Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia Summer
A friend’s post of West Virginia’s political economy today pointed me right back to my own research – because history is never that far away.
West Virginia’s history is key to its future. When I worked on my dissertation, I focused on the immense political acumen and ambition of the men who steered the statehood convention. Aligning themselves with government resources to fund transportation as a market tool to expand the economic potential of their region was key for decades prior to the Civil War. Couching our memory of statehood with only the events of the Civil War continues to cloud our ability to take hold of the reins of our own resources. Take time this summer to re-invest in West Virginia. Enjoy the mountains and rivers, buy local produce, visit some of the uniquely West Virginia historic sites.
We all know and quote the motto “Montani Semper Liberi” – “Mountaineers are Always Free” which appears on the front of our state seal. The obverse of the seal is rarely seen. It’s motto? “Libertas E Fidelitate” – “Freedom and Loyalty” sits above a scene of hills, farms, trains, factories, and rivers. Be loyal to your state and enjoy the freedoms we have here – keep some of your entertainment and grocery budget within the beautifully odd contours of West Virginia.
Newspaper Databases
One of the best ways to enhance your family’s history is to examine their place in local history. What was happening in the town where they lived during specific time periods? Did your ancestors participate in political, social, business, or athletic activities?
Utilizing a newspaper database can help flesh out details about family histories, particularly if you can locate publications specific to the area related to the family. There are subscription services that are useful, but I would urge you to consider two free options. The Library of Congress’ Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers is entirely free and can be accessed here: Chronicling America « Library of Congress. This database provides access to newspapers through 1963. Many public libraries also offer newspaper database options. The Taylor County Public Library offers its patrons access to Newspaper Archives, with a wide variety of small West Virginia newspapers Resources | Taylor County Public Library | United States.
My grandmother grew up in Kasson (Barbour County), West Virginia on a family-run dairy farm. She was the only child born into a blended family and lost her mother at a young age. Even small snippets about their life are helpful to building an image of what life with her mother may have looked like. Newspaper Archives provided some nice clues. On November 27, 1924, the Grafton Sentinal included a small item in its social reporting for the Dent community that “Mrs. D.F. Bolyard and children of Locust Grove, are visiting relatives and friends of Mt. Pleasant at this writing.”
It's just one small clue – but it aligns with my grandmother’s stories of her mother taking all of the children in the home to church at Mt. Pleasant – which was several miles from their home!
Using newspapers can help you build in small pieces of context and, in some cases, may point you towards information that was previously unknown about your family.
What’s the Deal with the Census?
The use of census records is a common tool for researchers and genealogists. Did you know that the federal government regularly evaluates the types of information it collects from citizens and modifies the decennial census to help them gather that data? For example, the 1940s census was in part used to gauge the effectiveness of New Deal programming. Individuals were not only asked about their families, but also whether they had participated in one of the varieties of federal jobs programs (for example, the CCC) the preceding year. This type of information can be used to help families track whether their ancestors worked on important public projects in their neighborhoods through CCC, WPA, or other federal jobs programs. Each census is unique and provides genealogists with new and exciting clues to the lives of those they research.
Thinking about Local History
Public historian Carol Kammen writes, “Local history is the memory of place.” (Kammen, On Doing Local History). Yesterday’s talk from Titus Swann at the Hacker’s Creek Pioneer Descendents HCPD focused on developing the stories of those who lived, were treated, and in some many - died - at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. With a robust turn-out, the session confirmed that Lewis County’s residents are highly engaged in their local history. While the preservation of local history tends to be overlooked by practicing academic historians, the practice is well-recognized by public historians as a way to tap into the consciousness of a community. It falls to those in the community to seek out and preserve the stories that are important to the history of people and place - even when those histories are difficult. I encourage you to think about the ways in which your own community preserves and protects its history. Swann’s presentation reminded the Lewis County community that people with mental health challenges often became lost in the narrative of our hometown. Please support those in the field of history who are taking steps to preserve under-represented voices and look for ways to become part of the practice of history where you live.
