Virginia Archives Month 2022

Virginia Archives Month is 20! For two decades, every October, the archival and special collections institutions around the commonwealth have been joining together to celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of our shared documentary history. What began modestly as Virginia Archives Week in 2002 has grown into a statewide celebration of the institutions and professionals who safeguard, preserve, and make accessible records of enduring value.

With this milestone in mind, this year's theme is Twenty Years of Virginia Archives Month and takes a look back to fondly reminisce about our past collective efforts to bring attention to archives. However, we aren't just looking back, the participating institutions will again be sharing information, videos, programs, tours, and resources to raise awareness about the importance of preserving and sharing cultural and historical documents from families, communities, states, and the country at large.

To download the 2022 Virginia Archives Month poster, please click here.

Archives Month Events

Alexandria Library Open House
October 1, 2022

The Alexandria Library invites you to celebrate its 85th anniversary by attending an open house from 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday, October 1. The library will also host a transcribe-a-thon, an author talk on the 1939 Library sit-in at 1 pm, a book sale, and a small exhibit of archival materials 11 am until 12:30 pm. Visit the link to register.

First Fridays Tabling
October 7, 2022

Look for archivists from archival institutions tabling at the First Fridays Art Walk near you! This is a great chance to connect with an archivist and find out more about the resources in your community.

Electronic Records Day
October 10, 2022

Electronic records are crucial to documenting recent history. Follow the hashtag #ERecsDay to learn how archives and archivists are pioneering the preservation of and access to electronic records.

Shenandoah Valley Archives Fair
October 12, 2022

The Shenandoah Valley Archives Fair will be held from 11:00AM-1:00PM on Wednesday, October 12th at Bridgewater College's John Kenny Forrer's Learning Commons. It will feature an expo of 12 regional archives sharing information about their institutions, collections, and missions.

Ask an Archivist Day
October 12, 2022

On October 12, archivists around the country will take to Twitter to respond to questions tweeted with the hashtag #AskAnArchivist. Ask us anything about the collections, careers in archives, or our institutions. Organized by the Society of American Archivists.

Archives Month Tour of the Library of Virginia
October 22, 2022

Explore an archival institution near you in October for Archives Month, starting with a tour of the Library of Virginia! This tour includes the current exhibition, the Reading Rooms on the second floor, and a selection of unique and rare items in Special Collections. Two tour times are available: noon and 1 PM. Register now to reserve your spot!

Memory's Journey: Addressing Difficult Family History
October 26, 2022

For Archives Month, join us at the Library to explore how family histories are preserved by archival institutions throughout the commonwealth and how we encounter and interpret these histories today. These themes will be examined with Memory Wars podcast host Mallory Noe-Payne, Virginia author Timothy Kilby ( Gourdvine Black and White: Slavery and the Kilby Families of the Virginia Piedmont) and public historian and genealogist Karice Luck-Brimmer (community initiatives program consultant with Virginia Humanities). A selection of original records will be on display from the Library's collections, including family bibles, chancery causes and items from Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative. Free, registration required.

Puzzles

Try these fun online puzzles made from images submitted for Virginia Archives Month. Reassemble the pieces to complete the puzzle! Click the image below to go to the online puzzle.