Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

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Use Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Tazewell County (Va.) General Voter Registration Books, 1902-1924. Local government records collection, Tazewell 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 Tazewell County.

Historical Information

Tazewell County was named for Henry Tazewell, U.S. senator from Virginia from 1794 until his death in 1799. It was formed from Wythe and Russell Counties in 1799. Parts of Russell County were added in 1807 and 1835, parts of Washington and Wythe Counties were added in 1826, and part of Logan County (West Virginia) was added in 1834.

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

Tazewell County General Voter Registration Books, 1902-1924, records the roll of registered voters in Tazewell County. The volume is divided by precincts: Blue Stone, Burkes Garden, Benbow, Crockett's Cove, Cove Creek, Dry Fork, Falls Mill, Free Stone, Graham, Grattan, Gap Store, Jeffersonville, Liberty Hill, Lockhart Chapel, Pocahontas, Poor Valley, Pounding Mill, Richlands, Tip Top, Thompson Valley, Midway, Baptist Valley, Abbo Valley, Raven, Cedar Bluff, Boissevain, Tazewell, and North Tazewell; 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:

• Tazewell County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

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

Geographical Names:

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

Genre and Form Terms:

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