This section lists the societies of West Virginia, giving details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.
County and Other Societies
Boone County Genealogical Society
Many publications are available for sale, which include:
- Boone County – A Time Line and Source Book
- Branches of Turtle Creek
- Cemetery Inscriptions
- Census Returns
- Jacob Miller and his Descendants
- Kith and Kin of Boone Co. Volumes I-XXXI
- Obituaries
- Olive Branch Baptist Church Turtle and the People 1824-1975
- Photographs
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wvbcgs/
Greenbrier Historical Society – North House Museum
The association was established in 1963, its aims being to preserve the history and culture of the Greenbrier Valley. They serve the counties of Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers and Pochhontas.
Many archives can be accessed in their Library and Archives located in North House Museum, which include:
- Civil War Letters
- Family Histories
- Manuscripts
- Papers from some Local Families
- Scholarly Journals
Website:
http://www.greenbrierhistorical.org
Hacker’s Creek Pioneer Descendants
The aim of the association was to preserve the history and genealogy of Hacker’s Creek watershed in Lewis and Upshur Counties. They then expanded their efforts to include all Central West Virginia and the entire State of West Virginia. The association now has over one thousand members who are based all over the country and overseas.
Many archives can be accessed in their Library, which incorporate:
- Births, Marriages and Deaths
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Census Returns
- Deeds
- Diaries
- Early Landowners
- Emigration Records
- Genealogies
- High School Yearbooks
- Land Records
- Land Tax Books
- Military Records
- Newspaper Clippings
- Obituaries
- Photographs
- Telephone Directories
- Will Abstracts
Many databases are available, which incorporate:
- Border Settlers 1768-1795
- Cemetery Listing
- Chronicles of Border Warfare
- Civil War Articles
- Don Norman Files Surname Index
- Family Stories
- Fort Hinkle Muster Rolls of 1775
Databases also incorporate:
- Harrison Co. Court Minutes 1784-1792
- History of the Early Settlement and Indian Wars
- Lewis Co. Chancery Records
- Lewis Co. Schools and Teachers 1873-1934
- Lewis Countians in World War II
- Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars of the Western Parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania 1763-1783
- Obituaries
- Tombstone Inscriptions from Slab Camp Cemetery
- Veterans Buried in the area
Website:
https://www.hackerscreek.org/
Jefferson County Historical Society
Many publications are available for sale, which comprise:
- 1786-1986 Charles Town Bicentennial
- 1852 and 1883 Jefferson Co. Maps
- A Bicentennial History of Jefferson Co. 1801-2001
- Burials 1978-1997
- Index and Calendar to Recorded Plats 1801-1901
- Prominent Men of Shepherdstown 1762-1962
- Tombstone Inscriptions 1687-1980
- Washington Homes of Jefferson Co.
Website:
http://jeffersonhistoricalwv.org
Mercer County Historical Society
They are a non-profit making association established on 29 October 1974. Their aim is the preservation and study of the history of Mercer County.
Many publications are sold by the society, which incorporate Historical Genealogy, Memoirs of Old Princeton, A Thousand Names from the Annals of Giles and Mercer Counties, A Civil War Diary and Clay Family Settlement on the Bluestone River.
Publications sold by the association also include:
- Births 1853-1873
- Deaths 1853-1890
- Early Princeton and the Episcopal Church
- Marriages 1853-1890
- Princeton Times Pictorial History 1850-1991
Website:
https://www.facebook.com/MercerCountyHistoricalSociety/
Monroe County Historical Society
Many archives relating to genealogy are held by the association, which incorporate:
- Cemeteries Book
- Genealogies
- Shirley Ulaki Books
- Town Histories
A list of Libraries with Genealogical Collections is available on the site.
Many publications can be purchased from the society, which include:
- Diary of Susan Waddell
- Highlights of the History of Monroe Co. Schools 1799-1999
- Monroe Co. Cemeteries
- Monroe Co. Slaves
- Monroe Co. Soldiers in the Civil War
- Sweet Springs Travel Guide and History
Website:
http://monroewvhistory.org
Ritchie County Historical Society
Many publications can be purchased from the society, which comprise:
- County Farm Maps
- Funeral History Records
- History of Ritchie County
- Irish Immigration into Ritchie Co.
