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"Public Documents are the materials for the historian. Without such a collection he, however much inclined, can never do justice to a State. Nor without them, can its people ever have an accurate knowledge of the founding and growth of their institutions; nor of their own development in governmental affairs, educational and other interests. Not only this, but posterity can not have the means of judging, as it might, of the deeds, and principles of action, and of the legislation of ancestors. Thus the State that neglects to preserve its Public Documents, loses much to future generations -- to the whole world indeed." Virgil A. Lewis, West Virginia State Historian and Archivist, 1908 |
Comments and suggestions about this web site may be addressed to Mary Johnson at the West Virginia State Archives. The Archives will not answer e-mail research requests. All research requests must be submitted in writing to the Archives and History Library; The Culture Center; 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E.; Charleston, WV 25305-0300. Requests from outside West Virginia must be accompanied by a $15 research fee; a $5 research fee must accompany in-state requests (checks made payable to Division of Culture and History). Please read the Archives' listing of services available for more details on research correspondence. Important information regarding checks received for payments
"A tremendous lot of valuable data was stored away in this department [Archives & History] but on account of it not being properly indexed, it only represented so much 'junk.' . . . Considering the small force and limited funds that have been available for this work in our state, admirable progress has been achieved, but liberal provisions must be made for the work if it is to be carried forward on a scale in any way commensurate with our needs."
Second Biennial Message of Governor Hatfield to the Legislature of 1917