author
Martha W. (Martha Woodroof) Hiden
1883–1959
A Virginia historian and genealogist, she devoted much of her work to tracing family lines and preserving local records. Her writing opens a clear window onto the people, counties, and court history that shaped colonial and early Virginia.
1 Audiobook
How Justice Grew: Virginia Counties, An Abstract of Their Formation
by Martha W. (Martha Woodroof) Hiden
About the author
Born in Orange County, Virginia, in 1883, Martha Woodroof Hiden studied at Randolph-Macon College and later pursued graduate work at the University of Chicago and the College of William & Mary. She became known for her deep interest in Virginia history, genealogy, and the preservation of public records.
Hiden published widely on Virginia families, counties, and historical sources, and she is especially remembered for How Justice Grew: Virginia Counties, An Abstract of Their Formation. The Library of Virginia has highlighted her as an important advocate for saving court records, and the Virginiana Room at the Newport News Public Library was named in her memory.
She died in 1959, but her work continues to be useful for readers who love early American history, family research, and the stories hidden in local archives.