Browse or Search the Society Library Index
1,260,053 index entries available
The Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia maintains a comprehensive index to its physical library holdings. This searchable database provides access to over 1,260,053 index entries that catalog books, manuscripts, legal documents, deed records, family histories, obituaries, and other historical materials housed in the Society's collection.
This index system works similarly to the index you'd find in the back of a book, but it covers the entire physical collection. Each catalog number may have multiple index entries, allowing you to discover materials by subject, author, title, category, or specific topics of interest. The index helps researchers quickly identify relevant materials in the Society's holdings without having to browse through every physical item.
The library index includes references to:
- Deed Books - Land transactions and property records
- Family Histories - Genealogical information and family data
- Legal Documents - Court records, indentures, and legal proceedings
- Manuscripts - Original documents and personal papers
- Published Books - Historical texts and reference materials
- Obituaries - Death records and biographical information
- Subject Files - Organized collections on specific topics
- And many other historical materials spanning multiple centuries
You can search by catalog number, category, subject, author, title, or keywords to find materials relevant to your research. Each index entry provides details about where to locate the physical item in the Society's collection.
This library index database has been maintained by multiple people over many years, resulting in some inconsistencies in how information is recorded. Please be aware of the following important details:
Field Usage Variations:
- Misleading Field Names: Some fields may not contain what their names suggest. For example, birth/death year fields sometimes contain document references rather than actual years.
- Catalog Numbers Repeat: The same catalog number may appear multiple times in search results. This is intentional - each entry represents a different subject or aspect of the same physical item.
- Varying Data Entry Conventions: Different catalogers have used different approaches to recording information, so similar items may be described differently.
- Incomplete Records: Not all fields are populated for every entry. Some records may have extensive detail while others contain only basic information.
- Mixed Terminology: Categories and subjects may use different terminology for similar content depending on when and by whom the entry was created.
Recommendation: Use search results as a guide to identify potentially relevant materials. For the most accurate information and to view the actual physical items, please visit the Society's library in person. Our staff can help you locate materials based on the catalog numbers and provide additional context about the collection.
Despite these inconsistencies, this index remains a powerful tool for discovering materials in the Society's collection. The search functionality allows you to cast a wide net and identify promising leads for your research.
How to Search Effectively
Our search engine supports advanced operators to help you refine your results and find exactly what you're looking for in the library index.
"exact phrase"
Search for an exact phrase in quotation marks
Example: "deed book 4"
Finds only entries containing that exact phrase in that order.
+required
This word must appear in all results
Example: +family +history
Both "family" and "history" must be present in every result.
-exclude
Exclude results containing this word
Example: Washington -county
Finds entries about Washington but excludes any mentioning county.
word*
Wildcard - matches any ending
Example: land*
Matches: land, lands, landed, landowner, etc.
Combine operators for powerful searches:
+"deed book" +1808 -Russell
Finds deed book entries from 1808, excluding Russell County records.
"family history" +obituary
Finds entries with the exact phrase "family history" that also mention obituary.
marr* +1850 +Virginia
Finds marriage records from 1850 in Virginia.
Pro Tip: Start with simple searches and gradually add operators to narrow results. The search looks through titles, authors, subjects, catalog numbers, categories, and detailed descriptions.