The West Virginia Archives and History Library of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History is offering a series of genealogy- and history-related workshops on selected Thursday evenings in August and September. The sessions will take place in the library at the Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston, from 6 - 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public.
The workshops will focus on specialized resources available in the Archives and History Library and how to use them. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and will be offered hands-on examples or instruction with the materials and research issues involved.
The first workshop will be held on Thursday, Aug. 21, and librarian Susan Scouras will discuss “Using Newspaper Archive Online.” This session will focus on the use of this subscription database recently made available to patrons visiting the Archives and History Library.
On Thursday, Aug. 28, archivist Debra Basham will present “Family Photographs.” This workshop will address the variety of photographic formats, basic storage techniques and the pitfalls of relying solely on digital storage. Participants are invited to bring photographs and ask questions about preservation.
Staff historian Greg Carroll will offer two workshops in September. On Thursday, Sept. 18, he will present “Native American Resources in the West Virginia Archives and History Library.” This session will offer new titles available in the library and explore some new angles that will help in studying local Native American history. On Thursday, Sept. 25, Carroll will discuss “Applying for a West Virginia Civil War Medal.” The medals were authorized by the state legislature in 1866 as “tokens of respect” for Union veterans of West Virginia military units, but many were unclaimed and eventually were turned over to Archives and History, which began a program to distribute remaining medals to descendants who file a documented line of descent proving direct lineage.
Advance registration for the workshops is not required, but is encouraged to help plan seating arrangements and handouts for the sessions. Genealogical and historical societies are invited to hold their regular meeting or to plan a field trip in conjunction with any workshop.
For more information about a group visit or to register in advance, contact Robert Taylor, library manager, at (304) 558-0230, ext. 163, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Participants interested in registering by e-mail should send their name, telephone number and the name and date of the session they will attend. For additional information about the workshops, contact the Archives and History Library at (304) 558-0230.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the state capitol complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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