West Virginia & Regional History Center

West Virginia & Regional History Center Part of West Virginia University and WVU Libraries.

The mission of the WVRHC is to acquire, preserve, and provide access to information resources in all formats which elucidate the history and culture of West Virginia and the central Appalachian region.

08/05/2026

We're just two weeks away from the start of the fall semester, and we'd love to welcome you back with an evening of conversation and discovery.

Join us at 7 p.m. on Sept. 9 in Brooks Hall, Room 202, as author Emily Matchar explores the little-known history behind her novel In the Shadow of the Greenbrier.

As part of the 2026 Pi Lambda Phi Jewish Studies Endowed Lectureship, we'll explore themes of trauma, legacy and the stories we tell to survive through the lens of Matchar's multigenerational family story. We hope you'll join us!

Learn more: humanitiescenter.wvu.edu/news/articles/explore-the-secret-history-of-the-greenbrier-with-emily-matchar

We are thrilled to announce that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded WVU Libraries and the Histo...
07/29/2026

We are thrilled to announce that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded WVU Libraries and the History Center its seventh grant! This year's totaling $225,000 — allowing important work of digitizing newspapers published in West Virginia from 1791 to 1963 to continue.

“West Virginia has a unique and complex history that is reflected in the newspapers preserved at the WVRHC. As we honor America’s 250th anniversary and remember her history, it is especially important that West Virginia’s contributions to our nation be preserved and available for all to discover," said WVRHC Director Lori Hostuttler.

The award is part of the National Digital Newspaper Program, a collaboration between the NEH and the Library of Congress to enlist libraries and institutions around the country to create a digital database of historical United States newspapers.

Read more about the collaboration and the impact of this grant➡️ exlibris.lib.wvu.edu/news/2026/07/27/seventh-neh-grant-to-digitize-historical-newspapers

The latest addition to our collections offers a closer look at the life and work of photographer Frank (Tico) Herrera.Th...
06/30/2026

The latest addition to our collections offers a closer look at the life and work of photographer Frank (Tico) Herrera.

The Frank (Tico) Herrera Photographic Negatives, Prints, and Other Material Collection (A&M 4747) highlights the remarkable career of Beckley native Frank "Tico" Herrera (1940–2021), whose work spanned more than 50 years. From stunning West Virginia landscapes and portraits to photographs from Ireland, the Faroe Islands, California, Canada, and beyond, the collection reflects Herrera's lifelong passion for photography and exploration.

The collection also includes examples of historic photographic processes, including cyanotypes, tintypes, and daguerreotypes, as well as prints by fellow photographers that showcase Herrera's artistic influences and collaborations.

Herrera's award-winning work is held in major museum collections across the country, and we're proud to preserve this incredible collection as part of the WVRHC's holdings.

Learn more about the collection and plan your visit to explore it in person! ➡️ wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit

We have a new collection now open for research! The records of the West Virginia University College of Law are now avail...
06/25/2026

We have a new collection now open for research!

The records of the West Virginia University College of Law are now available at the West Virginia & Regional History Center. Spanning primarily the 1920s–2010s, this collection documents the history and work of West Virginia’s first and only law school.

Researchers will find papers from notable faculty, alumni, and administrators; course materials and curriculum records; event programs; photographs; scrapbooks; publications; correspondence; and much more. Among the collection’s unique items is the legal research board game pictured here—a reminder that archives are often full of surprises!

This rich collection offers valuable resources for legal scholars, historians of higher education, and anyone interested in West Virginia history.

Read more about the COL records➡️ archives.lib.wvu.edu/repositories/2/resources/7139, and stop by the WVRHC to check out this great collection of WVU history!

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate West Virginia Day with us! We hope that reflecting on West Virginia hist...
06/25/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate West Virginia Day with us! We hope that reflecting on West Virginia history together inspired you to get curious and continue to explore the stories buried in the mountains.

