Collections

Papers of historian and collector Hunter F. Armentrout of Gilmer County, West Virginia, primarily documenting the history of the Gilmer County region in the 19th century. Collection chiefly contains correspondence, writings, financial papers, and photographs, One major component of the collection includes the letters of Amie Evaline Sexton Silcott (1836-1865), a member of the Sexton family from New England who settled in western Virginia. Her letters contain much information regarding life in Upshur, Gilmer, and Calhoun Counties before and during the Civil War (transcriptions are available). There are also letters of her immediate family as well as other members of the Hays, Young, and Sexton families (circa 1840-1890). Other materials include Armentrout's research notes, land speculation papers of Minter Jackson (ca. 1840-1860), a local World War II era newsletter (1942-1945), court documents regarding distribution of abolitionist literature (1857), and photographs regarding Glenville Normal School (ca. 1880-1920).

Margaret Prescott Montague (1878-1955) of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and Richmond, Virginia, was an American short story writer, novelist, and O. Henry Award winner in the early twentieth century; she penned some of her work under the pseudonym Jane Steger. Approximately thirty letters written by Montague to her friend Maggie McGee document Montague's personal life and literary career. Three letters at the beginning of the collection indicate how the friendship began, when McGee discovered that Montague was the writer behind the pseudonym Jane Steger. The other letters contain information about Montague's family life, philosophical and religious beliefs, interest in music, trips to White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia, literary efforts, and political and social activity, including her work with blind and deaf children. Collection also contains several short poems, a dialogue, and an essay penned by Margaret Montague.