Don’t Miss a Reception, Book Signing, and Author Talk for Washington’s Heir

Please join us at the Library on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 6:00 PM for a talk by author and professor of law Gerard N. Magliocca on the first published biography of Bushrod Washington, the nephew of Founding Father George Washington and an attorney and politician who served on the Supreme Court of the United States.

In Washington's Heir: The Life of Justice Bushrod Washington, Magliocca draws on his research as a fellow at the Washington Library at Mount Vernon to tell the story of Justice Washington, through which new perspectives on George Washington and Chief Justice John Marshall also emerge. The author uses Washington's journal to reveal new information on some of early America's landmark constitutional cases, as well as examining his inheritance of both Mount Vernon and of the enslaved people of the Washington family. This free event is presented by the Library of Virginia and Preservation Virginia. A book signing will follow the talk.

Preservation Virginia's John Marshall House will host author Gerard Magliocca before his talk at the Library from 4:30 to 5:30 PM at 818 E. Marshall Street in Richmond (behind the Library). This event is also free, but registration is required.

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May Is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

Learn more about Asian American and Pacific Islander (APIDA) history this month with the Library of Virginia. Look for an exhibition in our Local History and Genealogy Room about the federal and state legislation that created APIDA Heritage Month at the federal level in 1978 and in Virginia in 2002. A selection of fiction and nonfiction books by or about Asian Americans on display in the Circulation area are available for Virginia residents with Library of Virginia library cards to check out. Explore our newly updated APIDA resources page, and watch for blog posts about Asian American Pacific Islander Desi American history and culture on the Library’s blog, The UncommonWealth.

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Library of Virginia Foundation Receives $315,000 NEH Grant to Digitize World War II Records

The Library of Virginia Foundation has received a $315,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a project that will digitize 250,000 separation notices of WWII-era Virginia service members and make them accessible through community outreach transcription and online searchability.

The three-year initiative will increase awareness of the records of approximately a quarter of a million Virginians who served during WWII and connect them to researchers, genealogists, historians, educators, family members, and the broader public.

The project is funded through NEH’s Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant program and, in part, by NEH’s special initiative, A More Perfect Union, which will help Americans commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 by exploring, reflecting on, or telling the stories of our quest for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable society throughout our history.

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Genealogy Workshop Complements the Library’s Exhibition Your Humble Petitioner

Petitions to the General Assembly were the primary catalyst for legislation in the Commonwealth from 1776 until 1865. Discover how you can mine legislative petitions to get a fuller picture of the lives of your ancestors in a genealogy workshop held at the Library on Friday, May 13, 2022, at 9:30 AM. Ginny Dunn (Archives and Library Reference Services manager) and Dawn Tinnell (senior reference archivist) will explain how citizens interacted with the General Assembly and provide guidance on how to search the Library’s Legislative Petition database and published resources. Following the workshop, attendees will take a tour of the Library and our current exhibition, Your Humble Petitioner, which runs through November 19, 2022.

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Explore Business & Career Resources through Accel5

When you’re constantly bombarded with information, it can be hard to sift through all the choices to find the business resources you really need.

The Library’s Find It Virginia collection, which provides digital resources to the public through Virginia’s public libraries, includes Accel5, a business information guide to point you in the right direction. Whether you’re thinking about starting a business, exploring a new career path, or just curious about the business world, Accel5 can help you get started.

This unique business library features short videos, book summaries, and articles on professional development, leadership theory, and business best practices. Accel5 offers quick insights from business professionals, providing a wealth of information for a short time investment. Explore topics such as coaching and mentoring, the entrepreneurial mindset, diversity, hiring, managing change, networking, presentation skills, time management, and more.

Explore Accel5