ATTENTION RESEARCHERS:

A large portion of our archives is available to search online. Hosted by Re:Discovery Online, this site allows you to view detailed descriptions of documents as well as view thousands of photographs from our collection. Simply click the Search Our Archives button to the right to begin.

Our goal is to make our archive as accessible as possible to researchers. The library provides broadband access to the Internet as well as a microfilm reader and copying facilities. Researchers can also call upon the extensive knowledge of our Archivist, Melanie Garvey. For research requests, she can be reached at archives@clarkehistory.org or by calling 540-955-2600.  Due to the high volume of research requests we receive, we ask that you schedule your appointment at least three days in advance.

Check out our "Mystery in the the Archives" blog, with posts every Friday about a unique bit of Clarke County History. Find our blog by clicking here!

The Clarke County Historical Association boasts an extensive collection of documents and memorabilia acquired over many years, often donated by generous local residents. Church and burial records, historical photographs, newspaper files, maps, drawings, and other material create a rich resource for those researching local history and genealogy.

Want to read more about Clarke’s rich history?  Now you can from anywhere!  We have a wide range of digitized publications from our Archives available to read online at no cost.  These publications include ledgers, high school yearbooks, church records, past issues of our annual publication Proceedings, and more.  Click the button below to visit our digital publication page, and be sure to check back often as we add more content!

In 2004, the Clarke County Historical Association began planning a new and exciting museum experience for visitors to our headquarters in Berryville. On November 19, 2009, the vision of our late president, Roger Chavez, became a reality.

Designed around the unifying theme “Our Land Is Our Legacy,” museum displays, specially commissioned art work, and state-of-the-art audio/video displays allow us to share our collection in a way that is both educational and entertaining.

Artifacts on display in the museum’s two rooms include the money chest from the Greenway Court land office of Thomas, sixth Lord Fairfax; a Chinese punch basin that once belonged to 18th century plantation owner Nathaniel Burwell; racing silks from Audley Farm; and a former slave’s corn-cutting knife from a home in Josephine City.

Thanks to your generous support, we now have all issues of the Clarke Courier digitized through 1925.  This was the primary newspaper for Clarke County and is a valuable resource for historic research.  These records are keyword searchable as well.  (Note: these records are not searchable using Firefox.)

Please check out these great resources for further newspaper research:

The People's Journal (Clarke County Black Newspaper) 1899-1927: https://tinyurl.com/3xuce6rd