This file is as complete and accurate as possible, however if you
should find errors, have additions or deletions, send them to me
and I will update the file.
 
Bill Green         bgreen@milo.nodak.edu     bill90@Delphi.Com
 
Date of last update: 4 November 1993
 
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    GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF WEST VIRGINIA
                      5 March 1989
                      Robert McLaren
                    7810 Kincardine Ct.
                 Alexandria, VA 22310-4025
 
The following file contains a listing of genealogical and historical
societies in West Virginia.  Included in the listing, where known, are
telephone numbers and yearly dues.  This listing is donated to the public
domain and may be freely  copied.  Under no conditions can this listing be
sold or used in any other commercial fashion.  If you think this list has any
value, then donate that value in helping your local genealogical society (or
the National Genealogical Society).
 
If you write to any of the societies on this list for information, remember
to include a self addressed stamped envelop (SASE).  Many of these societies
work with a limited budget, supplemented by volunteers, and can not afford to
respond unless a SASE is included in your letter.
 
     West Virginia Genealogy Society, Inc.
     P.O. Box 172
     Elkview, WV 25071
       Dues:
 
     West Virginia Historical Society
     Cultural Center
     Capitol Complex
     Charleston, WV 25305
       Dues:
 
Barbour County
 
     Barbour County Genealogical-Historical Society
     c/o Mrs. Hazel Wolfe
     Rt. 1, Box 33
     Moatsville, WV 26238
       Dues:
 
Berkelely County
 
     Berkelely County Genealogical-Historical Society
     P.O. Box 679
     Martinsburg, WV 25401
       Dues:
 
Boone County
 
     Boone County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 306
     Madison, WV 25130
       Dues:
 
Brooke County
 
     Brooke County Genealogical-Historical Society
     c/o Mrs. Nancel Caldwell
     1200 Pleasant Ave.
     Wellsburg, WV 26070
       Dues:
 
Cabell County
 
     Cabell-Wayne Historical Society
     Box 123
     Huntington, WV 25706
       Dues:
 
Doddridge County
 
     Doddridge County Historical Society
     Box 23
     West Union, WV 26456
       Dues:
 
Fayette County
 
     Fayette County Historical Society
     c/o Mrs. J. A. Baumgartner
     331 Jones Ave.
     Oak Hill, WV 25840
       Dues:
 
     Genealogy Society, Fayette & Raleigh Counties, Inc.
     P.O. Box 68
     Oak Hill, WV 25901-0068
       Dues:  $5.00 per year
 
Gilmer County
 
     Gilmer County Historical Society
     c/o Mrs. Myra L. Mick
     706 Mineral Road
     Glenville, WV 26351
       Dues:
 
Grant County
 
     Grant County Genealogical-Historical Society
     c/o Mrs. Gail Snyder
     Lahmansville, WV 26731
       Dues:
 
Greenbrier County
 
     Greenbrier County Historical Society
     309 South Court Street
     Lewisburg, WV 24901
     (304) 645-3398
       Dues:  $10.00 per year
 
Hancock County
 
     Hancock County Genealogical-Historical Society
     c/o Daniel W. Jones
     103 Bell Street
     Weirton, WV 26067
       Dues:
 
Hardy County
 
     Hardy County Genealogical-Historical Society
     c/o Mrs. Marjorie Zirk
     Moorefield, WV 26836
       Dues:
 
Jackson County
 
     Jackson County Historical Society
     P.O. Box 22
     Ripley, WV 25271
       Dues:
 
Kanawha County
 
     Kanawha Valley Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 8555
     South Charleston, WV 25303
       Dues:
 
Lewis County
 
     Lewis County Genealogical-Historical Society
     c/o Mrs. Mary K. Holt
     252 Main Avenue
     Weston, WV 26452
       Dues:
 
Lincoln County
 
     Lincoln County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 92
     Griffithsville, WV 25521
       Dues:
 
Logan County
 
     Logan County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1959
     Logan, WV 25601
       Dues:
 
Marion County
 
     Marion County Genealogical Club, Inc.
     Marion County Library
     Monroe Street
     Fairmont, WV 26554
       Dues:
 
Mason County
 
     Mason County Genealogical-Historical Society
     c/o Mrs. Barbara McKinley
     Henderson, WV 25106
       Dues:
 
Mercer County
 
     Mercer County Historical Society
     Box 5012
     Princeton, WV 24740
       Dues:
 
Mineral County
 
     Mineral County Genealogical-Historical Society
     c/o Rev. W. W. Harvey
     107 Orchard Street
     Keyser, WV 26726
       Dues:
 
