Collections

Start Over Date range 1882 Places Pocahontas County (W. Va.) Level Collection

A.C.L. Gatewood Papers 0.15 Linear Feet Summary: 1 3/4 in. (1 reel of microfilm, 1.75 in.)

Gatewood, A. C. L.
Correspondence, diary, and farm account book of a Confederate officer and Pocahontas County cattleman and farmer. The correspondence deals primarily with Gatewood's activities as adjutant general and chief of staff of the West Virginia Division, United Confederate Veterans. The Civil War diary, 11 March-15 December 1865, covers action of Company F, Eleventh Virginia Cavalry, "Laurel Brigade," Rosser Cavalry Division, from Staunton to Appomattox. The farm account book, 1866-1869, also contains an account of Gatewood's Civil War experiences, including fighting in western Virginia and Jones' northwestern Virginia raid of 1863. The account book, 1801-1805, 1816, pertains to the John Rodgers estate. There are a few papers of Gatewood's father, Samuel V. Gatewood. Other subjects and topics covered are farming and stock raising in Pocahontas County, the Warm Springs of North Carolina, William and Mary College, Virginia Military Institute, Ann Smith Academy, Greenbrier Male Academy, Civil War in the Bath County, Virginia area, and cattle trade in the Kanawha Valley.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Isaac McNeel (b.1830) Papers 3.7 Linear Feet Summary: 3 ft. 7 1/2 in. (8 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 small flat storage box, 3 in.); (1 account book, 1 1/2 in.)

McNeel, Isaac (b. 1830)
Correspondence, legal and business papers, mercantile records and tax receipt books of Isaac McNeel, who operated a store at Edray and Mill Point, Pocahontas County, West Virginia, served as sheriff of the county, operated a gristmill, raised livestock, and was appointed provost marshal of the county in 1862 by the Confederate Army. The collection also includes letters and school reports of McNeel's sons, Winters and Summers, while students at Washington and Lee and the Medical and Law Departments of the University of Virginia, 1893-1897. Other school material pertains to the Hillsboro Male and Female Academy and the Lewisburg Female Institute. Subjects include mercantile and cattle trade with Baltimore and Richmond; business conditions in the l850s and in Richmond during the Civil War; slave hiring; ginseng trade; agriculture; the American Party, 1855; Henry A. Wise; Virginia Secession Convention; effect of the Union blockade on Richmond commerce; speculation in whiskey, tobacco, and cattle during the Civil War; and postwar economic and political conditions in the Pocahontas County area.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Jacob Williamson Marshall (b.1830) Papers 1.6 Linear Feet Summary: 1 ft. 6 1/2 in. (3 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 flat storage box, 3 1/2 in.)

Marshall, Jacob Williamson
Papers of a livestock broker, farmer, and merchant of Mingo Flats, Randolph County, who was associated with John T. McGraw in the development of Marlinton and the purchase and sale of land, coal, and timber in neighboring Pocahontas County. There are some items of Civil War interest, while the bulk of the correspondence relates to the marketing of ginseng, beeswax, wool, venison, animal pelts, and farm machinery. There is significant correspondence relating to state politics and railroads. Correspondents include J.M. Bennett, J.N. Camden, David Goff, John J. Jackson, McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, John T. McGraw, and The Pocahontas Development Company. Also includes some material of G.E. Jarvis, father of Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother's Day.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Lawrence A. Lang, Collector, West Virginia Land Records 1.25 Linear Feet 1 ft. 3 in. (3 document cases, 5 in. each)

West Virginia land records, including receipts for fees paid, surveys, certificates of survey, land patents, grants, correspondence and other material. Some of the records are copies rather than official documents. The records are sorted by the names of buyers and stored in envelopes. Recorded to the fronts of the envelopes is information relevant to their contents.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Louise McNeill, Poet, Papers 6.2 Linear Feet 6 ft. 1 1/2 in. (13 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (2 large flat storage boxes, 3 in. each)

