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Old Brick Playhouse receives national award ; Youth arts program lauded by President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities
The Old Brick Playhouse Apprentice Program at the Old Brick Playhouse in Elkins, W.Va., has received the 2009 Coming Up Taller Award from the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities. The program is one of 15 youth arts and humanities programs to receive the prestigious 2009 award. Missy Armentrout McCollam, executive director of The Old Brick Playhouse accepted the award earlier this month at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
“This is an outstanding and well deserved honor for everyone at The Old Brick Playhouse,” said Governor Joe Manchin III. “It is a reflection of their dedication to the arts and the young people in their community. This award reinforces the important role that vibrant arts programs can play in the education and development of West Virginia’s young people.”
“The Old Brick Playhouse’s Apprentice Program is honored to receive the 2009 Coming Up Taller Awards,” said McCollam. “Through a special brand of madcap live theatre, the Old Brick encourages our students along the path from the ordinary to the extraordinary. We strive for an environment in which youth learn that though everyone is equal, everyone is not the same. In the arts, as in life, those differences are the stuff by which masterpieces are made.”
Coming Up Taller is a national initiative. It recognizes and supports outstanding out-of-school and after-school arts and humanities programs for children, especially those with great potential but limited outlets for creative expression. A project of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Coming Up Taller Awards honor programs that offer exceptional learning experiences in the arts and the humanities and that have a tangible effect on the lives of young people as shown through improved academic scores, enhanced life skills and positive relationships with peers and adults.
The Old Brick Playhouse, a non-profit educational arts theatre, has offered during- and after-school theatre programming in the Mid-Atlantic region and overseas since 1992. Its touring company has performed for more than 1.5 million students. The Old Brick Playhouse Apprentice Program provides a safe, structured, after-school opportunity for secondary school students to engage in theatre.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Archives and History to present lecture on “unknown” prominent West Virginians
The West Virginia Archives and History Library of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History will continue its series of after hours workshops on Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. The session, entitled “A Glimpse at some Lesser-Known Prominent West Virginians,” will focus on 12 individuals who, in some way, impacted West Virginia’s past and present. The lecture will be led by Dr. Kenneth R. Bailey, historian and retired dean of the College of Business, Humanities and Sciences at WVU Institute of Technology. The program will take place in the library at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. All sessions are free and the public is invited to attend. The library will close at 5 p.m., and reopen at 5:45 p.m. for workshop participants only.
“Over the years, I have been struck by how many folks had an influence on West Virginia’s history simply by living and working in the state,” says Bailey. “Each person has a story, admittedly some are more spectacular than others, but each has an impact. Investigating lesser known people of the past can make us realize how important our own actions can be.”
Bailey will discuss William F. Dusenberry, Cabell County diarist and dentist; James H. Ferguson, former legislator (1847-50), member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850-51, lawyer, judge and mysterious character who lived until 1898; and Albert E. Humphreys, probably one of the wealthiest men to have been born in West Virginia. In addition, he’ll delve into the lives of Lucille Todd, the first female judge; Elizabeth Simpson Drewry, the first African-American woman elected as a legislator; and Naomi Hosterman, a well known artist, among others.
Bailey has been the editor for the West Virginia Historical Society Newsletter for a number of years. He has written articles for West Virginia History and other publications and is the author of several books including Alleged Evil Genius: The Life and Times Judge James H. Ferguson (2006); Kanawha County Public Library: A History (2004); and Mountaineers Are Free: A History of the West Virginia National Guard (1979, revised and expanded in 2008).
Future sessions include “Genealogy and the Law: An Introduction to some Legal Issues in Genealogical Research” with Scott Johnson, an assistant attorney general for the State of West Virginia, on Jan. 5, 2010; and “Digging into West Virginia’s 18th Century, Groundhog Style,” with Doug Wood, a living history hobbyist who teaches 18th-century Native American lifeways and interpretation skills and portrays Cherokee leader Ostenaco, on Feb. 2.
Registration is not required, but is requested to ensure proper seating. To register in advance, contact Robert Taylor, library manager for archives and history, at (304) 558-0230, ext. 163, or by e-mail at bobby.taylor@wvculture.org. Participants interested in registering by e-mail should send their name, telephone number and the name and date of the session. For additional information about the workshops, contact the Archives and History Library at (304) 558-0230.
The Archives and History Library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. The library is closed on Sunday.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Martin Luther King Jr. “Living the Dream” awards and poster competition announced
The Martin Luther King, Jr. West Virginia Holiday Commission is seeking nominees for the “Living the Dream” awards to be presented as part of the national Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday observance. The public is invited to nominate candidates for the awards. The holiday will be celebrated on Jan. 18, 2010.
The Commission will present five awards to individuals who best exemplify, through action or personal traits, the principles and ideals characterizing the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his pursuit of social change. Any person, regardless of race, color or creed, may be nominated in the following categories:
1. Advocate of Peace–one who has been an advocate of nonviolent social change.
2. Sharing of Self–one who has rendered service to others in the public or private sector.
3. Human and Civil Rights–one who has been actively involved in the pursuit of equality for others. This person should be an advocate for social change.
4. Scholarship–one who has made significant contributions in the area of education.
5. Governor’s Living the Dream Award–one who best exemplifies all the characteristics of justice, scholarship, sharing of self, human and civil rights, and advocacy of peace. A person with a heightened sense of civic awareness and public service.
The Commission also will place up to three state service organizations on the Living the Dream Service Organization Honor Roll. Qualifying organizations must have demonstrated one or more of the following principles for which King stood: the promotion of human and civil rights; providing assistance to under-served communities; promotion of tolerance; and resolving conflict in a nonviolent manner.
Letters of nomination for individuals or organizations must be received by Dec. 7, 2009. The letters must be less than two pages in length and give specific examples of why the nominee should be recognized. A biography of the nominee also must be included. Documentation in the form of clippings, testimonials or excerpts from other printed materials by or about the candidate may be included to support the nomination. Applications must include the name of the person submitting the nomination, as well as an address and daytime phone number.
