Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

Research papers of Donovan Bond, a professor of Journalism at West Virginia University, regarding the 1772 proposal for a Colony of Vandalia in western Virginia territory, and histories of frontier forts (ca. 1749-1794) in western Virginia. Also includes photocopies of original 18th century documents. Material covers the years 1754-2002.

Correspondence of the Varner and Darrah families. Folder 1 includes original manuscript letters to and from members of the two families (1870-1884). Folder 2 includes manuscript genealogical information from the Varner family bible, and typed transcripts of the papers of the Varner family of Monongalia County, West Virginia, dating from 1775 to 1918, which includes correspondence with the Darrahs. The two families were related. For additional materials related to the Varner family, please see A&M 3543.

Records relating to the Varner (Warner, Worner) and Patterson families of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Varner records include copies of original deeds, surveys, warrants, and patents, and focus on the lands and movements of John, Jospeh, and Abraham Varner in Fayette, Washington, and Greene Counties in Pennsylvania, and Monongalia County, West Virginia, in the late 18th and 19th centuries. There is also a typescript timeline (1777-1830) for records regarding John Varner, manuscript genealogy notes, and three original registered letter receipts to and from Joseph Varner in Statler Run, West Virginia. Also includes court and land records regarding an 1870s land dispute between Abraham Varner and Jospeh Varner, a typed note about the Varner family cemetery in Rudolph's Run in Monongalia County, and a manuscript poem by M.S. Stockdale to one of the Varners. The Patterson records consist of copies of a survey, warrant, and patent; there is also a map of Fayette County homesteads relating to John Patterson's land, called Pattersonia, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania in the late 18th century. The collection also includes Doris V. Welsh's notes derived from researching 'History of Fayette County Pennsylvania' by F. Elli., and one unidentified photograph of an oil derrick, presumably in western Pennsylvania or northern West Virginia. For additional materials related to the Varner family, please see A&M 3899.

Correspondence and genealogical information of Dorothy Jones Baughman gathered by her great niece Barbara Rasmussen. Dorothy Baughman was born in Doddridge County in October 1897, died in Morgantown in January 1979, and was buried in the Belington Fraternal Cemetery. These papers reflect the life of her family at the turn of the twentieth century in north central West Virginia. Correspondence between Dorothy and her father, her grandmother, and her husband form the bulk of the collection. There are also Civil War letters, photographs, and ephemera such as dance cards, Valentines, and Christmas cards. Names that occur in the collection include Jones, Neely, Baughman, Devecmon, Sinnex, Randolph, Cook, and Shetler, among others.

A sketch of the Eason-Avery Community prepared by Mrs. Frank Donaldson, and published by the Monongalia County Farm Bureau; includes sections on early history and settlers, war history, schools, churches, and other social organizations.

Two hand-written land grants: one for Monongalia County dated 1791, and one for Preston County dated 1837. The Monongalia grant names "Amos Robants, assignee of Ezekiel Jones" and the Preston grant names Richard Forman.

Indentures (28 items), including land deeds and trusts, from Monongalia County, Virginia dating from 1810 to 1851. Family names include: Chadwick, Miller, Hall, Lazier, Baker, Hull, and Berkshire, among others. In addition to currency, transactions were conducted with bedding, clocks, cows, iron bars, and tools, among other items.

The collection contains correspondence and papers of the Brown, Selby, Kirkland, Robine, Spong, Strode, Thomas, Waters, Hammond, Billmyer, Shepherd and Hamtramck families. Includes genealogical information on the Brown, Billmyer, Shepherd, and Hamtramck families; ledger, 1795-1796; and a receipt book, 1835-1843, of Walter Brown Selby.