Blog Entries

Welcome to the Handley Regional Library System, home to the magnificent 110-year-old Handley Library – a true architectural gem nestled in the heart of Winchester, Virginia. Join us on our next exclusive tour, taking place the 2nd Saturday of every month, as we unlock the secrets of this historic library, delving into its fascinating architecture and rich history.

Unveiling Hidden Treasures

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.

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.

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

Out of the Archives is a weekly blog highlighting items in the collections of the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives.

Leather Fire Bucket, circa 1800

Adam Douglass Collection, 70 THL

May 7, 2025: May 4^th was International Firefighters’ Day.  Seems like a good time for us to showcase a firefighting object found within the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives collection. 

Out of the Archive is a weekly blog highlighting items in the collections of the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives. 

Apple Blossom Parade Route, 1932

Program, 1932, Apple Blossom Festival Collection, 46 THL

Nancy Pullum was a resourceful woman of the 19^th century.  Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains around present-day Thorton Gap, Nancy made a living catching rattlesnakes and rendering their oil into a medicinal ointment. She was connected with her natural world in many ways: milking cows and raising hogs, picking wild berries, and facing the harsh mountain winters.  Her friends and neighbors include John (a formerly enslaved man) and the historic Virginia sculptor William Randolph Barbee.  

Are you curious about your family's past? Whether you're just starting your genealogy journey or you're a seasoned researcher, the Handley Regional Library System offers a treasure trove of free genealogy and local history resources to help you dig deep into your roots.

Here’s a look at the powerful tools available through our library system—some of which you can access from home, and others you’ll want to explore during a visit to one of our branches.

Did you know that Stewart Bell Jr. Archives has over 25,000 photographs housed in its collection?  It’s true!  These photographs represent a diverse look at our community and its people throughout the years.  The oldest photographs date to the early years of mass photographic technology in the 1850s, and the latest photographs date to the 2020s.  Within those one hundred and seventy years, a lot of local events, places, and people have been documented through photography.   

A key source of information while researching your family history is the U.S. Census.  It can provide you with information about where your ancestors lived, when they were born, what they did for employment, and where their families came from.  However, the records are not perfect and require some basic understanding of how to read the documents. 

Could your ancestor be a witness in a criminal case?  Could your ancestor be involved in a civil lawsuit?  Could your ancestor’s testimony be found in a division of assets complaint? County court records are extensive and cover a wide range of topics.  Using them in your genealogical research may help break through brick walls in your search and offer insight into the lives of your ancestors and the community in which they lived.  So how do you find and use these documents?  Well, come to the Handley Library Robinson Auditorium on Saturday, March 15 @ 10:30 am

Come to our first Archives After Hours event of the year on Thursday, January 30 at 5:30 pm.  This event’s focus will be on our local World War I veterans and the Handley Plaques. 

New Years is a great time to pick up hobbies and join clubs.  Got an interest in the past?  Wondering about who your ancestors were?  Why not join Family History Hunters?  Family History Hunters is an informal monthly meeting for genealogists of all levels of experience.  The group meets on the second Thursday of each month to discuss a topic related to studying your family history to make genealogical research more successful.  The upcoming topics include… 

January - Beginners Genealogy

February - Googling your Ancestors 

Many locals will be familiar with the connection to prisoners of war camps the Winchester area has had throughout history: the Hessian prisoners brought here during the Revolutionary War and the German prisoners during World War II.  Many may be unfamiliar with the story of a small group of 20 men from Philadelphia, PA exiled out of the commonwealth and sent to Winchester for months during the Revolutionary War.  Norman Donoghue’s new book Prisoners of Congress: Philadelphia’s Quakers in Exile, 1777-1778 examines that topic. 

There's one more chance to attend our popular Archives After Hours event this year.  The final one will be held on Thursday, October 24 @ 5:30 pm.  If you haven't heard, each Archives After Hours event begins with a presentation concerning special items found within the collection and an explanation of how those items can help the researchers that visit the space. 

Have you ever thought about all the photos on your phone: photos of loved ones, silly moments that bring you joy, and milestones in your life?  Can you find the photo you want to show someone quickly?  Do you worry what could happen to those photos should the phone break?  Do you have a plan to preserve those photos for the future? 

Digital photography has made it so much easier to make memories, but also brings new challenges when it comes to organizing and preserving these digital images for future use.

Do you know the story of Rebecca Wright and Thomas Laws?  They aided Union General Philip Sheridan with information regarding Confederate General Jubal Early’s troop movements in and around the Winchester area.  Rebecca Wright, a Winchester school teacher with loyalty to the union, would collect intelligence about troop movements and pass that information along to Thomas Laws.  He was an enslaved man who would carry that intelligence to Union scouts.  The information provided by Rebecca Wright and transported by Thomas Laws was crucial to Sheridan’s decision to attack Wi

Are you researching your family’s history?  Have you hit a brick wall in your research?  Do you have tips/strategies that you can share with others?  If so, Family History Hunters is the group for you!

Did you miss out on Hungry for History last year?  If so, you don't want to miss it this year.  Across Winchester and Frederick/Clarke County museums and historic sites in our community will offer a variety of programs and special events such as presentations, cooking demonstrations, hands-on activities, children’s activities, food tastings, special handouts and giveaways, displays of historic recipes, agriculture related programs and more.  To kick off the Hungry for History week, Stewart Bell Jr.

The Stewart Bell Jr. Archives is happy to announce a new database to help family researchers: American Ancestors.  From the New England Genealogical Society, this search engine provides access to 1.4 billion+ searchable records from the US and around the world.  Our membership also allows patrons to have access to the American Ancestors magazine and the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, two of genealogy’s leading print publications. 

There are so many historic homes in our community.  These homes can be a delight for their owners as well as their neighbors, offering interesting architectural elements and properties with long stories.  Would you like to learn how to find those stories?

Come to our presentation: How to Research your Historic House.  Our speaker, Maral Kalbian, will discuss the various methods and sources you may explore to learn more about the history of these properties. 

The Archives is opening their doors after closing time!  Throughout the year, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives will be holding “Archives After Hours.”  At each event, archival staff will explain aspects of the archives that can be used to help you in your research.  This first Archives After Hours will focus on Sanborn maps. 

Winchester is a historic town, filled with old buildings and lots of stories.  It is important to preserve these sites for future generations, and historic preservation efforts play a vital role in continuing to tell the stories of the past.  

Heraldry is the art of using hereditary symbols to distinguish individuals and groups.  We may know them more often as a family’s coat of arms.  Does your family have one?  Interested in the steps you take to find out?