Send nominations and supporting information to “Living the Dream Awards,” Martin Luther King, Jr. West Virginia Holiday Commission, c/o West Virginia Division of Culture and History, The Culture Center, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, W.Va. 25305.
For more information about the “Living the Dream” awards, contact Jacqueline Proctor, deputy commissioner for the Division, at (304) 558-0220.
Each year the Commission also sponsors a poster competition for West Virginia students. The poster must focus on any aspect of the life and works of Martin Luther King, Jr. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the poster competition, classroom teachers are asked to assist students in the development of original slogans/captions to be used in the development of the poster. The slogan or caption must be displayed on the poster.
The competition is open to all West Virginia students in grades K-12. Each entrant is allowed one entry, which must be mounted on illustration board and can be no larger than 22” x 28”.
Three awards will be given in each of the following categories: K-2 grades, 3-5 grades, 6-8 grades and 9-12 grades. The official rules for the competition and a downloadable entry form can be found at www.wvmlkholidaycommission.org.
Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 1, 2008, and should be mailed or hand-delivered to Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Contest, West Virginia State University, Attn: Patricia Wilson, 616 Wallace Hall, Institute, W.Va. 25112-1000.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Statewide “Poetry Out Loud” competition announced
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History (WVDCH) and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts (WVCA) will present the statewide Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, now in its fifth year, on March 6, 2010. The program is administered by state arts agencies across the country. The contest is open to all West Virginia students in grades 9 - 12.
Poetry Out Loud is a program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, the oldest English-language monthly publication dedicated to verse. John Barr, president of the Poetry Foundation, says “The public recitation of great poetry is a way to honor the speaker, the poem, and the audience all at once.”
The program encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition. By encouraging high school students to memorize and perform great poems, Poetry Out Loud brings the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, oral presentation, and theater into the English class. It also builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as demonstrated by the popularity of rap music. “This is a very important program,” says Jeff Pierson, director of arts for the WVDCH. “The National Endowment for the Arts has given West Virginia students an excellent opportunity to showcase their passion for poetry and their talent for performance.”
Schools are invited to participate in classroom and school-wide contests. School winners will advance to a state competition to be held on Saturday, March 6, 2010, in the Norman L. Fagan West Virginia State Theater of the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, in Charleston.
The state winner will receive $200 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the national finals, April 25 - 27, 2010. At the national finals, Poetry Out Loud will award a total of $50,000 in scholarship prizes and school stipends, including $20,000 for the Poetry Out Loud national champion, and $10,000 and $5,000 for the second- and third-place finalists. The remaining nine finalists each receive $1,000 and the schools of the top 12 finalists will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry books. Last year, more than 300,000 students were involved in competitions nationwide.
To promote the contest and provide an easy registration process, the WVDCH has developed a Web page solely for Poetry Out Loud. The page can be accessed at www.wvculture.org/arts/pol/index.html. Teachers can go on-line to order materials, register their schools for competition, or to contact the state coordinator directly for assistance. Students may go on-line to find helpful links that assist in training and poem selection, find articles related to Poetry Out Loud, or to check the photo gallery of past competitors.
The registration deadline for participants is Dec. 1, 2009. Individual schools and/or regional competitions must be completed by Jan. 30, 2010.
In 2006, Brook Johnson, representing Sissonville High School, was West Virginia’s first Poetry Out Loud state champion. Liz McCormick from Capital High School was selected in 2007 and Carolyn Rose Garcia from Notre Dame High School won the state championship in 2008. This year, Jasmine Lewis from Spring Valley High School was the winner. She will perform at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration held at the Culture Center on Jan. 16, 2010.
Many opportunities are available for participation in this program. To volunteer, for more information, or to register, contact Stacy Kepple, Poetry Out Loud coordinator, at (304) 558-0240, ext. 721, or e-mail her at stacy.kepple@wvculture.org. Additional information is available on-line at www.poetryoutloud.org.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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West Virginia Juried Exhibition 2009 winners announced
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14th History Day event to be held at State Capitol on February 18, 2010
Local groups with an interest in history or genealogy are invited to participate in the 14th West Virginia History Day on Thursday, February 18, 2010, at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston during the regular session of the West Virginia Legislature. Local historical groups are expected to provide displays and reenactments in the Rotunda of the State Capitol.
Historians, genealogists, educators, preservationists, veterans, fraternal organizations, librarians, ethnic groups and families with an interest in West Virginia’s history are invited to provide exhibits featuring historical documents, photographs, artifacts and publications. Other attractions will include reenactments of events in the state’s history, storytelling, and a ceremony honoring citizens from across the state who have made contributions to the history of West Virginia.
At an awards ceremony in the Norman L. Fagan West Virginia State Theater at the Culture Center, “History Hero” awards will be presented to people who have made significant grass-roots contributions to the preservation of local or regional history. Local historical, genealogical, preservation, museum, patriotic and other similar groups are encouraged to provide nominations for the awards. Authorized by the legislature, West Virginia History Day commemorates local groups’ efforts to preserve, protect and promote the study of the Mountain State’s past.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History joins the Archives and History Commission, West Virginia Historical Society, Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, West Virginia Humanities Council, West Virginia Association of Museums, Friends of West Virginia Culture and History and Mining Your History Foundation as organizers of this year’s events. All West Virginia History Day events are free and open to the public.
“History Hero” nominations must be postmarked by December 31. Nominations also may be hand-delivered to the Archives and History Library at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex by that deadline.
Applications from groups interested in setting up displays on history-related projects are due by January 28, 2010. For more information about History Day, or to request nomination or display space reservation forms, contact Archives and History at (304) 558-0230.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Arts Day at the State Capitol to be held on January 25, 2010
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts will host “Arts Day at the State Capitol” at the State Capitol Complex, Charleston, on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The event celebrates the vitality of the arts in West Virginia; the impact the arts has on cultural growth, economic development and education; and how the arts brings together artists, arts organizations and art enthusiasts from across the state.
This year’s event will be held in the upper and lower rotundas of the State Capitol and will consist of information booths and live performances including vocal and instrumental music, poetry readings, and dance and theatrical performances. Individual artists and arts organizations are invited to participate.
