Genealogical Resources at the Pittsylvania County Library

By Herman Melton, Henry Mitchell, and Sarah E. Mitchell

The Pittsylvania County Public Library (see website) on Military Drive in downtown Chatham is a significant resource for researchers of local genealogy.

The library contains over 48,000 volumes, including an excellent genealogical and local history section with the following notable items (see more complete listing):

More than seventy family histories, approximately twenty of which are non-circulating;
A complete set (of 11) of Henings Statues;
A set (of 10) of Calendar of Virginia State Papers;
Several books on the topic of pensioner lists;
Numerous compendiums of colonial-era genealogy;
Books on abstracts of Virginia wills;
Six volumes on Pittsylvania County cemeteries;
Alphabetized versions of the Marriage Register of Pittsylvania County for the early years 1767 - 1867 (at V.929.3C and V929.P);
42 volumes of the Civil War Regimental Series, including all of Pittsylvania County's units;
Four volumes of Virginia's Confederate Roster;
A dozen histories of Virginia counties;
Four-volume set of the Virginia Historical Index;
All county history books by local authors, including two historical novels set in the county.

In the microfilm cabinets at the Reference Section are found the following National Archives microfilms of the U. S. Census:

1790 - includes all of Virginia, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Vermont;
1820 - includes Greensville, Ohio, Pendleton, Pittsylvania, and Tyler Counties;
1830 - all of Virginia;
1840 - Orange, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties;
1850 - all of Virginia, including slave records;
1860 - Pendleton and Pittsylvania Counties, including slave records for 12 counties including Pittsylvania;
1870 - Pittsylvania;
1880 - Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Prince William, and Prince George Counties;
1900 - Pittsylvania;
1910 - Pittsylvania;
1920 - Pittsylvania.

Other microfilms on file are:

The Star-Tribune, 1938-2000;
New York Times, 1987-1999;
VSLA (Library of Virginia and Virginia State Archives) Guide to County Court Records;
Index to the Microfilmed Court Records Available for Loan from VSLA.

Photocopies and copies from microfilm are 10¢ per sheet.

Library hours are Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday 9 to 5; and Saturday 10 to 12. The library's address is: Pittsylvania County Public Library, 24 Military Drive, Chatham, VA 24531 (telephone 434-432-3271).