Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

Papers of artist and author Alvena Seckar, who spent much of her early life in West Virginia. Includes writings by Seckar, including both autobiographical and fictional writings; photographs, mainly of Seckar, her family, and her artwork; family documents; correspondence; scrapbooks; and other material. Please be aware that parts of the collection have been minimally processed and therefore remain in their original physical and intellectual arrangement.

Collection of photographs and printed material from the West Virginia University Extension Service. The photographs include 4-H camps, Farm Women's Clubs and other various activities. Many are unidentified or undated. The printed material includes some annual reports, Extension Service publications regarding wildlife and tourism, and books on regional colleges and extension programs. Also included are photographs and reports from Oglebay Institute in Wheeling, WV.

Records of West Virginia University professor of music and composer-in-residence John Beall. Includes correspondence, published scores and instrument parts, music manuscripts, composer notes, performance programs, and other materials. Beall's correspondence includes materials regarding his work with the Interlochen Center for the Arts, discussions with colleagues at other institutions, and more.

Scrapbooks, correspondence, business papers, and memorabilia of a prominent Charleston family that were long time owners of the Charleston Gazette. There are papers of W. E. Chilton, Sr., and for his son and grandson, W. E. Chilton, Jr. and W. E. Chilton, III. The papers of Chilton senior include some correspondence, but mostly land papers documenting the coal mining district in Webster and Braxton Counties. There are also scrapbooks, and contracts pertaining to the family newspaper business; and volumes on the education of W. E. Chilton, Jr. at Woodberry, VA Forest School, and at Yale. The military service of the Chiltons is documented by the service papers, photographs, and other material for W. E. Chilton, Jr. and W. E. Chilton, III in World War (WWI) I and World War II (WWII) respectively.

Copies of speeches given by Dr. Gee during his various terms as President of West Virginia University (1981-1985; 2014-2025), the University of Colorado (1985-1990), Ohio State University (1990-1998; 2007-2013), Brown University (1998-2000), and as Chancellor of Vanderbilt University (2000-2007). This collection also includes news articles spawned from Gee's speeches, pre-event briefings, and correspondence related to Gee's speeches. Many speeches have digital copies available.

Records of the West Virginia War History Commission and the state, local, and national branches of the Office of Civilian Defense. Material within this collection documents civilian activities on the homefront during World War II in the state of West Virginia. The collection contains correspondence, publications, pamphlets, maps, posters, newspapers and clippings, radio scripts, and other material. The collection also contains 19 reels of microfilm regarding the Monongalia Office of Civil Defense. The collection includes 10 series.

Correspondence, miscellaneous family papers, nineteenth century school records, ledgers, bank books, and memorabilia of Hugh F. Sayre and family of Parkersburg, Reedy, St. Marys and West Creek, West Virginia. Some material relates to oil and gas leases on the Sayre family farm and Sayre's invention of a scientific alphabet called EBDECORD.