Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

Photographs, postcards, engravings, sketches, art tools, correspondence, pamphlets, recipes and newspaper clippings belonging to Blanche Lazzell, a West Virginia born leading American artist of the inter-war years. The collection reflects her development as an artist from her student days at West Virginia University to the end of the Korean War. Addenda include correspondence, genealogy, published material, photos, prints, drawings, news clippings, and mementos of Blanche Lazzell. Addenda topics include Lazzell family history, Blanche's art and artistic influences, and the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). See Historical Note for information on Blanche Lazzell.

Commemorative articles about Tuskegee Institute and its founder, the educator, Booker T. Washington. Also copies of a few articles by this renowned turn of the century leader of Afro-Americans and a copy of his autobiography, Up From Slavery. Also includes photographs of Washington and his family and facsimiles of his passport application and death certificate. This material reflects Washington's philosophy of economic self help for African-Americans.

The papers of Edward J. Cabbell, an author, poet, editor, and historian documents subjects regarding African-American history in Appalachia, encompassing the colonial period through 1988. The materials include research papers, articles, photographs, clippings, books, and publications such as "Then & Now" and "Black Diamonds". There is also information pertaining to the John Henry legend and includes articles, music references and literature. There are photographs of paintings and sculptures of John Henry, candid images of the John Henry Folk Festivals, Edward J. Cabbell as the director of the John Henry Memorial Foundation and Louis W. Chappell, a West Virginia University professor who compiled a massive collection of Appalachia folklore and music, including John Henry material.

Paper ephemera, including: illustrated letterhead titled "Offices of J.W. Wiles" featuring portrait of J.W. Wiles and photo of the "Wiles Block" building in Morgantown, WV; there is also letterhead for the "Star Glass Company" and "Union Realty and Development Co.," both of Morgantown; illustrated envelopes for the "Hotel Morgan" of Morgantown, "The Waldo" of Clarksburg, and "The Ruffner" of Charleston. Signed calling card of J.W. Wiles. There is an extensive collection of greeting cards, including Valentines. There is also a printed invitation card for a luncheon with President and Mrs. Taft (1912). Addendum of 2019/06/17 includes four greeting cards from the Young family of Morgantown, including two large Valentine cards (including windmill and seesaw graphics; undated), one small Valentine card (undated), and one Christmas card (booklet, "One Christmas Back in Grandfather's Time"; 1952).

Three volumes of genealogical compilations of family group sheet forms of the Murphy family and allied families by John Burns Murphy (b. July 5, 1914-d. November 24, 1992). There are three separate name indexes, one for each volume, and 12 captioned photos of the William and Hester Murphy family of Moatsville, Barbour Co., WV, 1770-1988, 1 1/2 ft. Other families mentioned most often in the index are Allen, Amos, Anderson, Anon, Arnett, Ashcraft, Bailey, Baker, Ball, Barnes, Barr, Bartlett, Baughman, Bennett, Benson, Blake, Boggess, Bolyard, Booth, Boyles, Brady, Brown, Bryan, Campbell, Canfield, Carpenter, Coffman, Cole, Copenhaver, Corder, Cox, Crim, Crites, Cross, Cunningham, Davis, Davisson, Digman, Duckworth, Duncan, Dye, Edgell, Ellifritt, Elliot, Ellison, Ellyson, Eneix, Farence, Felton, Ferguson, Flowers, Forman, Fortney, Freeman, Friend, Gainer, Gall, Gatrell, Glasscock, Glover, Godwin, Griffin, Gum, Haddix, Hall, Haller, Hannah, Harbert, Hart, Harvey, Hathaway, Hawker, Hawkins, Heldreth, Hess, Hoffman, Holbert, Huey, Huffman, Hustead, Ice, Isner, Jackson, James, Jefferies, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Keller, Kelly, Kennedy, Kittle, Knotts, Laulis, Lawson, Leach, Linville, Long, Looman, Lyons, Markley, Marple, Marsh, Martin, Mason, Matthews, McDaniel, McGee, McIntire, McIntosh, McVicker, Minear, Mitchell, Moats, Moore, Mouser, Nay, Nestor, Nutter, Odle, Ogden, O'Neal, Phillips, Pigott, Poe, Poling, Price, Pritchard, Proudfoot, Rector, Reed, Rice, Richardson, Rittenhouse, Robbins, Robey, Robinson, Rogers, Rusk, Saffell, Sanders, Sandy, Sayre, Shaffer, Shanabarger, Sharp, Shaver, Shaw, Shinn, Shreve, Simons Sinsel, Stansberry, Stark, Stemple, Stewart, Stickel, Straight, Stump, Sturm, Swiger, Swisher, Switzer, Talbott, Talkington, Taylor, Tetrick, Tharp, Thompson, Tibbs, Van Scoy, Wadsworth, Wass, Watson, Weaver, Webb, White, Whiteman, Whitman, Williams, Williamson, Wilmoth, Wilson, Woodford, Wright, Wyer, Zinn. Materials cover the years 1770-1988.

Brochures, programs and correspondence of the John Henry Folk Festivals. The festivals are an annual celebration in West Virginia of its inter-ethnic cultural folk heritage with an emphasized focus on that of black Appalachians. The festival is especially noted for featuring Blues musicians and singers. Most correspondence is between festival director, Edward J. Cabbell, and participants or contributors to the festival. The collection, the correspondence in particular, indicates the development and changes in the format and thematic agenda of the festival over the years, an example being its 1982 participation in the World's Fair at Knoxville, Tennessee. Addendum is 6 pages of papers (1996) of the John Henry Center, the parent organization of the John Henry Folk Festival.

Pictures and genealogical information on the Zinn and allied families, namely the Shafers, from France and Germany who eventually settled in West Virginia, particularly the line of George Zinn, a Revolutionary War veteran of Preston County. There are also two postcards of Williamstown, Wood County, West Virginia, and 108 photos of Morgantown, West Virginia, especially of the Farmers and Merchants Bank while C. Glenn Zinn was an executive, ca. 1742-1974. Addenda to the collection include: 1) Sixty-one glass lantern slides of a WWI flight squadron's activities, ca. 1917-1918; 2) postcards and travel memorabilia, ca. 1940s; 3) artifacts and illustrations featuring General Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson of the Confederacy during the Civil War, 1994-2002; 4) collectible liberty bell bank issued by the Second National Bank of Morgantown, undated (3 3/4 in. wide, 4 in. tall); 5) State of West Virginia Certificate for Edward W. Dering appointing him a member of the West Virginia Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, 1969; and 6) aerial view (11 in. x 16 in.) of Cheat Lake in the vicinity of the "old" bridge before the Interstate 68 bridge was built. Material covers the years 1742-2005.

Victorian photo album (with exterior of faded dark burgundy cloth and tarnished gold-toned bas-relief ornaments) with built-in music box containing cartes-de-visites, cabinet cards, postcards, tintypes, and two negatives. Includes individual and family group portraits. Subjects of photographs are unidentified, except for postcard portrait of Pastor J.O. Patterson of Main Street Church of Christ in Elkins, West Virginia. Photographers are identified on some of the card mounts, including Loar and Company of Grafton; Von Allmen of Elkins; Nestor of Elkins; Arcade Studio of Akron, Ohio; Fad Foto Company of Gallipolis, Ohio; and Stanton Photo Company of Springfield, Ohio. The collection also includes the calling card of Jackson J. Triplett and two gift tags illustrated with roses and doves. Digital material includes recordings of the music box.