Local History & Genealogy

The Virginiana Room, housed in the Warrenton Library, has materials related to state and local history and genealogy, including census records, Fauquier County records and local newspapers on microfilm.

Get started with the Fauquier County Records Chart to determine what vital and court records are at the library or other locations.

Wondering what’s in our vertical files (a collection of loose documents, clippings, pamphlets, etc.)? Try our handy index.

Need help with your research? Email a librarian or call the Adult Reference Desk at (540) 422-8500 – option 2.

Databases/Premium eResources

  • Ancestry for Virginians – Free remote access to select* Ancestry.com materials from the Library of Virginia collections is available to Virginia residents. Users are required to sign up for a free Ancestry.com account prior to accessing the Library of Virginia’s collections. *Note that these records do not include all of Ancestry.com’s Virginia-related content.
  • Ancestry Library Edition  (in-library use only) – Genealogy sources including censuses, vital, immigration, and military records, family histories, and legal documents
  • Fold3 Library Edition – Provides convenient access to official US military records along with first-person content, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served
  • Genealogy Connect – Features a wide range of comprehensive references covering the American Revolution, Atlantic States, Family Histories and more
  • HeritageQuest – U.S. genealogical sources including census data, local and family histories, and finding aids

Note to Virginia residents: The Library of Virginia subscribes to a number of current and historical newspapers, magazines, and journals, as well as genealogical resources, historical maps, civil war records, encyclopedias and directories, and many other texts.  If you sign up for a Library of Virginia library card using their online registration system (requires a valid state issued driver’s license or identification card), you can gain immediate remote access to the Library’s subscription databases and catalog features requiring a login.

Indexes

The following online indexes are provided as a courtesy for locating specific entries on microfilm (newspapers) and books in our collection. If you need a copy of a specific item (obituary for certain date, for example), e-mail a librarian or call the Adult Reference Desk at (540) 422-8500 – option 3.

Local History & Virginia Websites

African-American Genealogy Websites

U.S. Genealogy Websites

Immigration and Migration Records

Genealogy Tutorials

Genealogy Forms