Willie L

COUNTY OF LOUISA

Willie L. Gentry, Jr., Chairman Louisa County Board of Supervisors

Dale G. Mullen, Interim County Administrator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 4, 2011

Contact: Amanda Reidelbach , Public Information Officer

Phone: (540) 223-6929

Email: areidelbach@louisa.org

CIVIL WAR 150 LEGACY PROJECT VISITS LOUISA COUNTY

Goal is to Digitize Civil-War Era Documents for Research Purposes

http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/cw150

LOUISA, VIRGINIA - The Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission and the Library of Virginia have partnered to create a state-wide online collection of original Civil War manuscripts that still remain in private hands. The Civil War 150 Legacy Project: Document Digitization and Access focuses on manuscript materials created during the period 1859-1867 that reflect social, political, military, business and religious life in Virginia during the period of the Civil War and the early period of Reconstruction. Citizens are encouraged to bring original materials to be scanned and included in the project. Scanned materials will then be made available via the Library of Virginia and the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission web sites.

Civil War 150 Legacy Project staff will be visiting Louisa County in 2011 as follows:

March 15, 2011 - 9 am to 4 pm

June 18, 2011 - 10 am to 7 pm

September 20, 2011 - 10 am to 7 pm

All meetings will be held at the Louisa County Administration Building in the Public Meeting Room. Appointments will be made based on the following time allotments:

Diary Scan: 30-45 minutes

Letter Scan 5 pages or less: 10 Minutes

Letter Scan 6-15 pages: 30 Minutes

Letter Scan 11-25 pages: 60 Minutes

Photos: 5 Minutes per item

Please contact Lisa Bailey , Tourism Counselor, at (540) 223-5670, to schedule your appointment. Walk-ins will be accommodated as the schedule allows.

The Civil War 150 Legacy project is a multi-year initiative to locate, digitize and provide worldwide access to the private documented heritage of the American Civil War era located throughout Virginia . Utilizing local support and through partnership with the Library of Virginia and network of statewide connections, the Civil War 150 Legacy Project will provide individuals an opportunity to have their historic letters, diaries and other collections scanned to preserve their valuable intellectual content.

The Library of Virginia (www.lva.virginia.gov) was created by the General Assembly in 1823 to organize, care for, and manage the state's growing collection of books and official records — many of which date back to the early colonial period. The Library houses the most comprehensive collection of materials on Virginia government, history, and culture available anywhere. The collections illustrate the rich and varied past of the Commonwealth, documenting the lives of Virginians whose deeds are known to all, as well as those of ordinary citizens whose accomplishments are the foundation of our heritage.