Collections

The Blackley Family Papers, 1830-2020, consists of hundreds of letters that span from 1830 to 2011; diaries; official United States, Confederate, and Texas documents; literary works; newspaper clippings; postcards; ephemera; and photographs. These papers document the related Scott, Bassett, Blackley, Hoge, Matthews, and Nix families of Texas and Staunton, Virginia.

Photographs, postcards, engravings, sketches, art tools, correspondence, pamphlets, recipes and newspaper clippings belonging to Blanche Lazzell, a West Virginia born leading American artist of the inter-war years. The collection reflects her development as an artist from her student days at West Virginia University to the end of the Korean War. Addenda include correspondence, genealogy, published material, photos, prints, drawings, news clippings, and mementos of Blanche Lazzell. Addenda topics include Lazzell family history, Blanche's art and artistic influences, and the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). See Historical Note for information on Blanche Lazzell.

Commemorative articles about Tuskegee Institute and its founder, the educator, Booker T. Washington. Also copies of a few articles by this renowned turn of the century leader of Afro-Americans and a copy of his autobiography, Up From Slavery. Also includes photographs of Washington and his family and facsimiles of his passport application and death certificate. This material reflects Washington's philosophy of economic self help for African-Americans.

Lecture notes, clippings, notes, and drafts for A History of European Civilization, Volume 1, and other miscellaneous papers of Jason C. Easton, former professor of history at West Virginia University (WVU). The collection also contains Dr. Easton's correspondence with several former students serving in the military during World War II dating from ca. 1942-1946. Other WWII items include ration books for food, gasoline, and liquor; and two unpublished sound recordings on disc of a radio discussion by J.C. Easton and Clark Ennis regarding the question of which nation the United States should support following World War II, Germany or Russia. There is also an album of photographs, some indentified, of members of the Young family of Charleston, West Virginia, dating from ca. 1860-1890. Addenda to the collection, in two document cases, include Lieutenant Clark Easton's World War I ledger containing class notes and instructional material from an Army Intelligence School, for period 30 September 1918 to 9 November 1918; and a listing of WVU students and graduates killed in World War II. Addenda also include items collected by Easton, including three Civil War documents: 1) payment voucher for Captain John D. Young for work on Bateau No. 16 on the Kanawha River (1962), 2)An eulogy/composition regarding "Stonewall Jackson" by Virginia Military Institute cadet, Samuel Francis Atwill (1863) who was mortally wounded at the Battle of New Market on 15 May 1864, and 3) a three-page narrative by unknown soldier regarding Shenandoah Valley campaign (January to July 1864). There is also a history of Charleston and Kanawha County published in 1911. For photographs related to this collection, go to wvhistoryonview.org and search for this collection's four digit call number (otherwise known as an a&m number).

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).

Autograph book (1872-1887) of Jennie Robinson of Clarksburg with inscriptions from her friends. A letter from Martha Perry of Staunton, VA (1 March 1888) to Jennie Robinson of Clarksburg, WV congratulating her on her upcoming wedding. Letters from the Neale family, relatives of Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson. A letter from Thomas Neale of Parkersburg (6 June 1833) to Lewis Maxwell of Lewis County inquiring about Thomas Jackson and his brother. A letter from W. R. Neale at Mossy Creek, TN (23 February 1864) to his uncle mentioning Stonewall Jackson and the Civil War. There is a photo album of 1874 WVU graduate Charles Wesley Lynch of Wheeling, WV including photos of family, classmates and teachers. There is also a 1927-28 WVU schedule of courses, a 1927 WVU music convocation program, a 1928 WVU football scorecard, a facsimile of the (20 August 1773) Maryland Journal and the Baltimore Advertiser, and a 1938 history of Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church of Grafton, WV. See also A&M 3729.

This print is of a black and white photograph of Gottlieb Daimler. Written below the photpgraph is the number 8266, his name, and the Berlin photography company.

Negatives and other material from the Gravely and Moore Studio of Charleston, West Virginia. The majority of items within the collection are cellulose acetate negatives; the collection also includes glass plate negatives, prints, two photograph albums, and other material, as well as a card catalog documenting business transactions with customers. The collection is organized into customer project files as established by the Studio; the contents of these files are stored in envelopes usually containing one or two negatives, but they can contain up to a dozen or more. There are approximately 3,500 customer project files containing an estimated 11,000 items, most of which are negatives. The majority of photographs within the collection are portraits of individual adults. Other subjects include portraits of children; group photographs; businesses and advertising; members of the military; civil servants; civic organizations; missionaries; and aerial photographs, among others.

The photographs and negatives of the Gerbrick Studio of Martinsburg whose most prominent proprietor was Jacob H. Gerbrick. There are group and individual portraits as well as pictures of business and industry, modes of transportation, schools, churches, residences, clubs and organizations, and social events. These photographs reflect life in Martinsburg and the extreme Eastern panhandle, including unique events such as strikes or floods, annual events such as festivals and parades, and everyday occurrences of the inhabitants. There are also images of the apple industry, Gerbrick family, Shepherd College, and Storer College.