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Photostat negatives of correspondence to Francis H. Pierpont concerning statehood and secession. Also includes a petition of Harrison County, (West) Virginia citizens to Brigadier General Kelly protesting the return and admittance to the county of former members of the Confederate Army (undated); a petition of Gilmer County, (West) Virginia citizens denouncing secession and pledging action to suppress rebellion (1861); and the act by which the Restored Government of Virginia gave permission for the new state of West Virginia to be formed from Virginia (May 12, 1863). Also includes a photostat negative of a typescript checklist of Pierpont manuscript material held at the Virginia State Library (now Library of Virginia) (1916). Correspondents include: Arthur I. Boreman, John I. Brown, William G. Brown, A.W. Campbell, John S. Carlile, Spencer Dayton, James Evans, Thomas. M. Harris, J.H. Jordan, Daniel Lamb, J.A.J. Lightburn, A.F. Ritchie, Lewis Ruffner, Henry I. Samuels, J.C. Paxton, P.G. Van Winkle, and John O. Watson.

Newspaper clippings, photographs, sheet music, and other material regarding Isaac B. Smith, a farmer and music teacher from Gilmer County. Smith (1876-1984) lived to be 107 years old. See "Scope and Content Note" for further information.

Papers of Louis Bennett, a wealthy lawyer, and of his wife, Sallie Bennett. This collection is minimally processed. Includes letters, a few photographs, and other material. There are records regarding the Glenville Normal School (including reports, correspondence, and advertising from publishers of school books) where Mr. Bennett was a principal (1870s); and letters authored by Sallie Bennett to her husband Louis (1880s). This collection is largely unprocessed.

Papers collected by Roy Bird Cook, a Lewis County native and Charleston pharmacist, who in his role as historian, researcher, and author, was a pioneering and effective advocate for the preservation of West Virginia history. This collection includes the papers he collected in connection with his research, including documentation of the Civil War in West Virginia, Stonewall Jackson and his family, and genealogy of North Central West Virginia, among other topics. Materials include letters and papers of the Hays family, including Samuel L. and Peregrine Hays of Gilmer County (1836-1884, 1952-1962, undated [includes facsimiles]); records of the Confederate 31st Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and later correspondence, clippings, and papers about the regiment and its members (ca. 1856-1955, undated [includes facsimiles]); various collections of individual and family papers and Civil War correspondence (1793-1974, undated [includes facsimiles]); original and copies of Stonewall Jackson letters and papers, as well as papers pertaining to Jackson family members (1801-1963, undated [includes facsimiles]); and materials related to the history of pharmacy and medicine, with a special focus on West Virginia (ca. 1832-1961, undated [includes facsimiles]). There is also an extensive series of bound notebooks containing manuscripts, transcriptions, clippings, genealogies, pamphlets, and images regarding the following topics: Stonewall Jackson, Mary Anna Morrison Jackson, Colonel George Jackson, and Thomas Jackson Arnold; the Civil War, including historical sketches of battles as well as originals and copies of soldiers' diaries, journals, and letters; Lewis County; Charleston and the Kanawha Valley; Douglas S. Freeman; Granville Davisson Hall; Camden family; George Washington; and other topics.

Materials collected by Roy Bird Cook regarding General Joseph Andrew Jackson Lightburn. Includes letters sent to Dr. Bird regarding General Lightburn and the Lightburn family, newspaper clippings regarding Lightburn and the Civil War in West Virginia, two maps, a pamphlet, and other material. See the "Historical Note" for further information about General Lightburn.

Structural and topographical maps of various locations in West Virginia. Most maps were created by the West Virginia Geological Survey. Counties depicted include Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Hancock, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Marshall, Mingo, Nicholas, Ohio, Roane, Tyler, Wetzel, and Wirt County. Geological and geographical features depicted include coal, oil, gas, iron ore, and limestone areas; Berea grit/sand and Injun Sand; state roads; railroads; and virgin and cut-over forest areas.

Letters written by various members of the Varner family in Gilmer County and Baltimore, Maryland, and a number of letters of S.W. Varner, a physician in Kingwood, relating to his medical practice. Included is a letter from M.O. Dawson who is running for governor soliciting names of Republican voters. Subjects covered include death, illness, and news in the family, and West Virginia state politics.

Genealogy research papers compiled by W. Guy Tetrick and his son Willis G. Tetrick, Jr. The Tetricks were from Harrison County and the material in the collection mainly regards families of Harrison County and north central West Virginia. The collection contains mostly original genealogical compilations and family histories. It also contains personal and business correspondence; financial records; publications regarding local and state history; newspapers and news clippings; obituaries, cemetery records; records of the Sons of the American Revolution; and other material.