Genealogy

Genealogical Research


Waynesboro Public Library has one of the largest local history and genealogical collections in the area. The book collection contains obituary books, county records, city directories, school yearbooks, military resources, and more. The archival file collection contains cemetery records, family records, histories of local businesses, and other documents of local interest. The microfilm collection includes census records, county records, and local newspapers. 

​Hours:



Traveling to use our collection? Please call well in advance (540-942-6584) to ensure the room is open and the resources are available. We cannot guarantee access without prior notice.

Customers under the age of 13 require adult supervision

The genealogy room is subject to closing without notice, please call ahead.

Monday:         9 am - 12 pm & 1 pm - 5 pm

Tuesday:        9 am - 12 pm & 1 pm - 5 pm

Wednesday:   9 am - 12 pm & 5 pm - 9 pm

Thursday:       9 am - 12 pm & 1 pm - 5 pm  

Friday**          9 am - 12 pm & 1 pm - 5 pm

** CLOSED FRIDAY: 12/6/19**

*the Local history room is only open on select Fridays and Saturdays. On these days it will be closed from 12 pm-1 pm. The schedule of available Fridays and Saturdays is posted.

SPECIAL SCHEDULED SATURDAYS 2019:

Dec.7: 9 am - 12 pm & 1:30 pm- 5 pm

The room is closed:

12 pm – 1 pm every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,

1 pm - 5 pm every Wednesday


Online Resources


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Ancestry Library Edition is only available in house at the library via our public computers or Wi-Fi.

Ancestrylibrary.com offers unparalleled coverage of the United States and the United Kingdom, including census, vital, church, court, and immigration records, as well as record collections from Canada, Europe, Australia and other areas of the world!


Free access to select content from Ancestry.com is provided by the Library of Virginia to Virginians. Included data collections:
  • Alabama, Texas and Virginia, Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958
  • Virginia, Birth Records, 1912-2014, Delayed Birth Records, 1854-1911
  • Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014
  • Virginia, Marriage Records, 1936-2014
  • Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-2014


FamilySearch

 
FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services each year to learn more about their family history. Click here to create a free FamilySeach account.


Internet Archive

The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Like a paper library, they provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, the print disabled, and the general public.
Waynesboro Public Library has contributed 34 Volumes of The Skyline, the Waynesboro High School yearbook, to the Internet Archive. 
You can view and download the yearbooks.
Other Resources
The Genealogy Periodical Collection includes all magazines indexed in Swem’s Virginia Historical Index. These periodicals contain material vital to researchers, particularly early time period research. The periodical collection also includes Virginia Genealogist, Virginia Appalachian Notes, Augusta Historical Bulletin, and many other titles that will assist patrons with local area research.

The Sanborn Map Collection includes insurance maps for Waynesboro from 1886-1920 and Basic City from 1891-1912. Genealogists use these maps to locate residences and workplaces of ancestors. The maps are also used for historical research because some of the structures no longer exist.

Augusta County Historical Houses includes architectural surveys of houses located in Augusta County. These surveys were created by Ann McCleary, architectural historian for Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission.  

The Virginia Regimental History Series for Civil War research.