Requires signed form for box 1, folders 8, 16, and 17, since special access restriction applies due to PII.
Dr. Ancella Radford Bickley, author, historian, and educator, grew up in segregated Huntington, West Virginia, where she was born in 1930. She graduated from Douglass High School in 1947 and went on to attend West Virginia State College, graduating magna cum laude in 1950 with a degree in English. She was the first full time black student at Marshall University and received her master's degree in English in 1954. She received her Ed.D. in English from West Virginia University in 1974. Dr. Bickley was a teacher at all educational levels and was Vice-President for Academic Affairs at West Virginia State College where she retired in 1986. She continued to research, write, and speak from her retirement home in Florida where she lived with her husband Nelson. Some of her accolades include the Mountain State Bar Association's Distinguished Citizen Award, 1978; the National Education Association's The Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award, 1980; West Virginia Woman of the Year, 1984; the West Virginia State College Alumnus of the Year, 1988; and was a Rockefeller Foundation Scholar at Marshall University in 1999.
Dr. Bickley was a prolific speaker and in addtion to the speeches, she authored many stories, plays, and articles. In 1997, she published
With Lynda Ann Ewen, she co-edited
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Ancella Bickley, Historian, Research Papers regarding African-Americans, A&M 4208, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Bickley, Ancella Collection. Materials relating to African-American history including annual West Virginia Conferences on Black History, 1908-1996. 3 boxes. Ms2003-182, at the West Virginia State Archives.
Marshall University Oral History Collection, Accession Number 1973/01.0064, also includes the oral history transcripts in this collection's addendum of 2017/02/09.
This collection documents the research, public service, and life of Ancella Bickley, writer, educator, speaker, and historian. Includes writings, research materials, and more, focusing on the history of African Americans in West Virginia and the black experience in West Virginia. Collected research materials are predominantly facsimiles. Printed formats include correspondence, clippings, interview transcripts, typescript writings, publications, pamphlets, ephemera, speeches, articles, military records, and more. Other formats include photographs, slides, and audiocassettes.
Subjects include Dr. Bickley's writings, which include plays, speeches, and short stories as well as her historical books, articles and other publications; collected materials from Dr. Bickley's historical research on the history of African Americans in West Virginia; and personal papers. Her research materials include papers grouped sometimes by county, sometimes by individual, sometimes by subject. Subjects of her research include slavery, education, churches, biography and genealogy, literature, and more. Specific subjects include the Underground Railroad, James McHenry Jones, genealogy, Carter G. Woodson, Mollie Gabe, West Virginia Colored Institute/West Virginia State College, John W. Davis, black high schools, school integration, and more. Counties and their cities with specific focus include Cabell, Kanawha, and Jefferson. Some documents treating slavery and the Underground Railroad include Ohio from which Cabell County blacks, including Bickley's ancestors, migrated.
Colleagues with whom she corresponded include Judith Stitzel, Nelson Barnett, Maureen Crockett (with whom she co-wrote at least one play), and many more. Of significance is correspondence between Carter G. Woodson and his sister, Bessie Woodson Yancey; and letters and a signed photo from Alex Haley.
Writings, research background, and drafts of Dr. Bickley's works found within the collection include:
Addendum of 2017/02/09 (boxes 11 and 12) includes papers of Dr. Ancella R. Bickley, with a few papers of her daughter Ancella Livers. Formats include interview transcripts, correspondence, clippings, typescript writings, publications, cassettes, and more. Most of these materials are transcripts of oral histories pertaining to a collaborative project undertaken by Dr. Bickley and Dr. Rita Wicks-Nelson about black teachers and their memories of school integration in West Virginia in affiliation with the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Gender in Appalachia at Marshall University.
Abbreviations used in the Contents List:
AB - Ancella Bickley
WVSC - West Virginia State College
NB - Nelson Bickley
MTG - Memphis Tennessee Garrison
JMJ - J. McHenry Jones
NEA - National Education Association
NCTE - National Council of Teachers of English
Mo So Lit Club - Matrons and Maids Social and Literary Club, McDowell County, WV
UGRR - Underground Railroad
MU - Marshall University
WVU - West Virginia University
CGW - Carter G. Woodson
RW-N - Rita Wicks-Nelson
Items not held in the WVRHC collection which were sent to the Rare Books Curator:
1969/70 edition of "The Black Student at WVU"
Bulletin of West Virginia State College, Series 21, no. 1, June 1933. "Why Choose West Virginia State College"
Bickley, A. R., Carter, G. W. M. F. I., & Marshall University, H. W. V. D. A. (1997).
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
Includes civic and academic awards and honors, as well as academic milestones such as graduation and Bickley's dissertation. This series includes materials on the celebration of Bickley's retirement from West Virginia State College.
Correspondence from Marshall University regarding AB's commencement address and honorary doctorate; notes of congratulations. Guest list. Photographs of AB delivering address and with others including Soupy Sales. Letter to editor regarding racism of highlighting photograph of Soupy Sales wiping a tear during AB's speech; newspaper clippings. Commencement program. AB's speech.
Honorary Doctorate
Army Commendation Medal (Second Oak Leaf Cluster). AB's Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha, Hampton Institute, initiation certificate, May 1976
Attendance, reading, scholarships, and other certificates from elementary through college
AB transcript, 1951, from MU. Transcript, WVSC.
Program for the Fourteenth Annual NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards, 1980, when AB won The Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award. Correspondence regarding the award including 2 letters from John W. Davis.
Photograph of WVSC President Thomas Cole and Ancella Bickley at her retirement; labeled "West Virginia State College, Commencement, May 17, 1986."
Master of Arts degree confirmation from Marshall University
Doctor of Education degree confirmation from West Virginia University
Certificate of Appreciation from the Kiwanis Club of Huntington
Note from WVU professor Armand [Singer] regarding missing retirement celebration
Newspaper clipping re: CGW. Photographs of AB and others after a speaking engagement in Fayette County. Service Award certificate from WVSC.
Letter from Maureen Crocket to the Director of the Appalachian Festival re: Tangled Threads. Letter of recommendation from AB for Dr. Elaine Ginsberg. "Remarks Made upon the Presentation of the 1988 Humanities Award to Ancella Radford Bickley" by Judith Stitzel. Letter of recommendation for Dr. Bernard L. Allen for the WVU Claude Worthington Benedum Distinguished Scholar Award. Congratulatory letter for appointment [at WVSC]. Request for letter of recommendation from Marc E. Washington at MU; confirmation of receipt of letter. Request for recommendation for Elaine Ginsberg, Trinity University; verification of receipt of letter. Letter of congratulations on retirement from George Parkinson; letter of regrets from Lawrence H. Talley, West Liberty.
Materials re: WV NAACP Harpers Ferry NHP, 1994, including photographs and text of speech. Congratulatory letter for receiving the Distinguished West Virginian Award, 1986. Thank you for copy of Honoring Our Past, 1992. Many other letters and notes re: service and speeches. Request to speak at the New Employment for Women Information & Referral Center in Logan about black history. Letter from Gaston Caperton, Governor, re: appointment to the Archives and History Commission, 1991. Thank you letter for contribution to Chandler Third Base, 1992. Certificate of recognition for Outstanding Service in Support of 1993 Douglass High School Reunion. Thank you for participating in the United Way Youth Advisory Council's Youth Forum, 1993. Thank you letter re: speech at naturalized citizens ceremony from John T. Copenhaver, 1992. Certificate of appreciation and other materials including a photo re: "Read to Me" Day, 1999. Newspaper article re: writing about the West Virginia Schools for the Colored Deaf and Blind and cards of congratulations. Kanawha County Schools Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation, 1991.
Letter of acknowledgement to deliver commencement address and receive an honorary doctorate at MU, 1990. Newspaper clipping and tribute to Minnie Wayne Cooper, 1989. Thank you letter to Matthew Kinsolving, Kanawha County Board of Education, for plaque, 1989. Typed text of "Remarks Made upon the Presentation of the 1988 Humanities Award to Ancella Radford Bickley." Newspaper clipping and congratulatory letter re: WVSC Alumna of the Year, 1988. Letter withdrawing candidacy for the Kanawha County Board of Education, 1988. Thank you letter for receiving the Humanities Foundation Award, 1988; letter of congratulations from A. James Manchin; and Dee Caperton, House of Representatives. Letter of congratulations from Herman G. Canady, Jr., for appointment to Board of Education, 1988. Program for NAACP, Charleston Branch, Annual Freedom Fund Banquet, 1988, with AB as guest speaker. The Trumpet, West Liberty State College student newspaper, with article about AB's lecture on teaching black literature, November 28, 1973. Program, newspaper clipping, flyer, and certificate of recognition for the National Council of Jewish Women, West Virginia Section, Founder's Day, 1991. Correspondence re: speaking invitations, 1991-2001. Letters of thank you for service: The Huntington Club of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., 2001; Charleston Mayor, G. Kemp Melton, for Charleston Urban Renewal Authority, 1999; Conference program for "New Approaches to the Humanities and Lifelong Learning," 1988, where AB received award. Newspaper clippings for awards and accomplishments. 1987-1988. Newspaper clipping "Educator Grim on Blacks' Future" 1985. Thank you letter from Dee Caperton, House of Delegates, for draft of book about Elizabeth Simpson Drewry, 1987. Congratulatory notes, 1988-2002. Resume, ca. 1988. Text of speech for [receiving WVSC Alumna of the Year award, 1988]
Newspaper clippings, 1994-2002. Congratulatory and thank you letters, 1984-1995. Program for Staff Recall, Federal Prison Camp, Alderson, WV, with AB as guest speaker. Program for Induction Ceremony [sic], Phi Sigma Alpha, WVSC, 1995, when AB gave speech on the UGRR. Program for Carter G. Woodson Memorial Foundation Third Annual Memorial Fundraiser Banquet, 1995, AB speaker. Program for MLK birthday event at the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine where AB spoke, 1994. Resume. Photo of the Berlin Wall, May 1963.
Newspaper clippings, 1984-2002. Congratulatory and thank you letters and certificates, 1975-2002. Program for the Fourteenth Annual NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards dinner, 1980, when AB received The Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award. Program for Academy Cultural Awareness Committee Black History Month Program, 2002, where AB presented about MTG. Invitation to reception for Oliver W. Hill Freedom Fighter Award of the Virginia State Conference NAACP, 1999, and invitation to recognition event at the U.S. Capitol. Program for St. Anthony Church and School Community Education Awards where AB received the Gregory Loebach Award, 2002. Text of speech and program for West Virginia's African-American Women of Distinction book introduction by the West Virginia Women's Commission, 2002. Program for The Education Alliance Graduates of Distinction, AB recipient, 2002; text of speech; newspaper clipping; correspondence.
