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This two-CD set encompasses a huge collection of Virginia genealogies and biographies, the majority of which were compiled by recognized authorities from source records dating from the 1600s to the early 1900s. Based on books originally published by the Genealogical Publishing Company that feature biographies, lineage records, pedigrees, genealogical sketches, and full-blown family histories, this CD identifies some 310,000 individuals in meticulously crafted studies that span as many as three centuries. Until now this body of material has been totally beyond the reach of the ordinary researcher, available only at a handful of public and university libraries.

Drawing liberally on private letters, diaries, and manuscripts, as well as church records, vital records, court records, wills and administrations, books, newspapers, and personal reminiscences, this is one of the best-documented collections of Virginia genealogies and biographies ever assembled. Intended as a one-stop resource, the collection contains hundreds, perhaps thousands, of separate genealogies, tracing descendants through six, seven, and eight generations. In general, the genealogies are augmented by will abstracts, obituary notices, manuscript entries, parish vestry and register notations, marriage notices, newspaper excerpts, gravestone inscriptions, and a great variety of biographical matter.

System Requirements: You must have a CD-ROM drive, and in order to read the CD you must use either the Family Archive Viewer (version 4.0 or higher), which is available as a free download at http://www.genealogical.com/content/dlfav6.html, or Family Tree Maker for Windows, version 4.0 or higher (Family Tree Maker software can be ordered from www.FamilyTreeMaker.com).

To access information on our Family Archive CDs using the Family Archive Viewer:

1. Install the Family Archive Viewer CD or download it from http://www.genealogy.com/dlfav6.html.
2. Start the Viewer if it is not already running
3. Insert the CD you wish to view into the CD-ROM drive. If you have 2 or more CD-ROM drives, the CD must be placed in the first one.
4. The CD should open automatically, but users of later versions of the Family Archive Viewer must click the CD/magnifying glass icon in the top toolbar (above the template in some versions) to read the CD.
5. When the screen entitled "About this Family Archive" appears, click OK where prompted.

To access information on our Family Archive CDs using Family Tree Maker:

1. Start your Family Tree Maker and open a Family File. (If the program is already running, skip to Step 2.)
2. Insert the CD in your computer's CD-ROM drive. (If you have 2 or more CD-ROM drives, the CD must be placed in the first one.)
3. From the View menu, select Family Finder, or select the Family Finder icon from the toolbar.
4. For FTM 2005, FTM 2006, or Version 16, you must go to the View menu, select Data CD, then View CD. For FTM 2008 or higher, you must download the Family Archive Viewer.

To search the CD for names, select the Search Expert button in the top right of your screen, then select "Search this archive for someone NOT from your Family File." You can also search for names by using the Index.

Note: If a window opens that contains a list of files on the CD, simply close it.

See also these Virginia books and CDs:
Early Virginia Immigrants
Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia, 1607-1624/5
Colonial Virginia Source Records [CD]
Virginia Colonial Records [CD]