Space is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration to participate is required. The deadline to register is Dec. 15, 2009. Entry forms can be accessed at our Web site at www.wvculture.org/arts/2010artsdayregistration.pdf.
For more information about “Arts Day at the State Capitol” or to register to participate, contact Jake Krack, individual artist coordinator, or Rose McDonough, cultural facilities and accessibility coordinator for the Division, at (304) 558-0240.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Governor Manchin names West Virginia Sesquicentennial Commission; Scholars and historians included on panel
Gov. Joe Manchin has named scholars and historians from around the state to the West Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission. The 13-member commission includes representatives from the Legislature and key state agencies who will serve through 2015.
The commission will plan and promote state activities for observances of the 150th anniversaries of John Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry this October, the American Civil War and West Virginia statehood, which will be celebrated statewide in 2013 with a special event at West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling.
“As the only state named by presidential decree, and as a state that was born out of the Civil War, West Virginia has special reason to acknowledge the 150th anniversary of the conflict,” Manchin said. “Our state was the site of several significant battles, including the first land battle at Philippi, and our people found themselves in divided homes as loyalties to the Union and the Confederacy tore families apart.
“This commission is developing plans to encourage continued preservation of our Civil War heritage, identifying economic development opportunities for historic and cultural tourism, and promoting the study of West Virginia and Civil War history,” he said.
Legislation to establish the commission was introduced in the 2009 legislative session by Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, D-Logan, and Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley. The legislature provided $100,000 to sponsor the commission and its activities.
“Our charge will be to promote events and increase visits to existing Civil War sites while looking for opportunities to expand preservation, tourism, research and educational programs,” said Kay Goodwin, Secretary of Education and the Arts and chairman of the commission. “Along with the work we do in our own state, we will be cooperating with other states and Civil War organizations that are celebrating this anniversary.”
The community members of the commission are:
Peter Carmichael, Ph.D., of Morgantown is the Eberly Professor of Civil War Studies at West Virginia University
Sheila Coleman-Castells of Eglon is president and CEO of Sangha Consulting, Inc. and a lecturer at Frostburg State University. She specializes in cultural diversity in education.
Arthur E. DeMatteo, Ph.D., of Glenville is assistant professor of History for the Glenville State College Department of Social Sciences
Connie Park Rice, Ph.D., of Morgantown is a lecturer in the Department of History at West Virginia University and assistant editor of West Virginia History: A Journal of Regional Studies. Rice focuses on African American and Appalachian regional history.
Mark Snell, Ph.D., of Shepherdstown is professor of history at Shepherd University, director of the university’s George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War at Shepherd University and a noted scholar of military history, the Civil War and Reconstruction. He is vice chairman of the commission.
Victor Thacker, Ph.D., of Elkins is Provost and Dean of Faculty at Davis and Elkins College. He is a Civil War editor and lecturer, member of the West Virginia Division of Tourism Civil War Trails Task Force and a board member of the Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation.
Beth White of Dunbar is a published Civil War historian and lecturer on Civil War era subjects. She developed and serves as program director of the Civil War Scholars Lecture Series, is president of the Kanawha Valley Civil War Roundtable and is a member of the West Virginia Civil War Trails Task Force
Richard Wolfe of Bridgeport is a program manager for Lockheed Martin. He is president of Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation and has taken the lead on the West Virginia Division of Tourism Civil War Trails Task Force. He is recognized for his knowledge of West Virginia soldiers and their regiments.
Members of the commission who represent the state are:
Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley serves as Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin’s representative
Betty Carver, Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Tourism
Kay Goodwin, Secretary of Education and the Arts, who will serve as chairman of the commission
Randall Reid-Smith, Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.
The mission of the West Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission is to promote awareness and celebrate the unique creation of the State of West Virginia, the role of its citizens during the Civil War era, and the continuing effect of the war on our people.
For more information about the West Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, contact Molly E. George, special projects coordinator for the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, at (304) 558-0220.
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West Virginia Division of Culture and History to launch new logo identifier and name for its Charleston location
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History has developed a new logo which will be used to introduce the newly renovated West Virginia State Museum, and Division identity including its historic sites and network of museums across the state as well as the arts, historic preservation and archives and history sections. “This new brand will be easy to recognize. It’s symbolic of our commitment to our mission statement: to identify, preserve, protect, promote, and present the ideas, arts, and artifacts of West Virginia’s heritage, building pride in our past accomplishments and confidence in our future,” said Division Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith. “The agency continues to evolve to offer West Virginia citizens the widest array of programs and activities reflecting our culture and heritage,” he continued.
Cabinet Secretary Kay Goodwin of the Department of Education and the Arts is beginning the process of returning the name Culture Center to the Division’s home on the Capitol Complex. Culture Center is the original and correct name as delineated in West Virginia Code 29-1-1(e). “As we move into print materials and other media that will focus on announcing and marketing our newly renovated West Virginia State Museum, it seemed an appropriate time to return to the history of this beautiful center of West Virginia’s culture while we celebrate its future,” she said.
In the past three years, the Division has increased its programming activities, initiated the Collegiate Series, Black History Month and Women’s History Month events, re-instituted the Garden Festival and presented more exhibits including the West Virginia’s Gift to the World series. So far, the exhibit series has featured Blenko, Fenton, Homer Laughlin China Company, the Ski Industry and Marble King.
The historic sites and museums also have added to their programs and exhibits. Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville opened a new 9,600-square-foot research center last May which features a conservation laboratory for curators, study area for researchers, library and state-of-the-art collections storage area.
West Virginia Independence Hall (WVIH) Museum in Wheeling is in the process of a $1-million restoration project which will replace the roof, restore or replace windows, restore interior plaster and paint the interior, including restoring the trompe l’oeil effects in the historic third floor courtroom. The building also will be repointed. In addition, WVIH will open the largest exhibit of West Virginia Civil War battle flags during its West Virginia Day activities on June 20. The newly conserved battle flags will be displayed in specially designed pressure-mounted frames, complete with a state of the art, motion-activated lighting system to help protect the fabric.
