EXPLORE RELIC
July 2020 - The Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center for Genealogy and Local History (RELIC)
Start your historical journey today at pwcgov.org/relic! Genealogy and local Virginia history are our specialty as a service provided by the Prince William Public Library System. 

All Prince William library facilities have been closed to the public since March 16. Central Community Library is currently being renovated. When that renovation is complete, RELIC will reopen in spacious new quarters there. Meanwhile, reference service by phone and email is still available. RELIC's service hours are 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at 703-792-4540 and [email protected].

All programs are being offered virtually from July - November 2020.

UPCOMING VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

RELIC's Don Wilson will detail the use of U.S. census records for family history. Explore the peculiarities of these records and learn about population, mortality, agricultural, industrial, social schedules, and more.
 
Courts and their records were here from the beginnings of local government, recording the daily lives of our ancestors, including land ownership, lawsuits, and probate of estates. An understanding of the format, language, and content of these records is essential for successful research in early American genealogy.


As this is written, RELIC does not have a firm date for reopening at Central Community Library. The final clearing out from Bull Run Regional Library will be after July 15. We will continue to offer email and phone service during this transition, as much as possible. Hopefully our collection will be in place at our new location by early August. Virtual programming is expected to last through November. State and local response to the pandemic will determine when we will be able to help the public in person.
 
Prince William County's Historic Preservation Division has just published Volume Two of Journal of Prince William County History. Its contents include:
  • "Colvin Family Farm," by David Cuff.
  • "The 'Lost' Community of Kopp, Virginia," by R. C. Woolfenden.
  • "The Roseberry Southern Claims Commission," by Paige Gibbons-  Backus.
  • "Local Preservationists."
To order copies of the journal, please contact the Historic Preservation office at 703-792-4754 or email them at [email protected]. See their website for information about a phased reopening of historic properties in Prince William.

FUTURE VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

After 25 years at the Bull Run Regional Library, the RELIC department has moved to a new home at the renovated and reopened Central Community Library. RELIC's Kirk Johnson leads this brief "virtual tour" along with an overview of the resources and materials available for patrons researching their family history or the history of our community.
 
All U.S. residents descend from immigrants. Those who arrived within the past 500 years may have a paper trail. RELIC's Don Wilson will describe passenger lists and naturalization records and how to find them.

To read the latest lists of new materials available, please click on What's New in RELIC.

To be notified of upcoming library programs and activities, sign up for the PWPLS newsletter.
[email protected] or 703-792-8150
Questions and comments are always welcome.
Prince William Public Library System, 13083 Chinn Park Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192