Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Nelson County (Va.) Roll of Registered Voters, 1902-1903. Local government records collection, Nelson County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Nelson County.

Historical Information

Nelson County was named for Thomas Nelson, Jr., governor of Virginia from June to November 1781. It was formed in 1807 from Amherst County. Its area is 471 square miles, and the county seat is Lovington.

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

Nelson County (Va.) Roll of Registered Voters, records the roll of registered voters in Nelson County. The volume is divided by precincts: Lovingston, Elmington, Buffalo Ridge, Gladstone, New Market, and within each precinct on the basis of color. Information found in the volume 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.

Arrangement

Chronological

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Nelson County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

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

Geographical Names:

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

Genre and Form Terms:

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