- The Life and Times of the Pennsboro B & O Depot
- Map of Ritchie Co. Schools
- Mountain Mists: Appalachian Folkways of West Virginia
- Northwestern Turnpike Map and Supplemental Booklet
- Old Stone House Bicentennial Memento Postcard/Envelope
- A Photographic History of Ritchie County, West Virginia on CD
- Ritchie Co. Cemeteries
- Ritchie County Fair
- Ritin’ ‘N Railin’
- Voices of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike CD Set
Website:
http://www.ritchiehistoricalsociety.com
Roane County Historical Society
Many databases are accessible, which comprise:
- Cemeteries and Tombstone Inscriptions
- Histories
- Miscellaneous Documents
- Photographs
- Surname List
Many publications can be purchased from the association, which include:
- Newspapers
- Obituaries
- RCHS Ancestor Charts
- Roane Co. Births
- Roane Co. Cemeteries
- Roane Co. Founders
- Telephone and City Directories
Numerous books published by Judy Hildreth are available for sale, which include the following indexes all for Roane Co.:
- Births late 60’s to 2008
- Deaths 1967-2008
- Out of the area Deaths 1979-2008
- Cemeteries
- Marriages 1967-2007
- WWII Veterans
She has also published an index of Calhoun Co. Births and Deaths.
David L Boggs has published Obituaries from the Times Records Newspaper and this is also available for sale.
Website:
http://www.wvroane.org
Swiger Run History Centre and Museum
Swiger Run Library is located on State Route 23 in Doddridge County.
The goal of the Society is to preserve the heritage of this area of West Virginia and surrounding areas, which includes Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Many resources can be accessed, including Oral Histories, Pictorial Histories, Maps, Photographs and Family Histories.
A list of Surnames currently being researched in the Library is also accessible on the site.
Publications sold by the society incorporate:
- Births 1853-1882
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Church Histories
- Church Registers
- Deaths 1853-1869 and 1901-1904
- Doddridge Co. Census Returns
- Early Marriages 1845-1937
- Family Histories
- Virginia Marriages 1700-1799
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wvsrhcm/webpage
Taylor County Historical and Genealogical Society
The association has an extensive collection of archives which are held in Taylor County Public Library, located on the corner of Beech and Walnut Streets in Grafton. These archives incorporate:
- Births, Deaths and Marriages 1854-1980
- Bluemont Cemetery Transscripts
- Census Returns
- City Histories
- Family Group Sheets
- Pedigree Charts
- State Histories
Numerous publications are available for sale, which comprise:
- A History of Taylor Co. Wars
- History of Taylor County – Charles Brinkman
- Taylor Co. Land Book 1844-1847
- Taylor Co. Marriages 1853-1878
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wvtaylor/tchgs.htm
Upshur County Historical Society
Their aim is to identify and preserve anything of historical significance to the county of Upshur.
Galleries accessible on their site include:
- Biography of Wilton Ray Tenney, Upshur Native Son and Remembered Photographer
- When Wesleyan Was a Military Base: The Air Cadet Training Program of WWII
Many publications are available for sale, which include:
- Burials
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Census Returns 1860-1920(Excludes 1890)
- Church Histories
- Maps
- Obituaries
- UCHS Newsletters
- The Scout of the Buckongehannon – J. C. McWhorter (Fiction)
- Upshur Co. Births 1897-1916
- Upshur Co. Calendar of Wills 1851-1884
- Upshur Co. Marriages 1851-1932
Website:
http://www.upshurcountyhistoricalsociety.com
Wayne County Genealogical and Historical Society
Many databases are accessible, which include:
- Frazier and Hatton Slideshow
- Hardesty’s History of Wayne and Lincoln Counties
- List of Cemeteries in Wayne Co.
- Obituaries
- Revolutionary War Soldiers
Numerous publications are sold by the society, which incorporate:
- 1850-1870 and 1900 Wayne Co. Census Returns
- Napier Family Book
- Wayne Co. Births 1853-1900
Website:
http://wcghs.com
Webster County Historical Society
Many databases are accessible, which incorporate:
- Cemetery Listings
- Photographs of Prominent Residents
- Tombstone Inscriptions
- Webster Springs High School Photographs and Images from the Yearbook of 1916-17