Call West Virginia University’s John Cuthbert “old school,” and the library curator will laugh and thank you for the compliment.

That’s because in today’s whiz-bang, jump-cut, computer graphic-enhanced, “just roll tape” age, he still thinks there’s a lot to be said for the compelling drama of the humble photograph – preferably one that is sepia toned, from a time gone by.

“I always think about what went on right before and right after the picture was snapped,” Cuthbert said. “I’m always drawn to the faces and surroundings. You can see the baby who grew up to be a great-grandmother or the miner who unfortunately died the day after the photograph was made. A good photograph is a little slice of someone’s soul, and I mean that in a good way.”

Some 30,000 photos dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries are now just a few clicks of the computer keyboard away, thanks to Cuthbert and the WVU-based West Virginia History OnView collection.

The online grouping is part of the larger West Virginia State and Regional History Collection, and Cuthbert and others have spent the past three years maintaining the database which they speculate may top out at 50,000 images when it’s all done.

The images are easy to get to via the Internet, Cuthbert is quick to add. The database boasts phenomenal search engines that make it easy to navigate all those photos from your home computer or office.

That makes it easy for authors and reporters looking to illustrate stories, he said. Students can punch up term papers and PowerPoint presentations with images that might have otherwise taken hours or days to locate.

“I know what it’s like to be on the other end of that,” Cuthbert said. “It’s frustrating. You’re looking for that one photograph that’ll make the project, and you’ll know it when you see it. And, of course, you never see it because it is buried in some archive somewhere.”

Before, if you wanted, say, a picture of a steamboat on the Monongahela River, passing under the Westover Bridge, you’d eventually find it, but you might have to thumb through two or three different collections to do it.

“Maybe it was in the ‘Morgantown’ section, maybe not,” Cuthbert said. “Maybe it was in ‘steamboats, rivers and bridges,’ maybe not. It’s only fun being a detective when you have time to do it.”

An easy-to-use keyword search takes care of that, Cuthbert said.

Dean of Libraries Frances O’Brien agrees.

“It’s an excellent example of how library technology can enhance historical research,” she said, “and it’s a glimpse of our past life and culture.”

Which is what got Cuthbert into all of this in the first place.

“Every place has a history,” he said, “but maybe that’s a little more so in a place like West Virginia. Think of what we went through, from the Civil War to the mine wars to the war on poverty.

“Even if it’s a family on their front porch looking a little uncomfortable in their dress clothes, they were in the moment – that captured moment – when the shutter clicked and the powder went off,” Cuthbert said. “They’re West Virginia, and that’s us, whether you’re a proud native or a proud graduate of our flagship university, or both.”

By Candace Nelson

On June 20, 1863, West Virginia was created from the secession of several northwestern counties of Virginia during the Civil War. West Virginia is the only state created from another without the parent state’s permission and the only to achieve statehood by the proclamation of a president.

In honor of West Virginia Day on Friday, West Virginia University Libraries is holding a series of free events to celebrate George Bird Evans.

Evans’ family enjoyed the outdoors, and, coincidentally, his middle name (Bird) was a family name.

“It’s a great opportunity for students and staff to know about our history. (Evans) may not be well-known, but (this display) will benefit the students,” said Monte Maxwell, a representative of WVU Libraries.

Toward the beginning of the year many of Evans’ papers, manuscripts, books and other materials were donated to the library – many of which were upland game bird hunting literature.

“(Evans) really enjoyed the experience rather than the kill… Every time he went into the woods, he wrote about the events in a diary. Some of these will be displayed on Friday,” said John Cuthbert, the West Virginia and Regional History curator.

Evans was an artist, breeder, author and outdoorsman who wrote over 100 books on his areas of expertise. Although he went to school for art, Evans paid for college by making music. Throughout his life, he wrote and illustrated for magazines and clients.

In the 1950s, he began to write about his passion – dogs, birds and West Virginia. His wife, Kay Harris Evans, co-wrote alongside him.