McNeill, Louise
Papers of Louise McNeill (Pease), 1911-1993, of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, noted twentieth century Appalachian poet and author, poet laureate of West Virginia from 1979 to 1993, and professor of history and English. Though most well-known for her lyrical poetry about the history and spirit of West Virginia, McNeill also wrote articles, short stories, essays, and her memoirs. Includes biographical materials, letters, writings, poems, photographs, audio-visual materials, artifacts, and personal materials documenting Louise McNeill's career as a poet and author and her personal life, chiefly from the 1970s to her death in 1993. Biographical materials include awards and certificates, biographies of McNeill, clippings, curriculum vitae, and other genealogical materials. Letters are from literary figures, political figures, family and friends. Prominent correspondents include Maggie Anderson, Rene de Chocour, Marion Havighurst, Walter Havighurst, and John D. Rockefeller IV. Writings and related materials include manuscript and typescript drafts of McNeill's books, loose poems, and other writings as well as book reviews, press correspondence, and marketing materials. Audio-visual materials consist of photographs of Louise McNeill, her family, and friends, and tributes to and interviews with McNeill on audio and video cassette. Collection also contains publications, artifacts, and personal materials.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Matthew Wallace, Physician, Papers 0.1 Linear Feet Summary: 1 in. (1 folder)

Wallace, Matthew

Papers of Wallace, a physician of Mill Point, Pocahontas County, West Virginia, and of his colleague, a Dr. Larue. There are records of farm expenses, with a few references to payment for professional visits, and accounts of the carding firm of Barkley and Wallace and the leather business of Wallace and McCarty.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Moses Farnsworth Papers 0.1 Linear Feet Summary: 1/2 in. (1 folder)

Farnsworth, Moses

Collection includes an 1832 letter from D. D. T. Farnsworth of Buckhannon Town, Upshur County to his brother Moses; an 1845 indenture of land between George E. Craig and Matilda Craig of Pocahontas County, W.Va.; An 1893 catalogue from Siegel-Cooper and Company, Chicago, IL; and an 1895 "Universal Almanac and Catalogue of Seeds."

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Philip Bagdon, Research Notes regarding Cass, West Virginia 1.54 Linear Feet 1 ft. 6 1/2 in. (1 record carton, 15 in.); (2 reels of microfilm, 1.75 in. each)

Bagdon, Philip V.
Notes compiled by Philip Bagdon which were used by Dr. Roy Clarkson to complete his history of the logging town of Cass entitled Beyond Leatherbark: The Cass Saga. Bagdon's notes, composed of maps, tables and quotes from newspapers, correspondence and business records, are arranged chronologically and topically covering subjects important to the history of Cass, the Greenbrier River valley and east central West Virginia. Subjects mentioned are land purchases, timber appraisals, railroads, conservation and forest management, the lumber industry, and local social and economic development. Prominent names mentioned are Joseph K. Cass, James C. Lacey, John G. Luke, Edwin Mower, S. E. Slaymaker, E. P. Shaffer.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Smokeless Coal Operators Association Records 0.71 Linear Feet Summary: 8 1/2 in. (1 folder, 1 1/2 in.); (4 reels of microfilm, 1.75 in. each)

Smokeless Coal Operators Association

Production statistics and extracts from the historical files of the Smokeless Operators Association (until 1958 the Pocahontas Operators Association) showing the history of coal mining in the Pocahontas field and production, sales, and distribution statistics for the years 1930 and 1933-1961. There are weekly, monthly, and yearly reports on net tons produced, hours, worked, and tonnage lost because of labor problems, mine disability, or lack of market. There are lists of the coal companies operating in the Pocahontas district during these years. Some files include reports on net production by grade.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Content Warning

ARVAS is an aggregator of archival resources. ARVAS does not have control of the descriptive language used in our members’ finding aids.

Finding aids may contain historical terms and phrases, reflecting the shared attitudes and values of the community from which they were collected, but are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical or mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Many institutions and organizations are in the process of reviewing and revising their descriptive language, with the intent to describe materials in more humanizing, inclusive, and harm-reductive ways. As members revise their descriptive language, their changes will eventually be reflected in their ARVAS finding aids.