Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Petersburg (Va.) Public Buildings and Grounds, 1785, 1819-1891, 1922. Barcode numbers 1152191 and 0007805266. Local government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Petersburg Circuit Court under accessions 37622 and 53422.

Processing Information

Additional materials (Barcode number 0007805266) added to series on 22 June 2022.

Historical Information

Petersburg incorporated as a town in 1784. In later years, the towns of Blandford, Pocahontas, and Ravenscroft were added. Incorporated as a city in 1850, Petersburg was enlarged by annexation from both Prince George and Dinwiddie counties in 1972.

Scope and Content

Petersburg (Va.) Public Buildings and Grounds, 1785, 1819-1891, 1922. This series consists of jail inspectors reports for the years 1819-1891 and a set of specifications and floor plan for the 1785 courthouse (Barcode number 1152191). It also contains a 1922 floor plan for Addition to City Clerk's Office by architect C. Lai (Barcode number 0007805266).

The 1785 courthouse document has been heavily damaged. Conservation efforts have restored a majority of the record but significant pieces of the drawing and text have been lost. The building is T-shaped with what are likely jury rooms flanking the main courtroom along the facade. The presence of stairs and supports indicate a second or mezzanine floor. The drawing shows a typical 18th century Virginia courthouse floor plan with a raised, U-shaped magistrates' bench, specialized fittings for the sheriff and other court officers, and a bar for the attorneys. The plan is similar to the Amelia County courthouse plan of 1791.