Local History

The Virginia Collection

Each CCPLS location has a Virginia Collection, comprised of reference books and materials about local history and genealogy. While each collection is different, there are hundreds of items available for your research needs. These items cannot circulate, but patrons can access them when the libraries are open.

Materials Available for Use

Among the many other items available for researching your roots are:

• A complete set of cemetery books compiled by the Campbell County Historical Society.
• Limited obituary clippings dating from 1990-present from the Altavista Journal, the Brookneal Union Star, the Chatham Star-Tribune, and the Lynchburg News & Advance.
• 28 digitized microfilm rolls, including:
  • Census (1790-1930)
  • Deeds (1782-1830)
  • Wills (1796-1870)
  • Orders (1782-1869)
  • Marriage Bonds (1782-1853)
  • Births (1854-1896)
  • Deaths (1853-1896)
  • Personal Property Taxes (1785-1850)
  • Land Taxes (1782-1870)
• These files are now stored on an external hard drive and are available at each branch.  Patrons may save any of the files to their computer or external memory device.

For any further questions concerning genealogical research or our Virginia Collection, please contact Tywanna Whorley:
(434) 313-3106
tmwhorley@co.campbell.va.us

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you have vital records (birth, marriage, divorce, death)?
We have birth, marriage, and death records from the mid-1850s to the mid-1890s. Keep in mind that death certificates for the years 1896-1912 were not filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics. An index to births & deaths from 1912-1932 can be found at the County Clerk’s Office (next to the Court House).

2. Where can I get vital records?
For copies of certificates, contact the Clerk’s Office, the Virginia Department of Health, or order online.

3. What qualifications must I have to obtain vital records?
You must have valid ID and also be next of kin/immediate family (mother, father, husband, wife, child, brother, sister). Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and grandparents cannot obtain a Vital Record. Birth records are public information 100 years after the date of the event; death, marriage, and divorce records, 50 years after the event.

4. Do you have military records?
We have a complete set of H. E. Howard’s Civil War Regimental series. You can also check in the book Virginia Military Records. The best source for military records is the Library of Virginia in Richmond.

5. Do you have Campbell County records for the late 1700s or early 1800s?
Unfortunately, our county records for births, deaths, and marriages begin in the mid-1850s; however, we have other resources you might want to try. We have census information beginning in 1790, various family histories submitted by patrons, as well as many family histories chronicled in Genealogies of Virginia Families.

6. Do you sell old maps of Campbell County?
No, we do not sell maps. Our older maps have been digitized and are available here. We’ve also included resources from the Library of Virginia and the Library of Congress on that page.

7. Do you have any information for surrounding counties?
We have some information for surrounding counties. You can enter the county name in our online catalog or refer to this list.

8. If you do the research for me, what is the cost?
We offer limited genealogy research free of charge, but we gladly accept donations for services. Please make checks payable to:

Campbell County Public Library Foundation
P.O. Box 310
Rustburg, VA 24588

9. How and when was Campbell County formed?
Campbell County was created in 1781 from Bedford County.

10. Do you have copies of old newspapers?
Because of space limitations, we stock only current newspapers. A good source for old local newspapers is Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg.

11. Do you have print indexes for census records?
We have print indexes for 1787, 1810, and 1820 Virginia censuses. We also have several print indexes for specific counties: Amherst (1870), Appomattox (1850 & 1870), Bedford (1870), Campbell (1870), Charlotte (1870), Halifax (1850 & 1870), Hanover (1810 & 1820), Louisa (1743-1785), and Pittsylvania (1870).

12. Where can I buy a copy of the Campbell County Heritage book?
In 2006, each Campbell County library branch had a small supply of the remaining Heritage books for sale, but the books are no longer available and, at this point, will not be reprinted. We do have some in our Virginia Collection, though, so they are available for you to use at the library.

13. Where can I buy copies of cemetery books?
Thanks to the Campbell County Historical Society, we have CDs containing Campbell County Cemetery Records for sale at the Main Library in Rustburg. Ask at the Circulation Desk.

14. What genealogical information can I find at the County Clerk’s office?
The Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office has the following print indexes to help you locate information:

Birth Index 1853-1865
Death Index 1853-1865
Free Negro Register 1802-1864
General Index to Common Law Order Books
General Index to Deeds 1782-1896
General Index to Deeds 1896-1915
General Index to Deeds 1915-1941
General Index to Deeds 1942-1967
General Index to Deeds 1968-1985
General Index to Deeds 1986-1993
General Index to Order Books
General Index to Wills 1782-1947
General Index to Will Books 1948-1978
General Index to Will Books 1979-1999
Index to Births & Deaths 1912-1932
Marriage Registers 1782-1996
Plat Index 1792-1888 (A plat consists of a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land)
Plat Index 1870-1959
Plat Index 1883-1938

15. Do you have census information for 1960 to the present day?
According to the National Archives and Records Administration, the 1960 and later censuses are not available for public use because of a statutory 72-year restriction on access for privacy reasons (92 Stat. 915; Public Law 95-416; October 5, 1978). To obtain this restricted information (named person, family or legal representatives only), visit the United States Census Bureau Age Search Service. They will search the confidential records from the Federal population censuses of 1940 to 1990 and issue an official transcript of the results (for a congressionally mandated fee).

16. Do you have obituaries from old (pre-1990) newspapers?
No, the best source for obituaries is the Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg.

17. Do you have a historical society?
Yes, click here to visit the Campbell County Historical Society website.