Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

West Virginia and Regional History Center

West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Primary Collecting Areas:
West Virginia and Appalachia History and Culture
Description:
The West Virginia & Regional History Center preserves and provides access to the records that document the history and culture of the state and the central Appalachian region. The Center is part of West Virginia University Libraries.
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Start Over Repository West Virginia and Regional History Center Subjects Estates and estate settlements.

Hugh Sayre, Collector, Papers 1.1 Linear Feet Summary: 1 ft. 1 in. (2 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 small flat storage box, 3 in.)

Sayre, Hugh

Correspondence, miscellaneous family papers, nineteenth century school records, ledgers, bank books, and memorabilia of Hugh F. Sayre and family of Parkersburg, Reedy, St. Marys and West Creek, West Virginia. Some material relates to oil and gas leases on the Sayre family farm and Sayre's invention of a scientific alphabet called EBDECORD.

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Margaret B. Ballard, Compiler, Monroe County Historical Papers and Other Material 41.02 Linear Feet Summary: 41 ft. 1/4 in. (81 document cases, 5 in. each); (4 document cases, 2 1/2 in. each); (2 flat storage boxes, 3 1/2 in. each); (2 flat storage boxes, 3 in. each); (1 flat storage box, 5 in.); (1 large notecard box, 9 1/4 in.); (2 ambrotypes in composite box, 1 3/4 in.); (2 notecard boxes, 6 1/4 in. each); (3 notecard boxes, 6 3/4 in. each); (1 flat storage box, 1 1/2 in.); (8 reels of microfilm; 1.75 in. each)

Ballard, Margaret B. (1900-1976)
Papers of Dr. Margaret Byrnside Ballard (1900-1991), regarding the history of Monroe County, West Virginia, and the Ballard family. As a genealogist and author of local history, she was an avid collector of the historical materials contained in this collection, most of which relate to her family and Monroe County. The collection includes personal papers, business records, historical and genealogical research material, scrapbooks, bibles, memorabilia, artifacts, photographs, broadsides, paintings, and postage stamps. See the Historical Note for more information about Dr. Ballard.
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Marion County, White Day Creek History 0.25 Linear Feet Summary: 2 1/2 in. (1 document case)

White Day Creek Watershed Association

Records regarding the history of the White Day Creek region of Marion County, WV. There are also photocopies of primary sources of information supplementary to the White Day Creek book, including: letters and financial ledger of the Watson family (1820-1890); essay titled "Smithtown Local History" (1922); business ledger of George Washington Stevens, a cobbler (1890s); deeds and estate sale documents of William Morris (1854); grist mill business ledger of Sam Smith (1894); financial ledger and "folk wisdom" of Levi Devault (ca. 1875-1900); and the history of the Weaver family, including estate sale information (1854). The history of education in Marion County is documented in the photocopied "1992 Dedication of the Snodgrass One-Room Schoolhouse Museum; October 30, 1992." (Original in Printed Ephemera Collection.) This dedication program also features a reminiscence of Ethel Ferrell (b. 1898), a Marion County school teacher.

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Mason Mathews, Attorney, Letters 0.01 Linear Feet Summary: 1/4 in. (1 folder)

Mathews, Mason O., active 1884-1887
The 24 letters are addressed to Mason Mathews, a Lewisburg attorney and father of Governor Henry Mason Mathews and cover the years 1873 until his death in 1878. Another letter to Mathews daughter, Sallie Patton is incomplete. One deed, dated 1836, is witnessed by Mathews as a justice of the peace. Frequent correspondents include: John Echols, John W. Johnston, Walter N. Johnston, and Howard Shriver.
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Nathan Hanes (1821-1899) Papers 0.8 Linear Feet Summary: 10 in. (2 document cases, 5 in. each)

Hanes, Nathan (1821-1899)
Letters, business papers, and photograph concerning Nathan Hanes of Proctor, Wetzel County, West Virginia, a sawmill clipper operator along the Ohio River. There is a large amount of correspondence addressed to E.E. Headlee, administrator of Hanes' estate, concerning its administration. There are also thirteen cash books, ledgers, and other account books, as well as a notebook containing information on the Hanes family.
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Siler Family Papers 66.6 Linear Feet Summary: 66 ft. 7 in. (149 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (1 small flat storage box, 3 1/2 in.); (2 oversize folders, 2 in.); (25 wrapped packages, 3 ft. 8 in.)

Seiler family

This is a collection of letters and documents tracing the personal and business life of an eastern panhandle West Virginia family. The papers concern a broad range of political, social, financial, and legal topics, particularly focusing on J. Hammond Siler, Jr., his parents, J. Hammond Siler, Sr. and Jessie Castleman Siler (residents of the Town of Bath better known as Berkeley Springs). Also includes correspondence and other papers from related families. Subjects include banking, the Civil War, the Episcopal church, secession of Virginia, Virginia Loyalty Oath, women's diaries, and women's letters and papers. A notable item in the collection is the diary of Anne Doyne Wolff Strother, wife of artist and writer David Hunter Strother, documenting a trip with husband and daughter Emily to New Orleans in 1857 (S2/Box 67, folder 1a).

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Southeastern West Virginia Historical Records, Civil War Letters and Other Material 0.1 Linear Feet Summary: 3/4 in. (3 folders)

Records relating to the history of southeastern West Virginia. Most of the items in the collection relate to Greenbrier and/or Monroe County. Includes antebellum (1833-1850; 7 items), Civil War (1861-1863; 4 items), and postbellum (1886-1933; 9 items) materials. Antebellum material includes a land suit, an estate report and schedule, other financial documents, and personal letter. Civil War material includes four letters authored by Confederate soldiers. Two of these letters describe the battle of Carnifex Ferry. Family names Sharitz and Yonce appear in three of the letters. Postbellum material includes pharmacy receipts, personal letters, programs, and a photograph.
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Willis Guy Tetrick, Jr. Genealogy Research Papers 131.6 Linear Feet 131 ft. 7 in. (41 record cartons, 15 in. each); (1 oversize record carton, 18 in.); (1 flat storage box, 3 in.); (274 unboxed ledgers and notebooks, 78 ft. 7 in.)

Tetrick, Willis Guy, Jr., 1911-1995
Genealogy research papers compiled by W. Guy Tetrick and his son Willis G. Tetrick, Jr. The Tetricks were from Harrison County and the material in the collection mainly regards families of Harrison County and north central West Virginia. The collection contains mostly original genealogical compilations and family histories. It also contains personal and business correspondence; financial records; publications regarding local and state history; newspapers and news clippings; obituaries, cemetery records; records of the Sons of the American Revolution; and other material.
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