Bland County (Va.) General Registration, 1902-1903

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

Summary

Creator:
Bland County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Bland County (Va.) General Registration, 1902-1903, records the roll of registered voters in Bland County. The volume is divided by precincts: Bogle's School House, Ceres, Davis, Mechanicsburg, Point Pleasant, Rocky Gap, Sharon, Seddon, and Bishop's, and within each precinct on the basis of color. Information found in the volume includes date of registration; number of registered voter; name of registered voter; date of birth; age; occupation; residence; length of residence in state, county, and precinct; whether exempt from poll tax; if naturalized, and if so, date of papers and by what court issued; if transferred from another precinct, and if so, when and to what precinct.

Biographical / historical:

Bland County is said to have been named for Richard Bland, a leader of colonial Virginia's resistance to Great Britain in the 1760s and 1770s. It was formed from Giles, Wythe, and Tazewell Counties in 1861, and another part of Giles was added in 1900.

The 1902 voter registration books were created following the passage of the 1902 Virginia state constitution. The purpose of the 1902 state constitution was to maintain white suffrage while eliminating African-American voters by means of literacy tests as well as property and poll tax requirements.

Acquisition information:
This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Bland County.
Arrangement:

Chronological

Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 v.