Newspaper clippings, ca. 1972-2002. Congratulatory and thank you letters, certificates and other recognitions, 1975 -2002. Letter of receipt for items given to the West Virginia State College/West Virginia Black Heritage Collection, 1987. Personal note, 3/26/80, discussing various contributions to education. Photograph of AB. Program for The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs banquet and candlelight rededication services, 1988, where AB was the guest speaker. Program for Berkeley County Diversity Committee "Town Meeting" with AB conducting interactive workshops at schools, 2002. Program and sketch of AB for [her retirement] 1986. Program for PCC lecture series "The West Virginia Experience," [ca. 1985]. State of WV Teaching Certificate, 1960-1965. Letter of acceptance by NB for offer of teaching positions at WVSC for both NB and AB, 1972. Letter offering employment at WVSC as Associate Professor of English, 1972. Letter to NB offering WVSC position of Director of Guidance and Placement, 1972. Letters of thanks for AB for retirement and awards, 1986. Notification of nomination for President of WVSC, 1987. Correspondence Re: NCTE Orwell conference, 1984. Notification that tapes of censorship series of programs will be housed at the New York Public Library, 1984. Program for the Danforth Associate Program, 1975, for which AB and NB were program chairs. Program for The Women's Study Club Annual Open House, 1984, when AB was named Woman of the Year. Program for "African Americans in the Appalachian Coalfields" at the National Mine Health & Safety Academy when AB gave a lecture, 2000.
Newspaper clippings, 1989-2000. Congratulatory and thank you letters, invitations to speak, certificates of recognition, 1985-2000. Photograph of Douglass High School Y Teens, ca. 1946, including AB. Newspaper articles re: AB as WVSC's May Queen, 1948. Issue of MU's Greenline: a Publication for Alumni and Friends of Marshall University, May-July 1990, in which AB is recognized as commencement speaker; press release; letters of congratulations. Photograph of AB and others after presentation in Morgantown, 1990. Program for WVSC National Alumni Association William L. Lonesome Alumni Awards Dinner-Dance Honoring Dr. Ancella R. Bickley, Class of 1950, 1988 Alumnus of the Year. Dunbar Rotary Club Newsletter with AB as speaker, 1988. Materials from the Second Annual Conference on West Virginia's Black History, 1989. Letter to the editor of the Charleston Gazette re: black athlete, 1988.
Retirement from WVSC, 1986, materials. Correspondence re: ceremony; letters of congratulations; newspaper clippings; photographs; program; WVSC commencement program with AB as retirement honoree.
AB's doctoral dissertation A Study of the Effects of Teaching a Unit on Black Culture to Classes of Predominantly White High School Students, 1974.
Newspaper clippings for Education Alliance Graduates of Distinction, 2002. Materials pertaining to "From Our Front Porch: Stories about Charleston's Oldest Neighborhood, The East End": newspaper insert; outline for Appalachian Studies Association presentation; program for play at Roosevelt Wilson High School; the play. "Testimony of Ancella Radford Bickley, Independent Scholar from West Virginia, on behalf of The State Humanities Program Regarding FY 1989 Appropriations to the National Endowment for the Humanities before the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior of the Senate," 1988. Congratulatory letters re: selection to the Kanawha Board of Education. Newspaper clippings. Congratulations re: speech's and performance of play in Florida. Commencement program for WVSC, 1950. Text of AB honors. Newspaper clippings re: her writings. Letter of acknowledgement for participation in reading of the names of lynchings victims program, Virginia State University, 2001. News release re: production of Harvest of Dreams by the Charleston Stage Company, 2000. Correspondence re: appointment to the WVU Board of Advisors, 1989. Certificate of appreciation from the City of Beckley for contributions to black history in WV. Thank you note re: women writers, 1994. Thank you letter from James Tolbert re: participation in Black History Month program at Harper's Ferry. Overview of AB accomplishments [introduction?]. Letter acknowledging participation in Kanawha County Public Library Black History Month events, 1993; abstract of talk; resume. Thank you letter for presentation at a Affirmative Action Committee Meeting, 1994; program; brochure listing black employees. Letter acknowledging intent to speak at the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine re: unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement and for MLK Day, 1993. Handwritten note of appreciation for a speech. Handwritten note re: missing speech for Black History Month, with attached newspaper clipping, 1994. 1949 Yellow Jacket article with picture of AB as newspaper staff. Clipping re: AB as keynote speaker for MLK Day celebration, 1991. Letter acknowledging a reading at the College Language Association, 1993. Letter acknowledging agreement to moderate a panel on sexual harassment; flyer for the program. Congratulatory letter for receiving the MU Graduate School Distinguished Alumnus, 1993. Program for "First Annual Forum and Family Recognition Conference" from the West Virginia Black Family Coalition, 1992, for which Bickley was a moderator. Correspondence and program for Distinguished Graduate Student Award from MU, 1993. Newspaper clipping about the WVSC presidential inaugural ball including description of AB and NB attire, 1974. Letter from Mary Pearl Compton, WV Delegate, re: Union's Historic District. Handwritten card praising AB as a "liquid god" able to move among roles, 1995. Resumes.
Senate Resolution honoring AB and Lynda Ann Ewen, 2002. Certificate of recognition as a West Virginia Hero, 2002. Newspaper clippings, 1990-2002. Correspondence re: lecture at Alderson Broaddus College, 1991. Certificate of recognition from the WV National Organization of Women and two 1991 conference programs. Program for "African-Americans in the Appalachian Coalfields," 2000. Letter acknowledging selection at WVSC Alumnus of the Year, 1988. The Humanities Foundation of West Virginia Award Dinner Program, 1988. Issue of People & Mountains: a Publication of the West Virginia Humanities Council, Summer 2001, with MTG interview excerpt edited by AB and Lynda Ann Ewen. Congratulatory note re: publication of Memphis Tennessee Garrison; lecture on MTG announcement, 2000. Letter from the Indiana Humanities Council re: placement on "Always a River" registry, 1991. Letter from Gov. Gaston Caperton recognizing appointment to the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission, 1989. Acknowledgement letters as a speaker, 1990-1999. Acknowledgement of receipt of Our Mount Vernons from a professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, 1997. "Book Notes" section of West Virginia History re: Our Mount Vernons, 1997. Letter of re: reappointment to the WV Archives and History Commission, 1997. Letter re: WV Public Radio's Cultural Diversity Radio Project, 1998. Letter re: Mistress of Ceremony for a poetry contest at WVSC, 1995. Letter acknowledging support of the WV Humanities Council programming, 1995.
Special Commendation from the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, for Significant Contributions to the Underground Railroad Study, 1995.
"West Virginia: a Film History" recognition as the Historical Advisor for the film project.
State of West Virginia Distinguished West Virginian award, 1986.
Senate Resolution honoring AB and Lynda Ann Ewen, 2002.
Includes newspaper clippings and writings by Ancella Bickley Livers (also called Cill Jr. or Cill). Also includes material by or about Nelson Bickley, Ancella Bickley's husband and prominent Charleston, West Virginia, lawyer. Formats include articles, awards and honors, military records, speeches, research notes, publications, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and more. Subjects include Nelson Bickley's military and teaching careers, his uncle Carter G. Woodson, and more.
Correspondence with James Harlow, WVU President, regarding tenure at WVU, 1969 and 1972. Army records for Nelson Bickley. Various Army regulations, blank forms, and information flyers. Correspondence and forms from the Veterans Administration. Medical records, 1956-1966
Charleston Gazette/Gazette-Mail newspaper clippings about AB and NB, 1999-2003
Text of NB's speech "CMA's Link to the Late Carter G. Woodson, the 'Father of Negro History'" at the Chicago Military Academy, program, and certificate of appreciation.
Text of speech given by NB at East Bank High School to Junior ROTC, regarding the benefits of military service.
Military and scholarship commendations, program from WVSC Commencement, 1948.
Military records for Nelson Bickley including his assignment as an Army ROTC instructor at WVU and difficulty of finding Negro housing. Admission to WVU College of Human Resources and Education.
Folder within 16a containing Army medical records for Nelson Bickley, 1957-1966.
"
Text of speech given by NB at the WVU Law School
Correspondence with Congressman Harley Staggers, James G. Harlow, President of WVU, and others regarding Nelson Bickley's retirement. Other military records.
Invitations to the ROTC Cadet Corps Annual Military Ball and the ROTC Awards Day and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, 1982. Program for the ROTC Awards Day Ceremony, May 1, 1981. WVSC student newspaper
Signed letter from Alex Haley to Colonel and Mrs. Nelson Bickley, March 1, 1973, re: the Bickleys' hospitality after a lecture.
Clippings regarding the Bickleys from
Pamphlet "The Black Student at WVU," 1969/70, 1971/72, which include pictures of AB. Program for Lincoln-Douglas Banquet sponsored by Morning Star Baptist Church, February 12, 1977; includes AB as the speaker. Newspaper articles by and about Ancella Bickley, as well as Nelson. Congratulatory letter regarding AB promotion to Vice President for Administration at WVSC, July 9, 1975. Dunbar High School's publication, Kennel, Feb. 23, 1973 and May, 1974.
Letter regarding AB in WVU classroom. Newspaper article about Ancella, daughter of Ancella and Nelson. Dunbar High School's student newspaper, Kennel, Nov. 1972.
Bachelor of Arts degree confirmation from West Virginia State College
Nelson Bickley's Master of Arts degree confirmation from West Virginia University
Nellie Francisco's Bachelor of Arts in Education degree confirmation from West Virginia State College, 1938
Letter from CGW to Bessie Woodson Yancey, CGW's sister, re: funding Joan's education. Text of the poem "The Forgotten Boys." Invitation to the dedication of the Carter G. Wooson School, New Orleans.
Research materials re: Belva Clark, Carter G. Woodson's niece and Nelson Bickley's mother; note of condolence; funeral program; handwritten [by Mrs. Clark?] obituary and instructions
Articles about NB. Membership certificate to Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.
Teaching certificate for Nellie Radford Francisco, Bluefield Colored Institute, 1928.
Special Order lists. Legal case notes? Selective Service Act of 1948 memo.
Includes genealogical research material, notes, and charts in print as well as handwritten for these families, mostly from the Huntington, West Virginia area and across the Ohio River: Twyman, Spurlock, Barnett, Payne, Jones, Woodson, Wilson, Johnson, Summers, Smoot, Peters, Radford, Layne/Lane, Jones, Straham, Cabell, and Parker. Additional genealogical information is included in oral history interviews with individuals (see Interviews and Oral History Interviews series); the Others' Works series; the Biography subseries of Research Notes and Collected Materials; and other locations throughout the collections.
