Collections

Start Over Subjects Farm life -- West Virginia Level Collection
West Virginia and Regional History Center

Garnie Walker Testa Papers and Walker-Testa Family Genealogy

9.88 Linear Feet 9 ft. 10 1/2 in. (1 document case, 5 in.; 1 document case, 2.5 in.; 7 record cartons, 15 in. each; 1 flat storage box, 5 in.; 1 oversize folder, 0.1 in.; 1 framed cirkut photograph, 1 in.) 856 Megabytes 682 assorted .tiff, .docx, .jpg, .wps, .odt, .pptx, and .pdf files

Includes the papers of Garnie Wilma Walker Testa (1914-1999) and genealogical research about the Walker-Testa family. The papers include material retained from her high school, college, and graduate school years, like graduation photographs and academic texts – all in Series 1 Subseries 1. The collection also includes documentation of her military service in the Army during World War II, featuring items like field guides for military procedures, photographs of herself and peers in uniform, and travel books acquired while serving internationally – all in Series 1 Subseries 2. There are materials from Walker Testa's time as a teacher in Kanawha and Clay Counties, West Virginia, like certificates commemorating her work and books used in the classroom – all in Series 1 Subseries 3. A copy of Walker Testa's historical survey of education in Clay County, The Ringing of the Bells: A Bicentennial History of Education in Clay County, West Virginia, and other items related to the book's production are featured, including some digital material – all in Series 1 Subseries 4. Additionally, there is genealogical research material that explores her life and her family's lineage through material like descendant charts, biographical sketches, and old family photographs – all in Series 1 Subseries 5 and the collection's addendum of 2025.

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Garnie Walker Testa Papers and Walker-Testa Family Genealogy 9.88 Linear Feet 9 ft. 10 1/2 in. (1 document case, 5 in.; 1 document case, 2.5 in.; 7 record cartons, 15 in. each; 1 flat storage box, 5 in.; 1 oversize folder, 0.1 in.; 1 framed cirkut photograph, 1 in.) 856 Megabytes 682 assorted .tiff, .docx, .jpg, .wps, .odt, .pptx, and .pdf files

Testa, Garnie Walker, 1914-1999

Includes the papers of Garnie Wilma Walker Testa (1914-1999) and genealogical research about the Walker-Testa family. The papers include material retained from her high school, college, and graduate school years, like graduation photographs and academic texts – all in Series 1 Subseries 1. The collection also includes documentation of her military service in the Army during World War II, featuring items like field guides for military procedures, photographs of herself and peers in uniform, and travel books acquired while serving internationally – all in Series 1 Subseries 2. There are materials from Walker Testa's time as a teacher in Kanawha and Clay Counties, West Virginia, like certificates commemorating her work and books used in the classroom – all in Series 1 Subseries 3. A copy of Walker Testa's historical survey of education in Clay County, The Ringing of the Bells: A Bicentennial History of Education in Clay County, West Virginia, and other items related to the book's production are featured, including some digital material – all in Series 1 Subseries 4. Additionally, there is genealogical research material that explores her life and her family's lineage through material like descendant charts, biographical sketches, and old family photographs – all in Series 1 Subseries 5 and the collection's addendum of 2025.

West Virginia and Regional History Center

Gregory Winters, Compiler, Papers of William Wayt Family of Marshall County

5.4 Linear Feet 5 ft. 4 1/2 in. (10 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (2 flat storage boxes, 3 in. each); (2 flat storage boxes, 1 in. each); (1 flat storage box, 4 in.)
William Davenport Wayt (1846-1913) of Marshall County, West Virginia, was a country doctor in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Collection contains papers of William Davenport Wayt and several of his descendants, including his son, William Blaine Wayt (1879-1956), a teacher and farmer; his daughter, Jessie Logan Wayt (1888-1965), a teacher; and his granddaughter, Margaret Wayt DeBolt (1931-2009), a journalist, author, and genealogist, all of Marshall County. Materials include diaries for several family members; transcripts of letters; miscellaneous manuscript materials, literary books and clippings; church and farm books; and articles from the Hillbilly newspaper that relate to the Wayt family in particular and to life in West Virginia in general. Twenty-two volumes of William Blaine Wayt's diaries form the bulk of this collection and document his life from his youth in the 1890s to his death in 1956, offering details of his family's daily activities and providing insight into the life of a rural West Virginia farmer and teacher during the first half of the 20th century. Collection also includes several files of notes and materials collected by Gregory Winters during his research on the Wayt family. There is also an addendum of Wayt family material consisting mostly of photographs. See scope and content note for details.
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Gregory Winters, Compiler, Papers of William Wayt Family of Marshall County 5.4 Linear Feet 5 ft. 4 1/2 in. (10 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (2 flat storage boxes, 3 in. each); (2 flat storage boxes, 1 in. each); (1 flat storage box, 4 in.)

