West Virginia & Regional History Center West Virginia University WVRHC

History and Founding

The West Virginia and Regional History Center (WVRHC) is an archival repository at West Virginia University Libraries in Morgantown, West Virginia. Established in 1930, the Center collects, preserves, and provides public access to materials documenting the history and culture of West Virginia and the central Appalachian region. It is housed in the Charles C. Wise, Jr. Library on the WVU campus.

Collections and Holdings

The WVRHC holds archives and manuscripts documenting all aspects of West Virginia's economic, cultural, and social history, including records related to the state's founding. The Center maintains a comprehensive collection of books and periodicals relating to West Virginia, as well as thousands of digital images portraying people and topics connected to the state and Appalachian region. Special strengths include labor history, coal industry records, natural resource industries, and political papers.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism/Media

The WVRHC holds the largest collection of historical West Virginia newspapers in existence, including both physical and microfilmed newspapers and a growing collection of digitized newspapers accessible online. The newspaper collection spans from 1791 to the present, with holdings in Chronicling America and other digital platforms. The Center provides obituary and article search services for remote researchers unable to visit in person.

Access and Usage

The Center's reading room is open to researchers Monday through Friday. Remote researchers may contact the Center to request specific newspaper articles or obituary searches. The WVRHC also offers digital collections, digitized newspapers, and digital images accessible via its website around the clock.