The Ladies of the WPA: The Library of Virginia
Yesterday’s post about “The Ladies of the WPA” created some lively conversation and some of you would like to know how to access the Virginia Historical Inventory online.
First, I highly recommend this wonderful article written by Edward D. C. Campbell, Jr. and Stacy Gibbons Moore, “Foundations of the Past: The WPA Historical Inventory Project in Virginia.” It is available online at: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/opac/vhiarticle.htm.
Second, this link will take you to the Library’s catalogue, specifically to the index for the Virginia Historical Inventory Project, and you can search the entire collection:
http://lva1.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/F/?func=file&file_name=find-b-clas15&local_base=CLAS15
If you find a photograph you’d like to own, it can be purchased from the Library.
Happy Hunting!
slate river ramblings . . . . 
I was reminded that the WPA report on the house named “Cherry Hill” in Buckingham incorrectly shows a John Davidson as the first “Davidson owner.” It was actually a Joseph Davidson (my gg-grandfather). It seems that at least some minor “imperfections” are often present when it comes to history and/or genealogy….but these reports are a wonderful resource.
Yes, these reports are not without errors and it is best to try to confirm the “facts” they contain. It is important to remember that, in the case of Buckingham County, these ladies had to write many reports without access to deeds and relied heavily on oral history.