Collections

Correspondence of Congressman and U.S. Senator, Frank Hereford. Papers deal with the machinations of the Camden-Davis ring, Hereford's election to the Senate, and West Virginia politics. Most of the letters involve the attempts of Johnson Camden and John E. Kenna to secure Hereford a seat on the Utah Commission in 1886.

Correspondence and business papers of Henry Gassaway Davis (1823-1916), a successful businessman and politician from West Virginia. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1904. The collection largely documents his business and political career, although there are personal papers in the collection as well. His business interests were largely concerned with coal mining, timber, and railroads. Types of documents include letters, reports, account books, and maps, among other material. Much of the correspondence is arranged alphabetically. The scope and content note of each record series provides substantial detail regarding content.

Papers and news clippings of Democratic politician and industrialist Henry Gassaway Davis (1823 - 1916) regarding his political and business career. Includes newspaper clippings, private account books, correspondence, and other personal papers relating to West Virginian and national politics and industry in the Gilded Age.

Additional papers of Henry G. Davis, mainly cancelled checks and check tubs. There are several letters, telegrams and freight bills, 1875-1897; and bank statements; U.S. geological Survey Maps; and a picture of George R. Latham.

Papers of the fifteenth governor of West Virginia who was a newspaper publisher in Romney, an orchardman, lawyer, and counsel for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. There are a few papers of W.B. Cornwell. The collection includes: personal and business correspondence, 1896-1953; correspondence as governor, 1916-1922; legal papers, ca.1843-1916; and material relating to "Cornwell Day," 1931; Baltimore and Ohio and other railroads; Romney Orchard Company, ca. 1916-1919; South Branch Development Company, ca.1913-1926; newspaper publishing; and other subjects. Box 100 includes papers regarding women's suffrage, including a proclamation by Governor Cornwell to extend the legislative session of 1920 in order to address the suffrage amendment, among other legislative concerns.