Virginia Baptist Historical Society External
VBHS Collections Link External
Mailing Address: 410 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23173
Physical Address: 261 Richmond Way, Richmond, VA 23173
Telephone number: (804) 289-8434
Contact information External
Hours of service External: see appointments link
Open to the public: Research is by appointment (primary research hours are scheduled for 1-4 pm, Mon-Fri). Requests for gallery tours may be initiated through the website.
Interlibrary loan: No
Reference policy: Reference requests are received via email through our For Researchers page External, (preferred), and also by telephone.
Background note:
VBHS reflects the history of Baptists in Virginia from their beginnings (c. 1715) to the present. Through its historic relationships, particularly with the Baptist General Association of Virginia (1823), the Society has accrued unparalleled holdings across its approximately 150-year role in the field. It enjoys a longstanding relationship with the University of Richmond (founded by Baptists in 1830), which it has called home since 1876.
Books and monographs
There are approximately 25,000 volumes, spanning the 18th through the 20th centuries, with extensive holdings of congregational records of Virginia Baptist churches and printed matter related to Baptists in Virginia.
Periodicals and newspapers
The Library has a complete run of The Religious Herald, the Virginia Baptist periodical (1828-2013), as well Baptist news, editorials, opinion, obituaries, and marriage records.
Archives, manuscripts, correspondences, and/or oral histories
There are more than 7,000 manuscripts, spanning primarily the 18th century through the present. This includes personal papers collections for over 350 individuals and families, as well as the Virginia Baptist Church Document Depository, with records from over 500 congregations, as well as related agencies and institutions.
Microforms
The Library contains 250 microfilms of church records.
Videos and sound recordings
Vertical files
Includes biographical, church and denominational information.
Baptist Church--History; Baptist Church--Virginia--History
