Augusta Co. Circuit Court Clerk to help preserve history throughout the Commonwealth

STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) – The Augusta County Circuit Court is now home to eight newly restored historic records with information dating back to 1745.

Augusta Co. Circuit Court now houses eight newly restored historical document books.(WHSV)

The documents contain death certificates, wills and deeds. A $48,000 grant made this possible.

“This restored eight volumes, instead of the four we normally have under the Circuit Court Records Preservation Program through the Library of Virginia,” the circuit court clerk said. Steve Landes.

The documents will now also be available online.

“We have also digitized them and these are uploaded to our digital archives portal so people can sit at home and watch what we have received through this grant,” Landes said.

Landes’ knowledge of historical records and preservation will now be shared across the Commonwealth, as he has been appointed to the State Historical Archives Advisory Council. The council works “to advise institutions, create plans for the historical archive, provide grant review assistance, and undertake statewide projects,” according to on the Library of Virginia website.

“I really hope I learn more about other grant opportunities, not only to help other organizations, but also hopefully our office and the work we do to preserve historical records,” Landes said.

In addition to serving on the State Historical Archives Advisory Board, Landes was also chosen to serve on the board of the Frontier Culture Museum.

“I hope we can really relate to some things related to conservation and preservation. I look forward to working with the board members on this and preserving the history of Augusta County and the Valley in general,” he said.

Restored books include: Deed Book 6 (1754-1755), Order Book 1 (1745-1747), Order Book 17 (1779-1782), Register of Deaths (1871-1893), Will Book 16 (1827-1829), Will Book 19 (1833-1835), Will Book 21 (1835-1837) and Will Book 22 (1837-1839).

For more on the Augusta County Archives, check out these stories:

Augusta Co. Circuit Court receives early 20th century African-American voter rolls

Augusta County Receives Grant to Restore Records Dating to 1740