Documents pertaining to the Twyman Family. Facsimile of pages from
Letter from Willard H. Radford and Kim Radford regarding a reunion for the Radford-Bickley families.
Correspondence between the Bickleys and Nelson L. Barnett, Jr. regarding Allensworth (CA) State Historical Park, the Spurlock family, the Barnett-Payne-Jones family. Rededication pamphlet, October 10, 1992
Barnett family genealogy compiled by Nelson Barnett, Jr.
Various documents pertaining to Carter G. Woodson and the Barnett family connection. "A Black History of Huntington" by Edna Duckworth. Barnett family documents.
Family line charts, photographs, newspapers, family history for the Nelson Barnett line. Program for the First Baptist Church, Huntington, September 25, 1988. Photographs buildings designed by Carl Barnett, architect.
Transcription of Barnett family obituaries.
James and Mary Wilson family genealogy. Facsimiles of portraits. Memorial service programs. Photographs of Mary Wilson Johnson and James Johnson. Photo of family group identified later in file and on facsimile. Obituary for William O. Johnson. Family group photo. Photos of Ida and William Johnson.
Handwritten Cabell Family tree and notes on the Cabell Family in Institute. Transcription of letter from J. S. Cunningham to Governor A.I. Boreman. Facsimile of newspaper ad for sale of slave.
Handwritten notes regarding Summers Family and slaves.
Facsimile of book section and term paper about the Smoot Family written by Marcella L. Pauley Short for WVSC class.
Booklet of genealogy forms.
Typewritten history of the Smoot Family, Boone County.
Personnel record for Willard Radford. Letter, 1949, certifying marriage of Willard Radford to Lilian Angus in Cuba, 1923.
Handwritten marriage records for Radfords.
Handwritten notes from a phone conversation regarding the Straham-Parker families.
Typed "Conversation with Nellie Redford Francisco--about 1985." Handwritten "Discussion w/Henry Radford, 1/14/93." Radford Family genealogy. Peters Family genealogy. Newspaper articles regarding Negro education in Huntington and Kimball, 1904-1923. Cemetery lot receipts to Willard Radford. Program for Sterberger Elementary School 1999 Graduation Ceremony; Akil Livers listed as student. Funeral service program for Lily Van Sykes Kelly, 1994. Transcribed obituaries for Joseph T. Payne, 1948, and Minnie Bell Powell, 1936.
Research notes on how to do black genealogy.
"Plat Map, Mt. Pisgah Cemetery, Proctorville, Ohio" with notes. Request for donation to the Cemetery, 2013.
Handwritten CGW family tree.
Radford family genealogy. Release of note on deed, Radford family, 1952.
This series includes two subseries, General and Black Teachers.
Includes more formal oral history interviews as well as "discussions" and other less structured interviews not intended for any historical publication. Formats include handwritten notes, typed notes, and transcripts of interviews as well as background in the form of correspondence and typed and handwritten corrections.
Transcript of interview with Johnnie James. Newspaper article "THE Man…Johnny James Now Shares Life With God"
Background research re: changes to social history and oral history.
Notes from discussion with Grover DuBose, Korean War veteran, Sept. 10, 2000.
Transcripts of interviews with black citizens of Huntington, WV; Institute, WV; Guyandotte, WV; and Black Fork, OH. Including Johnnie James, Ms. Bessie Herbert McClain, Chester A. Burris, Henry Pierce, Mildred Loar Williams, Cash Keels, James Thompson, Mrs. Araminta Miller Justice, and James Johnson.
Spiral bound notebook containing notes from oral history interviews with black soldiers, 1945-46. References to color-coded folders. Notes on soldiers' letters, 1943-45. List of themes in interviews. Follow up on specific soldiers, 2005, titled "Negative behavior of Blk soldiers." Diagram of Army organization.
Research notes labeled "Army Wives Material: Discussion with Carl & Nancy Johnson Re: Military Experiences; Carl was a Tuskegee Airman. His wife, Nancy, is white" 2014. Annotated paper "The WV State Capitol" with research notes. Emails re: Kimball Wall Memorial Project, 2011. Research notes. Letter to Beverly from AB re: various researchers in the Villages, FL, 2014. Typed notes from interview with Harriet Williams, Lewisburg, WV.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Mildred Lore Williams, 1990, re: family history and Cabell County History. Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Bessie Herbert McClain, 1990, re: living in Huntington. Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Suzette Spencer, 1990, re: family and life in Huntington. Mrs. Spencer was a descendant of 37 slaves freed in the south and sent to Ohio. Transcript of oral history interview with Mr. Cash Keels, 1990, re: family history and life in Black Fork, Ohio.
Audiocassettes labeled: "Joseph C. Peters re: Black High School Athletics - 11/2/95;" "Gregory Peters / Reminiscences, 9/22/95, & Ed Scott #3;" "MC (Ref) Edward Greer, 5/10/06;" and "Ed Scott / Reminiscences /Korea, 10/20/95"
Bickley and Rita Wicks-Nelson, as Rockefeller Scholars-in-Residence at Marshall University's Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Gender in Appalachia, interviewed and recorded interviews with older black women teachers from across the state. This subseries contains transcripts of the interviews, corrected transcripts, correspondence with the subjects, and sometimes background information about them.
Typed manuscript for "Black Education in West Virginia," a joint project between Ancella Bickley and Rita Wicks-Nelson. Notes regarding Mrs. T. McDaniel interview; text of interview. Correspondence regarding book on black female teachers. Research notes. Text of speech about black WV schools. List of narrators. Facsimiles of newspaper clippings "from Mrs. Rayford's Collection" regarding desegregation of schools, 1955-1956. Newspaper clipping of AB interview regarding MTG.
Handwritten notes of [interview with] Marian Hatcher, WVU English Dept. teacher.
Print out of web page re: Dr. Ancella Bickley and Dr. Rita Wicks-Nelson, 1999 Rockefeller Scholars-in-Residence. Project name: "Life Experiences of Older, Black, West Virginian Women [Teachers]"
Demographics of teachers' project. Map showing location of teachers. Narrative overview of the project. Paper "Mosaic [sic] in Black and White: Black Teachers Remember School Integration in West Virginia" [by] Ancella Bickley and Rita Wicks-Nelson; paper presented at the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Gender in Appalachia, MU, 2000. Annotated paper. Draft of paper "Changing Lives and Potential Leadership: A Study of West Virginian Women Returning to College" [by] Rita Wicks-Nelson, Lynda Ann Ewen, ca. 1997.
Correspondence between AB and RW-N and others re: book based on teachers' oral history interviews. Paper "Black Education in West Virginia." Text of paper [by AB] "Read @ WV Sociological Assoc. Annual Mtng. WVSC - Oct. 24, 1997." Letter from NB, 2005, asking for addenda to
Release form from Suzanne Slaughter, 1998
Correspondence, edits, research notes with RW-N. Book reviews from The Appalachian journal, 2005. List of women interviewed. Background and summaries for interviewees.
Research materials re: education in WV;
Life stories, some annotated or edited, for Vivian Williams Fleming, Eliza Jane Campbell Dillard, Anna McCright, and Mary Montgomery.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Louise Anderson. Newspaper clipping of obituary.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Velma Bradshaw. Handwritten notes on folder.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Florence Casey, 1997
Transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Ottrus Chatman, 1999. Typed and handwritten notes on the interview.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Verona Clarke, 1997.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. E. Jane Dillard, 1999.
Handwritten notes on the interview. Correspondence with Mrs. Elston. Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Mary M. Elston, 1997.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Eunice Fleming, 1999.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Vivian Williams Fleming, 1997. Handwritten notes.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Norma Jean Fullen, 1997.
Handwritten notes. Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Susie Guyton, 1997.
Handwritten notes. Transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Willie Hise, 1999.
Typed and handwritten notes. Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Floristine Holland, 1998.
Handwritten notes. Transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. B'Alma Jones, 1999.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Miss Anna McCright, 1999.
Corrected transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Thelma McDaniel, 1999.
Letter to Mrs. McDaniel. Typed notes and pages from the interview. Letter from Norman L. Jones re: Thelma McDaniel and the Price and White families, 2001.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Edris Miller, 1998.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Mary Montgomery, 1997. Overview for Mrs. Montgomery. Letter to her. Pages of the interview with corrections. List of names and addresses for interviewees.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Ms. Doris Payne, 1999.
Overview for Ruby Brown Reeler. Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Ruby Reeler, 1997. Handwritten transcript of a quote from the interview. Handwritten notes on the folder.
Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Nancie Smith Robinson, 1999.
Transcripts pages of interview with FH [Floristine Holland?] Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Suzanne Slaughter, 1998.
Obituary for Mary Crozier Snow, 2011. Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Mary Snow, 1997. Letter to Mrs. Snow with corrections, 2001.
Transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Fannie Ashe Thomas, 1999.
Handwritten notes. Annotated transcript of oral history interviews with Mrs. Velma Twyman, 1997. Letter to Mrs. Twyman re: corrections, 2001.
Includes books, manuscripts, facsimile pages, and other publications not written by Bickley, who was sometimes asked to provide feedback on writing. Forms of writing include family histories, poems, short stories, plays, novels, and both scholarly and popular articles. Other writers include: Sharon M. Draper, Charles Lloyd, Hannah N. Geffert, Peri Lynne Johnson, L. O'B. Thomson, Nelson L. Barnett, J. McHenry Jones, Judith Stitzel, Elizabeth Taylor Brown, and Phyllis Moore.
Poem "Old Lady Sady and the Chicken Wings" c1992 Sharon M. Draper
Manuscript for
"The Search for Larry Doby" by Bob Stitzel in
Manuscript for book about West Virginia State College.
Correspondence with Phyllis Moore re: WV writers. Annotated stories "It Ain't Her!," "The Crossing," and "On This Rock," short stories by AB. Photo of AB and unidentified woman. "'Talking about home…': Yes, We Have Authors" by Phyllis Wilson Moore.
Project overview for Greenbrier Valley African-American life. J. McHenry Jones' novel
Facsimile of
Correspondence with Hannah N. Geffert re: Black History Conference and her annotated story "The Guns of October."
"History of Lakin Hospital: Pulling for the Stars" by Elizabeth Taylor Brown. Reviewers' comments.
"Black High Schools in West Virginia" prepared by R. Charles Byers.
Writings of Peri Lynne Johnson, AB's niece, some with annotations.
Review of "The History of Lakin State Hospital" by Elizabeth Brown; manuscript.
