Virginia, Slave Birth Index, 1853-1866

What Is in This Collection?

This collection contains an index & images of birth registers of enslaved persons from Virginia compiled by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The index is arranged alphabetically by the name of the slave holder.

The original collection consists of five sections:

1. Old birth index, 1853-1866, found in volumes 1-8, 13-50
2. Birth index of slaves, 1853-1866, volumes 9-12
3. Birth index, 1866-1899, volume 50-51,
4. Delayed birth index, 1912-1950, in three volumes separately numbered
5. Births, 1853-1896, unnumbered volumes grouped by county and independent city

Some years are missing from the fifth set. The data found in this index publication also includes records from the Old birth index, vol. 13, A-Blyth, 1867-1879.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

• Name of owner, former owner, overseer, employer, informant
• Name of enslaved person
• Name of mother
• Date of birth
• Place of birth

Collection Content

Sample Images

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  1853-1866 birth records