Research and Resources
Research and Resources
Smyth County Historical Society Collections & Research
The collection of the Smyth County Historical Society and Museum is available to those researching genealogy and local/regional history topics. We are currently conducting the lengthy process of cataloging our collection and therefore it cannot be directly accessed at this time. For all in-person research, an appointment must be made in advance. Remote research inquiries can be directed by email to smythcountymuseum@gmail.com. In your email, please include your name and contact information as well as details on the topic(s) or question(s) you are researching. Please be concise and clear in your message.
Online Research Resources
Find A Grave
A free online service that documents headstones worldwide, powered by volunteers who provide photos, biographies, GPS information, and more—rich resources for family historians.
FamilySearch
Free genealogy platform with a vast network of historical, genealogical, and some genetic records, plus collaborative family trees and research guides.
Ancestry
Subscription-based database of genealogical records, newspapers, city directories, and user-submitted trees. Often accessible for free at libraries.
Smyth County Public Library – Digital Collection
Online images, newspapers, and more related to county history. The Marion branch also hosts local newspapers on microfilm and a family history research room.
Virginia Memory (Library of Virginia) – Chancery Records
Digitized chancery records from Virginia localities—including Smyth County—searchable by surname, plaintiff, or defendant.
New River Notes
A digital collection of history covering southwestern Virginia and beyond—transcriptions, histories, and research materials.