Drafts and final papers written by L. O'B. Thompson who taught at WVSC.
Paper and letter of transmittal for "The Peters Sisters: An Historical Omission" by Norman Jordan. Research notes on the sisters: Ethel and Ada Peters.
Typewritten notes about various novels, movies, and other works. Discussion questions for some.
Inscribed play "Day to Day: a Drama in One Act" by Maryat Lee. Article "'…To Will One Thing: a New Look at Theater" [by] Maryat Lee, from
Includes black and white historical photographs, slides, and contemporary color photographs. Additional photographs can be found throughout the collection. Most photos are black and white facsimiles of original historical photos of people and places significant to Bickley's research and publications. Subjects include educational institution buildings and students; other institution buildings; the Radford family; Bickley and Bickley with others. The contemporary color photos include ones of the memorial statues on the West Virginia Capitol grounds; Potomac State College campus; Bickley and others; and the social event A Red Hat Party celebrating women.
Photos: graduating class at Bluefield State College; Barnett School Orchestra, Huntington, with Nellie Francisco; school children at Lincoln School, Wheeling, 1912; unidentified football team; buildings at Bluefield State College and West Virginia State College.
Photos, invitation to, and follow up for a birthday celebration for AB, and a Red Hat Party to celebrate older women. Poem about AB.
Photographs of building details; street scenes; two black women [Alberta Coleman]; NB; campus, Potomac State College, buildings including Academy Hall and Duke Anthony Whitmore/Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Academic Achievement Wall.
Photos of statues on the WV State Capitol grounds: prints, proof sheet with numbered descriptions, and a CD. Annotated text to accompany photos and titled "Statuary on the Grounds of the West Virginia State Capitol." Brief history of the Capitol and the state of West Virginia.
"Honoring Our Past: 1994 Calendar" produced by the Alliance for the Collection, Preservation and Dissemination of West Virginia's Black History. Calendar includes photos of school bands, Bluefield NAACP chapter, Hopewell barber shop in Martinsburg, and schools.
Copies of group photographs of children and a "Special Citation Award to Mrs. Harry Gordon"
Photo of unidentified family, 1901; restored photo and invoice for work, 2005.
Negatives and photos from AB's Red Hat Party
Variety of copies of historical photographs, most not identified, 1912-1918. Note stapled to folder removed, 10/17/1990.
1991 (3), 1993, 1994 calendar "Honoring Our Past" from the Alliance for the Collection, Preservation and Dissemination of West Virginia's Black History. 1971 Black History Calendar [by] Raymond W. Lowry.
Facsimiles of photographs of students at WVSC including AB in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Photographs of AB and others at a presentation on CGW at Marshall University, President's Home. February 24, 1988.
Facsimile of undated photo [ca. 1942] of John W. Davis, Charles Rutherford, Austin W. Curtis, L.A. Toney, et al. On back: "Received from Debby Jackson,
Photo of AB with author Alice Walker at the University of Charleston, [1999]. Photo of AB with Ken Sullivan, Executive Director of the WV Humanities Council, 2002.
Includes examples of Bickley's contribution to a number of public service projects both in a professional capacity and as a citizen. Includes these formats:
planning documents,
correspondence,
meeting notes, and
agendas for these organizations:
-Amistad, Inc., a publishing company she formed;
-West Virginia Humanities Foundation;
-Black Mountain Youth Leadership Program, Berea College;
-The EcoTheater in Lewisburg, for which she served as board member;
-National Council of Teachers of English, for which she was National Director;
-West Virginia Archives and History Commission, of which she was a member; and
-Marshall University colloquium on black history.
Most notable are the grant applications, programs, and correspondence from her work with the West Virginia Humanities Foundation. Bickley was President of the Board of Directors and wrote a ten-year history of the organization, 1974-1984. The files include background materials for a number of projects for which she or others received grants. For her work with the Kanawha County Board of Education, her files include research materials about minority student achievement, and documents about the Kanawha County Schools Minority Student Achievement Task Force and Maximizing Achievement of African-American Children in Kanawha County (MAAACK). Documenting her work with an organizing committee to clean up the Bethel Cemetery in Huntington, her files include calls for participants, flyers, lists of members, and more. One civic activity with no apparent formal organization includes a meeting with Governor Rockefeller to advocate for affirmative action in West Virginia government. More on Bickley's professional and community activities can be found in the Awards, Honors Series.
"Notes from Meeting between WV SAC and Governor Rockefeller--June 13" The SAC [Statistical Analysis Center] asked the governor to authorize another study concerning minority employment in West Virginia with the goal of supporting affirmative action and the employment of more minorities.
Humanities Scholar Resource Forms by Virginia Edwards (2/86), Judith G Stitzel, and Elayne Rapping for the project, "Reel Visions: A Conference on Women and Film." "Seminar for Professionals Scholar's Statement" by AB.
Brochure for the 15th Year of the EcoTheater founded by Maryat Lee, 1975-1990. Letter of support fro grant to the EcoTheater, February 10, 1990. Business correspondence with members of the Board of Directors.
Notes, membership lists, and correspondence from meetings of the Bethel Memorial Park Interest Group. Various research notes regarding black WV doctors and other topics.
Invitation to Ronald Reagan's inauguration
Correspondence from Cecil H. Underwood and Earl Ray Tomblin regarding appointment to the WV Archives and History Commission, July 11, 2000-September 22, 2000.
Papers and notes from 1975 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conferences when AB was National Director. List of attendees. Black history newspaper clippings. NCTE Spring Institutes programs: April 4-8 in Buffalo, New York; and April 25-29 in Santa Barbara, California. Paper by NB "Mini-Psychological Theory about Black Americans"
Invitation to Jimmy Carter's inauguration, January 20, 1977.
Certificate of incorporation and other legal documents for Amistad, Inc. Humanities Foundation grant application. Correspondence, agendas for Board meetings, and notes from meetings.
Correspondence with William (Bill) Turner regarding a black history colloquium at Marshall and editing a special issue the
Program for MU symposium "Moving Toward Freedom: Slavery and Resistance." WV Humanities Foundation grant materials for "Fact to Freedom: The Story of Slavery in West Virginia." Cost details for recreating a slave auction block. Photograph of 10th and Market in Wheeling, 1895.
Correspondence with Brucella and Norman Jordan re: the African American Heritage Family Tree Museum. Also a Humanities Council Grant, brochures, newspaper clippings, press releases. B. Jordan's curriculum vitia and job description with an appliation.
Materials supporting the proposal for WVSC's The Canty House being placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Materials for collaboration of Kanawha County Schools Minority Student Achievement Task Force and Achieving Excellence in Learning (AEL). Maximizing Achievement of African-American Children in Kanawha County (MAACK) materials. Data on Kanawha County students.
Readings on teaching minority students, Ebonics. Maximizing Achievement of African-American Children in Kanawha County (MAACK) materials.
Notes and correspondence pertaining to the evaluation of the Black Mountain Youth Leadership Program at Berea College.
Letter from the Governor of Montana. Itineraries. Correspondence re: trip.
Matted print of D. Richardson's drawing of the WV Colored Children's Home.
This series includes eleven subseries which highlight Bickley's research on black history in West Virginia and to a smaller extent black history in general. The subseries include her work on black history for many West Virginia counties with her research being more extensive for Cabell, Jefferson, and Kanawha Counties which have their own subseries. The subseries for Research Notes and Collected Papers are: General, Biography; Cabell County, WV; Jefferson County, WV; Kanawha County, WV; Other WV Counties; Churches, Education; General; Organizations; Slavery; and the Underground Railroad.
Bickley researched a wide range of black history and black culture topics; for example, Aunt Jemima and the statue of a black boy as yard ornament, in addition to persons and events. The research provided background for her writings and was often incorporated into her works of fiction as well as historical accounts. Her papers include research notes and supporting sources on a wide range of topics with reference to black history and West Virginia black history.
Handwritten inventory of boxes with Post-it-Note "Found AFTER boxing - This drawer-files are out of order so I don't know if it will be helpful. (Plus, my sister has horrible handwriting."
Post card from Mabel Hunter with Storer College Brackett Hall dorm room circled (1946). Photo of statue of Carter G. Woodson. 1850 mortality statistics for western section of Virginia.
Correspondence and research notes regarding the black history of Gallipolis, Ohio. Love story by Harry Dolphis Scott, Bidwell, Ohio. Typed lists from Carter G. Woodson's Free Negro Head of Families (1830), Town of Gallipolis.
Newspaper clippings from the Herald-Dispatch, 1981. Brochure: "Graduates of Distinction: Michael Perry, Ancella Bickley" from the Education Alliance, 2002
Various articles regarding blues music. Multiple facsimiles of "Bessie Smith, 1898-1937, A Short Blues Anthology," 1971; one with annotations.
Various articles including the legend of Jocko, subject of a lawn ornament, and a 1971 black history calendar by Raymond W. Lowry which highlights achievements.
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Typewritten paper about spirituals
Journal, newspaper, and magazine articles about black history, Carter G. Woodson, Nelson Bickley, and the methyl isocyanate leak in Institute, 1984.
Research materials regarding the holiday, Juneteenth, which celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation. Text of two speeches.
"The Black Literary Tradition of West Virginia: A Bio-Critical Survey" [by] Leonard J. Deutsch
The booklet (2 copies) "History of African-American Miners in Appalachian Coal Fields: Black History Month, February, 2000" Funeral program for Ulysses Grant Carter, teacher at Kimball High School.
Facsimiles of pages from reports from the WV Bureau of Negro Welfare and Statistics.
Correspondence and attached materials from Sara J. Sow re: blacks in Gallia County, Ohio. "Why We Celebrate Our Culture and Church" about churches in Lawrence County, Ohio.
Correspondence with and writings of James Fisher, Berkeley County.
Background research notes and materials about Cuba.
Correspondence with Joan C. Browning re: content for the Henrietta Marie exhibit; white women in the civil rights movement. Biography. Resume. Newspaper clippings; article "Invisible Revolutionaries: White Women in Civil Rights Historiography." Program and other materials for the WVU panel for the Rush Holt History Conference. Commentary from John Raines re: J. Browning and David Mussat's contributions to the RDH Conference; annotated JB paper "Religion Gave Me Power to Witness" and David Mussat's paper "Sticks and Stone: an Interpretation of Power and Religion in the Movement."
Research materials on many aspects of WV Black history including newspaper clippings, scholarly articles, meeting programs, and the text of an Odd Fellows speech.
"Negro Coal Miners in West Virginia, 1875-1925" from the
Handwritten research notes. Research materials re: WV history. Typed notes on WV black history. 1955 newspaper article re: integration of schools.
