Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

West Virginia and Regional History Center

West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Primary Collecting Areas:
West Virginia and Appalachia History and Culture
Description:
The West Virginia & Regional History Center preserves and provides access to the records that document the history and culture of the state and the central Appalachian region. The Center is part of West Virginia University Libraries.
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Start Over Repository West Virginia and Regional History Center Places Parkersburg (W. Va.)

Agra Bennett, Papers Regarding Estate and Residence 0.01 Linear Feet Summary: 13 leaves (1 folder)

Papers regarding Agra Bennett (also known as Mrs. Agra Bennett McKinley and Agra B. Williams), a member of a prominent West Virginia family and the sister of WWI pilot Louis Bennett, Jr. Includes a copy of her will (1968) and a copy of the National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (1984) for her residence in Wheeling, West Virginia, the Johnson Camden McKinley House or "Willow Glen". See "Historical Note" for further information.
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Charles H. Ambler (1876-1957) Papers 5 Linear Feet Summary: 5 ft. (12 document cases, 5 in. each)

Ambler, Charles Henry, 1876-1957

Collection includes original copies of correspondence relating to Virginia and West Virginia, as well as newspaper clippings, photographs, and research notes. Events pertaining to the Civil War and the formation of West Virginia are covered. Among the most important items are the private correspondence of Waitman T. Willey (1835-1861 and 1866-1868); data pertaining to education in Mason County, West Virginia (1861-1875); typescript copies of letters of Samuel Woods (see also A&M 1445); typescript copies of diary of Lieutenant Fabricius Augustus Cather (for originals, see A&M 3633); private correspondence (1939-1941); Mercer County records; Marion County records; McDowell County records; and Jackson, Mineral, Raleigh, Taylor, Pendleton, Pleasants, Greenbrier, and Wood County items. Also includes information relating to Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown, and Parkersburg. Other matters of interest are contained in letters written by John Brown, Wills DeHass, and Alexander Boetler, and references to Stonewall Jackson, James Rumsey, genealogy of the Robertson family, and battles of the Civil War.

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Civil War Soldier's Letter, Menu, and Campaign Ribbon 0 Linear Feet Summary: 3 items

A Civil War soldier's letter to his brother from Camp Hill, Harper's Ferry, (West) Virginia, 1863 February 28; a Christmas menu from Hill's Central Hotel, Parkersburg, West Virginia, ca. 1879; and a campaign ribbon from the West Virginia Democratic State Convention, Parkersburg, West Virginia 1892 July 27, the printing on the ribbon reads "Sweeney for State Supt. of Free Schools".
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Ephemera Collection 3.8 Linear Feet 3 ft. 9 1/2 in. (7 document cases, 5 in. each); (3 document cases, 2 1/2 in. each); (1 small flat storage box, 3 in.); (1 oversize folder)

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).
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First Baptist Church of Parkersburg Records 0.15 Linear Feet Summary: 1 3/4 in. (1 reel of microfilm, 1.75 in.)

First Baptist Church, Parkersburg
Minutes of the church, 1817-1910, and of the Parkersburg Baptist Association, 1819-1869. Lists and reports of member churches, including Hughes River, Marietta, Bethesda, Sampson Creek, Mount Zion, Reedy Creek, and Elizabeth. Lists of early members (white and black) of the First Baptist Church 1817-1844. An historical sketch of the Parkersburg Baptist Association written by Rev. J.W. Carter in 1869, with a statistical report on member churches 1818-1869.
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Gainer Family Papers 0.4 Linear Feet Summary: 5 in. (1 document case, 5 in.)

Gaynor family
Correspondence of Loyd Gainer and Katharyn Gaston Gainer of Parkersburg, parents of folklorist and WVU faculty member, Patrick Gainer, concerning their courtship and family matters. Family photographs and clippings relating to Patrick Gainer's career. Commercial and handmade valentines and greeting cards.
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Gordon B. Gibbens Papers 0.4 Linear Feet 5 in. (1 document case)

Gibbens, Gordon B.

Correspondence of Gordon B. Gibbens of Parkersburg, West Virginia. Subjects discussed include personal and family business, West Virginia Republican Party affairs, and Gibbens' political appointments. Correspondents include Senators Stephen B. Elkins, Nathan B. Scott, and James A. Hughes, as well as numerous Ohio Valley politicians. One letter (1896 December 21) is an endorsement by a group of "colored" voters of Wood County for Gibbens' appointment to political office, and another letter (1898 January 17) is a similar endorsement by a group of Wood County Union veterans.

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Harrison and Doddridge Counties, Papers 0.4 Linear Feet Summary: 5 in. (1 document case)

Newspaper clippings, principally from Harrison and Doddridge county papers, concerning W. Va. Servicemen in World War I, weather and flood reports, and miscellaneous West Virginia Subjects. There are also some clippings from Parkersburg and various Ohio papers.

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Hugh Sayre, Collector, Papers 1.1 Linear Feet Summary: 1 ft. 1 in. (2 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 small flat storage box, 3 in.)

Sayre, Hugh

Correspondence, miscellaneous family papers, nineteenth century school records, ledgers, bank books, and memorabilia of Hugh F. Sayre and family of Parkersburg, Reedy, St. Marys and West Creek, West Virginia. Some material relates to oil and gas leases on the Sayre family farm and Sayre's invention of a scientific alphabet called EBDECORD.

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