Start your historical journey here. RELIC's email newsletter highlights upcoming free events and happenings. Genealogy and local Virginia history are our specialties as a service provided by Prince William Public Libraries (PWPL). You can always find more about us on RELIC's webpage.
RELIC service is available:
Hours of Operation
Monday – Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
|
|
|
|
All programs will be in person at Central Library.
|
|
|
|
Saturday, February 11, 2:00 p.m.
|
Join Phillip Nicholas for a presentation demonstrating the resources and techniques used to conduct family research of the West Indies, primarily the British West Indies. Register online, by phone at 703-792-8380, or relic2@pwcgov.org.
|
|
|
|
Thursday, March 16, 2:00 p.m.
|
Chris Barbuschak and Suzanne LaPierre researched the history of Northern Virginia’s segregated public libraries. Chris will present findings from the duo’s intriguing inquiry. Register online, by phone at 703-792-8380, or relic2@pwcgov.org.
|
|
SAVE THE DATE: MARCH 25
The eighth annual Prince William/Manassas History Symposium will be held at the Old Manassas Courthouse on Saturday, March 25, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission is $10 to attend the symposium. View details and register online.
|
|
HISTORIC PRINCE WILLIAM: A HUGE RESOURCE
Historic Prince William (HPW), our county’s historical society, offers a wealth of local source materials through their website, historicprincewilliam.org. Maintained by society president David Cuff, here are a summary of important sources you can find:
Brentsville Neighbors: Published monthly, 2005 – 2016, by Kay and Morgan Breeden. A major source for Brentsville Town and District history.
Cemeteries in Prince William County: Compiled from various sources, incorporating Ron Turner’s database. Includes an electronic map showing GPS locations for all known cemeteries.
Historical Works: Includes an extensive history of the Colvin Farm near Nokesville.
Links: Includes organizations providing historical information about Prince William and Virginia.
Maps: Contains dozens of links to historical maps of Prince William, Northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Schools: An overview of Prince William County’s school history, including some tidbits from Lucy Phinney’s seminal work on the early public schools of Prince William. It contains important links to school information, including Morgan Breeden’s transcripts of County School Board Minutes, 1872 – 1947, plus the minutes of the Brentsville District School Board, 1908 – 1922.
“Crossroads and Corners,” by Eugene Scheel: A tour of towns and villages of Prince William County.
Edward Stallknecht Photographs: Shows Prince William County real estate development in the 1970s, including aerials.
Aerials of Prince William County in 2018: Photos taken from a helicopter by David Cuff.
Ron Turner’s Collected Works: Formerly on a separate website, Turner’s collections can now be found on the HPW website.
- Cemeteries: Reports on each cemetery he explored since the 1980s.
- Sites and Structures: Notes about historic sites, taken from many sources, including news accounts, state landmark reports, and Ron’s own research.
- Published Works: Dozens of his local history works, digitized and searchable.
- African American Records: Scores of records, mostly antebellum, including news articles and clerk’s loose papers.
- Images: Photos of old buildings, many of them now gone. Includes copies of early local photos.
- Stores and More: Business cards and letterhead from old Prince William businesses.
- Miscellaneous: Includes early tax lists for local towns, criminal indictments, and letters related to Civil War activities.
|
|
You can now make appointments for virtual or in-person visits with Don Wilson, "The Tree Doctor." We can set up an hour appointment to discuss and dive into your brick wall research problem. Call by phone at 703–792–8380 or email relic2@pwcgov.org to set up a time.
|
|
Questions and comments are always welcome.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