Correspondence regarding black WV historical markers. Resignation as a Commissioner for the WV Division of Culture and History. Program for Roosevelt Junior High School Award Assembly, June 2, 2000; Bickley is on the program for the East End History Essay.
Programs for West Virginia Conference on Black History at the First Baptist Church in Charleston, April 22-23, 1988, and the Eighth Annual Conference on West Virginia's Black History at Marshall University, November 10-11, 1995
Web page print out of article about Silas Green in minstrel show.
"Fifth U.S. Colored Infantry" by John F. Walter, rev. 1998. Includes information on Ohio and WV blacks.
"Negro Participants in the Fields of the Theatre and Music Plus Associated Enterprises: Period: 1920-1960" by Dr. Douglass T. Murray. Booklet for The National [Negro] Opera [Company].
Paper titled " School Desegregation Since
Email correspondence primarily between AB and her daughter Ancella Livers re: access to WWII Soldiers' letters at the New York Public Library. Email from Della [Hardman?] re: Belle Powell and Ravella Hughes.
Includes biographical material for many people of interested to Bickley. Types of material include correspondence, handwritten notes, clippings and articles, photographs, various facsimiles, and more. Subjects of research notes and collected materials include: Carter G. Woodson, Dick Pointer, Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Memphis Tennessee Garrison, John Henry, Ravella Hughes, John Wesley Harris, Maude Beatrice Bell Plowden, Della Brown Taylor, Bessie Yancey, Mollie Gabe (Mary Elizabeth Johnson), Elizabeth Simpson Drewry, J. McHenry Jones, Stonewall Jackson, Gwen McMillion Bingham, and William Cathay. Additional topics include: blacks in WV literature; black women; Tuskegee Airmen including John L. Whitehead, Jr. and William Lee Hill; and black WV legislators. Biographical information is also included in the Interviews and Oral History Interviews series.
Newspaper clippings. Partial notes [speech] J. McHenry Jones including John R. Clifford, Christopher Payne, and black legislators. Pages from a 1913 Congressional hearing on "Conditions in the Paint Creek District, West Virginia" with conditional pardon of Dan Chain highlighted. Memo, 1/18/03, from Alfonzo Dalton regarding interview with Ben Carson who was a Republican candidate for the US President in 2016.
Letter to researcher Sean Duff, November 19, 2012, and attached information regarding J. McHenry Jones and Wheeling. Letter to researcher L. Morris Jones, May 3, 1989. Newspaper clipping of article about
Research notes on Guion Bluford (?). Ed White, sculptor, biography. Facsimile of pages from the children's book
Correspondence between NB and The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, Incorporated regarding preservation of the Carter G. Woodson house in Huntington. Correspondence between Carter G. Woodson and his sister, Bessie Woodson Yancey, regarding upkeep of the house.
Research materials on Dick Pointer, black Indian War hero, for an article for the
Correspondence with Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr. Newspaper clipping: MU Commencement.
Correspondence with Adolphus Young regarding black West Virginia women, particularly MTG.
Handwritten notes about John Matheus, WVSC professor; his curriculum vitae, ca. 1953; reprint of an article from the
Research notes about Revella Hughes
Research notes about William Hill for
Research on John Brown including materials from the National Parks Service's John Brown Conference, 2000; an annotated Langston Hughes' poem "October 16;" and "A Psychological Examination of John Brown."
Two newspaper clippings: one about Fannie Cobb Carter and one about Memphis Tennessee Garrison
Obituary and other information about Major General Charles "Jackie" Calvin Rogers. Documents regarding the naming of a United States Army Reserve Center for him. Text of NB's speech.
Transcript of interview with AB by Ohio State University's WOSU about Della Brown Taylor [Hardman], a graduate of Garnet High School, artist, and teacher at WVSC.
Research notes. Transcript of conversation with Bruce Rogers regarding Aunt Jemima and Bruce Family history. Facsimiles of newspaper articles regarding Aunt Jemima.
Background research about the Sargent School of Physical Education; Sydney Taylor Brown who graduated from there and then WVSC; black women in the American Red Cross; and black women's service in WWII.
Facsimile of pages from
Print outs of web pages regarding the Tuskegee Airmen. Photograph of monument in Walterboro, SC. Newspaper clippings.
Research materials pertaining to Carter G. Woodson including: journal and magazine articles; facsimile of book pages; newspaper clippings; and a masters degree thesis. Text of speeches and programs for speeches by both AB and NB. Invitation to a reception to honor Sen. and Mrs. John F. Kennedy in Huntington, April 20, 1960.
Poems, correspondence, and other writings by Bessie Yancey, Carter G. Woodson's sister. Photocopies of journal articles and WV Collegiate Institute publications. Special Carter G. Woodson issue of
Research materials on Mollie Gabe, also known as Mary Elizabeth Johnson, midwife from Falls Mill, Braxton County.
Research materials about John P. Parker, a former slave who was active in the UGRR in Ohio. Parker was also an inventor and a business man.
Research materials about Elizabeth Simpson Drewry, McDowell County representative to the WV House of Delegates.
Letters to Bessie W. Yancey, CGW's sister. Research materials. Poem "The Forgotten Boys." Correspondence re: restoration of the CGW home. Carter G. Woodson Memorial Committee and Foundation materials. Text of speech by AB. CGW stamps. Dedication of statue of CGW. Correspondence re: Ann Eliza Riddle Woodson family property. CGW genealogy prepared by Nelson Barnett, Jr. Letter from CGW to Bessie Woodson Yancey. Text of paper "Carter G. Woodson: the West Virginia Connection." Photographs of CGW and kin.
Correspondence from CGW to Bessie W. Yancey, re: house in Huntington, 1941. Book contract between Bessie W. Yancey for
Research materials including newspaper clippings, correspondence, articles, and research notes on Carter G. Woodson; Bessie W. Yancey; Black History Month; restoration of the Woodson home; and the Woodson family. Annotated copy of the paper "Carter G. Woodson: the West Virginia Connection." Facscimiles of Otis Woodson and CGW photos. Photo of Bessie Woodson Yancey and letter from BWY to CGW re: poetry. Edited entry for CGW from
Research materials on J. McHenry Jones including facsimiles of obituaries; other newspaper clippings; and transcriptions of clippings. Photo of Hazlewood Assembly Hall. Notes [speech?] on JMJ. Timeline with sources. Paper about JMJ by AB. Jones family history.
Pages copied from book
Research materials on Tuskegee Airmen including John L. Whitehead, Jr. and William Lee Hill.
Text of a speech? "African Americans in the West Virginia Legislature." Letter from C.A. Blankenship to
Facsimile of photo of "Gabriel, Pardoned by VA Governor Tim Kaine, June 26, 2007." Research notes. Paper "Major General Gwen McMillion Bingham," ca. 2011 with newspaper clipping. Facsimile of unidentified photograph of woman in uniform. Paper "'Who Was William Cathay?' adapted from a piece in the St. Louis Daily Times, January 2, 1876." Poem "Cathay Williams," 1997. Facsimile of enlarged photo of face of unidentified soldier. Summary/timeline for Cathay Williams/William Cathay.
Draft of "Elizabeth Simpson Drewry, 1894-1979"
Covers a wide range of topics on the history of Cabell County; Huntington, WV; and adjacent Ohio counties. Notable are Nelson Barnett's transcriptions of late 19th century Huntington newspaper articles regarding blacks. Also included are newspaper clippings, monographs, photos, biographies, and interviews about veterans, church history, education, organizations, and more.
"References and Briefs to Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles, [June 15, 1872-October 21, 1898, and June 4, 1922-May 20, 1928]" compiled by Nelson Barnett, Jr., 1988, from Huntington newspapers.
"Black Veterans of World War I from Cabell County, W.Va., 1918." "Past Imperfect, 1902: Articles of Interest, [Nov. 13, 1901-Dec. 31, 1901]" compiled by Nelson Barnett, Jr. from Huntington newspapers.
"Past-Imperfect, 1901: Articles of Interest, [Jan. 7, 1901-May 28, 1901]" compiled by Nelson Barnett, Jr. from Huntington newspapers
Resources about blacks in Huntington and Cabell County. Includes a bibliography of
"Progress of the Huntington Negro" by Prof. J. W. Scott
"A Black History of Huntington" by Edna Duckworth, 1976. Genealogy for Edna Duckworth. "Biohistrogenetics Project Proposal" to the Carter G. Woodson Memorial Foundation, 1996-1997; Duckworth is listed as the visionary.
Marriage records, late 19th century, Cabell County.
Correspondence with Clara Knight. Facsimiles of Greenbottom Church, Huntington, records listing black members. Records regarding John Ball freeing his slaves, 1793. Map of Millersport, OH, 1887.
Correspondence with Bill Lindsay re: blacks in Huntington and Pocahontas County
Two newspaper clippings: one about Nellie Fransisco [sic] and AB's research about blacks on the Ohio River.
"A Black History of Huntington" by Edna Duckworth, [1976]. Census data for black families in Lawrence County, Ohio; 1850, 1860.
Photos of black workers in C&O shop including Anderson Radford, AB's grandfather. Correspondence; transcription of newspaper articles; research notes; biographical sketches; photos of Goodes; newspaper clippings; church histories and programs; facsimiles of book pages; transcription of interviews; and bibliography.
Research notes. Photos. Paper "Black People and the Huntington Experience." Project, "A Sojourn for Truth: Revisiting Black History Along the Ohio River," overview. Research materials re: Huntington, Cabell County, and parts of Ohio. Transcript of interview with Suzette Spencer. "The West Virginia Colored Children's Home" by Ancella R. Bickley. "Poke Patch/Black Fork, Ohio"
Research notes on Douglass School. Typewritten notes on Douglass School, 1891-1924. Notes from conversation with Nellie Francisco. Handwritten transcription of article, 1902.
Covers research about blacks in Charlestown and Harpers Ferry as well as other locations in Jefferson County. Materials include obituaries, school histories, correspondence, cemetery records, research notes, and more about school integration, Storer College, slave collars, Fisherman's Hall, and more.
Research materials regarding blacks in Charlestown. Obituary for former slave George Jenkins in Huntington, 1917.
Paper about St. Philip's parochial school by James A. Tolbert. Materials re: Sons of Confederate Veterans tablet in Harper's Ferry. Other research materials re: Jefferson County and Charlestown.
Photos of a slave collar. Correspondence re: acquiring the collar for the Henrietta slave ship exhibit.
Correspondence with James Tolbert re: black CCC camp, McDowell County; Black History Conference; Fisherman's Hall, Charlestown, restoration; Harewood Cemetery, Jefferson County; marker for Martin Delany, Charlestown.
