West Virginia War History Commission, World War II Records, 1928/1946, bulk 1941/1945

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], West Virginia War History Commission, World War II Records, A&M 0109, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
29.85 Linear Feet Summary: 29 ft. 10 1/4 in. (44 document cases, 5 in. each); (15 document cases, 2 1/2 in. each); (3 records cartons, 15 in. each); (1 large flat storage box, 3 1/2 in.); (4 large flat storage boxes, 3 in. each); (3 oversize scrapbooks, 2 in. each); (storage tube, 1 in.); (19 reels of microfilm, 1.75 in. each)
Creator:
West Virginia War History Commission
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], West Virginia War History Commission, World War II Records, A&M 0109, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Records of the West Virginia War History Commission and the state, local, and national branches of the Office of Civilian Defense. Material within this collection documents civilian activities on the homefront during World War II in the state of West Virginia. The collection contains correspondence, publications, pamphlets, maps, posters, newspapers and clippings, radio scripts, and other material. The collection also contains 19 reels of microfilm regarding the Monongalia Office of Civil Defense. The collection includes 10 series.

Contains publications regarding enemy and allied nations, particularly the countries of Central and South America, as well as other subjects.

Contains posters; pamphlets; publications; correspondence, including the correspondence of District Supervisors; Governor Neely's file; maps; scripts for radio programs; and other material. Further information regarding "Governor Neely's File" (box 14, folders 6-8) may be found in the control folder for this collection.

Contains pamphlets, unused supplies, card files, correspondence, material regarding personnel and training, newspapers and clippings, scripts for radio programs, and other material.

Contains correspondence, material regarding personnel and training, publications, posters, and other material.

Contains correspondence filed by county of origin, including personal letters of soldiers and correspondence of Festus P. Summers regarding war records.

Contains correspondence, reports, publications, and other material from the War History Commissions of states other than West Virginia and from the National War History Commission.

Contains correspondence from individuals and colleges, as well as miscellaneous war history material. Subjects of correspondence include awards, conferences, and publications, among others.

"Regular File" is a series title retained from the original set of records received from the War History Commission; their original order has been retained. They are arranged alphabetically and include correspondence, particularly soldiers' letters; pamphlets; publications; maps; newspapers and news clippings; artifacts; ephemera; photographs; and other material. Please note, there is no box 37.

Contains posters, scrapbooks, and maps.

Contains roughly 220 posters. A contents list for this series can be found in the control folder for this collection.

Biographical / historical:

This collection was compiled by the West Virginia War History Commission, which was organized in 1943 to collect and preserve a record of West Virginia and her citizens and their activities during World War II.
Much of the material within this collection regards the Office of Civilian Defense, which was created in May 1941 to coordinate federal and state measures for the protection of civilians in the case of war, to maintain civilian morale, and to encourage civilians to volunteer in the office's efforts.

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: West Virginia & Regional History Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard