VOL UM E III, NO . 3 MAY 2002

HISTORICAL HIGHWAYMARKERS

From the Editor:

If you are planning a trip to the WestVirginia Archives and History Librarythis summer to explore your genealogy

or to learn more about the history of your homecounty, I suggest you review several past issues ofArchives and History News in order to make thebest use of your research time:T West Virginia’s 55 Counties, August 2000.T Asking the Right Question, December

2000.T Searching Surnames in the Archives

Library, January 2001.T Newspaper Research, March 2001.T Tips for Using the Archives and History

Library, December 2001.Archives and History News is available in manyWest Virginia historical/genealogical societylibraries and some public libraries. Text of allissues are available on our Web site:http://www.wvculture.org/history/news.html. Ifyou do not have personal access to the Internet,most public libraries provide computers withInternet hookup.

Be sure to call us and/or check our Web site forinformation on hours, parking and drivingdirections. We look forward to seeing you!

MARKING OUR PAST:West Virginia’s Historical Highway

Markers

The long-awaited new book listing West Virginiahistorical highway markers is now available.Marking Our Past: West Virginia’s HistoricalHighway Markers, has been published by theWest Virginia Division of Culture and History.Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit theWest Virginia State Historical Highway MarkerProgram with funds to support the replacement,repair or revision of existing markers.

Markers are listed by county, with title, exact textand general location of each marker given. (Pleasenote that the wording on several markers isobsolete and not acceptable by today’s standards.An example is the use of the word “savages” inreference to Native Americans. Outmodedmarkers have been listed for replacement asfunding allows.) Markers are indexed by title andby subject. For example, the marker honoringMike Fink is listed by its actual title of “Grave ofMike Fink” and also under “Fink, Mike.” Black-and-white photographs from the West VirginiaState Archives Photograph Collection illustrate thebook.

2 VOLUME III, NO. 3 MAY 2002

The first historical highway marker authorized bythe state of West Virginia was installed in 1937.Earlier markers placed by county historical groupsand patriotic societies are also included in thebook. As of January 2002, fifty-four approvedmarkers were pending manufacture and placement.Some of them are new markers, some arereplacements for missing markers, and a few arerevised markers to correct or replace outdatedwording.

Marking Our Past: West Virginia’s HistoricalHighway Markers can be purchased at the officesof Archives and History in The Cultural Center,Charleston, for $13.73 ($12.95 plus $.78 sales tax),or by mail at our address for $15.00 by check ormoney order (sales tax, postage and handlingincluded, no cash please). Free copies of the bookhave been distributed to West Virginia school andpublic libraries.

FAQs about the West VirginiaHistoric & Scenic Highway Marker

Program

When was the marker program established?

It was implemented in 1934, during the GreatDepression, to encourage tourism. The WestVirginia Commission on Historic and ScenicMarkers worked with the State RoadCommission, Works Progress Administration,and Federal Emergency Relief Administrationto place 440 markers in 1937 and publish thefirst guide. After World War II, markers wereplaced at the sites of most state-run facilitiesand schools. The West Virginia HistoricCommission took over the program in 1963.Since the late 1960s, the program has beenmanaged by the West Virginia State Archives,which is today part of the West VirginiaDivision of Culture & History.

Does the West Virginia State Archives keep alist of markers?

The State Archives has maintained files oneach of the markers. Unfortunately, many ofthese files were outdated because markers hadbeen moved and road names have beenchanged. In 1996, the Division of Culture &History was awarded a federal IntermodalSurface Transportation Efficiency Act(ISTEA) grant to survey the state's highwaymarkers. The result is Marking Our Past.

Who pays for the markers?

Most were funded by the state until 1985. Allmarkers placed since then have been funded bygroups, or in some cases by privateindividuals. There are two styles of markers,both of which include the State Seal. Thetraditional cast aluminum marker is availablefor $1,300 with the same inscription on bothsides or $1,400 with a different inscription oneach side. An 80-gauge aluminum sign whichgives the appearance of the traditional markercosts approximately $350, but will not last asmany years. Installation, standards andtransportation costs for either type of sign areapproximately $100. All prices are subject tochange.

What subjects or events will be considered?

The site, property, district, or communityhonored with a marker must possess somedegree of significance in state or localprehistory (archaeology), history, naturalhistory, architecture, or cultural life. Acomplete list of guidelines can be obtainedfrom the State Archives

How many markers are there?

Approximately 1,000 markers have beenplaced in West Virginia. However, the recentsurvey indicates nearly 30% are no longerstanding and a majority of the remainingmarkers are in need of refurbishing.

How are markers maintained?

3 VOLUME III, NO. 3 MAY 2002

There is no dedicated source of state funding torepair or replace markers. Some historicalsocieties and civic groups assume the cost forrefurbishing markers in their counties.(Presently the George Rogers Clark marker atPoint Pleasant is being refurbished byinterested citizens and students.) Missing ordamaged markers should be reported to theState Archives

How can I find more information about themarkers program?

Please contact Fredrick H. Armstrong,Director, West Virginia Archives and History.

