Roy Bird Cook, Collector, Tavenner Family Papers and Other Material

Access and use

Location of collection:
West Virginia and Regional History Center
West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Restrictions:

No special access restriction applies.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Roy Bird Cook, Collector, Tavenner Family Papers and Other Material, A&M 0858, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
0.25 Linear Feet 3 in. (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)
Creator:
Cook, Roy Bird, 1886-1961
Abstract:
Papers of the Tavenner family of western Virginia, including correspondence, newspaper clippings, maps, and other material. Much of the material in this collection regards the Civil War. The Tavenner family was sympathetic to the Confederate cause. One member of the family, William Cabell Tavenner, served in the Confederate army; his letters are part of the collection. This collection also contains material related to families allied to the Tavenner family by marriage, particularly the Withers family, including material regarding Alexander Scott Withers and his book Chronicles of Border Warfare . The collection is organized into six series, including: 1. Genealogy (1868-1952); 2. Correspondence (1778-1953); 3. Maps (1863, 1939, undated); 4. Miscellaneous (1822-1950, undated); 5. Newspaper Clippings (1829-1931); and 6. Oversize Materials (1829-1861). Please see "Scope and Content Note" and "Historical Note" for further information.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Roy Bird Cook, Collector, Tavenner Family Papers and Other Material, A&M 0858, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Papers of the Tavenner family of western Virginia, including correspondence, newspaper clippings, maps, and other material. Much of the material in this collection regards the Civil War. The Tavenner family was sympathetic to the Confederate cause. One member of the family, William Cabell Tavenner, served in the Confederate army; his letters are part of the collection. This collection also contains material related to families allied to the Tavenner family by marriage, particularly the Withers family, including material regarding Alexander Scott Withers and his book Chronicles of Border Warfare.

The collection is organized into six series, including:

Series 1. Genealogy; 1868-1952, undated; box 1, folder 1 (7 items)
Series 2. Correspondence; 1778-1953, undated; box 1, folders 2-6 (73 items)
Series 3. Maps; 1863, 1939, undated; box 1, folder 7 (3 items)
Series 4. Miscellaneous; 1822-1950, undated; box 1, folders 8-10 (30 items)
Series 5. Newspaper Clippings; 1829-1931, undated; box 1, folder 11 (15 items)
Series 6. Oversize Materials; 1829-1861; box 1, folder 11 and box 2 (3 items)

See also:

A&M 81, Cook, Roy Bird (1886-1961), Collector. Tavenner Family Papers and Other Material
A&M 3763, Tavenner, William C. Civil War Correspondence and Other Material

Biographical / historical:

Roy Bird Cook was born at Roanoke, Lewis County on April 1, 1886, the son of David Bird and Dora Elizabeth Conrad Cook. In 1905, at age 19, he received his pharmacy license, the youngest person to ever do so in West Virginia. His pharmacy career spanned fifty-six years. During his lifetime, Cook served on many pharmacy and state boards and commissions. His interest in local history, the Confederacy and Stonewall Jackson inspired him to collect manuscripts and some 600 volumes on those subjects. His many awards and honors include an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from West Virginia University in 1938. Cook died in 1961.

Physical location:
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard