Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

Photographs and research papers regarding Helvetia, West Virginia. Most of the collection consists of photographs. Subjects of the photographs include residents, activities, and locations, the majority of which date from the early twentieth century (1900-1920). There are group portraits of families, school children, and others, including shots of hunters, timber workers, and residents with musical instruments, among others. Special events recorded by the photographs include weddings, festivals and other occasions. Photographs of Helvetia buildings (including houses, barns, and general store / post office), local landscape, and nearby towns are also included. Research papers concern the indentification of the photographs as well as the history of the town. Families documented by the collection include Aegerter, Burkey, Anderegg, Asper, Huber, Kuenzler, Marti, Metzner/Metzener, Teuscher, and Zumbach, among others.

Items that belonged to Elmer W. Prince, Morgantown City Manager from 1933 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1966. The collection includes Prince's 1905-07 post card collection, a 1921 West Virginia University Bachelor of Science Degree in civil engineering, and two Morgantown budget statements, 1935 and 1937. There are also photographs, including images of Morgantown (1941) and several taken by Prince of post World War II France and Germany (1945-1946). Prince served as an army major during and after the war, for which his unit received a letter of recognition from President Harry Truman. Other materials include a journal kept by Elmer Prince in 1967 while on assignment for the federal government in Iran; two religious publications; several newspapers and clippings; and artifacts such as World War II goggles, a ca. 1941 handkerchief from England with a printed war rally slogan, West Virginia University memorabilia, and four recognition plaques for community service. There is also a 1951 certificate from Capital Airlines in honor of Prince's efforts to bring airline service to Morgantown.

Three cased ambrotype photographs of members of the Gardner family from Point Pleasant in Mason County, West Virginia. Collection includes portrait of G.P. Gardner (pre-Civil War); G.P. Gardner wearing what is probably a Confederate uniform, including sword and pistol; and a portrait of a small child, probably G.P. Gardner's son. These three items do not include their lids. Gardner was at one time a Kanawha River boat pilot.

Photographs, ephemera, and genealogy (1658-1996) of the John Samuel Simms family of West Virginia. Ephemera includes a certificate for completion of classes from West Virginia University Department of Mining Extension (1935), a State of West Virginia Department of Mines Certificate for passing a mine foreman exam (1918), a State of West Virginia Elementary School Diploma (1915), a certificate of proficiency from the New River State School for completion of stenography courses (1925), household bills (telephone, furniture, etc.) (ca. 1920s), and a dance card for an event at Luna Park, Charleston, West Virginia (ca. 1920s). Most photographs in the collection are identified with names, dates, and locations. Notable photographs are of railroad workers on the line near Little Elk Creek in Swiss, WV (ca. 1910); a large group of men and women at a dedication of an O.E.S. home (1935); a mail carrier at a home in Jodie, WV (ca. 1900-20); Simms family and friends in front of their West Virginia homes (ca. 1900-20); two photographic portraits of Charles and Minerva Summers Simms (ca. 1870s) in 12" x 14" oval wooden frames; and a group portrait of a Charleston, WV Elks Club minstrel production (ca. 1920s).

Correspondence, financial papers, diaries, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and photographs relating to the Max Mathers family and Monongalia County, West Virginia. The activities of Anna DeGant Mathers, wife of Max Mathers, and Margaret Mathers Barrick, his daughter, as well as of Margaret's two sons, William Mathers Barrick and George Milton Barrick, Jr. are well represented in the family papers. Max Mather's own papers document his personal life, Republican party activities, genealogical and local history interests, and his participation in civil defense planning for Morgantown, as well as his service on the local selective service board. There are letters and financial records of earlier members of the Morgan family, mostly of the Civil War period and later, but including two early 19th century account books and some early letters. Some of the names of Morgan ancestors are Elijah Morgan, Elizabeth Morgan, H.M. Morgan, H.D. McGeorge, N.H. McGeorge, and John R. Morgan. Photographs are largely of the Mathers family, but there are a few of the 175th anniversary of Monongalia County, and the dedication of a monument to Col. Zackquill Morgan, ancestor of Mathers and founder of Morgantown. The newspaper clippings cover personal mentions of Max Mathers and his family as well as local history articles, local events, and the family's involvement in the search for missing soldiers after the Korean conflict. The scrapbook was put together by Eugene L. Mathers, Max Mathers' father, and documents Monongalia County events, 1838-1951. In addition, there is a collection of greeting cards covering the first half of the 20th century and a collection of broadsides going back to the 1850s.

Papers of the Dahmer family of Upper Tract, Pendleton County, WV, featuring the papers and artifacts of Miles Dahmer, who served the Confederacy in the 25th Virginia Infantry.

Album of 39 portraits (black and white, and color) taken by Ray Stoker (1895-1975), a resident of Fairmont, West Virginia. The majority of the photographs are portraits of Stoker's wife; other subjects include other women, children, animals, and the artist himself. Please see "Historical Note" for further information regarding Stoker.