Camp Washington-Carver at Clifftop, Fayette County, has added a fall musical entertainment series, Sweets and Sounds to its program schedule. The series presents West Virginia’s talented singers and musicians in concert followed by delicious homemade desserts. Museum in the Park at Chief Logan State Park continues to add events to its agenda including the annual West Virginia Day activities, Frontier Days Weekend, Aunt Jennie Fest and changing exhibits of special interest to Southern West Virginia.
The West Virginia State Museum, which will be dedicated on June 20, 2009, will reopen to the public on June 21, 2009. It is easily accessible in the Culture Center at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston from all major interstates and highways across the state. Museum admission is free as are most Division activities, including the annual Memorial Day weekend Vandalia Gathering. “The Culture Center is the ultimate Welcome Center in the state, as well as the front door to the Capitol Complex, centrally located, easy to get to, and free,” says Reid-Smith.
For more information, contact Jacqueline Proctor, deputy commissioner for the Division, at (304) 558-0220, ext. 120.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Blair Mountain information
The Blair Mountain Battlefield National Register nomination was approved by the WV Archives and History Commission on February 22, 2008, and subsequently forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register.
According to 36 CFR 60.6, private property owners have the right to object to listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is the responsibility of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to count all notarized objections from owners of property within the boundaries of the Blair Mountain Battlefield. Prior to listing, the SHPO noted that there were 57 property owners within the boundaries, 22 of whom objected.
If a majority of property owners object, the property cannot be listed in the NRHP. However, the property can be “determined eligible” for listing. Properties that are either listed in or determined eligible for listing in the NRHP are considered historic and adverse effects of state and federal undertakings must be taken into consideration.
The NPS received a letter dated February 27, 2009, from JacksonKelly Attorneys at Law, PLLC requesting an extension of time for substantive review. This letter included nine attachments. The SHPO received the contents of this letter on March 13. The letter stated that there was one additional objection. SHPO staff understood this to mean that only one new objection had been received since its last packet of objections received March 2008.
The Blair Mountain Battlefield was listed in the NRHP on March 30, 2009. Following listing, the SHPO realized that eight additional objections, received in the attachments to the above mentioned letter, had not been considered.
In a letter dated April 6, 2009, the SHPO alerted the Keeper of the NRHP that there may have been an error in calculating the property owner objections due to this oversight. The State has not petitioned the Keeper for removal of the Blair Mountain Battlefield from the National Register in accordance with 36 CFR 60.15.
This was a clerical error of the SHPO. Due to this error, immediate steps have been taken to ensure this does not occur again. Neither Governor Manchin’s office, nor his administration, is responsible for listing or delisting National Register nominations. That is the responsibility of the Keeper of the National Register, a program of the National Park Service.
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Youth Art Month Exhibition winners announced
Eight young artists have been selected as winners in the West Virginia Division of Culture and History’s annual Youth Art Month Exhibition, which is on dislay through mid-April, 2009, in the Art Gallery of the Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. The exhibition is produced in cooperation with the West Virginia Art Education Association and the West Virginia Department of Education, in celebration of National Youth Art Month.
Each of the eight winners will receive a $50 gift certificate from Dick Blick Art Materials at an awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, March 14, in the Great Hall of the Cultural Center.
Another three works in the exhibition have been selected to represent West Virginia in the annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students. The Congressional Competition is sponsored by members of the United States Congress and culminates in a summer exhibition at the United States Capitol building.
An additional two $100 awards will be given for Arts and Technology and Watercolor. The juror also picked three Honorable Mention Awards.
All winners were chosen by Joey Elswick of Charleston. She attended Savannah College of Art and Design, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Currently, she is a designer for Charleston Area Medical Center. In addition, Elswick teaches computer art at West Virginia State University.
The Youth Art Month Exhibition consists of 74 pieces by 72 students, grades K - 12, from 19 West Virginia counties. Artworks in the annual exhibition were selected from a statewide competition.
A list of the winners is enclosed along with a complete list of students whose work is included in the exhibition.
Youth Art Month was established to underscore the importance of including arts experiences in all students’ education. For more information about the Youth Art Month Exhibition, contact Betty Gay, exhibits coordinator for the Division, at (304) 558-0220, ext. 128.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Youth Art Month Exhibition
Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex, Charleston
Through mid-April, 2009
Winners – Youth Art Month Exhibition
Shanna Boyles, Grade 2, Buckhannon Academy Elementary School, Upshur County
Isaac Graham, Grade 10, Tyler Consolidated High School, Tyler County
Tyler Ann Jones, Grade 10, Wirt County High School, Wirt County
Sophia Kayafas, Grade 11, Wheeling Park High School, Ohio County
Joe Midjette, Grade 11, North Marion High School, Marion County
Jordon Patton, Grade 12, Parkersburg South High School, Wood County
Nicole Suptic, Grade 12, Shady Spring High School, Raleigh County
Sonie Weis, Grade 10, St. Marys High School, Pleasants County
Congressional Award Winners
Mallonee Meritt, Grade 12, Woodrow Wilson High School, Raleigh County
Krissy Rustemeyer, Grade 12, Tyler Consolidated High School, Tyler County
