Petersburg (Va.) Organization Records, circa 1805-1957

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Petersburg (Va.) Organization Records, circa 1805-1957, [series or volume title]. Local government records collection, Petersburg Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Extent:
3 volumes; 0.45 cubic feet (1 box)
Creator:
Petersburg (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Petersburg (Va.) Organization Records, circa 1805-1957, [series or volume title]. Local government records collection, Petersburg Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Petersburg (Va.) Organization Records, circa 1805-1957, is comprised of various records created by groups in Petersburg. These records consist of a membership directory and register, minute books, and other loose re

Biographical / historical:

Context for Record Type: Organization Records, both volumes and loose records, are in some cases transferred to the Library of Virginia as components of court record transfers. These organization records in some cases were simply stored in the local court building for safe keeping by business owners. In other cases, organization records (particularly ledgers, account books, etc.) may have been filed in a court case as an exhibit. These organization record exhibits appeared both in chancery causes and in judgments, these records serving as exhibits for business dissolution cases, debt suits, and contract disputes.

Locality History:Petersburg was formed from parts of Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Chesterfield Counties. A garrison and fur-trading post called Fort Henry was established there in 1645 on the site of the Indian village Appamattuck. The present name, suggested in 1733 by William Byrd II, honors Peter Jones, Byrd's companion on expeditions into the Virginia backcountry. Petersburg was established in 1748 and incorporated as a town in 1784. It was incorporated as a city in 1850. Petersburg was enlarged by annexation from both Prince George and Dinwiddie Counties in 1972.

Acquisition information:
These records came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Peterburg in an undated accession.
Processing information:

Prior to 2025, the various organization records in this collection were originally described as individual records, but they have been consolidated into one large organization record for the locality. Since 2025, these records additionally include identified but not processed records.

Encoded by J. Taylor: August 2025.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into three series:

  • Series I: First Baptist Church Records, 1908-1914
  • Series II: Petersburg Bar Association, 1953-1957
  • Series III: Petersburg (Va.) Organization Records, circa 1805-1903 [UNPROCESSED]

Physical location:
Library of Virginia