Mingo County
 
     Mingo County Genealogical Society
     Box 2581
     Williamson, WV 25661
       Dues:
 
Monongalia County
 
     Monongalia Historical Society
     P.O. Box 127
     Morgantown, WV 26505
       Dues:
 
Monroe County
 
     Monroe County Historical Society
     P.O. Box 465
     Union, WV 24983
       Dues:
 
Morgan County
 
     Morgan County Historical and Genealogical Society
     Box 52
     Berkeley Springs, WV 35411
       Dues:
 
Ohio County
 
     Wheeling Area Genealogical Society
     2237 Marshall Ave.
     Wheeling, WV 26003
       Dues:  $3.00 per year
 
Pendleton County
 
     Pendleton County Genealogical-Historical Society
     Main Street
     Frabklin, WV 26807
       Dues:
 
Raleigh County
 
     Genealogy Society, Fayette & Raleigh Counties, Inc.
     P.O. Box 68
     Oak Hill, WV 25901-0068
       Dues:  $5.00 per year
 
Randolph County
 
        Randolph Co. Gen. Soc.
        Box 6386
        Elkins, WV 26241
 
Richie County
 
     Richie County Historical Society
     200 South Church Street
     Harrisville, WV 16362
       Dues:
 
Tyler County
 
     The Tyler County Heritage and Historical Society
     Box 317
     Middlebourne, WV 16149
       Dues:  $6.00 per year
 
Upshur County
 
     Upshur County Heritage Society
     27 Rohr Ave.
     Buckhannon, WV 26201
       Dues:
 
     Upshur County Historical Society
     P.O. Box 753
     Buckhannon, WV 26201
       Dues:
 
Wayne County
 
     Cabell-Wayne Historical Society
     Box 123
     Huntington, WV 25706
       Dues:
 
Wetzel County
 
     Wetzel County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 464
     New Martinsville, WV 26155-0464
       Dues:
 
Wood County
 
     West Augusta Historical and Genealogical Society
     2515 10th Avenue
     Parkersburg, WV 26101
       Dues:
 
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                       VITAL RECORDS
 
State Records of Births and Deaths
 
Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1917, and was generally
complied with by 1925. The counties have copies of these records. Because
most of the state copies of the records from 1917 to 1921 were destroyed in a
fire, it is best to request vital records through 1921 from the county clerk
(see below).
 
You can obtain state copies of birth and death records from 1917 to the
present for a fee by writing to:
 
        Division of Vital Statistics
        State Department of Health
        State Office Building No. 3
        Charleston, WV 25305
 
County Records of Births and Deaths
 
County birth and death records date from 1853 to the present for most
counties. Copies may be obtained from the county clerk.
 
Marriage Records
 
West Virginia marriages were recorded by the existing counties as early as
1780. For later counties, marriage records began when each county was
organized. Marriage records can be obtained by writing to the county clerk of
the county where the marriage took place.
 
The state has copies of the county records since 1921. You may obtain copies
from 1921 to the present by writing to the Division of Vital Statistics
(address given above).
 
Divorces
 
Divorce proceedings are kept by the clerk of the circuit court in the county
where the divorce was granted.
                                   (Source: FHC Research Guide)
 
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                       STATE ARCHIVES
 
        Archives and History Library
        Department of Culture and History
        The Cultural Center
        Capitol Complex
        Charleston, WV 25305
 
        West Virginia Genealogical Society
        P.O. Box 172
        Elkview, WV 25017
 
        West Virginia Historical Society
        Department of Culture and History
        The Cultural Center
        Capitol Complex
        Charleston, WV 25305
 
        West Virginia Collection
        West Virginia University Library
        Colson Hall
        Morgantown, WV 26506
 
        Virginia State Library
        11th Street at Capitol Square
        Richmond, VA 23219-3491
 
        The Virginia State Library is an important resource for pre-1863 West
Virginia research.
 
To learn more about the history and record-keeping systems of West Virginia
counties, use the 13 inventories of the county archives published by the
Historical Records Survey around 1940.  The Historical Records Survey also
compiled unpublished (manuscript) inventories for the records of most West
Virginia counties.
                                        (Source: FHC Research Guide)
 
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                NEWSPAPER GENEALOGICAL COLUMNS
 
 
--
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*   Bill Green       Minot, North Dakota  58701  *       Home of the       *
*            bgreen@milo.NoDak.Edu               *      NORSK H0STFEST     *
*              Bill90@Delphi.Com                 *        Velkommen!       *
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