Local History and Special Collections

Heritage Quest

heritage quest

Radford Letters

Radford Family Letters

Radford News Journal

radford news journal

RHS Yearbooks

RHS Yearbooks

America's News

Americas News

Obituaries

Obituaries

Roanoke Times

Roanoke Times

Richmond Times

Richmon Times Dispatch
The Radford Public Library’s Local History and Special Collections department is located in the Ann H. Fisher New River Room. The Collection contains materials related to the history of Radford and surrounding localities, Virginia and neighboring states, and the United States.

The Collection encompasses materials ranging from primary sources; published histories, genealogies and guides; microfilm of vital records and newspapers; and a broad range of online resources.

The Ann H. Fisher New River Room is open during normal library operating hours. Local Historian Scott Gardner is available Mondays and Thursdays between 12:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and occasionally on weekends. For other times, please set up an appointment.  To make an appointment, please contact:

Scott Gardner
Local History & Genealogy Specialist
Scott.gardner@radfordva.gov
(540) 731-3621

Ancestry Library Edition >>

Use Ancestry within the library to search census records, vital records, immigration records, and more!

Heritage Hub >>

Formerly Newsbank Obituaries - The largest and most comprehensive collection of newspaper obituaries.  Now featuring new and improved interface, and extended collection spanning 1704 to Today!

HeritageQuest >>

Heritage Quest provides access to a growing body of family history. Come to the library and use Ancestry for even more genealogical records.

Newsbank: America’s News >>

Search up-to-date full text articles from Virginia and United States newspapers and periodicals!  View image-editions of the latest Roanoke Times, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Virginian-Pilot newspapers!

Newspaper Archive >>

Search Virginia newspapers including Radford News Journal and Pulaski Southwest Times!

Radford Family Letters >>

In a collaboration with McConnell Library’s Library Archives and Special Collections Department, the Radford Family Letters are digitized and keyword searchable.

Radford High School Yearbooks >>

Most yearbooks from 1922 to present are located in the local history room at the Radford Public Library or online thanks to the Library of Virginia’s digitization of the collection.

Radford Public Library History >>

Read a brief history of the Radford Public Library from 1941 to the present day.

Radford Then & Now >>

This Radford history scrapbook was published in 1976 and contains historical photographs and newspaper clippings.

Virginia Memory >>

The Library of Virginia maintains vast and varied collections of print materials, manuscripts, archival records, newspapers, photographs and ephemera, maps and atlases, rare books, and fine art that tell the history of the commonwealth and its people.

More @ Find It Virginia >>

Additional resources are available through the Library of Virginia’s website!  Includes the Code of Virginia.