Brandon Shade, Grade 12, Musselman High School, Berkeley County
Arts and Technology Award
Bailey Deese, Grade 11, North Marion High School, Marion County
Watercolor Award
Yuliya Pozynich, Grade 12, George Washington High School, Kanawha County
Honorable Mention Awards
Sara Nesbitt, Grade 11, Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Upshur County
Lauren Snyder, Grade 12, Scott High School, Boone County
Carley Starkey, Grade 11, Jefferson High School, Jefferson County
Youth Art Month Participants
Berkeley
Baley Loy, Musselman High School, Grade 10
Amanda Marple, Musselman High School, Grade 10
Brandon Shade, Musselman High School, Grade 12
Boone
Ian Lay, Scott High School, Grade 12
Hunter Lilly, Scott High School, Grade 12
Lauren Snyder, Scott High School, Grade 12
Caleb Vinson, Madison Middle School, Grade 7
Hardy
Emma Baker, East Hardy Early Middle School, Grade 3
Autumn Heavener, Moorefield Middle School, Grade 6
Larry Smith, East Hardy High School, Grade 10
Taylor Stickley, Moorefield High School, Grade 12
Jackson
Natasha Bennett, Ripley High School, Grade 12
Alexander Eare, Ravenswood Elementary School, Grade 5
Ryan Darmagen, Ravenswood High School, Grade 11
Sydney Hinzman, Ripley Middle School, Grade 8
Jefferson
Omaya Abdelkader, Page Jackson Elementary School, Grade 1
Tyler Dunkelberger, T. A. Lowery Elementary School, Grade 2
Austin Ogden, Wildwood Middle School, Grade 7
Carley Starkey, Jefferson High School, Grade 11
Kanawha
Savanah McClung, Alban Elementary School, Grade 5
Maram Moushmoush, George Washington High School, Grade 10
Maggie Ocheltree, Alban Elementary School, Grade 5
Yuliya Pozynich, George Washington High School, Grade 12
Marion
Bailey Deese, North Marion High School, Grade 11
Todd Latocha, North Marion High School, Grade 12
Joe Midjette, North Marion High School, Grade 11
Amber Munn, North Marion High School, Grade 10
Mason
Emmitt Barton, Wahama Junior/Senior High School, Grade 7
Aaron Cundiff, Wahama Junior/Senior High School, Grade 12
Adam Roush, Wahama Junior/Senior High School, Grade 12
Caroline Thompson, Wahama Junior/Senior High School, Grade 8
Morgan
Jeffrey Breeden, Warm Springs Middle School, Grade 6
John Brooks, Warm Springs Middle School, Grade 7
Haleigh Fields, Warm Springs Middle School, Grade 6
Lillian Mills, Warm Springs Intermediate School, Grade 3
Nicholas
Denzil Brooks, Richwood High School, Grade 11
Chad Philips, Richwood Middle School, Grade 8
Xinren Yu, Nicholas County High School, Grade 11
Ohio
Alexandra Burris, Middle Creek Elementary School, Grade 5
Sophia Kayafas, Wheeling Park High School, Grade 11
Alexa Nightengale, Bridge Street Middle School, Grade 8
Erika Scott, Triadelphia Middle School, Grade 8
Pleasants
Dylan Fetty, Pleasants County Middle School, Grade 8
Michael Harris, St. Marys High School, Grade 12
Cierra Miller, St. Marys High School, Grade 10
Sonie Weis, St. Marys High School, Grade 10
Raleigh
Brooke Bowers, Bradley Elementary School, Grade 4
Mallonee Meritt, Woodrow Wilson High School, Grade 12
Nicole Supti, Shady Spring High School, Grade 12
Hunter Warden, Greater Beckley Christian School, Grade 8
Tucker
Shelby Anderson, Tucker County Elementary/Middle School, Grade 8
Benjamin Kines, Davis-Thomas Elementary School, Grade 1
Leah McDowell, Tucker County High School, Grade 12
Alisha Myers, Tucker County High School, Grade 10
Tyler
Isaac Graham, Tyler Consolidated High School, Grade 10
Courtney Gray, Tyler Consolidated High School, Grade 12
McKenzie Rose, Tyler Consolidated High School, Grade 9
Krissy Rustemeyer, Tyler Consolidated High School, Grade 12
Upshur
Shanna Boyles, Buckhannon Academy Elementary School, Grade 2
Desiree Miller, French Creek Elementary School, Grade 5
Sara Nesbitt, Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Grade 11
Nick Williams, Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School, Grade 7
Wirt
Tess Bailey, Wirt County High School, Grade 10
Tyler Ann Jones, Wirt County High School, Grade 10
Sierra Miller, Wirt County High School, Grade 12
Wood County
Lindsay Hammond, Parkersburg South High School, Grade 12
Sadie Kupfner, Parkersburg High School, Grade 12
Ricky Lewis, Parkersburg South High School, Grade 12
Jordon Patton, Parkersburg South High School, Grade 12
Wyoming
Brittany Arndt, Westside High School, Grade 11
Randi Dove, Westside High School, Grade 12
Nathan Lucion, Pineville Middle School, Grade 8
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West Virginia Independence Hall Museum to host Abraham Lincoln lecture on Feb. 15
The historic West Virginia Independence Hall (WVIH) Museum in downtown Wheeling will host a lecture by Dr. Matthew Pinsker of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. entitled “Abraham Lincoln and the House Divided Era” on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 1:30 p.m. The program is presented by the West Virginia Humanities Council through the Distinguished Lectureship Program of the Organization of American Historians. The lecture is free and the public is invited to attend.
Pinsker will focus on how President Lincoln, a southerner by birth and a northerner by outlook, attempted to use campaigns and elections as a means of reconciling a nation ripped apart by slavery. In an age when constitutional rules, whether over slavery, secession or even West Virginia statehood, seemed so contested and fluid, it was remarkable that Lincoln maintained that only the nation’s much maligned electoral process was the true fixed star of the American constitutional system.
Pinsker holds the Brian Pohanka Chair for Civil War History at Dickinson College. He is the author of Lincoln’s Sanctuary: Abraham Lincoln and the Soldier’s Home (Oxford, 2003) and has served since 2006 as the Project Director for the National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks of the Underground Railroad workshops held each summer for kindergarten through 12th-grade educators.
In 2006, he was a Visiting Fellow at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Pinsker currently serves on the advisory boards of Ford’s Theatre; Lincoln Cottage; Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission; and the National Civil War Museum. He graduated with honors from Harvard University and received his doctorate from the University of Oxford. From 2008 through 2010, Pinsker has been designated as a Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians.
For more information about events at West Virginia Independence Hall Museum, contact Melissa Brown, site manager at WVIH, at (304) 238-1300.
