Explore Our Archives
For generations, Mutual Assurance policies recorded the homes, buildings, materials, and stories of Virginians across the Commonwealth. Today, those records offer a rare look into the architecture, communities, and people that shaped Virginia’s history.
Every Record
Tells a Story
Within these records are the stories of Virginia's homes and the people who built, lived in, restored, and protected them.
Some belonged to presidents and statesmen. Others belonged to farmers, merchants, teachers, and families whose stories might otherwise have been forgotten.
Explore remarkable homes, fascinating discoveries, restoration projects, and the records that continue to reveal new chapters of Virginia's history.
Featured Stories From The Archives
Research Virginia's Historic Homes
Looking for a specific home, family, or policy?
For more than two centuries, Mutual Assurance policies have documented thousands of Virginia homes and the people who owned them. Through our partnership with the University of Mary Washington and the Library of Virginia, many of these historic records have been indexed into a searchable database, making it easier to locate policies by owner, property, location, policy number, and other details.
Whether you're researching your home, exploring Virginia history, tracing family connections, or supporting a preservation project, the database is an excellent place to begin.
Search the Database
Lean How It Works
Or continue exploring the stories below
Historic Homes of Virginia
Historic homes are more than simply beautiful or practical buildings—they are the stories of the people who lived in them and the generations who preserved them. Through our Historic Homes of Virginia series, you'll discover how original Mutual Assurance records continue to deepen our understanding of these remarkable places.
From the Vault
Some of the most remarkable stories in Virginia history aren't found in textbooks—they're tucked inside handwritten policies, architectural drawings, claims files, and centuries-old records.
From the homes of presidents and patriots to unexpected discoveries hidden within our archives, these stories offer a fascinating glimpse into Virginia's past. Explore a selection of notable finds from the Mutual Assurance collection, with new discoveries added as they emerge.
Edgar Allan Poe's
Childhood Home - Moldavia
Edgar Allan Poe's home growing up was a mansion in Richmond called Moldovia. We insured this home and the eight buildings that comprised the Allan compound in the early 1800s.
Learn more about Moldavia and Poe's time in Virginia.
Mutual's History With Notable 1799 Norfolk Fire
Norfolk was a bit of a tinder box in its early days. Mutual Assurance Society wasn't around to save the town from near-total destruction in 1775, but we were there for many homeowners years later when another devastating fire hit. Here's a quick look at two devastating fires that nearly destroyed the burgeoning city of Norfolk. Plus, see how much the 1799 fire cost Mutual Assurance.
Explore the story
Our 1796 Policy on the Dowdall-Kurtz House in Winchester, Virginia
In 1796, we wrote a policy for James Gamul Dowdall, a prominent merchant in Winchester, plus the Charter Master for the first Masonic Lodge west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a "Cadet" in Daniel Morgan's 7th Regiment of Riflemen.
See what the policy covered at the time and imagine how it appeared over 200 years ago.
Learn about the House
Believe it or not, Mutual Assurance Made it in Ripley's
Mutual Assurance made it into Ripley's Believe It Or Not in 1924 for it's then 138 years of continuously insuring John Marshall's house in Richmond. Learn more about Marshall's house and how Mutual Assurance and Preservation Virginia saved it from demolition.
Explore the story
Unearthing History With the Help of Mutual Assurance
Likely at his friend, Thomas Jefferson's suggestion, James Monroe insured his home, Highlands, with Mutual Assurance. Archeologists have used Monroe's policy with Mutual Assurance to locate the original foundation of the home. It's just one example of how Mutual is helping to unearth and validate historic findings across The Commonwealth.
Learn how archeologists unearthed the ruin foundation using our policy
Virginia's history is still being discovered—one policy, one document, and one story at a time. Through partnerships with the Library of Virginia and the University of Mary Washington, Mutual Assurance continues to preserve, index, and share one of the Commonwealth's most remarkable collections of historic property records. Together, we're helping ensure these records remain accessible for researchers, preservationists, homeowners, and future generations.
Library of Virginia
Preserving the collection.
The Library of Virginia has applied for a $500,000 grant to index more than 300,000 historic Mutual Assurance policy pages dating from 1860 forward. Mutual Assurance proudly supports this three-year initiative to preserve and expand public access to these invaluable records.
University of Mary Washington
The University of Mary Washington is helping make one of Virginia's most significant collections of historic insurance records more accessible. Through faculty research, student internships, and the Mutual Assurance Database, the University's Department of Historic Preservation is connecting these records with homeowners, researchers, and preservationists across the Commonwealth.
Mutual Assurance Database
Developed and maintained by the University of Mary Washington, the Mutual Assurance Database allows researchers to search thousands of historic policies by owner, location, policy number, and building information. The database continues to grow as additional records are indexed and made available.
Historic Homes of Virginia
Through our Historic Homes of Virginia documentary series, Mutual Assurance shares the remarkable stories found within its historic records with audiences across the Commonwealth. Combining original policies, expert research, and on-location filming, the series brings Virginia's architectural heritage to life for homeowners, history enthusiasts, and future generations.
Historic Preservation Internship
Each summer, Mutual Assurance sponsors a historic preservation internship through the University of Mary Washington. Working directly with original policy books, the student helps expand the searchable database while gaining invaluable hands-on experience with one of Virginia's most significant collections of historic property records.
New Claims Collection
During a recent archival review, Mutual Assurance discovered several hundred previously unknown claims files dating to the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Carefully bundled and preserved for decades, the fragile records have yet to be opened or studied. They will be donated to the Library of Virginia, where they will expand one of the Commonwealth's most important collections of historic property records and offer new opportunities for research and discovery.
History is never truly finished. Every year, new records are indexed, new discoveries are made, and new stories are shared. We invite you to return often as Virginia's story continues to unfold.