Local History & Genealogy

• The American Revolution
  • A resource from the Virginia website that includes information on sites and museums, Presidents, the Historic Triangle, and much more!
• Colonial Williamsburg Almanac
  • Experience colonial life by exploring the trades, politics and other aspects of colonial life. Meet the people - biographies of prominent colonists and a colonial dateline.
• Journal of the American Revolution
  • A journal that discusses Virginia on the eve of the revolution.
• The Revolutionary Era in Virginia
  • The story of Virginia from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.
• The Revolutionary War in Virginia
  • A graphic history of places in Virginia of the American Revolution.

• American Battlefield Trust
  • Information on the Civil War in Virginia.
• Civil War Guide to Newport News
  • More than 150 years ago, the woods and waters of Newport News, Virginia, echoed with the sounds of the Civil War.
• Civil War Resources
  • A guide to some of the basic published sources that can help researchers identify subjects of interest and possibly open avenues to deeper study.
• Civil War in Virginia
  • More major Civil War battles were fought in Virginia than in any other state.
• Civil War in Virginia - Resources
  • Civil War resources that include:
    • Battlefields
    • Reenactments
    • Timelines
    • Trails
    • And much more
• Home of the American Civil War
  • Hundreds of links to Civil War sites including:
    • Battles
    • Biographies
    • Diaries
    • Maps
    • Photos
    • Regimental histories
    • Rosters
    • And much more

• Army Transportation Museum
  • The Army Transportation Museum Foundation (ATMF), helps to sustain the Army Transportation Museum in its efforts to preserve the Transportation Corps heritage and legacy since its inception during World War 2.
• Bacon's Castle
  • Bacon’s Castle is the oldest brick dwelling in North America and was once the home of Arthur Allen, a prosperous merchant and planter, and his family. Allen’s Brick House earned the moniker Bacon’s Castle in 1676 when several of Nathaniel Bacon’s men occupied the home for four months during the uprising that became known as Bacon’s Rebellion.
• Casemate Museum
  • The Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe is one of more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense.
• Chrysler Museum of Art
• Endview Plantation
  • Learn about the history of Endview plantation through tours, exhibits, special events and programs throughout the entire year.
• Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum
  • The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown tells anew the story of the nation’s founding, from the twilight of the colonial period to the dawn of the Constitution and beyond.
• Lee Hall Mansion
  • Built between 1851 and 1859, Lee Hall Mansion was home to affluent planter Richard Decauter Lee. One of the last remaining antebellum homes on the Virginia Peninsula, Lee Hall offers visitors a step back to the mid-Victorian period.
• The Mariners' Museum
  • The Mariners' Museum, is one of the largest international maritime museums in the world. It is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the culture of the sea and its tributaries, its conquest by man, and its influence on civilization.
• Monticello
  • The home of:
    • The author of the Declaration of Independence. 
    • Historic hours and plantation
    • A museum
    • Presidential library
    • Private, non-profit organization
    • Research Institute
    • A World Heritage Site
• The Newsome House
  • The Newsome House honors the legacy of Joseph Thomas Newsome by engaging the public in an ongoing study and remembrance of African American history and culture.
• Virginia Air and Space Center
  • NASA Langley Visitor Center
• Virginia Living Museum
  • Virginia's Animal Attraction and Dino Destination.
• Virginia War Museum
  • Interpreting American Military History from 1775 to the present.

• Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
  • Jamestown archaeology (including info on current digs), history, and a list of first settlers. Many other links to other historical sites in Virginia.
• Tidewater Genealogical Society
  • The primary geographical area of interest in Virginia, with emphasis on that part east of the Fall Line. The Society is dedicated to encouraging and sustaining interest in genealogical affairs through education and research programs designed to assist members in their search for ancestors.
• Virginia Genealogical Society
  • The Virginia Genealogical Society was organized in 1960 to foster interest in genealogical, biographical, historical and heraldic research; to publish information pertaining to genealogy; and to share genealogical methods, techniques, and knowledge among the members of the Society.

• Death Records Indexing Project
  • Sponsored by the Virginia Genealogical Society and made available online via the Library of Virginia's Digital Library Program, over 60 volunteers are working to index 1853 through 1896 death registers. This project is still in process, but many counties are already available.
• Genealogy and History of the Eastern Shore of Virginia
  • The sharing of information about the genealogy and history of Virginia's Eastern Shore, Accomack, and Northampton Counties.
• The Library of Virginia
  • Historical and genealogical information of Virginia.

The search for vital records in Virginia depends a great deal on the time period you are researching. Virginia required registration of births, marriages and deaths from 1853 to 1896. No state registration was required from 1896 to 1912, but some counties and cities continued to collect information. Luckily, Warwick County and the city of Newport News are among those that did. Registrations were again required at the state level beginning in 1912. 

1853 Through 1896

• The Virginia Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
• We have these registers on microfilm for you to view in the Virginiana Room:

  • Birth Place	Year
    Newport News	1890 and 1896
    Warwick County	1895 through 1854

  • Marriages	Year
    Newport News	1896 through 1926 1927 through 1935
    Warwick County	1853 through 1899

  • Deaths	Year
    Newport News	1896
    Warwick County	1853 through 1896 (missing 1855, 1860 through 1865, 1867 through 1870, 1873, 1881 through 1982)

• All counties and cities for this time period are available within Virginia through interlibrary loan from the Library of Virginia at no cost. If you want to request an interlibrary loan through us, you need to have a Newport News library card.
• Death Records Indexing Project (DRIP) - sponsored by the Virginia Genealogical Society and made available online via the Library of Virginia's Digital Library Program. This project is still in process - but there are several counties already available.  Check it out!

1896 Through 1912

For 1896 through 1912 births, marriages, and deaths in Warwick County and city of Newport News call 757-594-7314 or contact:
Newport News Health Department
Vital Statistics and Records
416 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard
Newport News, VA  23601

1912 Through Present

Birth, marriage, and death records from 1912 to the present and divorce records from 1918 to the present are available from the Virginia Department of Health - Office of Vital Records. Be aware that by law birth records of the last 100 years are available to immediate family members only, and death, marriage, and divorce records are only available 50 years after the event. Contact the Virginia Department of Health for current costs to obtain records.