Research materials re: Harpers Ferry, the National Park, and Storer College.
Typewritten text of speech at Shepherd College, 2004. Transcript "Discussion of Integration of Schools in Jefferson County: Jim Tolbert."
Handwritten research notes mostly re: John Brown and Harpers Ferry, ca. 2000.
Covers research about blacks in the WV Capitol, Charleston, and other locations in Kanawha County. Topics covered include slavery in the salt industry, biographies, wine cellars, and buildings. Contents include correspondence, facsimiles of documents, research papers, obituaries, newspaper clippings and more.
Research materials about slavery in West Virginia with focus on Kanawha County and the salt industry
Research materials on black attorney Thomas Gillis Nutter.
Research materials on Charleston, WV including: "Unpublished Black History in the Early Kanawha Valley" by William D. Wintz; "Blacks in Charleston, West Virginia: A Survey of Their Presence in the Community and Occupational and Residential Patterns in the Early 1900s" by Mary Johnson, WVU student. Research materials regarding Oscar Wayman Holmes, the first African American naval aviator and obituaries for C.H. James, prominent black businessman. Text of speech, "Black People in Charleston," 1994.
Research materials on the Dutch Hollow wine cellars in Dunbar.
Documents regarding Samuel W. Starks and the Starks House in Charleston. Correspondence regarding its being put on the National Register of Historic Places.
Correspondence with Eugene Washington re: Phillis Wheatley School and Albert G. Brown, architect.
Excludes Cabell, Jefferson, and Kanawha Counties which have separate subseries. Includes research materials about slavery, school integration, lynching, historic homes, and more researched by Bickley for these counties: Wayne, McDowell, Harrison, Greenbrier, Hardy, Fayette, Monongalia, Upshur, Wood, and Monroe; as well as the cities of Bluefield, Buckhannon, Keystone, Weirton, Weston, and Wheeling. Research materials include photographs, correspondence, brochures, newspaper clippings, book pages, articles, interviews, and more.
Various documents regarding blacks in Wayne County, WV; the Livisay family; writings by Tim R. Massey, 1981; the Lindsey family; photograph and negatives of a photograph of a black family.
Research materials on McDowell County, WV, with focus on the towns of Keystone and Keystone. Letters and notes from Adolphus A. Young, Jr.
Program for "Freedom Is a Struggle: Glimpses of African-American Life in the Greenbrier Valley of [West] Virginia." Brochure "Black Historic Sites in Lewisburg, West Virginia."
Newspaper clipping about Sarah Hall, black lawyer. Facsimiles of research materials. "The History of the Negro in McDowell County and in West Virginia Leading Up to and Including the Integration of Schools" by Dr. Douglass T. Murray. Typewritten notes from Adolphus Young, Jr. Correspondence with Alphonso Dalton, Jr. regarding MTG and black McDowell County families
Facsimile of 1952 newspaper article regarding slaves listed in 1848 Harrison County tax book. Slave owners are listed and includes Nathan Goff.
Paper, author unidentified, regarding lynching in WV. Research materials about slaves in Greenbrier County
Correspondence regarding letter from a slave asking to be purchased by Stump family [1851]. Facsimile of letter.
Research notes and resources regarding Glenwood, historic home in Charleston. Clarksburg newspaper article of reminiscences of a former slave, Ann Freeman and others. Clarksburg newspaper article regarding Union Veterans Association.
Research materials for Fayette County including contacts list, newspaper articles, maps, facsimiles of pages from books, student research paper, church histories, handwritten research notes, and grant applications. Correspondence with and Lucille Meadows and her handwritten reminiscences.
Newspaper articles, facsimiles of historical records. Partial manuscript for
Research materials and research notes:
Research materials about Weirton.
Research materials about Upshur County. Facsimiles of articles written by R.H. Ralston, Sr. regarding Buckhannon's black history; newspaper clippings. "A History of Blacks in Buckhannon: The Recollections of Harriet Warfield," an interview with Harriet Warfield, 1977.
Research materials regarding blacks in Wheeling. "Wheeling's Black Population: A General Perspective" written and presented by Darryl Clausell, Pat Dudley, with contributors Kathryn Snead and Dorothy Cooper, 1990. Correspondence with Margaret Brennan. Photo of AB, Pat Dudley, Brennan, and Annie Tanks at an Oral History Seminar in Wheeling.
Correspondence regarding Memphis Tennessee Garrison. Research materials on Gary and other McDowell County locales: newspaper clippings,
Papers by Wheeling Jesuit Students Joel Michael Coulson and Beau Conway.
Research resources regarding blacks in Fayette County, WV, including transcripts of oral history interviews with Lucille Meadows, Mrs. Turner, Charista Davis, Lula Lall Jones, Rosa Roach and Jessie Barrett; correspondence, church histories and programs. Includes Smoot family information.
Transcripts of interviews with Alease Watkins, David W. Turner, Russell Lee Matthews, and Elsie Choice Hopkins. Also, includes research notes, newspaper clippings, a grant application, facsimiles of book pages, and correspondence.
Photo of Lomax Hospital in Bluefield. Brochures for Afro-Appalachian Performance Company. Correspondence with Joseph Bundy re: history alive performances. Research materials about black Bluefield hospitals.
Correspondence with Ray Swick re: blacks in Wood County. Research notes. Correspondence with the Wood County Bicentennial Commission re: speech.
Court record for
Research notes re: Parkersburg black history. Facsimile of letter and transcription of letter from ex-slave Isaac Fairfax to George Washington Henderson.
Letter from Charles (Charley) Goddard re: Greenbrier County history and Sharlotta Gardner contact information.
Copy of photo and negative of lynching. Photos of black children. Note from Maurice Allman, Hacker's Creek Pioneer Descendants. Transcripts of
Transcripts of interviews with Mr. Waldo Lacy and Mrs. Gladys Lacy. Facsimile of newspaper article of speech by T.J. Ferguson, 1870. Research materials on the Sumner School. History of Parkersburg from Bernie Allen. Facsimile of books pages, newspaper articles, and transcription of newspaper articles. Parkersburg Art Center brochure featuring Joseph Eldridge Dodd. Text for slide show (no slides). Typewritten outline of "Parkersburg Study."
Facsimiles of newspaper articles. Correspondence with Ray Swick, Blennerhassett Island State Park. Research materials about blacks in Wood County. Research notes. "A History of Sumner School" written by Sally Browning, 1996.
Background research on blacks in Monroe County. Correspondence with Fawn Valentine and Presidents of the Monroe County Historical Society. "Bishop Matthew W. Clair, Sr.: a Biography" by Dr. Margaret B. Ballard, 1973.
Includes programs, bulletins, correspondence, research notes, and histories of black West Virginia churches in Fayetteville, Charleston, Charlestown, Fairmont, St. Albans, Parkersburg, Huntington, and Alderson. Also includes a history of churches and lodges in West Virginia as well as histories of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and the Galilean Fisherman lodges. Denominations represented include African Methodist Episcopal, Episcopalian, and Baptist.
Correspondence with Lucile S. Meadows regarding help with the Second Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Centennial; racial tolerance in schools
"125th Anniversary Journal" First Baptist Church, February 1, 1868-February 28, 1993, Charleston, WV
Time line for black Episcopalians in WV. "The First Hundred Years: a History of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Charles Town." Research notes and sources. Humanities Foundation of WV grant application by Florita Montgomery to study the history of St. Phillips' Episcopal Church. Information on the Trinity Church in Parkersburg. Photograph including some black congregants.
1907 Weekly Bulletin of Diamond St. M.E. Church in Fairmont
Book titled
Letter re: slide presentation at the Young Chapel African American Methodist Episcopal Church. Program for the 94th Church Anniversary. Handwritten time line and other notes. Booklet of photographs, text of Bickley's speech, newspaper clipping.
"Black Churches and Lodges in West Virginia in Their Infancy, 1865-1900" by J. Reuben Sheeler. "History of Bright Hope Lodge #9, F.&A.M. and - P.H.A. Montgomery WV." Facsimile of pages "Introduction and Growth of the Grand United States Order of Odd Fellows in America." Notes "Knights of Pythias of West Virginia History" researched by James A. Tolbert. Notes about "Grand United Order of the Galilean Fisherman" compiled by Ann Wilson.
Email correspondence with Adrienne Belafonte re: a newspaper article about the Shiloh Baptist Church in Alderson. Clipping of the article.
Program for First Baptist Church 125th Anniversary, 1997. Program for installation of Rev. William F. Buchanan, First Baptist Church, 1988.
Includes newspaper clippings, text for presentations, correspondence, research notes, articles, commencement programs, interviews and more about state and national teachers' organizations, historically black WV colleges including West Virginia State College and West Virginia University, integration of schools, histories of specific schools, the Kanawha County textbook controversy, and more.
Newspaper articles: WV Education Association (WVEA) Executive Committee meeting, the National Education Association (NEA) and the need for minority teachers; and recommendations from the Black Caucus,
Multiple facsimiles of a post card picturing Albert Long, "Bertie" -- Aunt Onie's Son. West Virginia State College Commencement Programs: 1948, 1950, 1951
Information sheets and travel plans for trip to Egypt, July 5, 1987, sponsored by WVSC. Passport and Visa information written on folder.
Various versions of text for a multi-media program on the history of West Virginia State College (WVSC) and Institute, WV
Letter to Edmonia Grider from Marjorie [Counts] regarding the Hilltop School, October 7, 1974.
Manuscript discussing integration and black teachers in WV, author unknown. Speech (?) regarding school integration. Research notes. Annotated speech: "Black Education in West Virginia" delivered in Shepherdstown.
Research materials on the integration of WV schools: facsimiles of WV newspaper articles regarding integration of schools; "How Black Students Saw Themselves through the Decades of Change at Bluefield State College (founded in 1895) as It Changed from Predominately Black Institution to a Predominantly White Institution" by James Worsham
Program for the Alpha Delta Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 19th annual Jabberwock, March 16th, 1949. Dance invitation, 1948. WVSC Commencement program, 1949. Washington Alumni Chapter banquet, 1976, to roast John W. Davis. Newspaper articles
Correspondence, photos, newsletter, and newspaper clippings regarding the Douglass High School (Huntington) Reunion. Notes on class of 1947. Newspaper clipping regarding NB. Photo YWCA Y-Teens, Douglas High School, Christmas, 1946.
Research notes on schools in Keyser and Piedmont, WV, including a facsimile of book pages from
Compilation, by R. Charles Byers, of resources regarding WV black schools.
