CASS GILBERT
From the Editor:
HISTORY DAY at the West Virginia State Capitol is February 28. Organizations and individuals from throughout the state will be meeting in Charleston to demonstrate their dedication to recording, preserving and teaching the history of West Virginia. The Legislature will be in session and will be considering several issues important to the constituency represented on History Day. Please take the time to discuss your group's display and participate in its presentation in the Capitol. Educate yourself on the needs of your county or your topic of interest, and also resolve to enlighten your region's state delegates and senators. Enjoy the camaraderie of being with like-minded people; celebrate those who are honored as 2002 History Heroes; enjoy the guest speaker, Dr. Barbara Christen, as she tells us about Cass Gilbert, the architect for our beautiful Capitol and remind your representatives of the importance of saving and protecting the places and objects that hold the unique history of West Virginia.
CASS GILBERT AND THE
WEST VIRGINIA CAPITOL
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History will present a lecture, "Cass Gilbert and the West Virginia State Capitol,"on Thursday, February 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the West Virginia State Theater of the Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex, Charleston.
The guest speaker will be Dr. Barbara Christen, co- editor of the recently published book, Cass Gilbert, Life and Work: Architect of the Public Domain (W. W. Norton & Company, 2001). Dr. Christen will present slides of Gilbert's original color presentation drawings, discussing her research on Gilbert as an architect of public buildings and focusing on his work on the West Virginia State Capitol. She will discuss Gilbert's careful positioning of the Capitol within the city of Charleston, as well as the differences between Gilbert's original vision for the building and the final product.
The lecture, which is free and open to the public, coincides with West Virginia History Day at the Legislature, and will be followed by a reception in the Great Hall of the Cultural Center. Dr. Christen will be available to sign copies of her books.
An architect with an international reputation, Cass Gilbert was commissioned to design the West Virginia State Capitol in 1921. Born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1859, Gilbert studied architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1912, Gilbert designed the world's first skyscraper, the Woolworth Building in New York City. His other works include the state capitols of Minnesota and Arkansas, and the U.S. Treasury Building and the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. Gilbert died in 1934, just two years after the West Virginia State Capitol was completed.
The Cass Gilbert program is part of the lecture series sponsored by the office of Secretary of Education and the Arts Kay Goodwin. For more information about Dr. Christen's lecture, call the Cultural Center at (304) 558-0162. (News release from which this article was largely taken courtesy of Ginny Painter, WV Division of Archives and History.)
PRESERVATION WEEK 2002
MAY 13 THROUGH MAY 19
"Taking a Walk Through History"
The West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office has adopted the theme of "Talking a Walk Through History" to celebrate and promote West Virginia's historic resources during Preservation Week 2002. SHPO staff request that state historical and preservation organizations sponsor a preservation- related activity that brings West Virginia's history to the public's attention.
SHPO will be producing a brochure and poster to be mailed in late April promoting these activities statewide. To include an activity in the brochure, contact Lora Lamarre by April 1, 2002, by calling (304) 558-0240, Ext. 711, or by e-mail to [email protected].
This newsletter is a publication of :
The Division of Culture and History
Archives and History
The Cultural Center
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, WV 25305-0300
(304) 558-0230
Nancy P. Herholdt, Commissioner
CASS GILBERT AND
CASS GILBERT, JR. MATERIALS
THE WEST VIRGINIA ARCHIVES
FROM BUTTERFIELDS
As you probably followed through the newspapers, a collection of material from Cass Gilbert, Inc., the architectural firm of Cass Gilbert and his son, came up for auction through Butterfields in May 2001. With a combination of state funds and private donations, the portion of the documents, drawings and blueprints relevant to West Virginia's Capitol and State Capitol Complex were purchased for the West Virginia Archives collection. After Cass Gilbert, Sr., the architect for the current Capitol building, died in 1934, his son, Cass Gilbert, Jr., continued with the firm and designed several additional projects for West Virginia. Following are brief descriptions of some of the Butterfields purchase that may be of interest to the general public:
Correspondence, including 1940 and 1941 letters regarding Capitol dome problems and roof leaks, as well as a riverbank treatment. Specifications for State Office Building #1, a parking building, and State Office Building #3.
