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Papers of Harlan Bovell Selby (1896-1978) of Morgantown, West Virginia. Harlan grew up in Tacoma, Washington; served in World War I (WWI); graduated from West Virginia University in 1923; and apparently managed an office supply store in Morgantown for many years (Laidley and Selby, on High Street). There are photographs, ephemera, and other material in this collection; see scope and content note for details.

Correspondence, financial papers, diaries, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and photographs relating to the Max Mathers family and Monongalia County, West Virginia. The activities of Anna DeGant Mathers, wife of Max Mathers, and Margaret Mathers Barrick, his daughter, as well as of Margaret's two sons, William Mathers Barrick and George Milton Barrick, Jr. are well represented in the family papers. Max Mather's own papers document his personal life, Republican party activities, genealogical and local history interests, and his participation in civil defense planning for Morgantown, as well as his service on the local selective service board. There are letters and financial records of earlier members of the Morgan family, mostly of the Civil War period and later, but including two early 19th century account books and some early letters. Some of the names of Morgan ancestors are Elijah Morgan, Elizabeth Morgan, H.M. Morgan, H.D. McGeorge, N.H. McGeorge, and John R. Morgan. Photographs are largely of the Mathers family, but there are a few of the 175th anniversary of Monongalia County, and the dedication of a monument to Col. Zackquill Morgan, ancestor of Mathers and founder of Morgantown. The newspaper clippings cover personal mentions of Max Mathers and his family as well as local history articles, local events, and the family's involvement in the search for missing soldiers after the Korean conflict. The scrapbook was put together by Eugene L. Mathers, Max Mathers' father, and documents Monongalia County events, 1838-1951. In addition, there is a collection of greeting cards covering the first half of the 20th century and a collection of broadsides going back to the 1850s.

Collection consists of ephemera, publications, and other memorabilia related to the history of the West Virginia University. Includes dance cards and programs (1896-1932, 1951, undated); programs for school clubs, memorials, musical performances (1892-1931, 1965-1967); commencement programs and invitations (1875-1950); sporting event and concert tickets (1895-1975); student and university publications (1899-1963, undated); and other ephemera. Dance cards and programs pertain to various fraternities and sororities, the military department, student clubs, and general dances. Publications include student handbooks, a directory, and a November 1923 issue of the Athenaeum.

Dr. William D. Barns (1917-1991) was a professor of history at West Virginia University from 1940 to 1985. His fields of specialization were American agriculture and labor history, West Virginia and regional history, American economic history, and the United States since 1860. The material has been divided into three main sections of archives, books, and periodicals, and described to the box level. The contents of this collection were created or collected by Dr. William D. Barns and Mrs. Doretha Barns from the 1920s to 1995. The majority of the material pertains to the academic career of Dr. Barns. Mrs. Barns continued to collect material until 1995. Two large series that relate specifically to Mrs. Barns are the League of Women Voters and Mrs. Doretha Barns. In addition, she contributed to the series on the Federal Government, Miscellaneous, Pacifism, and Society of Friends.