Staunton (Va.) General Voter Registration and Lists of Voters Registered, 1896-1950

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:

Staunton (Va.) General Voter Registration and Lists of Voters Registered, 1896-1950. Local government records collection, Staunton (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Staunton (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Staunton (Va.) General Voter Registration and Lists of Voters Registered, 1896-1950. Local government records collection, Staunton (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Staunton (Va.) General Voter Registration and Lists of Voters Registered, record the roll of registered voters in Staunton. The volumes are divided by wards, first and second, and within each ward on the basis of color. Information found in the volumes 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:

The City of Staunton, in Augusta County, was named, according to tradition, for Rebecca Staunton, wife of Sir William Gooch, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1727 to 1749. Staunton was laid out in 1748 at the site of the Augusta County courthouse and was established as a town in 1761. It was incorporated as a town in 1801 and as a city in 1871.

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:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Staunton.
Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
26 v.