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The Esther Murdaugh Wilson Memorial Room was founded in 1963 when Judge
White donated his library toward a designated room for a non-circulating
collection of history.
The Naval Shipyard Museum also stores information relating to the area, but
the primary emphasis is on the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (formerly Gosport
Yard) in Portsmouth.
Got books to donate? Individuals wishing to donate books may drop
them off at any of Portsmouth's librarys. Please make sure to mention that
they are for the Friends of the Library book sale. They should be in good
condition, easily accessible and in boxes or bags. If you are unable to drop
your donations off at the Friends of the Library "one guy and a truck" will
be happy to help. Call to make arrangements at 757-686-8034 or 757-737-2156
or email stormythor@aol.com
and put "I've got books" in the subject line.
The Room is dedicated to preservation of the
history of Portsmouth and its people, and making this information available
interested parties.
(See our collection list
below.) The Portsmouth of today includes annexation of eight
surrounding areas from Norfolk County, therefore our collection includes
data about the county and the surrounding areas of southeastern Virginia.
Although the room hosts about 2,000 visitors yearly mostly from Virginia and
North Carolina, we have received calls and emails from as far away as Wales,
The Caribbean, and California.
Ancestry.com is available within the room. Please call
757-393-8501 ext 39 to ascertain that a volunteer is available to assist
you. You can email us at
localhistory@portsmouthva.gov
The Room collection includes the following:
Vital and Cemetery Records can be found in the room, on this site, and at
usgwarchives.org and are updated on regular bases. Births and deaths
1858 to 1898 CEMETERIES within the city limits (does not include the
many small family plots found around town): Cedar Grove (oldest),
Cheva Thilim (Jewish) Evergreen, Fisher Hill (African-American,
includes Mt Calvery, Mt Olive), Gomley Chesed (Jewish),
Lincoln (Africian-American), Monumental Methodist Church,
Olive Branch (Jewish section only), Oak Grove Portlock (older
section), Oak Grove,
St Paul's/Catholic Trinity Episcopial Church
Marriages 1858 to 1901,
Marriages 1902-1906, Marriages 1907 to 1920,
Marrages 1921-1925, Marriages 1926-1927,
Marriages 1928 and 1931, Marriages 1929-1930, Marriages 1932-1934,
Marriages 1935-1937, Marriage records are a work in process,
only the years with links have been completed.
City of Portsmouth
Colored Births 1857-1896
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Vital Records
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Wills, deeds,
marriage, census, etc records of Norfolk County & Portsmouth on
microfilm
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Primary
documents and maps relating to the City of Portsmouth and Norfolk County
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Books and
documents pertaining to Portsmouth and Norfolk County
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Scrapbooks and
notebooks from Portsmouth families and organizations
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Photo
collections of several local historians/photographers, The Currents, etc
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Books and
mircofilm pertaining to Portsmouth and Norfolk County
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Jeffery T.
Wilson's
"Index to the Colored Notes" for the year 1924.
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Books and
materials dedicated to the Civil War
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Portsmouth High
School Yearbooks.
(Print a list of available books with schools & dates)
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Primary
documents and maps relating to the City of Portsmouth & Norfolk County
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Books by local
authors
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Family
genealogy related to Portsmouth.
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City & state
publications, some of which are the last existing copies.
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Applications of
membership to the Stonewall Chapter of Confederate Veterans (includes
meeting minutes.)
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Genealogies and
memoirs
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Applications
for membership in the Stonewall Jackson Chapter of Confederate Veterans
(meeting minutes included)
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Vital Records*
Wills,
deeds,
marriage, census, etc records of Norfolk County & Portsmouth on
microfilm. Primary documents and maps relating to the City of
Portsmouth & Norfolk County. Books and documents pertaining to
Portsmouth and Norfolk County. Scrapbooks, notebooks and histories of
Portsmouth families and organizations.
Photo collections of several
local historians/photographers, The Currents, etc.
Portsmouth High
School Yearbooks . Genealogies and memoirs. Applications for
membership in the Stonewall Jackson Chapter of Confederate Veterans (meeting
minutes included). City and state publications, some are the only
existing copies.
HeritageQuest Online provides libraries with a unique, growing
collection of research materials for tracing family history and American
culture with
over 25,000 books, the entire U.S. Federal Census, PERSI™, and other
expanding collections. Beginning or professional genealogists can
now use this powerful online library, with original page images for all
documents, from the convenience of their home or at the library.
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