The 1921 agreement between the Capitol Building Commission and Cass Gilbert for the design and construction of the current Capitol. Photographs of the development of the Capitol grounds in 1946, the parking building in 1952-53, the main Capitol building (undated), and of Building #3 (current DMV building) in 1951.
Drawings and blueprints for possible sites for the main Capitol building, the Capitol building itself, and exterior scale details for the Capitol.
Negative photocopies of sketches for the interior of the Capitol, most dated 1929. Blueprints for stairs, doors, stair railings, entryways, door and window details, etc.
A selection of these materials are currently featured in the Cultural Center display entitled "Cass Gilbert and the West Virginia State Capitol." Included in the Great Hall level display are the shovels used by Governors Morgan and Conley for groundbreaking ceremonies, a program from the June 20, 1932 dedication of the Capitol, and drafting tools typical of the time period.
The Archives and History Library display case will be featuring additional portions of the Cass Gilbert Collection sometime in the future. Interested in all of West Virginia's Capitol buildings over the years? Visit "Capitols of West Virginia, Photographs of the" in the History Center section of our Web site, http://www.wvculture.org/history.
REPLACEMENT KANAWHA COUNTY
MICROFILM
DONATED BY MYHF
The Mining Your History Foundation has donated new microfilm to replace heavily used rolls of these Kanawha County records:
BIRTHS
Index 1853-1931
Volumes 1 through 4, 1853-1919
REGISTER OF FREE NEGROES
NOTE: In the midst of these three brief volumes recording free
Negroes living in Kanawha County are the handwritten marriage
records for 1794-1826 that are also recorded in typed and
abstracted form in the Marriage Records as indicated below.
MARRIAGES
Index Males 1854-1933
Index Females 1854-1933
Marriage Records 1794-1826, indexed/abstracted
Marriage Bonds/Minister Returns 1816-1843
Marriage Licenses/Returns 1850-1867
Marriage Licenses/Returns 1867-1875
Volume 1 1854-1884
Volume 2 1885-1898
Volume 3 1898-1904
DEATHS
Index 1853-1936
The Archives and History Library staff very much appreciates the continuing assistance of MYHF in improving the quality and quantity of materials available for researchers in our collection. If you are unfamiliar with this statewide not-for-profit group, please read the January 2002 issue of Archives and History News for more information. Patrons of the Archives and History Library Microfilm Room will find comment sheets on which to list hard-to-read microfilm for consideration by MYHF for replacement. If you or your organization would like to donate toward this on-going project, please be advised that libraries may purchase LDS microfilm for $30.00 a roll (they do not sell to individuals), but the Archives can purchase film for $20.00 per roll due to the our status as a donor. Donations to the Archives can be earmarked for the purchase of replacement county record microfilm.
Archives and History News
is on the Web
If you usually read Archives and History News in your organization's library or if you pick up copies in the Archives and History Library when you visit us in Charleston, you may not be able to read every month's issue. Thanks to Joe Geiger, Archives and History's Web master, you need not miss anything. Every month Joe enters the text of the Archives and History News on our Web site: http://www.wvculture.org/history in the "Archives" section. All back issues are on line for your reference. Because so many issues discuss West Virginia research topics, Joe has also listed Archives and History News under "Research Guides."
WHAT IS A GENEALOGIST?
A full-time detective
A thorough historian
An inveterate snoop
A confirmed diplomat
A keen observer
A hardened sceptic
An apt biographer
A qualified linguist
A part-time lawyer
A studious sociologist
An accurate reporter
An hieroglyphics expert,
AND . . .
A complete nut!
Copied from RootsWeb Review, Vol. 5, No. 4, Jan. 23, 2002. (Thanks from RootsWeb Review to Andrew Billinghurst at [email protected] who says he saw it on the [email protected] mailing list.) Editor's note: If you would like to use this in your organization's newsletter, be sure to identify RootsWeb Review as the source.
NEW TITLES
Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 2003 Supplement, Part 1: Gale Research Co., 2002.
Pioneers of Preston: The Histories of Pioneer Family Groups of Preston County, (West) Virginia: Janice Cale Sisler, 2001.
