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Papers of Matthew Neely, a politician who had a long career as senator, congressman, governor, and Democratic political boss. Collection includes speeches, business and personal correspondence, pamphlets, legal papers, photographs, and copies of the Congressional Record. There are also newspaper clipping scrapbooks covering the years 1928-1954 (on five reels of microfilm). Neely had a long career, including law student at West Virginia University, Marion County lawyer, mayor of Fairmont, United States Congressman (1913-1921, 1945-1947), United States Senator (1923-1929, 1931-1941, 1949-1958), and Governor of West Virginia (1941-1945).

Newspaper clippings on Neely's controversy as a law student at WVU, and his subsequent career as a lawyer, Mayor of Fairmont, Congressman, and United States Senator.

The two volumes of newspaper clippings cover the years 1913-1916, and 1922-1927 and are concerned with Neely's activities as Congressman and Senator, including his abortive attempt to have Judge A. G. Dayton impeached. There are also two volumes of speeches (clippings from the Congressional Record) for years 1926-1928, and 1931-1932.

Papers of the Maxwell family, including correspondence, accounts, legal papers, pamphlets, and clippings. Correspondence (1863-1889) is comprised mostly of letters from Hu Maxwell, California, to Mrs. S.J. Maxwell. Subjects include mining, schools, size and social conditions of towns, ranches, weather and crop conditions, geographical oddities, Maxwell's personal living conditions, and his intentions concerning history publications. Other items include account book of Captain James L. White, showing military supplies issued for the Laurel Hill Encampment [Confederate Army], and the names and rank of officers (ca. 1861); guard report for the Laurel Hill Encampment with two lists of supplies issued (1861); a patent for an improved towel rack, issued to Rufus Maxwell (1859); and pamphlets of political speeches and legal documents (ca. 1858-1884).

Collection includes microfilm copies and original municipal records of the city of Morgantown, West Virginia, from the office of the city clerk.

Contains photograph copies of land plat signed by George Washington for 400 acres of land in Frederick County, Virginia; Photostat copy of a letter written by Benjamin Franklin from France; Photostat copies of map of northern neck of West Virginians; newspaper clippings on West Virginia University and state politics. Contains copies of maps and photographs relating to land in the Northern Neck of Virginia, Joist Hite, Jesse Hughes, Henry G. Davis, Alexander L. Wade, and Lord Fairfax.

Archives of an eminent folklorist and professor of English at West Virginia University. Manuscripts include field folklore collections, lecture notes, book manuscripts, correspondence, student papers, and folksong arrangements. There are also materials regarding Gainer's position as director of South Atlantic USO activities during World War II and a journal of a folksong collecting trip to Ireland in 1961. Also two hundred and ninety-three audio tapes containing vocal and instrumental folk music, folklore and oral history, recorded in West Virginia and in Scotland and Ireland. Nearly half of the material is performed by Gainer himself. The collection also includes news clippings relating to folklore and Gainer's career, as well as a variety of photographs, film clips, and personal awards and memorabilia.