The Stewart Bell Jr. Archives is a local history and genealogy center jointly operated by the Handley Regional Library and the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society. Our holdings include a variety of materials documenting the history of the Lower Shenandoah Valley from 1732 to the present, with an emphasis on the City of Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia.
Archives News & Events
Celebrating Joan Wood’s Retirement and Legacy at the Archives
After nearly 15 years of dedicated service to the Handley Regional Library System, Joan Wood has officially retired from her role as Archives Assistant at the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives at Handley Library.
Archives intern dives into the skies of the past!
Meet Rin, our archives intern, who’s diving into the skies of the past! They’re currently cataloging the Rudy Rodgers Aerial Photography Collection—a stunning archive of over 7,000 images capturing Winchester, Frederick County, and other parts of the Lower Shenandoah Valley from above.

Winchester Fairgrounds, 1870-1930
Out of the Archives is a weekly blog highlighting items in the collections of the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives.
Winchester Fairgrounds, 1870-1930
Top of Virginia Regional Chamber Records, 516 THL/WFCHS
Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Society Collection, 752 THL/WFCHS
Winchester Map, Sanborn Collection, 1912