“West Virginia has a wealth of history and tradition, and it’s always very interesting and rewarding to explore our heritage and remember where we came from,” said Michael Richard, a senior aerospace engineering major.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. a reception will be held in the Milano Reading Room in the old section of the Downtown Library Complex. At 10 a.m., Catherine Harper, who wrote Evans’ biography, will be the keynote speaker at a dedication ceremony for Evans.

At noon in the J. Horner Davis Family Galleries on the sixth floor of the library, an exhibit will display the Evans works and other material from the West Virginia and Regional History Art Collection. All attendees will receive a West Virginia Day poster.

“I think it’s important that we don’t forget about celebrating our great state,” said Brad Shoulders, a senior criminology major.

Across the state, other events are going to celebrate West Virginia’s creation. On West Virginia Day, many West Virginia parks are offering free swimming at outdoor pools and designated swimming areas.

Gov. Joe Manchin invites citizens and visitors to enjoy the offer. The parks participating are: Audra, Babcock, Beech Fork, Berkeley Springs, Berwind Lake Wildlife Management Area, Bluestone State Park, Cabwaylingo State Forest, Cacapon Resort, Canaan Valley Resort, Cedar Creek, Chef Logan State Park, Greenbrier State Forest, Holly River, Lost River, Moncove Lake, Panther State Forest, Pipestem Resort, Twin Falls Resort, Watoga and Watters.

If any of the pools reach capacity, people will receive a “sun check” to use for free swimming on another day.

Other events around the state include: presentations of West Virginia’s birdlife, traditional folk song programs, storytelling, boating, cake walks, train rides, clowning, comedy, magic, balloon sculpting, stilt walking and bluegrass, country, and gospel music.

“We are focusing on George Bird Evans in honor of the donation of the Evans’ papers and manuscripts to the WVU Libraries earlier this year,” said John Cuthbert, curator of the West Virginia and Regional History Collection. “Evans was a giant in the field of upland game bird hunting literature. His writing about the subject, which included well over one hundred books and articles, reflected a connoisseurship that harked back to the European tradition of the gentleman sportsman.”

Evans began his professional life during the late 1920s working as an illustrator for leading magazines and other clients in New York City. After serving during World War II, he turned his talents to writing a series of acclaimed mystery novels. It was not until the 1950s that he began writing about his passion for birds, dogs, and the West Virginia mountains. He passed away in 1998.

Festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. with a reception in the Milano Reading Room. A dedication ceremony for the George Bird Evans Collection follows at 10 a.m., with Evans’ biographer Catherine Harper delivering the keynote address.

An exhibit of Evans’ work opens at noon in the Davis Galleries on the sixth floor of the Wise Library. The 2008 West Virginia Day posters will be distributed at that time to those present.

The day concludes with a reception at “Old Hemlock,” the rustic Preston County home of Evans. The reception will include a barbeque, tours of the home and grounds, and demonstrations of Pointers, the dog breed Evans immortalized in drawing and word.

A native of nearby Uniontown, Pa., Evans settled permanently in Preston County in 1939. His home near Bruceton Mills became well known to sporting literature enthusiasts throughout the country during the late twentieth century. His writings were largely based upon his experiences at “Old Hemlock” and in the nearby hills and mountains.

Evans’ extensive collection, now housed in the WVRHC, includes personal papers, manuscripts, books and other materials by and about Evans and his wife, co-author and editor, Kay Harris Evans.

All events are open to the public.

The HarpWeek electronic database makes it possible for you to discover the lively news stories, illustrations, cartoons, editorials, biographies, literature and even advertisements that shaped and reflected public opinion in this era. Using HarpWeek’s powerful features, you can browse through 56 years of Harper’s Weekly page by page, locate specific articles based on search terms or phrases you specify, or use sophisticated indexing and synopsis tools to comb through thousands of Harper’s Weekly articles.

Access HarpWeek through the Library’s website at:
www.libraries.wvu.edu/databases