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Material written and collected by a former curator of the West Virginia and Regional History Collection that includes bibliographies, transcripts, photostats, papers and historical sketches on various aspects of West Virginia history. Items deal with prominent West Virginia University historians, the Civil War, early settlement, industrial growth, and West Virginia University. A number of letters and circulars discuss the West Virginia Historical Society in 1869.

Drafts, research notes and photos for a book by the donor about West Virginians who were prominent in the leadership of the state's coal industry. Great Coal Leaders of West Virginia made no claim to being an exhaustive work, it nonetheless included coal company owners, senior management, and labor leaders renowned for their foresight, boldness, and innovations in the industry. Some names included are: J. L. Beury, S. A. Caperton, F. E. Christopher, H. G. Davis, S. B. Elkins, C. E. Lawall, I. T. Mann, A. R. Miller, E. W. Olgebay, R. E. Salvati, and W. D. Thurmond.

Negatives and other material from the Gravely and Moore Studio of Charleston, West Virginia. The majority of items within the collection are cellulose acetate negatives; the collection also includes glass plate negatives, prints, two photograph albums, and other material, as well as a card catalog documenting business transactions with customers. The collection is organized into customer project files as established by the Studio; the contents of these files are stored in envelopes usually containing one or two negatives, but they can contain up to a dozen or more. There are approximately 3,500 customer project files containing an estimated 11,000 items, most of which are negatives. The majority of photographs within the collection are portraits of individual adults. Other subjects include portraits of children; group photographs; businesses and advertising; members of the military; civil servants; civic organizations; missionaries; and aerial photographs, among others.

One copy of a Master's Thesis, entitled, "The Growth of the Coal Industry in the Great Kanawha Basin, 1850-1885," by Jerry Bruce Thomas, 1968.

Correspondence, legal papers, photographs, and printed materials of John W. Mason (1842-1917). Mason was a circuit court and state Supreme Court judge, member of the Virginia State Debt Commission, and commissioner of Internal Revenue. The general correspondence contains personal and business letters, as well as manuscript speeches, notebooks, and reports. The period while Mason was circuit judge is particularly sparse. Also includes Internal Revenue correspondence consisting of about 8,500 pages in letter press copy books. Roughly half of the collection is devoted to his legal papers and printed materials concerning law in general. Subjects include early development of the Republican Party in West Virginia; political campaigns in West Virginia from 1870-1916; Monongalia Academy; industrial development; Internal Revenue Service (1889-1893); the Virginia Debt question; early banking development in Grafton; and the development of coal companies, particularly around Fairmont. Correspondents include Arthur I. Boreman, A.W. Campbell, Stephen B. Elkins, Benjamin Harrison, Francis H. Pierpont, and others.

Copy of a transcription of the diary of Joseph McGill (1807-1874), an engineer and surveyor who emigrated from England to the United States. During the period covered by the diary (1854-1856), McGill was working for the "Coal River and Kanawha Mining and Manufacturing Company Coal Mines" at its property along the Big Coal River, Brier Creek Section, Boone County, (West) Virginia. The diary records McGill's daily work activities, including tasks, locations, and travel, as well as work performed by and wages paid to his workmen. The diary was transcribed by Joseph Patrick McGill (a descendant of Joseph McGill), who also added an introduction to the diary containing biographical, genealogical, and other information. The original transcription of this diary is located at Marshall University.

This collection contains miscellaneous records regarding history of the coal industry. Types of records include correspondence. See "Scope and Content Note" for additional information regarding material within the collection.

Time book, receipts, payroll statements and ledger of the Pocahontas Consolidated Collieries Co. and Pocahontas Fuel Co. Inc. There are payroll statements with individuals names listing credits and deductions. The time book includes employees names and work categories. The ledger has individual names, time/tonnage statements, earnings and deductions for merchandise, powder, insurance, and medical bills. All relate to Pocahontas #8 Mine with the name of a foreman, W. E. Tabor listed on nearly half the items.