West Virginia Independence Hall, originally built as a federal custom house in 1859, served as the home of the pro-Union state conventions of Virginia during the spring and summer of 1861 and as the capitol of loyal Virginia from June 1861 to June 1863. It also was the site of the first constitutional convention for West Virginia. The facility was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1988 and is on the Civil War Discovery Trail, which links more than 500 sites in 28 states to inspire and to teach the story of the Civil War and its enduring impact on America. Operated by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History with the cooperation and assistance of the West Virginia Independence Hall Foundation, the museum in open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the exception of major holidays, and is located on the corner of 16th and Market Streets in Wheeling.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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West Virginia Division of Culture and History posts photographs of West Virginia State Museum construction and fabrication on its website
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History has posted photographs of the West Virginia State Museum’s construction and fabrication on its website so that interested visitors can view the progress of the project. The photographs can be accessed at www.wvculture.org/museum/renovate.html.
The website includes a large floor plan of the new museum. By clicking on a room in the floor plan, visitors can see panoramic photographs and some Quicktime VR movies of those locations. The movies pan around a space in a circle, giving the visitor a 360-degree view of the room. A link allows visitors to enter several photo galleries which show work that has been done in the museum since January 2008. These include shots of concrete being poured, installation of electrical and sprinkler systems, building a log cabin and coal mine, sculpting stone walls and creating a railroad tunnel, among others. These photo galleries will continue to be updated as work continues.
Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History said, “These photographs will give our constituents the opportunity to see museum work as it develops. We are very excited about the progress made and invite everyone to visit our website and share in this endeavor.”
The West Virginia State Museum is located on the lower level of the Cultural Center at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston. The history of the state will be told in the new 23,000-square-foot museum through modern educational exhibits that will appeal to visitors of all ages. There will be a show path, which is a chronological journey of West Virginia history, using themed settings to highlight pivotal moments. Special effects, narration, surround sound, and dynamic theater lighting will help visitors experience what it was like to be a West Virginian during the most important moments in the state’s history.
In addition, discovery rooms will provide visitors with an opportunity to learn more about the history of West Virginia. The discovery rooms will feature artifacts, works of art, stories, music, and film clips. The connections rooms will allow visitors to dig deeper into West Virginia history and culture with computer stations, and provide facts about topics not covered in the show path and discovery rooms. The last scene as the visitor exits the museum will be a multimedia display of historic and scenic attractions in the state. The newly-renovated West Virginia State Museum is slated to open next year.
MCS of Charleston is the general contractor for the work. D & P, Inc., of Lorton, Va., is the specialty contractor and subcontractors ThemeWorks, Inc., of High Springs, Fla., and Antique Cabins and Barns, of Lewisburg are constructing many of the scenic elements.
For more information about the renovation project, contact Jacqueline Proctor, deputy commissioner of the Division, at (304) 558-0220.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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William Davis honored with Governor's Arts Award for lifetime achievement
Governor Joe Manchin III and First Lady Gayle Manchin honored William Maxwell Davis of Charleston with the top honor, the Governor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, for his significant accomplishments in the arts at the 2008 Governor’s Arts Award Monday evening, June 9, at the Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. The event was hosted by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.
Davis received the award for outstanding public service to the arts. He has worked tirelessly to put participation in the arts within reach for everyone in West Virginia, including the large rural population that is too often neglected in arts programming. Davis has been firm in his belief that every citizen deserves to live a life graced by meaningful interaction with art. During his more than 30 years as a member and chairman of the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, the Commission made a dramatic impact on the availability of arts resources in West Virginia by distributing millions of dollars to improve facilities for arts program.
Over the years, Davis has served as trustee emeritus and former chairman and acting president of the University of Charleston, former trustee and chairman of the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, former president of Family Services and Travelers Aid of Kanawha Valley, former treasurer of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, and president of Marshall University Graduate College Foundation. He also has served as a board member of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the Charleston Chamber Music Society and visiting committee member of West Virginia University Library System and West Virginia University College of Creative Arts, among others.
In 2004, Davis was awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award through the National Association of State Arts Agencies. The award was created in 2000 to recognize the contribution of volunteer leaders to the public arts support field. It honors individuals whose outstanding service, creative thinking and leadership have had a significant impact on the field of public support for the arts in their state or region.
Davis retired in 1979 as president of the Bank of West Virginia. Currently he is a director for Kanawha Investment & Trust Company.
Other awards presented on Monday included the Appalachian Folklife Award to Gerry Milnes of Elkins, who has dedicated himself to the practice and preservation of West Virginia folklife and folk art in all forms. Adam DeGraff and Barbara Nissman, both of Lewisburg, received the Distinguished Service to the Arts Award. DeGraff has spent the last 20 years utilizing his skills to serve as a concert violinist, dedicated teacher and ambassador for the arts. Nissman is a concert pianist, teacher, writer, lecturer and recording artist who is honored in the Steinway Hall of Legends. Leadership in the Arts Awards were presented to Larry Groce and Lakin Ray Cook of Charleston and the Morgan Arts Council of Berkeley Springs. Groce is a singer/songwriter, perhaps best known for serving as artistic director, host and co-producer of Mountain Stage. Cook has had an extensive career in the arts both in the public and private sectors including serving as director of arts for the West Virginia Division of Culture and serving on numerous grant panels for state and national granting programs. The Morgan Arts Council was one of the first local arts councils established in West Virginia and has provided strong leadership to individual artists, schools, the statewide arts community and arts organization.
For more information, contact Jeff Pierson, director of arts for the Division, at (304) 558-0240, ext. 717.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Photographs:
William Davis, First Lady Gayle Manchin and Governor Joe Manchin III with award
Governor Joe Manchin III, William Davis and First Lady Gayle Manchin
Barbara Nissman, Governor Joe Manchin III, First Lady Gayle Manchin, and Cathey Sawyer
Adam DeGraff
Gerald Milnes
Lakin Cook
Larry Groce
Mary Hott for the Morgan Arts Council
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Appalachian Regional Commission to make $200,000 grant to West Virginia State Museum at the Cultural Center
Governor Joe Manchin announced on Thursday, May 8, that he has approved the West Virginia Division of Culture and History’s (WVDCH) project application for Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) assistance in the amount of a $200,000 grant toward the educational component of the new West Virginia State Museum. In doing so, the governor presented Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith of the WVDCH with a letter to that effect, which stipulates that an official notification will be made by the ARC.
