Thornton Perry, Collector, Publications regarding West Virginia History, 1787/1934

Access and use

Location of collection:
West Virginia and Regional History Center
West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Restrictions:

No special access restrictions apply.

Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Thornton Perry, Collector, Publications regarding West Virginia History, A&M 3343, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
.7 Linear Feet 8 in. (1 document case, 5 in.); (1 flat storage box, 3 in.); (1 loose map, 1/8 in.)
Creator:
Perry, T. Tayloe
Abstract:
Publications and manuscript from the Thornton Perry Museum Collection, reflecting Perry's interest in the history of West Virginia and the immediate region. Subjects include various aspects of West Virginia history, such as the Civil War, statehood, Wheeling, John Brown, and other topics. Formats include broadsides, reports, pamphlets, almanacs, a manuscript account book, newspapers, maps, and others. See Scope and Content Note for details and contents list.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Thornton Perry, Collector, Publications regarding West Virginia History, A&M 3343, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Publications and manuscript from the Thornton Perry Museum Collection, reflecting Perry's interest in the history of West Virginia and the immediate region. Subjects include various aspects of West Virginia history, such as the Civil War, statehood, Wheeling, John Brown, and other topics. Formats include broadsides, reports, pamphlets, almanacs, a manuscript account book, newspapers, maps, and others.

Civil War related materials include an election broadside (1864) and two "General Orders" issued by Rosecrans (1861).

There are a number of items related to the secession of the future West Virginia from Virginia, including a 34 page "Journal of the Proceedings of the Convention" published in June 1861, two broadsides, a speech, and an ordinance related to secession.

Items related to Wheeling include an opinion given to a US Congressional Committee regarding the establishment of a "marine hospital" (1838), an address delivered before the Agricultural Society of Ohio and Brooke Counties (1852), the by-laws of "Panola Lodge" (1856), and a rare German newspaper (1868).

Two of the pamphlets are anecdotal histories of John Brown and his Harpers Ferry raid.

There are four almanacs, three printed in Wheeling, VA (1853, 1860, 1861), and one printed in Winchester, VA (1839).

The account book is a ledger documenting transactions in the area of Shepherdstown and Martinsburg (ca. 1787-1794).

Biographical / historical:

Major Thornton Tayloe Perry was descended from the Craighills of Virginia and the Tayloes of Mt. Airy and Octagon House in Washington, D.C. Born into history, it was only natural for him to pursue it. A pilot in World War I, and Provost Marshal of London in World War II, he returned to Charles Town, his native town, where he became the postmaster for more than ten years. He passed away in 1981. Perry was a lifelong collector who was a fixture at auctions, and whose first love was history and books.

Processing information:

Processed by Jane LaBarbara, 2014

Arrangement:

Includes six series:

Series 1. Broadsides; 1861-1864, undated (all facsimiles); box 1, folder 1.
Series 2. Imprints; 1806-1861, 1918-1934, undated (includes facsimiles); box 1, folders 2-8.
Series 3. Manuscript; ca. 1787-1794; box 1, folder 9.
Series 4. Newspapers; 1868-1885 (includes facsimiles); box 1, folder 10.
Series 5. Miscellaneous; undated; box 1, folder 11.
Series 6. Oversize; 1861-1891, 1925, undated; box 2, folder 1 and loose.

Physical location:
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: West Virginia & Regional History Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard