Professional and family papers of Paul Atkins, a journalism professor at West Virginia University who retired after 33 years of service. Also includes papers of his wife Mildred, who was an artist.

This collection is minimally processed.

box 1; newspaper inserts regarding history of and tourism in West Virginia, including the Civil War in WV; ca. 1960-1970 box 1; framed photo of Paul Atkins box 1; framed artwork by Mildred Atkins box 1; poster with drawing of a mill by Marcia Sontheimer; ca. 1970s box 1; other material box 2; narrative regarding Paul Atkins in WWII box 2; 1st Cavalry Division Association, Membership Directory (filed with WWII narrative) box 2; history of Daily Athenaeum (includes many items); ca. 1900-1980 box 2; family genealogy from bible pages box 2; Civil War Roundtable, Morgantown -- conference material; 2004-2008 box 2; Woodburn Association of Neighbors (includes minutes, correspondence, etc.); 2006-2010 box 3; thesis by Paul Atkins regarding the Virginia Secession Convention; 1950 box 3; lecture notes for journalism 227, historical newspapers concerning American journalism; ca. 1970s box 3; subject files (includes publications and other material regarding West Virginia University, and journalism in general, among other topics); ca. 1960-2010 box 4; papers of Mildred Atkins (includes brochures and clippings regarding arts and crafts in West Virginia, and the artwork of Mildred Atkins); ca. 1970-1995 box 4; recipes collected by Mildred Atkins; undated box 5; slides of artworks by Mildred Atkins; 1976 box 5; diploma earned by Mildred Atkins; 1976 box 5; exhibit sign-in book box 5; textile notebook box 5; obituary and funeral program for Paul Atkins (includes biographical information); 2019/02/21 box 6; miscellaneous publications regarding journalism or West Virginia history; ca. 1980-2005 box 7; miscellaneous publications regarding West Virginia history and tourism (brochures, booklets); ca. 1958-2005 box 8; artifact -- WWII duffle bag owned by Paul Atkins; 1940s box 8; artifact -- Dominion Post totebag (Morgantown newspaper); undated box 9; artifact -- art textile by Mildred Atkins; undated box 9; artifact -- oval frame (for large tintype located in box 22 of this collection) box 10; Society of Professional Journalists -- publications box 10; Battle of Point Pleasant -- clippings; 1974 box 10; recipes (6 pages in 1 folder); ca. 1890-1910 box 10; plaque; 1993 box 11; photographs (many are identified, includes a CDV, cabinet cards, and prints); ca. 1860-1960 box 11; sympathy cards; 1965 box 12; Society of Professional Journalists -- book entitled "Talent, Truth and Energy"; 1984 box 12; Atkins family genealogy book; 1991 box 12; "The Record" (literary publication of John Marshall High School); 1930s box 12; publications on West Virginia topics (including history and journalism); ca. 1960-1995 box 12; publications on journalism; ca. 1960-1995 box 13; photographs -- family, Germany after World War II; 1940s-1970s box 14; distinguished teaching in journalism award (includes clippings and letters); 1981 box 15; photographs -- portraits of family members box 15; vhs tapes -- topics include WVU football game and Forks of Cheat, among others box 15; audio cassette tapes -- topics include West Virginia History and dulcimer music box 15; souvenir -- Japanese flag from World War II box 15; microfilm -- sampling of historical newspapers box 15; other material box 16; photographs -- miscellaneous family pictures box 17; miscellaneous publications regarding West Virginia history and tourism (brochures, booklets) box 17; "Hellraiser" (historical novel re Mother Jones) by Jerry Ash (autographed copy) box 17; "Peaceful Patriot" (re Thomas Bennett) by Bonni McKeown (autographed copy) box 18; glass plate negatives -- Sisson family of Richmond, Virginia (includes key in first folder); ca. 1901-1914 box 19; letter blocks for printing box 19; funeral autograph book box 19; miscellaneous correspondence box 19; World War II portrait of Paul Atkins box 19; family portrait including Paul Atkins box 19; High School diploma from Welch High School for Paul Atkins; 1942 box 19; artifacts -- wooden shoes; 1940s box 19; journal or diary by Mildred Atkins; 1951 box 19; three books on tin collecting box 20; Dietzgen drawing tools box 20; postcard booklet (5 items, including Charleston, Parkersburg, and other locations) box 20; photographic portrait of the Johnsons box 20; two