Search

Louis Reed (1899-ca. 1985) served in France and Germany during World War I. Collection contains letters he wrote to his future wife, Mildred Johnston. Reed and Johnston married many years later, after the death of Reed's first wife. Reed's letters, written between 1918 and 1920, discuss army life, the front in France, and the occupation of Germany. Collection also contains a 235-page photocopied typescript that Reed wrote about the history of Burning Springs, Wirt County, and its role in the Civil War as a productive oil field. The typescript is also available on microfilm.

Includes records of meetings, by-laws, and actions of the stockholders and directors of the Lowther Oil Co, New Martinsville, Wetzel County, West Virginia, from the first general meeting of the stockholders of the Company held on 13 Aug.1900 to 29 Apr.1905 (1 volume); index of accounts of Lowther Oil Co. (1 volume); and: index of accounts of Lowther-Kaufmann Oil Co. (1 volume).

Correspondence between H. E. Matheny and Boyd B. Stutler who were antiquarian collectors of West Virginia and authors on the local history of the state. The correspondence is primarily about West Virginia imprints and historical literature. There is much discussion of the following topics as they pertain to West Virginia: colloquial language, frontier and pioneers, post offices and postal service, crimes and criminals, the Civil War, early oil industry, and printers, printing and newspapers. Historical figures often mentioned are: Harman Blennerhassett, Alexander Campbell, T. M. Harris, John Hardy, and John Brown and family. There is much mention of other colleague collectors including: Guy Tetrick, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Bird Cook, Delf Norona, and Otis Zirkle. There is some discussion of family matters and the contemporary political situation, particularly regarding John F. Kennedy, his assassination, and the turmoil of the 1960s.

Various Pittenger family members wrote these letters, mostly to other family members. The most frequent correspondent is Abraham Pittenger, a farmer, teacher, and local government official in Hancock County. The letters detail farming and marketing of farm goods, educational developments, affairs of the Presbyterian Church, and family events. The collection also provides significant information about the early Republican party, secession crisis, Civil War and Reconstruction.

Papers of Rush Meadows, a Charleston, West Virginia, mining engineer and mine operator, containing correspondence, maps, reports, and photographs on companies involved in coal, oil and gas production in Appalachia, the Rocky Mountain states, and Latin America.

Papers, maps, and photos of William C. Stiles and Samuel B. Stiles, developers associated with J.C. Rathbone and J.N. Camden in the oil industry of Wood County, in particular of the oil boom town of Volcano. Most of the papers are business correspondence, receipts and oil drilling records dealing with family owned business in Parkersburg and Volcano, namely the Zero Oil Company, the Power Oil Company, and the Jackson Land and Mining Company. There are family photographs, and records and correspondence about Volcano in which the Stiles had substantial holdings. On August 4, 1879, there was a fire in Volcano which nearly destroyed the whole town and which was presumed to be due to arson with the intent to hurt the family's financial fortune. The history of Volcano is reflected in subsequent Pinkerton reports, news clippings, and correspondence between S.B. Stiles and local historian H.E. Metheny.

A Morgantown based investment company that acquired and leased land in the oil and gas fields of north central West Virginia. The contents of the record book are chiefly stockholder meeting reports about audits, leases, royalties and agreements. Prominent company members named in the volume are Charles S. White, I. C. White, R. T. Cunningham, A. F. Ramsay, William S. Stevenson, T. M. Jackson, Clarence B. Dille and J. Lewis Williams. Although not the company president, I. C. White, an eminent geologist, was instrumental in its creation and operation. White, a renowned specialist in oil, gas and coal geology, initiated the anticlinal theory of oil and gas deposits and on its basis speculated correctly that there were ample deposits in the Mannington region. The company attained land holdings and leases in an oil and gas producing region encompassing Monongalia, Wetzel, Marion, Harrison, Doddridge and Lewis counties. The minutes also mention associated companies such as the Eureka Pipe Line Co., South Penn Oil Co. and the Fisher Oil Co.

Account book for the Turtle Run Oil Company of Parkersburg, WV, dated Nov. 15, 1864-Aug. 31, 1865. Included are genealogical notes on the Steers, Evans, Butcher, Pribble, and related families. The memoirs of Hiram Pribble, dated 1844, is also included.

Public utility tax reports on car lines, bus and airlines, oil and gas companies, telephone and telegraph companies, and railroads operating in West Virginia. The collection represents a portion of the microfilmed archives of the Auditors Office.