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This collection contains materials of various formats used and created by historian Dr. Ronald Lewis throughout his career. There are records and course materials from classes taught by Dr. Lewis at the University of Delaware and, primarily, at West Virginia University (WVU). It includes other documents relating to his work as a faculty advisor to graduate students in WVU's history department. There is extensive documentation of his research, most of which was done on Appalachian history and West Virginia coal mining, including articles he has written, facsimiles of primary and secondary sources used in his research, and A/V materials like oral histories. Records generated from Dr. Lewis's scholarly activities are included, such as book and article reviews and conference presentations. There are also materials relating to his other professional pursuits, such as his membership in historical organizations and correspondence with other professionals in the field. This collection provides a broad overview of the work of an historian in an academic institution.

The dates provided are reflective of material creation, except within the Welsh Miners and Scott's Run subseries. These dates, listed in folder titles, reflect the content and were determined by the donor when he created and titled these files. Please be aware that the dates may not be accurate for every item within the folder/box but rather reflect the general timeframe of the subject matter.

Born digital and audiovisual materials exist within the collection as floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, and cassettes.

Addendum of 2024 May 29 includes similar materials but reflects Dr. Lewis's more recent work. There are materials relating to his work as a professor and faculty member, the development of two books and other publications, and documentation of his career. Common formats include lecture notes, facsimiles of research sources, and correspondence; digital materials exist within the addendum as floppy disks, zip disks, and CDs.

The collection's inclusive dates are 1936-2015, with the bulk of the material dating from 1979-2004. The collection is comprised of correspondence, exhibition schedules, budgets, grant applications, photographs, object lists, notes, collection statements, planning documents, project files, policies, loan arrangements and decisions, and other materials.

Cole's collection contains correspondence, including several postcards from his grandsons and one with "Mrs. Rufus Cole" printed on it; reprints of journal articles, mainly ones written by Cole; and biographical memoirs and honorary programs related to Sir William Osler, William H. Welch, William Stewart Halstead, Samuel James Meltzer, Harvey Cushing, William George MacCallum, Oswald Theodore Avery, Simon Flexner, Thomas Milton Rivers, Max Broedel, and Allen O. Whipple.

Fifteen garments from the School of Theatre and Dance. These items could have been created by the theatre department, or they could be vintage items with some tailoring by the department. They were likely prepared for productions in the period 1960-1980; the styles of the items date to ca. 1900-1960. There are 4 dresses, 3 jackets, 5 shirtwaist pieces, 1 undergarment, 1 night gown, and 1 long skirt.

Records of the Institute for the History of Technology and Industrial Archaeology (IHTIA), an organization affiliated with West Virginia University, including reports and research papers regarding the history of industrial technology and preservation of historical sites, particularly within West Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region. This collection also includes photographs, negatives, and photo mechanical transfers of historical sites in these regions. For a more complete list of IHTIA projects represented in this collection, please see the "Project Descriptions" note.

This collection includes materials from Dr. Emory L. Kemp's career of researching, documenting, and preserving historic structures. Kemp was a practicing civil engineer from 1952-1959, then taught civil engineering, historic preservation, and the history of technology from 1962-2003 at West Virginia University. He served as an expert consultant for the preservation of many historic engineering structures, including bridges, waterways, and mills. He also published regularly and remained active in several professional organizations.