the War of 1812; From the Rolls in the Auditor's Office at Richmond. Reprint of the exceedingly rare 1851 ed. VA REF 973.524 Vir Presented by the Friends of the Local History Collection in Honor of Patrick G. Wardell, November 10, 2001, "Meet the Author"