Ostrander: A Genealogical Record 1660-1995: Emmett Ostrander, et al, 1999.
Maryetta United Baptist Church History: Eldean Ramey Doss Wellman, 2000.
Ancestry of Maurice Baker and his Wife, Elizabeth: Rod Harless, 2002.
Reynolds, Reger, Leech, Burwell and Related Families: Rebecca S. Reger, 2001.
The Garrett Snuff Fortune: C. A. Weslager, 1998, c1965.
Centennial Plus One: The Centennial History of the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution 1895-1996: Eleanor Smallwood Niebell, 1997.
History of Putnam County West Virginia, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2: William D. Wintz, 1999, 2001.
Index to Obituaries in The Parkersburg News: 1960-1969: Wes Cochran, 2001.
Roane County WV 1920 Census: Smithfield, Spencer & Walton Districts: Wes Cochran, 2001.
Roane County WV 1920 Census: Curtis, Geary, Harper & Reedy Districts: Wes Cochran, 2001.
Greenwood Cemetery: Sistersville, WV: (Tyler County): Annotated: Wes Cochran, 2001.
Jackson County WV 1900 Census: Ripley District: Wes Cochran, 2000.
The Jackson Herald Obituaries 1947, 1948, 1949: Betty Kessel McIntyre, no date.
Henderson Family USA: with Related Families Given, Goad, Lewis, Looney, Paterson, Sword, Taylor: George H. Moose, 1998.
Harbour Family USA: George Howard Moose, 1989.
"Threads of Ottumwa": Glentzer and Feehan Family Trees: Kay E. Rupert-Heston, 1994.
Roane County WV Marriages 1919-1934: Wes Cochran, 2001.
Calhoun County WV 1920 Census: Wes Cochran, 2001.
Attitudes and Values of Appalachian Youth: Rural-Agricultural-Coal Mining: Agro and Rock County Youth Revisited, 1980-1990: Margaret Blair Lawrence Price, 1990, c1992.
Navigation Improvements on Coal River, West Virginia: [Map] Sigfus Olafson, 1954.
Great Kanawha Navigation: Emory L. Kemp, 1998.
A Beautiful Mind: A Biography of John Forbes Nash, Jr., Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, 1994: Sylvia Nasar, 1999.
Charleston West Virginia Renewal Community Application: Mayor's Office of Economic and Community Development, [2001].
Municipal Directory: West Virginia Municipal League, [2001].
Cemeteries, Graveyards and Burial Places of Poca District, Volumes 1 and 2: Sissonville Historical Society, 2000.
Kanawha County Images: Volume II: Richard A. Andre and Stan Cohen, 2001.
Following family history titles by James L. Lockhart, no dates:
Descendants of Michael O'Cain.
Descendants of Alexander, I Telford [cover title:
Alexander Telford and Descendents (sic) from Scotland and
America.]
Descendants of Presley Vineyard Sr.
Descendants of Christopher Rhodes, Sr. [cover title:
Rhodes Family from Rockbridge Co., VA to Roane County West
Virginia.]
Descendants of John Sheppard.
Descendants of Abraham Staats.
Descendants of Elijah Staats and Margaret Alkire. [cover
title: Elijah Staats and Some of His Descendants.]
Descendants of George McElwain (Wayne).
Descendants of Thomas Philips, Sr.
Descendants of John Sims.
The Known Descendants of Baron Hugh 'Roger' De Rennes
(Raines).
Descendants of Solomon Somerville.
Descendants of James Paxton.
LEGISLATION OF INTEREST IN THE CURRENT SESSION
SB20 and HB4313: Establishing Corrick's Ford State Park.
SB125: Creating heritage preservation and tourism development fund.
SB242: Increasing criminal penalties for intentional cemetery damage.
SB312 and HB4172: Legislative rule relating to Capitol Complex parking.
SB386: Legislative rule relating to Records Management and Preservation Board.
SB415: Providing for clean-up of cemeteries using jail and prison labor.
SB472: Continues Capitol Building Commission.
SB472 and HB4235: Continues Records Management Preservation Board.
SB502: Permit municipalities to increase hotel tax up to 7%.
SB531: Proposes creation of hotel privilege tax to and development fund to promote tourism.