Annotated pages for "Integration in West Virginia"
Affirmative action statistics for Bluefield State College, 1984. "Pride and Preservation: West Virginia State College" seminars which included Alex Haley as a speaker, 1979. Newspaper article re: archives at West Virginia State College, 1979.
Research notes and materials for research on education in Mason County, WV
Research materials regarding the Lincoln School in Wheeling, WV
Program for One Hundred Fifth Commencement, Huntington High School, 1971. Photo of AB, West Virginia State College Commencement, May 17, 1986.
Facsimile of a brief historical sketch of Storer College, 1867-1891, by Kate J. Anthony, 1891.
Newspaper clippings and other sources relating to the West Virginia Seminary and College and the Hilltop Baptist Center.
"Integration in Reverse at West Virginia State College" by Elizabeth Duran and James A. Duran, Jr.
Correspondence, interviews, newspaper clippings, and facsimiles of photos re: WVSC's East Hall. Research notes.
WV Humanities Council grant application for a presentation on black education in Parkersburg. Research materials and notes. Handwritten and typed notes from interviews with Mrs. Dorsey, Mr. James Emondson, Mrs. Hattie Gazelle Turner, and Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell. Particular focus on the Sumner School.
Photo slides of WVSC buildings, presidents, etc. Post cards of WVSC buildings and Institute. Note cards from a lecture. Research materials on all aspects of WVSC history.
Research materials on many aspects of WVSC history including faculty information. Includes these publications: "ROTC in Review: 40 Years of Tradition;" "West Virginia State College Glee Club;" Alumni Association, Los Angeles Chapter, Scholarship Luncheon program, 1989;
Program for Convocation and Dedication of the Harold Maceo McNeill Physical Facilities Plant, WVSC, 1999.
Letter from AB re: retirement of Justine Gutzmer; retirement announcement for Gerald Cote, Beatrice Dupass, Gutzmer, and Darthulia Jones. Facsimile of WWII death notice of Oliver Johnson to his parents and his obituary. Johnson was Gutzmer's brother.
Booklet of texts and order of ceremonies for the WVSC commencement program, 1985.
Includes background research on the Montgomery Woman's Improvement League, the West Virginia Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, Alpha Omicron Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Mountain State Bar Association, and the West Virginia Medical Society. Research materials include a yearbook, programs, correspondence, a members list, and more.
Program for the Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet of the Mountain State Bar Association, 1985. List of members, 1986.
Paper titled "The West Virginia Medical Society [Black]" Article: "Historically Black Medical Colleges: From Scorn to Success" from
This subseries includes maps, research papers, newspaper clippings, letters, census data, newspaper articles, facsimiles of historical slave documents, and more. Other materials regarding slavery can be found in county subseries and the Underground Railroad Subseries.
West Virginia map. "Number of Slaves in Counties Which Became WV" 1850, 1860. Typescript of
Handwritten notes on John Marshall; Marshall and slavery; Marshall and Robin Spurlock, his servant. Typed observations. Resource materials.
Facsimiles of legislation and resolutions to abolish slavery; and a list of representatives at the state convention in Wheeling.
Research materials. Typewritten manuscript[s] by James Oliver Horton. Codes for occupations. Copy of newspaper article.
Newspaper clipping and multiple facsimiles of an article about a slave breeding farm in Greenup, KY.
Research materials about slaves in Ohio Valley plantations and adjacent WV counties. Photocopies of photographs of Mary and plantation sites.
Facsimiles of: newpaper slave ads; Virginia law re: Kanawha Slave Insurance Company; Dunsmore's Proclamation freeing slaves; Va. Law to send slave to Liberia; slaves in Bunker Hill; New York Times article re: slave uprising; and drawing of [Harpers Ferry]. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Afro-American materials. "History of Gerrardstown" in
Handwritten research notes and research materials regarding reparations for slavery; text of NB speech; typewritten notes.
Annotated manuscript "Compensatory Justice: Over Time and Between Groups" by Renee A. Hill; text of introduction of a speech about reparations; newsapper clippings; web page print outs; articles.
Facsimile of tables of free Negro listings from 1830 census. "Researching Virginia's Slave and Free Negro Records"
Facsimile of newspaper article, 1934, re: Mount Pisgah Church, Proctorville, OH. "The Way It Was…" by Betty Burcham, a history of UGRR and Mount Pisgah Church. Facsimile of will of Eliza Goode freeing Sully Smith, her husband and her slave, 1848. Facsimile of two receipts for purchase of slaves, 1852. Research notes re: Ohio slaves and fugitives to WV.
This subseries includes text of a speech made by Bickley, books, slides, photographs, brochures, post cards, correspondence, maps, and more. The materials focus on parts of Ohio across the river from Huntington as well as West Virginia. Some topics are quilt codes, abolitionists, runaway slaves, location of Underground Railroad sites, and more.
Research materials about Serena Wilson and the book
Photos "Trip to Doddridge County to visit Jaco Hill/cave - UGRR Site - w/Karen Nance, Sandra Moats, & Judy Wilinson, 6/20/01. Other research materials
Research materials on the Underground Railroad with focus on Ohio.
Brochures and post cards regarding the UGRR and the film "Nightjohn." Correspondence with Margaret Brennan, organizer for the UGRR Summit in Wheeling. "Reflections on the West Virginia UGRR Summit" by Cathy D. Nelson; photo of AB speaking at the Summit and with Amanda Nelson and Sherry [Sowchuck].
Correspondence from Alicestyne Turley-Adams re: Underground Railroad Network Partnership.
Correspondence with Lucille Deberry and other research materials re: the UGRR, some in West Virginia.
Correspondence with Sandra Moats-Burke re: UGRR in WV counties.
Photograph slides, numbered and identified. Research materials mostly about Ohio. "Draft Proposal to Establish a National Underground Commemorative, Interpretive, and Research Center, City of Huntington, West Virginia" 1994. Itinerary for trip to Washington to meet with Interior Dept. officials and Robert C. Byrd's staff.
Book chapter "In Gallia and Miegs Counties" from
Background materials on the Underground Railroad in Ohio.
Research materials including newspaper clippings and research notes on the Underground Railroad
Research materials re: the Underground Railroad. Research notes.
Facsimiles of documents pertaining to slaves in Jefferson County, VA. Itinerary for Underground Railroad tours [Ohio?].
Correspondence with Sandra Moats-Burke re: UGRR. WV and county maps. Facsimile of pages from "From the Charles River Shire, 1634-1643, to the Present Day Counties: Harrison, Doddridge, Ritchie, Wood, Pleasants and Tyler" by Barr Wilson. Research materials on the UGRR. Research notes. "The Anti-Slavery Movement in West Virginia," a speech delivered by Sandra Moats Burke.
Research materials re: quilts and the Underground Railroad, 2001-2011. Notes re: Eliza Farrow, 2005. Paper "The UGRR Quilt Code" by Leigh Fellner. Research notes; newspaper clipping; facsimile of web page and transcription of story in an email "Secret Quilt Code on Exhibit until 10/6," 2012; and September 2012 issue of Underground Railroad Free Press." Mini-grant for UGRR quilts materials, 2013.
Includes manuscripts and publications for books; plays and reenactor monologues; short stories; magazine and scholarly articles; and other forms of writing in both print and handwriting. Five subseries encompass the various genres of her writing. Also includes background and research materials for the subjects for her writings, both fiction and non-fiction.
Includes research materials for topics of articles. Subjects and formats treated are: encyclopedia entries in the biographical dictionary African American Architects; drafts and final versions of entries for both people and institutions for the West Virginia Encyclopedia; drafts and final versions of articles about Molly Gabe and Carter G. Woodson for Appalachian Heritage; newspaper articles for the Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail and Village Neighbors (FL) on a number of topics including George Wesley Atkinson, 10th governor of West Virginia, but especially for Black History Month and its founder Carter G. Woodson; Goldenseal articles about a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, Jessie Moon Thomas, Edward Greer, the Charleston Women's Improvement League, Memphis Tennessee Garrison, and West Virginia's Tuskegee Airmen; contribution to a symposium on diversity and change for Appalachian youth; and a study guide for a Charleston, WV, performance of Zora Neale Hurston's Spunk.
Articles by Ancella Bickley from the
Correspondence regarding use of the Goldenseal article "Camp War: Remembering CCC Company 3538-C" in an online education guide by the WV State Museum.
Annotated manuscript and research notes for Goldenseal article "Education and Activism in Gary: a Visit with Jessie Moon Thomas." Correspondence with Mrs. Thomas including notes on the Froe and Moon families.
Issue of the journal
"Remembering Carter G. Woodson, the 'Father of Black History'" in
Typed text of autobiographical musings about friendship: likens travel in the south in 1952 to the Underground Railroad travel; and includes details about the move to Morgantown in 1966.
Correspondence with
Correspondence and drafts of a
Research materials on Carl Eugene Barnett and Robert Edward Lee Washington for entries in
Spiral bound program for
Correspondence with Dreck S. Wilson re: contribution to the book
Research materials about George Wesley Atkinson, tenth governor of WV who attended Howard University. Paper titled "West Virginia's Tenth Governor and the Black Community" and newspaper article by AB.
Research materials re: the West Virginia Colored Orphans Home. Newspaper article written by AB. Testimonial for Fannie Cobb Carter. Research notes. Facsimiles of photos. Transcript of interview with Araminta Miller Justice. AB's paper about the Home.
Manuscript drafts and final versions for entries in the West Virginia Encyclopedia. Materials from West Virginia Humanities Council meetings re: the format and content of the Encyclopedia
Musings written to friends, 1996. Clipping of "Commentary: Capable of Thinking, Working…and Paying Her Own Bills," 1979, Ancella Bickley Jr.
Processor-created bibliography of Ancella Bickley's writings
Includes books written, complied, or edited by Bickley, and background research materials and drafts of manuscripts. Books Bickley wrote include: a children's book,
Typed manuscripts, 1-14 parts, of 1968 oral history interview with Garrison by Bernard Cleveland, with AB notes and Post-it-Note tabs.
Draft of book introduction; correspondence; photos and negatives for book: MTG and family, Gary WV, mining, Edward O'Toole, facsimiles of photos. Facsimiles of William Garrison's obituary, letter of condolence from Agatha S. Lowe. Program for MTG celebration at Marshall. Personal notes of congratulations on book. Photograph permissions. Facsimile of deed for MTG's grandfather's property, Hollins, VA.
"The Charleston Stage Company's Study Guide for George C. Wolfe's Adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's
Text and illustrations for [children's] book
Manuscript for "Papers from the Conference on West Virginia's Black History, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, September 1991" Facsimile of a book chapter "Negro Education and Integration." Facsimile of photograph of students at Weston Colored School.
