Genealogy research in Roanoke County, Virginia

If you have ancestors who came from southwestern Virginia or any states to the west, Roanoke may be some somewhere that you will want to visit in your travel research travels. Your first stop should be the Roanoke Public Library's Virginia Room. It is the best source in the area for genealogy research in the area. According to their website, the Virginia Room has the most extensive holdings for family history research in western Virginia, including thousands of family history books and files, county records and a growing collection of materials for African American family history research.

Another place to go is the Watts Library Research Center at the History Museum of Western Virginia. I talked to the librarian while I was there and she recommended going first to Virginia Room and then coming to the Watts. What they do have which is amazing is a collection of maps of Virginia counties that they sell. These maps have the names the original land grantees and where their land was. I was very impressed with these maps and just what gold mine they could be for genealogist. They are for sale on the Internet from the museum shop.  The library is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, or by appointment. Calling beforehand is strongly recommended. Contact Linda Steele at 540.224.1207