Family histories are valuable resources for tracing one's family tree, but they can be hard to locate as they are not widely distributed. A family history is a written account of a family's immediate and extended relationships, tracing family lines from the oldest known ancestor to the present day. It may include biographical information, illustrations, or photographs of significant individuals and places. Often, family histories begin by explaining the origin of the family's surname.
The Genealogies of Virginia Families is a comprehensive five-volume index comprising family history articles initially published in The William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine from 1892 to 1942. Similarly, Virginia Gleaning in England is a compilation of family history articles published in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography from 1903 to 1926.