Using the West Virginia and Regional History Collection

The resources of the West Virginia and Regional History Collection, including manuscripts, archives, books, pamphlets, journals, newspapers, sound recordings, and maps, are available to all researchers on the sixth floor of the Downtown Campus Library on West Virginia University's downtown campus. All first time visitors must register and show I.D. We do not have the staff to conduct research for the collection's many users, but staff members are available to help researchers locate the resources they need. As our reference desk is always staffed, we can offer the greatest degree of assistance to those who are able to visit the Collection in person. While the reference staff must stop short of actually conducting research for our visitors, their familiarity with the Collection's resources and with genealogical research strategies can be extremely helpful.

Replies to correspondence are generally limited to information regarding the Collection's holdings and advice as to how users may gain access to the information they need in absentia. Generally, we recommend that correspondents select between the options of borrowing any circulating materials they need through the nationwide interlibrary loan system, or hiring a local researcher. For those who choose the latter option, we maintain a list of names and address of people who will perform genealogical searches for a fee. The list also includes the names of several organizations and publications which provide useful services for those involved in genealogical research.