Gov. Manchin is West Virginia’s commission member for the ARC, as are the governors of the other 12 states in the Appalachian Region. The region includes all of West Virginia and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Reid-Smith said, “With Governor Manchin’s approval, this grant from ARC will help us achieve our goal: to present an educational program that meets the 21st-century content standards and objectives for West Virginia schools. We are most grateful to the governor and the ARC for this generous gift which will mean so much to the citizens of the Mountain State, and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
The Division’s education staff is collaborating with the State Board of Education and its Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA) to ensure that the museum’s educational program will combine multiple disciplines and target all grade levels. A group of educators will convene to develop curriculum programs and materials for the initial Teachers Resource Kit and Curriculum Guide.
The new museum will have two education centers for use by teachers. A computer lab will provide access to a virtual museum, interactive research tools and hands-on learning activities. An audio-visual room will provide space with videos, movies, and more, to further interpret West Virginia’s rich history.
ARC is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. It was created in early 1965 by a broad bipartisan coalition of the U.S. Congress, which passed the legislation to address the persistent poverty and growing economic despair of the Appalachian Region. The legislation had the broad support of President John F. Kennedy, who initiated work on the project and President Lyndon B. Johnson who submitted it to Congress.
The West Virginia State Museum, located in the lower level of the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex for the past 32 years, is currently in the construction phase of renovation. The history of the state will be told in the new 23,000-square-foot museum through modern exhibits that will appeal to visitors of all ages. There will be a show path, which is a chronological journey of West Virginia history, using themed settings to highlight pivotal moments. Special effects, narration, first-person accounts, surround sound, and dynamic theater lighting will help visitors experience what it was like to be a West Virginian during the most important moments in the state’s history.
In addition, there will be discovery rooms to provide visitors with an opportunity to learn more about the history of West Virginia. The discovery rooms will feature artifacts, works of art, stories, music, and film clips. The connections rooms will allow visitors to dig deeper into West Virginia history and culture with computer stations, and provide facts about topics not covered in the show path and discovery rooms. The last scene as the visitor exits the museum will be a slide show of sites and tourist attractions in the state and a kiosk where they can access information about sites all around West Virginia. The new West Virginia State Museum is slated to open next year.
For more information about the renovation project or the ARC grant award, contact Jacqueline Proctor, deputy commissioner of the Division, at (304) 558-0220.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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State Historic Preservation Office to present historic landmark commission training session on May 17
The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, in collaboration with the Shepherdstown Historic Landmark Commission, is offering a historic landmark commission training session on Saturday, May 17. The free session will be held at the Shepherdstown Men’s Club, 102 East German St., from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Members of historic landmark commissions, interested government officials and the general public are encouraged to attend.
Susan West Montgomery, former president of Preservation Action, the national grassroots lobbying network based in Washington, DC, will join SHPO staff as a workshop leader in Shepherdstown. “I am pleased that Ms. Montgomery is joining us for the workshop,” states Susan M. Pierce, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer. “Her refreshing approach toward working with government officials will be helpful to our local historic landmark commissions.” Montgomery received her master’s degree in American Studies, Historic Preservation Program, from George Washington University.
The training session also will explore how cities and counties can encourage preservation in their communities through historic landmark commissions. Topics of discussion will include certified local government designation, meeting procedures, roles and responsibilities of historic landmark commissions, financial incentives, National Register of Historic Places, local historic district designations, design review, and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
Seating is limited and registration is required by Monday, May 12, for the Shepherdstown session. To register, contact Amy Boyd with the City of
Shepherdstown at (304) 876-2398, or by e-mail at clerk@shepherdstown.us.
This training session is the third of several regional workshops for historic landmark commissions throughout the state. Anyone interested in sponsoring a workshop should contact Chris Knorr, certified local government coordinator for the SHPO, at (304) 558-0240, or by e-mail at chris.knorr@wvculture.org.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Fenton Art Glass exhibition to open at the Cultural Center on Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. - press photos available
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History will unveil a new exhibit, West Virginia’s Gift to the World: Fenton–Handcrafted American Glass Artistry, with a gala reception on Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m., at the Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. Visitors can meet George and Scott Fenton, president and vice-president of the company, and witness the presentation of limited edition, signed and numbered, eight-inch tall flip vases entitled “West Virginia Winter” to Governor Joe Manchin III and First Lady Gayle Manchin and Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith of the Division of Culture and History. The exhibition and opening reception are free and open to the public.
Visitors also can see a 22-minute film about the company, Experience Fenton: Glassmaking–An Art of Hand and Heart, and purchase the limited edition flip vase and a coffee table book entitled Fenton: Handcrafted American Glass Artistry. The “West Virginia Winter” vase is indigo blue in color, has an interior diamond optic pattern and a handpainted decoration featuring birch trees, a stream and mountains in the background. A cardinal and snowflakes add to the decor. There will be 100 signed and numbered vases available for purchase at $99 each plus tax.
The book was published in 2005 in conjunction with the company’s 100th anniversary. It features color photographs of 100 Fenton glass items chosen by members of the Fenton family to reflect the company’s history as America’s foremost producer of handmade colored art glass. It has been personally signed by nine members of the family and can be purchased for $49.50 plus tax.
The exhibit is on display in the Lobby Gallery where visitors can see a colorful wall of art glass that has been produced from 2000 - 2007. There also are vitrines which contain figurines, seasonal glassware and selected vases from the same time period.
The north wing of the Balcony Gallery has a timeline of the glass company and historical pieces dating from 1907 to 2005, including a Favrene vase which is a Don Fenton memorial piece from the Fenton Centennial Collection in 2005; an amethyst carnival glass bowl circa 1910-12; an amethyst opalescent crimped sauce dish circa 1907-08; hanging hearts on willow green opalescent pitcher, designed by master glass artist Dave Fetty for the Fenton Connoisseur Collection in 2003; and a Florentine green fan vase circa 1925-28.
