About the Virginiana Room

The Martha Woodroof Hiden Memorial Virginiana Room at the Main Street Library contains over 4300 individual volumes specializing in Virginia genealogy and local history.

On the history of Newport News and Virginia, the Virginiana Room contains:

• Books
• Manuscripts
• Maps
• Microfilm
• Periodicals
• Photographs
• Subscription to Ancestry which is available on-site in the Virginiana Room to any Newport News Public Library cardholder.

History

The Martha Woodroof Hiden Memorial Collection was dedicated on May 27, 1976, at the West Avenue Public Library. Mrs. Hiden was a member of Newport News Public Library, Incorporated, and had served on its board since 1917. Although the books for Virginiana were assembled over a 50-year period by this private corporation, Mrs. Hiden donated much of her private library and worked tirelessly to have the collection become one of the finest sources for genealogy and history in the state.

A large variety of genealogical resources is available to assist researchers. The FamilySearch computerized genealogy program developed by the Family History Center of the Mormon Church is especially valuable to those patrons needing to search nationally and internationally.

The Martha Woodroof Hiden Memorial Collection moved from the West Avenue Library to the Main Street Library in February of 1996. The new Martha Woodroof Hiden Memorial Room is climate-controlled to better protect the many resources contained there. The Collection was rededicated on April 14, 1996.