Today we honor Juneteenth. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom...
06/19/2026

Today we honor Juneteenth. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom. On that day in Galveston, General Gordon Granger announced the emancipation of more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans, and coverage of the event appeared in West Virginia newspapers.

These newspapers, along with a 1992 speech on the history of Juneteenth delivered at the Washington Carver African American Arts Camp by historian and WVU alumna Ancella Bickley, are preserved in our collections. In her remarks, Bickley discussed the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation in West Virginia.

Learn more about these materials in a blog post by our former Instruction and Public Services Coordinator ➡️ news.lib.wvu.edu/2021/06/19/an-extensive-celebration-emancipation-day-and-juneteenth-in-west-virginia/

West Virginia's history isn't just something we remember—it's something we're still discovering. Join us June 18 at 2 p....
06/04/2026

West Virginia's history isn't just something we remember—it's something we're still discovering. Join us June 18 at 2 p.m. to hear from the next generation of historians whose research is uncovering new perspectives on the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the Mountain State for generations.

WVU Associate Professor of History Dr. William "Hal" Gorby will lead a panel discussion with these panelists:
- Dr. Kristen Bailey, PhD, 2025
- Matthew Powell, MA, 2025
- David Solomon, MA, 2025
- Dr. Jack Weaver, PhD, 2025

Mark your calendar➡️ wvu.libcal.com/calendar/events/wv-day-2026

We’ve been hard at work preparing exciting new collections for access, and most recently, we added new materials to the ...
06/02/2026

We’ve been hard at work preparing exciting new collections for access, and most recently, we added new materials to the Seneca Glass Collection.

New additions include glass sample drops, photographs of the factory, images showcasing Seneca glassware, newspaper articles, and a document authorizing the purchase of twenty sets of glassware for the U.S. Embassy in France.

Founded in Ohio in 1891, the Seneca Glass Company relocated to Morgantown in 1896 and became an important part of the region’s glassmaking history.

We’re excited to preserve and share this important piece of local glassmaking history!

Read more about the collection: archives.lib.wvu.edu/repositories/2/resources/1092

As America celebrates its semiquincentennial, we invite you to join us with WVU Libraries on Thursday, June 18 at 2 p.m...
05/21/2026

As America celebrates its semiquincentennial, we invite you to join us with WVU Libraries on Thursday, June 18 at 2 p.m., to honor both this momentous anniversary and West Virginia Day!

Kicking off the afternoon with birthday cake and a panel discussion, Dr. William "Hal" Gorby will lead a conversation honoring the history and culture that have shaped the Mountain State over the last 250 years.

After the reception, head up to the 6th floor to be among the first to explore the new exhibit, “Mountaineers Are Always Free: West Virginia at 250.” This exhibit will feature the power of place in West Virginia, examine the people who call West Virginia home, and highlight stories of struggles for freedom and democracy across the state's history.

Mark your calendar➡️ wvu.libcal.com/calendar/events/wv-day-2026

We are thrilled to announce a generous donation from West Virginia Feminist Activist and Women’s History Collection Advi...
05/14/2026

We are thrilled to announce a generous donation from West Virginia Feminist Activist and Women’s History Collection Advisory Board member Deb Miller, securing three years of funding for a full-time women’s collections archivist position!

Miller’s donation ensures that a dedicated archivist will uncover, document, and provide access to the stories of women who shaped the Appalachian region.

Supporters and friends are encouraged to engage with the West Virginia Feminist Activist and Women’s History Collection. In addition to using the materials in the collection for research, community members can also identify and donate relevant personal, event, or organizational materials. Those interested in learning more can visit the collection website: https://ow.ly/VI7Y50YZvXx.

To read more details about the donation, visit: https://ow.ly/2BAf50YZvXw

WVU Foundation

Address

1549 University Avenue PO Box 6069
Morgantown, WV
26506

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 7pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 7pm
Thursday 9:30am - 7pm
Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm

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