Start your historical journey here. RELIC's email newsletter highlights upcoming free events and happenings. Genealogy and local Virginia history are our specialties as a service provided by Prince William Public Libraries (PWPL). You can always find more about us on RELIC's webpage. 

RELIC service is available in person at Central Library,
by email at [email protected], and phone at 703-792-8380. 

Hours of Operation
Monday – Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Some previous RELIC programs can be viewed on RELIC's Programs webpage.
Discovering African American family history prior to 1865 can be difficult. There are special challenges to finding documentation during the age of slavery. RELIC's Don Wilson will identify sources that can trace lives and relationships while demonstrating the process using a case study approach. Register at 703-792-8380, online, or email [email protected]. 
Thomas Jefferson was intimately involved in every aspect of the creation of the University of Virginia. It represented what he regarded as one of the three greatest achievements of his life to be listed on his tombstone. Join Andrew O'Shaughnessy, Saunders Director of the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, as he dives deeper into Thomas Jefferson’s Idea of a University. Register at 703-792-8380, online, or email [email protected]. 

Please wear a mask or face covering. In accordance with CDC guidelines, Prince William County requires all employees and visitors to wear a mask or face covering while inside county facilities.
RELIC INSIDER
COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE:
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL PRINCE WILLIAM / MANASSAS HISTORY SYMPOSIUM
Old Manassas Courthouse, Manassas, Virginia
Saturday, March 26, 2022
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Courage and Perseverance are no strangers to Prince William County during its long history. Whether it was courage shown by soldiers in battle, perseverance in the political area during the founding of America, to the courage shown by the first four African American teachers to integrate schools in the county, there has been no shortage of courageous deeds in our county. Learn about these stories and more at the Seventh Annual Prince William / Manassas History Symposium. The cost is $10.00 per person.

Topics include:
  • Birth of a Legend: Stonewall Jackson at Manassas.
  • The Jersey Brigade at the Battle of Bull Run Bridge.
  • The “Courageous Four:” Integration in Prince William County Schools.
  • U.S. Colored Troops in Prince William County during the American Civil War.
  • Thomas Blackburn of Rippon Lodge.

This program is presented by Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation in partnership with Prince William County Historical Commission, Historic Prince William, and the Manassas Museum. The Old Manassas Courthouse, which opened in 1894, is located at the intersection of Grant and Lee Avenues. To register for this event, click here or call 703-792-4754.
USING THE WAYBACK MACHINE FOR HISTORICAL RESEARCH

While studying a historical or genealogical topic, you may find references to internet sites that are no longer active. What to do?

If you can’t find the new address for the site by doing a web search, the best answer is to use the Wayback Machine, part of the Internet Archive.

Simply insert the defunct URL into the Wayback Machine search engine and you will get a calendar of all the years and days that the Machine crawled through that website. This also works for a current website if you are looking for a previous version. It has results back to the year 2000, and even earlier in some cases. 

One limitation: If the site you seek goes down more than two levels, Wayback may not catch the lower levels. While that may be an incentive for folks designing websites to not bury data deeper than necessary, it could be a potential limitation for your historical research. 
VISIT THE "TREE DOCTOR"
You can now make appointments for virtual or in-person visits with Don Wilson, "The Tree Doctor." We can set up an hour appointment to discuss and dive into your brick wall research problem. Call 703–792–8380 or email [email protected] to set up a time.
February 2022 - pwcva.gov/library
Make sure to download our Winter 2021 – 2022 Explore magazine, or grab one at your nearest library, to learn more about our upcoming events.

[email protected] or 703-792-8150
Questions and comments are always welcome.