vinyl disc recordings of folk music (including singer Patrick Gainer, and dulcimer player Worley Gardner) box 20; cased photograph -- ambrotype of unidentified woman; ca. 1860 box 20; photograph albums box 20; negatives box 20; framed "Theorem Painting" by Virginia Leitch Hiss box 21; Mildred Atkins material (includes information on ceramics, West Virginia Artist and Craftsmen Guild, spinning and weaving, etc.) box 22; tintype portrait of female, 6 1/2 in. x 8 1/2 in. (originally in oval frame in box 9); ca. 1870-1890 box 22; autograph book of Emma Farish; 1879 box 22; cabinet card photo of mother of Emma Farish Sisson box 22; three southern cookbooks, including "Cooking in Richmond, Virginia" (1948), etc. box 22; thesis by Paul Atkins, "Henry Wise and the Virginia Secession Convention, February 13 - April 17, 1861" box 22; other material box 23; maps and brochures regarding West Virginia University (WVU) and Morgantown box 23; travel diaries box 23; Mountaineer Week programs (1970s) box 23; WVU Journalism alumni lists box 23; other material oversize box 24; World War II US Army carrying case oversize box 24; drawing of Paul Atkins oversize box 24; diploma earned by Paul Atkins oversize box 24; group photograph including father of Paul Atkins oversize box 24; other material oversize box 25; full WWII US Army cavalry uniform issued to Paul Atkins oversize box 26; WWII US Army jacket issued to Paul Atkins box 27, folders 1-4; Mildred Atkins scrapbook, newspaper clippings, and arts and crafts photographs; 1976–1980, undated box 27, folders 5-9; Miscellaneous pictures and 35mm slides (includes 1 daguerreotype, 1 Morgantown postcard, 3 watercolor prints of West Virginia University buildings [Chitwood, Dairy Farm, Mountainlair], 1 art print, 35mm slides [9 items], and 1 glass plate negative) box 27, folders 10-11; Photographs related to Paul Atkins and a certificate of appreciation to Paul Atkins from the National World War II Museum box 27, folder 12; Arthurdale material (includes newspaper clippings titled: 1. "Arthurdale 1940s movie series lets reviewers go back in time"; 2. "There were no books, no supplies, Arthurdale residents learned with hands-on lessons"; and 3. "Eleanor Roosevelt helped for cooperative community". Also includes a driving tour map and an Arthurdale program); 2006, undated box 27, folder 13; news bulletin regarding Mother Jones research by professor Edward Steel; 1986 box 27, folders 14-15; Inserts from a family Bible (published in 1887) found in the Atkins house as well as copies of a family record from the Bible documenting the Sisson family in the period ca. 1860-1890. box 27, folder 16; Artifacts (includes six rulers for Linotype and Intertype typecasting [typesetting] machines); undated box 28; Kodak Carousel Transvue 80 Slide tray with slides of Mildred Atkins's pottery and/or ceramic work, and related images; ca. 1970s box 28; two binders of 35mm slides, including images of 1. textiles, pottery, and ceramics (1970s), and 2. the Philippines and New Guinea (1980s); ca. 1970-1990 box 29; five miscellaneous books titled: "A Farang from Virginia"; ca. 2000, "Images of America: Arthurdale"; ca. 2007, "West Virginia Yesterday and Today"; ca. 1931, "Giving Back: Reflections on the Eberly Legacy"; ca. 2010, and "A Book for Kappa Sigma Pledges"; ca. 1947 box 30; six miscellaneous books including: two cookbooks, two poetry books ("Make Bright the Arrows" by Edna St. Vincent Millay; ca. 1940, a book of Portuguese sonnets; undated), "Stories from the Bible"; ca. 1929, and an Atkins family genealogy; ca. 1975 box 31; a leather Dominion Post satchel; undated box 32; a family Bible; ca. 1887 box 33; wooden stamps for printing letters and numbers (these likely belonged to Mildred) box 34; funeral of Paul Atkins -- folded flag; 2019 box 34; funeral of Paul Atkins -- shell casings from 21 gun salute (in small box); 2019 box 34; WWII -- purple heart; ca. 1940s box 34; WWII -- discharge servic record; ca. 1940s box 34; WWII -- medals (in small box); ca. 1940s box 34; WWII -- belt; ca. 1940s box 34; West Virginia University -- Diploma, Bachelor of Science in Journalism; 1949 oversize box 35; WWII -- army jacket with insignia; ca. 1940s unboxed; artifact -- Royal typewriter; undated unboxed; artifact -- wallphone; ca. 1900-1930 unboxed; artifact -- bust of Perly Isaac Reed, founder of WVU School of Media; undated unboxed; artifact -- walking cane made of wood; undated