NEW TITLES

Pioneer Families of Lewis County, Kentucky:Indexed: Lewis County Historical Society (KY),2000.The Giles, Alleghany (sic) and JacksonArtillery: Keith S. Bohannon, 1990.Graham’s Petersburg, Jackson’s Kanawha andLurty’s Roanoke Horse Artillery: Robert H.Moore II, 1996.The Face of Justice: Portraits of John Marshall:Huntington Museum of Art and MarshallUniversity, 2001.Wheeling’s Finest: A History of Battery “D”First West Virginia Light Artillery: From theWheeling Daily Intelligencer: Edward L. Phillips,2002.The 1930 Federal Population Census: Catalogof National Archives Microfilm: NationalArchives Trust Fund Board, 2002.Wheeling West Virginia Districts Map: City ofWheeling, [no date].The Millenium Library Edition of the RingoFamily History Series: David Leer Ringo, 2002.One Kanawha Valley Bank: A History: BillDrennen, [no date].NOTE: Many recent New Title listings have goneto the bindery to receive hard covers. We expectthem back on the shelves around mid-June.

SUMMER REUNION ALERT

Summer is the prime time for all types ofreunions–family, school, company, community,church. If your family or organization is holdinga reunion, please send a copy of any memorybooks or videotapes that you produce, whetherdone by amateurs or professionals. Your photosand memoirs are valuable resources forgenealogists and state historians alike. Inparticular we have many requests for informationand photographs of the company towns whichonce thrived in West Virginia, but we have little inour collection to describe a way of life no longerfound in the mountains. Please share your pride inyour own personal history with the many peoplewho are unable to attend your gatherings. Makingyour heritage a part of the Archives collectionmeans that it will be preserved for posterity andavailable to present and future historians.

TWO COLLECTIONS ADDEDTO ARCHIVES

PHOTOGRAPHS ON THEINTERNET

As we covered last month, Archives and Historyhas launched a new portion of our Web sitedevoted to the Archives Photograph Collection.Two new collections will be added in May. TheBollinger Collection consists of photographs ofthe construction of the current West Virginia StateCapitol designed by Cass Gilbert. The circa 1900Tuck Taylor Collection includes familyphotographs, scenic views of the Fayette Countyarea, and coal mining scenes.------------------------------------------------------------

This newsletter is a publication of :

The Division of Culture and HistoryArchives and HistoryThe Cultural Center

1900 Kanawha Boulevard EastCharleston, WV 25305-0300

(304) 558-0230Nancy P. Herholdt, Commissioner

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

4 VOLUME III, NO. 3 MAY 2002

P L E A S E C H E C K O U R W E B S I T E

(http://www.wvculture.org/history) FOR GENEALOGICAL

a n d H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y M E E T I N G

ANNOUN CEMENTS, AND FOR MORE CO MPLETE

INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES LISTED BELOW.

“WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON”: ACollection of West Virginia War Letters.Exhibit in the Archives and History Library, TheCultural Center, Charleston.JENKINS PLANTATION MUSEUM CLOSEDFOR REPAIRS, APRIL 6-MAY 10.PRESERVATION WORKSHOP WITHARCHIVES AND HISTORY STAFF, MAY 11.Parkersburg Public Library. Sponsored by WoodCounty Historical and Preservation Society.ANNUAL CIVIL WAR CAMP, MAY 11.Jenkins Plantation Museum, Green Bottom.GENEALOGICAL FAIR, MAY 11. WestVirginia Genealogical Society, Elkview.PRESERVATION WEEK, MAY 13-19.“Taking a Walk Through History.” Eventsthroughout the state. For a list of activities seehttp://www.wvculture.org/shpo/presweek02.html.PRIMARY ELECTION DAY, MAY 14.Archives Library will be open.*INDEPENDENCE HALL MUSEUM’SFAMILY FUN DAY: CHILDREN’S CIVILWAR BOOT CAMP, MAY 15. Conducted by15th Ohio Re-enactors, Wheeling.MEMORIAL DAY, MAY 27. Archives Librarywill be closed.WEST VIRGINIA ARCHIVES ANDHISTORY COMMISSION, JUNE 14. Regularmeeting. Thomas.WEST VIRGINIA DAY, JUNE 20. ArchivesLibrary will be open.*INDEPENDENCE HALL’S WEST VIRGINIADAY CELEBRATION, JUNE 20. Wheeling.KENTUCKY RESEARCH WORKSHOP,JUNE 29: Eastern Kentucky Genealogy Society,Ashland. INDEPENDENCE DAY, JULY 4. ArchivesLibrary will be closed.*Only the Archives Library will be staffed--allother Archives offices will be closed. The State

Museum will be open any time the ArchivesLibrary is open. The West Virginia LibraryCommission Library in The Cultural Center isclosed weekends and all holidays.

ARCHIVES AND HISTORY STAFF

Fredrick Armstrong: DirectorDebra 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: SecretaryHarold Newman: Library Assistant

(microfilming, Revolutionary War)Pat Pleska: Manager (Veterans Memorial

Archive)Susan Scouras: Librarian (cataloging, Kentucky,

library collection, newsletter editor)Bobby Taylor: Library ManagerNancy Waggoner: Office Assistant Working on special projects: Allen Fowler. Volunteers: Carolyn Conner, Bill Kelley, DaleNewhouse, Angela Tolbert, Bob and LucileFoster, and Barry Williams.********WE NEED VOLUNTEERS********

CALL US TODAY!