Images of Virginia in the perception of its chroniclers and historians of the 18th century: from Robert Beverley to Thomas Jefferson

In this article the author provides a glimpse of main stages in historiographical tradition in the history of the state of Virginia in the second half of the colonial period, during the so-called “Golden age” of Virginian aristocracy. The investigation of the extant sources allowed the author to trace back the general features of social and economic development of the colony in different writers' perception and single out their own particular points of view. “Notes on the State of Virginia” by Thomas Jefferson is by all means a fulfilment of his predecessors' efforts in their analysis of the history and contemporary state of affairs of the country. “Notes…” is also an outstanding scientific and historical work.