Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Wise County (Va.) General Voter Registration Book, 1902-1918. Local government records collection, Wise County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Wise County.

Historical Information

Wise County was named for Henry Alexander Wise, governor of Virginia from 1856 to 1860. It was formed in 1856 from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties.

The 1902 voter registration books were created following the passage of the 1902 Virginia state constitution. The purpose of the 1902 state constitution was to maintain white suffrage while eliminating African-American voters by means of literacy tests as well as property and poll tax requirements.

Scope and Content

Wise County (Va.) General Voter Registration Book, 1902-1918, records the roll of registered voters in Wise County. The volume is divided by precincts: Big Stone Gap, Bond's Mills, Clay House, Coeburn, Canepatch, East Stone Gap, Gladeville, Gilly, Indian, Norton, Pound, Round Top, Stonega, and Kelly; and within each precinct on the basis of color. Information found in the volumes includes date of registration; number of registered voter; name of registered voter; date of birth; age; occupation; residence; length of residence in state, county, and precinct; whether exempt from poll tax; if naturalized, and if so, date of papers and by what court issued; if transferred from another precinct, and if so, when and to what precinct.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Wise County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• African Americans--History--1877-1964
• African Americans--Suffrage
• African Americans--Virginia--Wise County
• Suffrage--Virginia--Wise County

Geographical Names:

• Wise County (Va.)--Genealogy
• Wise County (Va.)--History--20th century

Genre and Form Terms:

• Election records--Virginia--Wise County
• Local government records--Virginia--Wise County
• Voters' lists--Virginia--Wise County