Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Newport News (Va.) Reel 19.

Preferred Citation

Newport News (Va.) Unidentified Police Notebook, 1917-1918. Local government records collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from the city of Newport News.

Historical Information

The town of Newport News was established in 1880 although the name "Newportes News" appears in documents are early as 1619 and probably commemorated Christopher Newport who made five voyages to Virginia between 1607 and 1619. Incorporated as a city in 1896 without ever having been incorporated as a town, it was enlarged by consolidation with the city of Warwick in 1958.

Scope and Content

Newport News (Va.) Unidentified Police Notebook, 1917-1918, contains daily notes written by an unknown policeman in the course of his duty. The officer recorded by date and by time of occurrence such things as telephone calls received; crimes reported along with details such as the reporter's name, witness names, address of the crime and other details; descriptions of fugitives or lost children for whom to be on the lookout; results of searches performed for a person of interest to the police; automobile accidents; whether other policemen reported for duty that day and reasons why they did not; and other citizen complaints about street blockages, gutter and pipe malfunctions, and in one instance, a stray mule. In many cases there are also notes about the resolution of the investigation or problem.

The last three pages of the volume contain lists of names from 1918 along with cities or other locations in the United States and what color the person is. The purpose of this list is unknown.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Newport News (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Crime -- Virginia -- Newport News.
• Police -- Virginia -- Newport News.

Geographical Names:

• Newport News (Va.) -- History -- 20th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records -- Virginia -- Newport News.
• Notebooks -- Virginia -- Newport News.