The Shenandoah Room and Truban Archives contain the largest collection of research materials dedicated to the history of Shenandoah County. We are committed to providing access to a diverse collection of materials and preserving the stories entrusted to us. 

Shenandoah County Library's Archival holdings are managed by Archivist Zachary Hottel. You can contact him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (540)984-8200. To schedule a research appointment, click here

Access

  • We are located at the Shenandoah County Library, 514 Stoney Creek Blvd. Edinburg Virginia
  • The Shenandoah Room Collection is open to in-house use during the following hours:
    Monday: 10:00 - 6:00
    Tuesday: 10:00 - 6:00
    Wednesday: 10:00 - 6:00
    Thursday: 10:00 - 8:00
    Friday: 10:00 - 6:00
    Saturday: 10:00 - 3:00
  • The Truban Archives (including Family Folders) are only available by appointment. Appointments can be made here and should be requested at least 24 hours in advance of your visit
  • Staff hours are typically Monday-Friday, 10:00AM-5:00PM but we are unable to guarantee staff will be available during your visit unless you make an appointment. 
  • Research should be done in conjunction with professional assistance from our Archivist and Archives volunteers.
  • Archival items and family folders cannot be made available without an appointment. Appointments can be made here

 

Our Collections

  • We retain items related to the history of Shenandoah County and the people that lived here
  • Search our library catalog to learn about specific items in our collection.
  • The Shenandoah Room Collection contains over 6,000 published works including family and local histories
  • Our Family Folder Collection contains over 1800 surname files. An index is available at Family Folders
  • The Truban Archives contains primary source material from the county including photographs, ledgers, business records, letters, and more. 
  • A limited number of Archival Collections have online finding aids. You can see this list here 
  • Our microfilm collection contains 13 local newspapers and other records. Email Archivist Zachary Hottel to learn which titles are available.
  • View our online collection of digitized materials.
  • Can’t find what you are looking for? Take advantage of our local expertise in Shenandoah County’s History by scheduling a research appointment.

 

Remote Research

Due to the limited number of staff and volunteers, we can only provide very basic assistance to researchers unable to visit the library in person. This includes providing limited copies of obituaries, marriage records, newspaper articles, and book pages.

Services are limited based on the amount of time they require. Contact Archivist Zachary Hottel at (540)984-8200 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to see if we can complete your request.

Additional research services are provided for a fee by the Shenandoah County Historical Society. 

Before You Visit

To ensure the best quality visit, we recommend you prepare for the following before visiting:

  • Schedule a Research Appointment by completing our Research Appointment Form
  • Confirm our Address, Hours, and Your Appointment Time.
  • Pack important items such as laptops, camera research notes, etc. Contact us in advance to see what can and cannot be utilized
  • Review our research guidelines
  • Write down any specific resources you would like to access, dates, names of individuals, etc.
  • Document your finds with a camera or by making photocopies of materials than can be copied (15 cents for B&W)
  • Research copyright restrictions, citation rules, etc. so you can appropriate use anything you find.