New Exhibition! Your Humble Petitioner Opens February 7

Imagine having to explain to the House of Delegates why you want to divorce your spouse, change your name, or take other actions that affect your life. Virginians had to do just that for nearly a century. Their stories can be found in the Library’s Legislative Petitions Collection. Your Humble Petitioner: Legislative Petitions Gave Voice to Virginians, a free exhibition running February 7–November 19, 2022, at the Library of Virginia, reveals the poignant stories of Virginians from all walks of life that can be found in this collection—a gold mine of historical information not available anywhere else.

Celebrate Black History Month

The Library has three intriguing virtual events and a wealth of digital resources to help you delve into Black history this February! All are free and open to the public. Research Stories from Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative, a virtual panel discussion on February 9, examines a digital project that provides access to records of enslaved and free Black people in the Library’s collections. On February 17, join a virtual conversation with author Rohulamin Quander on his book The Quanders: Since 1684, An Enduring African American Legacy, which shares the history of one of America’s oldest African American families. And on February 15, our Common Ground Virginia History Book Group will discuss The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, a collection of essays, short stories, and poetry that explores the legacy of slavery in present-day America.