Collections

1821 travel journal of Abigail Farnsworth, mother of West Virginia's second Governor, Daniel D.T. Farnsworth. Documents travel from Staten Island, New York to Buckhannon in Lewis County, West Virginia.

Correspondence, diary, and farm account book of a Confederate officer and Pocahontas County cattleman and farmer. The correspondence deals primarily with Gatewood's activities as adjutant general and chief of staff of the West Virginia Division, United Confederate Veterans. The Civil War diary, 11 March-15 December 1865, covers action of Company F, Eleventh Virginia Cavalry, "Laurel Brigade," Rosser Cavalry Division, from Staunton to Appomattox. The farm account book, 1866-1869, also contains an account of Gatewood's Civil War experiences, including fighting in western Virginia and Jones' northwestern Virginia raid of 1863. The account book, 1801-1805, 1816, pertains to the John Rodgers estate. There are a few papers of Gatewood's father, Samuel V. Gatewood. Other subjects and topics covered are farming and stock raising in Pocahontas County, the Warm Springs of North Carolina, William and Mary College, Virginia Military Institute, Ann Smith Academy, Greenbrier Male Academy, Civil War in the Bath County, Virginia area, and cattle trade in the Kanawha Valley.

Diaries of Hostetter, a coal miner from Nelsonville, Ohio, which cover the years 1925 to 1949, one volume for each year. There are no volumes for the years 1933, 1937, 1942, 1944, 1945, and 1947. They contain information on mine production, inspections, accidents, equipment, labor, and other aspects of the coal mining industry.

Four diaries and a nineteen-page memoir of Allen D. Frankenberry (1841-1909), who served chiefly as an orderly and signalman in the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry from August 1862 to September 1863 and the U.S. Signal Corps in the Department of the Cumberland from October 1863 to June 1865. Frankenberry's diaries are available only on microfilm and are divided into four volumes: Book I, August 20, 1862-September 10, 1863; Book II, September 9, 1864-February 15, 1865; Book III, February 16, 1865-March 8, 1865; and Book IV, January 1, 1868-September 30, 1870. Books I, II, and III document Frankenberry's Civil War service with almost daily entries that chiefly describe his movements (travel in Pennsylvania and Maryland in 1862, Tennessee and Kentucky in 1863, Georgia and North Carolina in 1864 and 1865), foraging for food, rations, camp and quarters, drill, and horses. There is very little information about battles, except for Frankenberry's Signal Corps duty at Kennesaw Mountain and during the battle of Allatoona Pass in October 1864. Topics from the fall of 1864 and early 1865 also include Gen. William T. Sherman, Maj. Gen. John Corse, and prisoners in North Carolina. Book IV tells of Frankenberry's life after the war, including the cutting, sawing, and selling of timber in Point Marion, Penn., and his daily life, including church, home, and marriage. Collection also includes a photocopy of Frankenberry's Civil War memoir. Most of this nineteen-page document, which was written circa 1905, focuses on the Signal Corps during the battle of Allatoona Pass and Frankenberry's return visit to the site of the battle in 1895. He describes the actions and messages of Gen. William T. Sherman and Maj. Gen. John Corse and the gospel song "Hold the Fort."

Personal and business correspondence, legal papers, ledgers, family records, and other papers of the Allen family of Moorefield, Hardy County, West Virginia. Also includes papers of members of the Barr, Weibley, Taylor, and Gamble families. The majority of the collection includes personal and business correspondence, legal papers, and financial records of Judge James W.F. Allen (1813/12/03 - 1875/07/16), a Hardy County lawyer, Jacksonian Democrat, and Circuit Court Judge in Hardy and Grant Counties (active ca. 1852-1865, 1872-1875). Also includes the papers of Allen's second wife, Caroline Williams Allen (d. 1907), several of Allen's children, and other related people, and a large group of 19th century advertising memorabilia. See Scope and Content Note for more information.

Papers of an agricultural economics professor at West Virginia University, including correspondence, reprints and manuscripts of articles, lecture and research notes, diaries of trips, personal ledgers, pictures, and broadsides. Subjects include Monongalia County Historical Society; wildlife; collecting trips to Canada, Alaska, Labrador, and South Africa; agriculture; genealogy of the Dadisman family; and camel transportation in the U.S. Correspondents include Charles H. Ambler, Nelle Ammons, William D. Barns, A.B. Brooks, Andrew Edmiston, Paul H. Price, Edward M. Steel Jr., and Harry G. Wheat.

Diary of school teacher Bernie Hodges (later Mrs. John S. Barns; born June 23, 1873, died February 1, 1930), January 1 to June 18, 1893, regarding teaching, giving music lessons, visiting relatives, and riding horses, among other activities; there are also entries regarding a trip by boat from the [Burning] Springs to Parkersburg, and by train to Clarksburg and Buckhannon, and her decision to move to Ritchie County. There is also a shield-shaped metal insignia badge for Sergeant Thomas Rufus Barns of Company K, 10th Regiment, West Virginia Volunteer Infantry (undated); a cartridge case; and a postcard (with picture of Science Hall, West Virginia University) to Miss Helen Barns of Harrisville, West Virginia from "Pearl" regarding illness of mother (ca. 1910-1920).

Diaries of an Episcopalian clergyman beginning with his appointment 1 November 1923 in Wheeling as a bishop and ending with entries by his wife after his death. Strider retired as diocese bishop in 1955, returned to the family estate, Rose Hill Farm, Jefferson County, which he managed until his death. The diaries contain routine entries about matters such as family news and comments on books read and impressions of historic events, such as the assassination of President Kennedy. Much information was compiled by Mrs. Edith K. Strider on his last illness and funeral service and she also includes the obituary of Robert E. Lee Strider (1887-1969).

Arithmetic book of Braxton B. Durrett of Spotsylvania County, Virginia and Barbour County, West Virginia. Included are examples of various arithmetical processes; diary entries, October 1841-February 1842; and a record of the Durrett family record.