6AM City In-house

Opening a new chapter 🔍

Virginia Untold project collects archived records of Black communities
Library of Virginia Archives
It takes days and weeks to go through and digitize historic records from 200+ years ago. | Photo via @libraryofva
Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative project has just released several updates on its ongoing work digitizing historical records from before 1865.

Created with the help of a National Historic Publications and Records Commissions grant, Virginia Untold works with records from 19 localities across the Commonwealth, including Richmond.

One of the largest milestones for Library researchers involved extracting material from 250+ boxes in the Richmond City Husting Court records involving free Black and enslaved people.

According to Project Manager Lydia Neuroth, most of the documents in these boxes were “Commonwealth Causes” — civil suits filed by the state government. Other papers included certificates of freedom, coroner’s inquisitions, and some jail records. The library hopes to create a display of some of these findings in 2023.

Another aspect of the project are the “Free Negro Registers.” Neuroth said these crowd-sourced transcription efforts across the country are becoming the key way to index and track the free Black community records in local archives.

Interested in indexing? Sign up for a free account where volunteers can investigate specific genealogies or localities.

Plus, the website for the Virginia Untold will soon be active thanks to its Digital Initatives team. Once up, users will be able to search a Digital Collections page to find records online.
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Thursday, Nov. 3
  • Motion to Unfurl: Naima Green Workshop | Thursday, Nov. 3 | 1-4 p.m. | Institute for Contemporary Art, 601 W. Broad St., Richmond | Free | Poet Ica Sadagat will lead a workshop and discussion with the artist on community, ancestral space, and oral histories.
  • Studio Two | Thursday, Nov. 3-Sunday, Nov. 6 | 6:30 p.m. | Richmond Ballet, 407 E. Canal St., Richmond | $26-$51 | Enjoy the world premiere of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” by choreographer Jennifer Archibald + a performance of In the Night with the music of Chopin.
Friday, Nov. 4
  • Friends Fall Book Sale | Friday, Nov. 4, Friday, Nov. 4, Saturday, Nov. 5 | 12-5 p.m. | RPL Main Branch, 101 E. Franklin St., Richmond | Free | Peruse thousands of books, CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes + vinyl to benefit RPL programming.
  • Craftmen’s Christmas Classic Art and Craft Festival | Friday, Nov. 4-Sunday, Nov. 6 | Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E. Laburnum Ave. | $9 | The number one craft show in the country returns to the River City with hundreds of vendors selling gifts for everyone on your holiday list.
Saturday, Nov. 5
  • Magic of Horror Film Festival | Saturday, Nov. 5-Sunday, Nov. 6 | 1-8 p.m. | Firehouse Theatre, 1609 W. Broad St., Richmond | $5-$15 | Watch dozens of indie films meant to challenge the scary movie genre.
Sunday, Nov. 6
  • Artisan Market | Sunday, Nov. 6 | 1-5 p.m. | Main Line Brewery, 1603 Ownby Ln, Richmond | Free | Craft beer, live music + local artisans abound at this pet-friendly market.
  • Giving Garden Yoga Class | Sunday, Nov. 6 | 2 p.m. | The Garden, 3316 rear, Hanover Ave., Richmond | Free | A suggested $20 donation will go towards the American Nurses Foundation Wellness Initiative.
  • The Southern Flea x Common House Richmond | Sunday, Nov. 6 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Common House Richmond , 303 W. Broad St., Richmond | Free | Get started on holiday shopping at this vibrant pop-up market.
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
6AM City In-house

Weather
  • 70º | Partly cloudy | 4% chance of rain
Development
  • The CoStar Group has broken ground on its new office complex at 600 Tredegar St. The $460 million project includes an office tower + multi-purpose building near Brown’s Island. The tower will be the tallest above sea level in Richmond once completed. 🧱 (Richmond BizSense)
Civic
  • The plan to rename the Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge to the Belvidere Bridge has been withdrawn. Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch said the proposed name may also have a complicated background in the city. The resolution for a new name is still active. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Edu
  • RPS has chosen four winners for this year’s R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence — Jamar Billups of Armstrong High, John Ryan Nunez at Franklin Military Academy, Ashleigh Russell with Albert Hill Middle + Monica Thomas-Moore of Barack Obama Elementary. Each receives a grant to continue their own love of learning while teaching local students. 🏆
Community
  • Henrico County’s free leaf collection starts this Monday. Crews will work weekly in five zones, and will pick up the bagged leaves left at the curb or road’s edge. Residents can also pay for vacuum leaf services for specific dates through February. 🍁 (CBS6 News)
Drink
  • Capsoul Brewing Collective is celebrating the creation of its newest pint, “Phases.” Richmond’s first Black-owned brewery is hosting a release party tomorrow at The Spot (7 W. Broad St.) from 5-9 p.m. Grab complimentary beer samples, enjoy live music + meet the brewmasters. 🍻(RVAHub)
Holiday
  • Need a holiday date night idea? The Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden kicks off Mon., Nov. 21 and will run nightly through Sun., Jan. 8 from 4-10 p.m. Advance tickets are required with timed entry, sold only online. 💡
  • Strange’s Garden Center is opening up reservations for nine wreath making classes with the first coming up Fri., Nov. 18. 10 participants will make their own natural holiday decor from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. for $40 each. 🎄
Environment
Family
Shop
  • New stores are opening up at the Williamsburg Premium Outlets just in time for holiday shopping. Drive ~45 miles from downtown Richmond for a new Forever 21, a Yankee Candle Holiday pop up + a Rack Room Shoes, set to open in mid-November. These additions bring the outlet to 122 stores in total. 🛍 (ABC8 News)
  • Ditch the paper napkins. Opt for a set of handsewn, eco-friendly linen napkins instead. This Etsy seller offers four different colors to add a cozy yet elegant look to your holiday tablescape.*
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Four paws up 🐾

Help support animals of the Richmond SPCA at the annual Fur Ball
A kitten sits on top of other kittens
You can enter any of five raffles through Sun., Nov. 6. | Photo via @richmondspca
This Saturday, dozens of dapper guests will attend the Richmond SPCA Fur Ball at The Jefferson Hotel. The formal event is the shelter’s largest fundraiser.

Proceeds go directly towards the SPCA’s Cinderella Fund. The account pools resources for medical treatment of dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens — which make up ~80% of the animals at the facility.

Tickets to the dinner are sold out, but access to online auctions, a raffle, and Angel Tree donations are available for those interested.

Keep your eye out for pictures of the tail-wagging tradition the Parade of Pets, where guests and their four-legged family will strut down the hotel’s grand staircase.

Bonus: Find your future furry friend at the SPCA’s adoption center at 2519 Hermitage Rd. They’re open every day minus Tuesdays.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Katie.

Editor’s pick: I’ve just gotten back from a long weekend out of town, and I’m excited to kick off November in Richmond in style. There’s about four First Fridays events happening tomorrow — you can catch me at the new VHMC one to kick off the weekend.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? A gift of land is boosting the Buttermilk Trail.
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Editorial: Robin Schwartzkopf, Katie Potter, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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