Descriptive Summary
Title: Jane Lewis Tavenner Collection
Span Dates: 1792-2009
Bulk Dates:
ID No: Ms2023-036
Creator: Jane Lewis Tavenner, Marcia Peterson Daoust
Extent: 0.84 linear feet, 2 flip top document containers, 1 legal size, 1 letter size, 21 letter size folders
Language: English
Repository: West Virginia State Archives, Charleston, WV
Conditions on Use and Access: N/A
Copyright: Copyright restrictions may apply.
Administrative Information
Donor: This collection was donated to West Virginia Archives and History at The Cultural Center by Marcia Peterson Daoust in October 2023
Transfers:
Preferred Citation: [item, collection number], Jane Lewis Tavenner Collection, West Virginia State Archives, Charleston, WV.
Processor: Processed by Bethany Arbaugh, October 2023.
Processing Notes: The records are arranged in two series, and then at the folder level by date range.
Historical Note: Jane Lewis Tavenner was born to Nelson Corbin Tavenner and Nellie E. Lewis Tavenner on November 6, 1916, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. She graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1934. She attended West Virginia University for a year before transferring to the University of Missouri. Jane graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism Degree in Country Newspaper Production. She was a member of Theta Sigma Phi fraternity for women in journalism. She attended Duquesne University for graduate work, where she studied African Languages and African Affairs.
Jane worked for the following newspapers: Monroe City News (Mo.), the Martinsburg News, and The Suffolk New Herald (Va.). She took over the family business of Tavenner's Books, Stationery, and Gift Store. She also worked at Old Charles Town Library.
She volunteered for the Red Cross Nurses Aide Corp. during World War II and served at the Newton D. Baker Army Hospital. Jane was the secretary for the Martinsburg Library Commission from 1957 to 1994. She aided in the development of the Martinsburg Public Library, which opened in 1968. A member of the Richard III Society, Delta Gamma fraternity, a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, and served a term on the Martinsburg Alumni Association.
Jane died at the age of 106 on January 12, 2023.
Sources of Information:
"Jane L. Tavenner." Martinsburg Journal, 16 Jan. 2023, p. A8.
Scope and Content: Series comprises primarily genealogical materials of the Tavenner and Mish families. Collection includes original letters, notes, newspaper clippings, and Jane Lewis Tavenner's personal scrapbooks, certificates, and letters.
Related Materials:
Ms2009-008 Roland H. Peterson collection. Roland H. Peterson's wife, Mary Tavenner Peterson, was Jane Lewis Tavenner's sister.
Ms2002-118 Randall family collection. The Randall family were close family friends of the Peterson family.
929.2 L779 Littleton-Garrison-Tavenner by Virginia Blackford Kable.
Arrangement
Series I. Personal papers, 1930-1983.
Series II. Genealogical research, 1792-2009.
Contents List:
Series: I
Box 1
1: Jane Lewis Tavenner personal letters, clippings, and family business materials, 1930-1968
2: Jane Lewis Tavenner high school scrapbook, 1934
3: Jane Lewis Tavenner fraternity certificate and college commencements, 1938-1940
4: Jane Lewis Tavenner University of Missouri yearbook, 1940
5: Jane Lewis Tavenner passports, 1976-1983
Series: II
Box 1
1: Mary Mish Lewis poems, 1875-1890s
2: Letter from Will Lewis to Mary Mish, 1877
3: Letter from Rosean Mish to Saddie Lewis, 1895-1898
4: Letter from Sallie A. Mish to niece, 1897
5: Nellie Tavenner's autograph book, 1900
6: Letter to Lucy Simpson, 1911
7: Letters to Price Lucas, 1919-1922
8: Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Julia Tavenner, 1932
9: Genealogical research, photocopies, and letters to Jane Tavenner about research, circa 1970s-1990s
10: Materials related to Littleton and Tavenner families, 1940-2000
11: Genealogical research, photocopies and letters to Jane Tavenner about research, circa 1970s-1990s
12: Littleton family tree information, 1970s-1978
13: Research materials sent by Karen Wood to Jane Lewis Tavenner, 2002-2009
14: Genealogical research, Mish family manuscripts, n.d.
15: Index to Littleton, Garrison and Tavenner book, n.d.
16: Bayley, Beatrice. The Tavenner Family Heritage Book.
17: True Copy of the Church Book of Old Zoar Church, 1792 [unknown original copy date]