Winters, Gregory J.
William Davenport Wayt (1846-1913) of Marshall County, West Virginia, was a country doctor in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Collection contains papers of William Davenport Wayt and several of his descendants, including his son, William Blaine Wayt (1879-1956), a teacher and farmer; his daughter, Jessie Logan Wayt (1888-1965), a teacher; and his granddaughter, Margaret Wayt DeBolt (1931-2009), a journalist, author, and genealogist, all of Marshall County. Materials include diaries for several family members; transcripts of letters; miscellaneous manuscript materials, literary books and clippings; church and farm books; and articles from the Hillbilly newspaper that relate to the Wayt family in particular and to life in West Virginia in general. Twenty-two volumes of William Blaine Wayt's diaries form the bulk of this collection and document his life from his youth in the 1890s to his death in 1956, offering details of his family's daily activities and providing insight into the life of a rural West Virginia farmer and teacher during the first half of the 20th century. Collection also includes several files of notes and materials collected by Gregory Winters during his research on the Wayt family. There is also an addendum of Wayt family material consisting mostly of photographs. See scope and content note for details.
West Virginia and Regional History Center

Louise McNeill, Poet, Papers

6.2 Linear Feet 6 ft. 1 1/2 in. (13 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (2 large flat storage boxes, 3 in. each)
Papers of Louise McNeill (Pease), 1911-1993, of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, noted twentieth century Appalachian poet and author, poet laureate of West Virginia from 1979 to 1993, and professor of history and English. Though most well-known for her lyrical poetry about the history and spirit of West Virginia, McNeill also wrote articles, short stories, essays, and her memoirs. Includes biographical materials, letters, writings, poems, photographs, audio-visual materials, artifacts, and personal materials documenting Louise McNeill's career as a poet and author and her personal life, chiefly from the 1970s to her death in 1993. Biographical materials include awards and certificates, biographies of McNeill, clippings, curriculum vitae, and other genealogical materials. Letters are from literary figures, political figures, family and friends. Prominent correspondents include Maggie Anderson, Rene de Chocour, Marion Havighurst, Walter Havighurst, and John D. Rockefeller IV. Writings and related materials include manuscript and typescript drafts of McNeill's books, loose poems, and other writings as well as book reviews, press correspondence, and marketing materials. Audio-visual materials consist of photographs of Louise McNeill, her family, and friends, and tributes to and interviews with McNeill on audio and video cassette. Collection also contains publications, artifacts, and personal materials.
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Louise McNeill, Poet, Papers 6.2 Linear Feet 6 ft. 1 1/2 in. (13 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (2 large flat storage boxes, 3 in. each)

McNeill, Louise
Papers of Louise McNeill (Pease), 1911-1993, of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, noted twentieth century Appalachian poet and author, poet laureate of West Virginia from 1979 to 1993, and professor of history and English. Though most well-known for her lyrical poetry about the history and spirit of West Virginia, McNeill also wrote articles, short stories, essays, and her memoirs. Includes biographical materials, letters, writings, poems, photographs, audio-visual materials, artifacts, and personal materials documenting Louise McNeill's career as a poet and author and her personal life, chiefly from the 1970s to her death in 1993. Biographical materials include awards and certificates, biographies of McNeill, clippings, curriculum vitae, and other genealogical materials. Letters are from literary figures, political figures, family and friends. Prominent correspondents include Maggie Anderson, Rene de Chocour, Marion Havighurst, Walter Havighurst, and John D. Rockefeller IV. Writings and related materials include manuscript and typescript drafts of McNeill's books, loose poems, and other writings as well as book reviews, press correspondence, and marketing materials. Audio-visual materials consist of photographs of Louise McNeill, her family, and friends, and tributes to and interviews with McNeill on audio and video cassette. Collection also contains publications, artifacts, and personal materials.

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