Spiral bound
Manuscript for
Permissions to publish papers in
Correspondence with Joe William Trotter. Research notes. Materials relating to the Second Annual Conference on West Virginia's Black History and a paper on James McHenry Jones. Trotter's syllabus for a seminar "The Afro-American Experience." "Blacks in West Virginia: A Critique of the Secondary Literature and Survey of Primary Sources" by Joe W. Trotter.
Galley proof of the children's book,
Includes full plays, skits, and historical interpreter scripts depicting characters such as: Ester from the Bible; West Virginia men and women such as Molly Gabe from Braxton County; Deborah Lacks Pullum, daughter of Henrietta Lacks; and many more. Includes manuscripts for a collaboration with Maureen Crocket in writing "Tangled Threads: a Three Act Play" and other plays. For "Two Saint Say," a play performed at the Central Florida Community College, materials include an audition announcement, program, newspaper clipping, and correspondence. Also included is a newspaper clipping and details about Bickley's winning the Florida Senior Playwright Festival contest with "Wade in the Water."
Newspaper article about the play
"Historical Information Re: Milly, Enslaved Black Woman on Whom the Character, OAGE, in
Manuscript for "Wade in the Water: a Play in One Act" by Ancella R. Bickley. Correspondence regarding performance.
Manuscripts and notes for "Mother Love: a Three Act Play" by Ancella Bickley and Maureen Crockett. Annotated text.
Program for performance of
Annotated "In the Name of Woman." Facsimile of pages from 1909 court docket book, County of Allegheny (PA) and court case upon which the play is based.
Correspondence with Maureen 'Bunny' Crockett and Bobbi (bjslake@comcast.net) regarding changes to the play
Newspaper clipping for "Villager's Work Winds Playwright Contest."" Congratulatory email for selection of
Scripts for historical interpreters for Deborah Lacks Pullum, Henrietta Lacks' daughter; and Henrietta Lacks. "It Ain't Her: a One Act Play." Script for historical interpreter for Ona "Oney" Judge; Robert Smalls, 1839-1915; Callie House; and Percy Julian. Research notes on Dr. James Marion Sims and other projects. Program for WVU Honors College Symposium "With a Torch in Their Souls: African Americans in the Civil War"
Script for historical interpreter for Charles Hamilton Houston presented for the African-American Club, 2011; Gabriel; and Henrietta Lacks.
Research notes. Text of play "And Further She Sayeth Naught." Text of play "Heritage: an Historical Drama in Three Acts" by Ancella Bickley and Maureen Crockett.
Correspondence regarding Megan Forrest, actress. Double sided card featuring photos of Ms. Forrest and a brief overview of future endeavors.
Brief plays regarding voting issues including: lack of attention to candidates and issues, campaign spending, voter assistance, pay for voting, etc. Unidentified group photograph. Handwritten dialog.
Submission form for
Manuscript for "The Crossing," a play. Photocopied page regarding Mollie Gabe and her time in Braxton County.
Typed manuscript for a play
"On This Rock," a play; one annotated. Handwritten notes on "A Last Right" and "A Good Christian Woman." Recommended edits to Bickley's writing? Short stories, "The User" and "Feelin' the Heat" by Charles Lloyd.
Spiral bound
Research and performance notes for
Annotated
Annotated "I-John," a play.
Table of contents for Skit of Ester, 2010. Web page re: Esther. Typed page re: Haman, Mordecai, and Esther. Chapter summaries. Typed paper about Queen Vashti. Two typewritten pages from larger document. Letter to Jerome re: return of skit manuscript. Letter to Jerome re: transmittal of skit text and masks for players. Handwritten, not AB's handwriting, notes. Three "masks," made from paper fans, and for 6 characters.
Includes manuscripts and edited manuscripts for many stories and a collection of short stories,
Manuscripts: "Gabe," "Turn Left at the Desert: Verbal 'Snapshots' from a Black Community" contents, "Jones," "The Church on the Corner," and "Sister Angelica."
Annotated story manuscripts. "'Jones': Manuscript Submitted for Workshop, Women Writers Conference" and reviewed by Faith [Holsart?]
Annotated manuscript for the story "On This Rock;" the play
Correspondence regarding writing critiques. Text of "Mr. Adams," "The Church on the Corner," "Gabe," "Angie's Uncle Robert," three versions of "Mr. Abe Jackson," "The Battle of the Bottle," "DoeDoe," "Addie," "Lesey, Who Was Black, But Comely," "The Lavender Hat," and "A Day in the Park." AB commentary on stories.
Review of "Martha." Text of "Martha."
Manuscripts and notes for "It Ain't Her," "Belli: 'Momma Raised Me Up Special'," The Battle of the Bottle," "Bertha," "Friends," and "Martha."
Manuscript for stories for Turn Left at the Desert
Manuscript for stories for Turn Left at the Desert: "It Ain't Her," "Hush Now, Child"
Excerpt from a review of AB's story, ["Martha"], in
Short stories for
Annotated manuscript for "Bertha," a short story.
Parts of
Handwritten beginning of a story
Handwritten pieces of writing
Typewritten contents for "Turn Left at the Desert: Verbal 'Snapshots' from a Black Community"
Typed manuscripts for various short stories.
Bickley was a prolific speaker; speeches cover a wide range of topics including faith, WV black history, black history and pride, West Virginia State College, education, black literature, and more. The majority of the speeches are typewritten.
Program for "Mending an Era: a Slave Ship Speaks: the Wreck of the Henrietta Marie." Typed text, pages 6-7, of a speech (?) about slaves, Anderson Radford, Cassie Thomas Carter, and MTG's mother.
Text of 2 speeches about Alice Walker's novel
Correspondence, schedule, lecture series program with AB's lecture on the Underground Railroad. Typed notes from Guyandotte presentation 11/9/91, and the Guyandotte Civil War Days. Program for Guyandotte Civil War Days, October 12-November 4, 1992 with listing of AB lecture "Local Black Settlement." List of sources by Alan Gould, Marshall University. Invitation to present at the 1993 Civil War Days.
T
Annotated text of a speech by both AB and NB about their time at WVU. WVU program "A Celebration: Integration of Sports on the WVU Campus" Correspondence with Dana Brooks regarding participation
Article regarding speech about
Text of speech about black history in West Virginia and after-dinner remarks regarding social history. Email, travel itinerary, newspaper clipping, and correspondence.
Paper about the slave ship Amistad.
Text of speech re: the Underground Railroad. Newspaper article re: decree of freedom from slavery 150 years after.
Handwritten speech to Mo So Lit Club in McDowell County regarding the history of education of blacks, April 1983. WVSC Fall Convocation program, September 8, 1983; two texts of AB's welcome.
Handwritten poem "Scamp" [by Paul Laurence Dunbar]. Two handwritten speeches to the WVSC student government regarding importance of citizenship and service, and the history of WVSC. Invitation to speak to the Student Government Association, April 16, 1982. Newspaper article about black newspapers. Program for the Student Government Association Annual Inauguration Dinner, April 13, 1980. Speech for the Honors Convocation, 1985. "Remarks prepared for State Senator Marie Redd for Blk History Month-2/4/99" regarding black history and WV black history.
Correspondence regarding invitation to speak at the West Virginia State Baptist Convention. WVSC new student orientation schedule with remarks scheduled for AB. Text of speech, 1984 and 1985, including a brief history of WVSC and Institute.
First page of WVSC Honors Convocation Speech
Program for "Building Leadership for Educational Excellence: NEA Mid-Atlantic Regional Leadership Conference, November 1-3, 1985 - Greenbrier Hotel, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia." Annotated text of speech "A Response to the New Right's Agenda for Public Education." Other speeches regarding education
Annotated text, some handwritten, of speech to the Mo So Lit Club, McDowell County, WV. Program for The Matrons and Maids Social and Literary Club (Ma-So-Lit), 50th Anniversary, April 17, 1983. Program and text of introduction of Ethel O. Davie for the WVSC Graduate Dinner, 1984.
Program and text of speech for "Rewriting History" panel at the "Premonitions and Perspectives from 1984: Has the Orwellian World Arrived?" Wisconsin Intellectual Freedom 6th Annual Conference in Milwaukee, March 1-3, 1984. Program, including full text of AB's speech for a panel on "Perspectives on Censorship: A Discussion" at the Twenty-First Annual NEA Conference on Human and Civil Rights in Education, February 25-27, 1983. Correspondence regarding invitations to speak at these conferences.
A speech about
Text of speech for WVSC Convocation and an outline of speech to women students.
Speeches about Carter G. Woodson, WV black history, her life and experiences, and MLK Day.
Speeches about WV black history, historical research, community service, her life and experiences, importance of black organizations, her faith, black women, race, and black education. Programs from presentations at churches. Letter confirming appointment to the Danforth Associate Program.
Speeches about black education; being a role model; leadership; church missionary work; Martin Luther King, Jr.; taking control; the college experience; community service; honoring Alan Gould; Our Mount Vernons; and black history. Corresponence re: speaking at churches.
Speeches about Black History Month; civil rights; Kwanzaa; women's rights; Martin Luther King, Jr.; the Underground Railroad; MTG; The Color Purple; black culture; Alice Walker; Carter G. Woodson; and WV black history.
Slides for WV black history speech. Research materials on WV black institutions. First two pages of speech. Handwritten text on various institutions.
"Go with God: Remembering All of Us…," Commencement address at MU, 1990. Photograph of unidentified black men singing in church. The program for the 1975 NCTE Spring Institutes: "Teaching Minority Literatures at All Levels."
Text of speech, one annotated, about
Text of two speeches about black culture with notes for accompanying slides. Note from Charles Davis. Langston Hughes poem with Alex Haley autograph. [No slides in file.]
Booklet presented to AB after she made a speech for the Army Corps of Engineers in Huntington.
Correspondence with NEA re: participation in panel "Perspectives on Censorship: A Discussion." Handwritten speech on censoring literature by blacks and women in the context of the Kanawha County textbook controversy.
Background materials, correspondence, and text of speech "Multiculturalism in West Virginia" at the Governor's Honors Academy.
Newspaper clipping about AB Commencement address at Marshall University, 1990. "And Further She Sayeth Naught: a Play in Three Acts" by Maureen "Bunny" Crocket and Ancella Bickley. [Speech] re: education in WV.
Text of speech about Martha Toler Spencer. Outline for [speech] about black women. Handwritten text of speech in Virginia, Longwood College, about black women. Notes.
"Go with God: Remember All of Us" AB's commencement address at MU, 1994.
Typed text of speech for the National Education Association.
Edited paper about the mission of West Virginia State College and changes for the future.