Reference and Research

The resources of the West Virginia and Regional History Collection are available to all researchers at the sixth floor of the Downtown Campus Library on West Virginia University's Downtown Campus. No appointment is necessary to use the Collection. Researchers are advised to investigate the online catalogs and databases available on the WVRHC’s home page, to determine what materials they are interest in consulting prior to their visit.

The WVRHC does not have the staff to conduct research for the Collection's many users, but staff are available at all times to assist researchers in locating the resources they need. As the Collection’s reference desk is always staffed, the greatest degree of assistance is available to those who are able to visit the Collection in person. While the reference staff must stop short of actually conducting research for visitors, their familiarity with the Collection's resources and with various research strategies can be extremely helpful.

Because the West Virginia Collection does not have sufficient staff to perform research for patrons, 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. For those with extensive research needs who are not able to visit the Collection, a list of names and addresses of local people who will perform research for a fee is available upon request. For those who desire only a specific piece of information (e.g. an obituary) for which a citation is readily available (e.g. bibliographic citation, or exact date and place of death in case of an obituary), a limited search will be conducted upon request for a fee of $20, payable whether or not the search is successful.

Copy Services

Genealogy Resources at the West Virginia and Regional History Collection

Interlibrary Loan

Policies