Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

Scrapbook of Aristotle Smith (1863-1911), doctor, lawyer, teacher, and historian. The scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings (1897-1909) and other ephemera glued onto pages of a book, Report on Population and Resources of Alaska (1893) from the 11th census, published in 1890. The scrapbook also includes handwritten text on the book's pages and regards the history of various West Virginia counties: Calhoun, Clay, Braxton, Roane; the genealogy of the Chenowiths, his wife's family; his own Smith family; other families include Stalnaker, Smith, and Westbrook; some diary-like entries detailing the weather, visitors, and reminiscences; and profiles of individuals, some recounting Civil War stories and accounts of settler skirmishes with Native Peoples.

Correspondence and business papers of Henry Gassaway Davis (1823-1916), a successful businessman and politician from West Virginia. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1904. The collection largely documents his business and political career, although there are personal papers in the collection as well. His business interests were largely concerned with coal mining, timber, and railroads. Types of documents include letters, reports, account books, and maps, among other material. Much of the correspondence is arranged alphabetically. The scope and content note of each record series provides substantial detail regarding content.

Correspondence, legal papers, speeches, clippings, photographs, and printed material of a Randolph County prosecuting attorney, mayor of Elkins, judge of the Twenty-second Judicial Circuit, Democratic politician, and state governor, 1933-1937. Also features personal correspondence in Series 10.

Papers of the fifteenth governor of West Virginia who was a newspaper publisher in Romney, an orchardman, lawyer, and counsel for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. There are a few papers of W.B. Cornwell. The collection includes: personal and business correspondence, 1896-1953; correspondence as governor, 1916-1922; legal papers, ca.1843-1916; and material relating to "Cornwell Day," 1931; Baltimore and Ohio and other railroads; Romney Orchard Company, ca. 1916-1919; South Branch Development Company, ca.1913-1926; newspaper publishing; and other subjects. Box 100 includes papers regarding women's suffrage, including a proclamation by Governor Cornwell to extend the legislative session of 1920 in order to address the suffrage amendment, among other legislative concerns.

County court records consisting primarily of records of court proceedings including dockets, executions, orders, and fees as well as case papers and public records consisting primarily of land and property records including deeds, land, and personal property books. There are also some records of private businesses, private organizations, Sheriff's records, and voting records. This collection consists of three series and an addendum.