WCGHA Resources

Reference Library

Over 3000 volumes, including the following major categories:

• • General Reference (Genealogy methods and sources, DNA, DAR indexes, etc.)
  • Geographical areas (marriages, land records, history and more)
    • Virginia and surrounding states (PA, NC, WV, TN, KY, MD)
    • Southwest Virginia
    • Wythe and Surrounding counties
  • Military
  • Biographies
  • Family Histories

Wythe County Records

• Copies of all marriage records from 1790-1968
• Cemetery Records
• Birth Records (1853-1895) and Death Records (1853-1894, 1900-1920)
• Abstracts of Court Orders (1790-1869), Wills (1790-1855), Deeds (1790-1810)
• Indexes to court cases (Criminal, Law, and Chancery from 1790-1912)
• Yearbooks

Family Files - Folders alphabetized by family name, including miscellaneous papers and articles donated by family members, but not compiled into family histories. Some also include folders from the collections of area genealogists, including Mary B. Kegley. First Family Files - Records of proven descendance from early settlers in Wythe County. Subject Files - Folders on subjects including schools, mines, businesses Obituary Files - Over 30,000 obituaries, memorial cards, funeral programs, etc. Photo Collection - Over 8,000 photographs of people and places Map Collection - Over 900 maps and aerial photographs Archives - Original family papers, collections of letters, military records, etc.

Wythe County Resources

There are five organizations in Wythe County with information of interest to Genealogists: the Courthouse, the Wythe County Genealogical and Historical Association (WCGHA), the F.B. Kegley Library, the Wythe County Historical Society, the Public Library, and the African American Heritage Museum. The attached handout, “Where should I look?” outlines their locations, hours, and resources.

Is It Worth the Trip? Have you been wondering if we have enough information about your family to know if it is worth a trip to Wytheville? Information on individual past residents can usually be found in county records. But where should you start? We have compiled a surname index of local histories, family histories, first family files and family files. By checking for your surname, your mother’s and grandmother’s maiden names, you can see whether it is probably worth a short visit or whether you should plan on spending several days with us. Our best local historian/genealogist is Mary B. Kegley. If she has written up your family in her “Early Adventurers” series, that is the first place you should look, as she has searched early court records for information about the families she featured. Her books are available here and in many other libraries with Genealogy sections. Some of the other books we list may be available from libraries, book sellers, or on our website, but many are published only within the families. WCGHA Surname Index A-C                 D-H                 I-N                  O-S                 T-Z