SB587: Requires tourism commission to promote heritage preservation tourism programs.
SB680: Would extend hotel occupancy tax to include library and educational facility construction.
SB686: Establish Coal Heritage Highway Authority to promote economic development related to Coal Heritage Trail.
SB701: Relating to powers of director of Division of National Resources to preserve historical integrity of Cass.
SCR20: Resolution requesting Joint Committee on Government and Finance Review, examine and study statutory means by which West Virginians of indigenous descent who do not meet current criteria for federal acknowledgment may be given formal recognition.
SR24: Recognizes achievements of Dr. Bickley and Dr. Ewen.
HCR No. 16: Commemorating 30th anniversary of Buffalo Creek disaster.
HB2572: Authorizing optical image media preservation of certain county records and CD-ROM technology for storage of county records.
HB4402: Creates procedures required to develop or improve private land if interments involved.
HB4557: Require DNR to develop and implement comprehensive program to preserve historical integrity of Cass.
HJR No. 102: Constitutional amendment to place on ballot to authorize license plates and revenue for Coal Miner Memorial Fund for coal miner statue on Capitol Complex and others.
HR18: Recognizing Native American Indian Federation as official intertribal tribe of W. Va.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
PLEASE CHECK OUR WEB SITE (http://www.wvculture.org/history) FOR GENEALOGICAL and HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND FOR MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES LISTED BELOW.
"WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON": A Collection of West Virginia War Letters. Archives and History Library Exhibit, The Cultural Center, Charleston.
HISTORY DAY 2002, FEBRUARY 28. Capitol Complex, Charleston.
"CASS GILBERT, LIFE AND WORK," FEBRUARY 28. Lecture by Dr. Barbara Christen, West Virginia State Theater, The Cultural Center, Charleston.
25th ANNUAL APPALACHIAN STUDIES CONFERENCE, MARCH 15-17: Voices from the Margins Living on the Fringe. Unicoi State Park, Helen, GA. For more information: http://www.AppalachianStudies.org.
ANNUAL BLUE & GRAY DINNER, APRIL 11. Lecture by Troy D. Harman, author of Cemetery Hill: the General Plan was Unchanged. WV Independence Hall, Wheeling.
INDEPENDENCE HALL MUSEUM'S FAMILY FUN DAY: APPALACHIAN STORIES AND SONGS, APRIL 27. Performed by Imagine That. Wheeling.
PRESERVATION WEEK 2002: "TAKING A WALK THROUGH HISTORY," MAY 13-19.
INDEPENDENCE HALL MUSEUM'S FAMILY FUN DAY: CHILDREN'S CIVIL WAR BOOT CAMP, MAY 15. Conducted by 15th Ohio Re- enactors. Wheeling.
*Only the Archives Library will be staffed--all other Archives offices will be closed. The State Museum will be open any time the Archives Library is open. The West Virginia Library Commission Library in the Cultural Center is closed weekends and all holidays.
ARCHIVES AND HISTORY STAFF
Fredrick Armstrong: Director
Debra Basham: Archivist (photographs, special collections)
Constance Baston: Researcher (Veterans Memorial Archive)
Greg Carroll: Historian (Civil War, Native American history)
Dick Fauss: Archivist (microfilm and moving images)
Elaine Gates: Library Assistant (microfilming and microfilm
repairs)
Joe Geiger: Historian (Web page)
Ed Hicks: Photographer (archival photography, darkroom)
Mary Johnson: Historian (West Virginia History)
Terry Lowry: Library Assistant (Civil War)
Jaime Lynch: Library Assistant (records of the 1700's and early
1800's, Pennsylvania)
Cathy Miller: Library Assistant (WV State documents,
periodicals)
Sharon Newhouse: Secretary
Harold Newman: Library Assistant (microfilming, Revolutionary
War)
Pat Pleska: Manager (Veterans Memorial Archive)
Susan Scouras: Librarian (cataloging, Kentucky, library collection,
newsletter editor)
Bobby Taylor: Library Manager
Nancy Waggoner: Office Assistant
Working on special projects: Allen Fowler.
Volunteers: Caroline Connor, Bill Kelley, Dale Newhouse, and Angela Tolbert.