The older historical pieces in the Balcony Gallery are from the West Virginia State Museum Collection. The newer pieces in the Lobby Gallery are on loan from the Fenton Art Glass Company of Williamstown, W.Va.
Founded in 1905 by brothers Frank L. and John W. Fenton in a used glass factory building in Martins Ferry, Ohio, the Fenton Art Glass Company initially consisted of the brothers painting decorations on glass blanks from other glass manufacturers. They soon discovered it was difficult to acquire the glass they needed so they began producing their own glassware. The first glass from the new Fenton factory in Williamstown, W.Va. was produced on January 2, 1907.
Fenton ranks among the world’s foremost producers of handmade art glass. It is the largerst manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States and is renowned for innovative glass colors as well as hand-painted decorations on pressed and blown glassware.
For more than a century, Fenton has developed new colors and patterns including items enhanced with hand-painted floral decorations and 22k gold accents. In 2005, the company celebrated its 100th anniversary. The firm is now led by third- and fourth-generation Fenton family members who work with more than 400 employees, including skilled glassworkers and decorators.
For more information about the West Virginia’s Gift to the World: Fenton–Handcrafted American Glass Artistry exhibit opening, contact Jacqueline Proctor, deputy commissioner for the Division, at (304) 558-0220. For more information about the exhibit, contact Charles Morris, director of collections and exhibitions for the Division, at (304) 558-0220.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol
Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For moreinformation about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Photographs available for download. All photographs by Michael Keller, WV Division of Culture and History
036. c. 1909-1912, green Carnival glass No. 1124 Butterfly and Berry pattern pitcher
019. c. 2005, cranberry glass optic lobed candy dish w/ crystal cover and white enameled “Mary Gregory” decoration
025. c. 1925-1926, blue threaded Mosaic inlaid art glass 8" #3028 fan vase
063. c. 1922-1925, Celeste Blue Stretch glass No. 847 eight lobed footed flared bowl, c. 1910-1912, amethyst Carnival glass Grape and Cable pattern bowl,
C. 2002-2007, cobalt blue Carnival glass Persian Medallion pattern bowl
076 c. 1909-1912, green Carnival glass No. 1124 Butterfly and Berry pattern pitcher, c. 1925-1926, blue threaded Mosaic inlaid art glass 8" #3028 fan vase, c. 1922-1925, Celeste Blue Stretch glass No. 847 eight lobed footed flared bowl
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Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation makes $40,000 grant to West Virginia State Museum at the Cultural Center
Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History today announced that the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation has made a $40,000 grant toward the educational component of the new West Virginia State Museum.
Reid-Smith said, “With this grant award, the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation is helping us to develop an educational program that meets the 21st-century content standards and objectives for West Virginia schools. We are most grateful to the Foundation for this generous gift which embodies their commitment to education, and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
The Division’s education staff is collaborating with the State Board of Education and its Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA) to ensure that the museum’s educational program will combine multiple disciplines and target all grade levels. A group of educators will convene to develop curriculum programs and materials for the initial Teachers Resource Kit and Curriculum Guide.
The new museum will have two education centers for use by teachers. A computer lab will provide access to a virtual museum, interactive research tools and hands-on learning activities. An audio-visual room will provide space with videos, movies, and more, to further interpret West Virginia’s rich history.
The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation is a charitable community trust organized in 1962 to accept contributions, create and administer funds, and make grants for the benefit of the people of the Greater Kanawha Valley. The Foundation seeks to enrich the lives of those it serves by being the premier provider of philanthropic and charitable services for all citizens in its region.
The 32-year-old West Virginia State Museum, located in the lower level of the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex, is currently in the construction phase of renovation. The history of the state will be told in the new 23,000-square-foot museum through modern exhibits that will appeal to visitors of all ages. There will be a show path, which is a chronological journey of West Virginia history, using themed settings to highlight pivotal moments. Special effects, narration, first-person accounts, surround sound, and dynamic theater lighting will help visitors experience what it was like to be a West Virginian during the most important moments in the state’s history.
In addition, there will be discovery rooms to provide visitors with an opportunity to learn more about the history of West Virginia. The discovery rooms will feature artifacts, works of art, stories, music, and film clips. The connections rooms will allow visitors to dig deeper into West Virginia history and culture with computer stations, and provide facts about topics not covered in the show path and discovery rooms. The last scene as the visitor exits the museum will be a slide show of sites and tourist attractions in the state and a kiosk where they can access information about sites all around West Virginia. The new West Virginia State Museum is slated to open next year.
For more information about the renovation project or the grant award, contact Jacqueline Proctor, deputy commissioner of the Division, at (304) 558-0220.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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Draft of State Arts Plan for 2008-10 available for comment
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Division makes more than a million genealogy records available online to researchers
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Check out "What's Happening at West Virginia Archives and History."
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You are cordially invited to attend the West Virginia Archives and History Showcase on December 7, 2009.
You are cordially invited to attend the West Virginia Archives and History Showcase on December 7, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. at the Culture Center in Charleston. The event will feature unique items from the Archives collections, photographs, rare books and manuscripts, newspapers, Civil War documents and West Virginia Civil War medals, audio/video clips, slide shows, Veterans Memorial biographies, genealogy tools, musical selections from our collections, behind-the-scenes tours, refreshments, and more.
RSVP requested to Robert Taylor or call (304) 558-0230.
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West Virginia Archives and History Evening Workshop and Lecture 2009-2010 Schedule
The following workshops and lectures are scheduled to take place in the Archives and History Library on select Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Fall 2009 Flyer
Winter 2010 Flyer
Spring and Summer 2010 Flyer
Check Back for Additional Workshops
August 4: Genealogy for Beginners
September 1: Put Your Family's Memories in a Scrapbook, conducted by Lynn Barney
October 6: "His Soul Goes Marching On": The Life and Legacy of John Brown, with Mary Johnson, speaker
November 3: Bastard Battalion: A History of the 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion in World War II, with Terry Lowry, speaker
December 1: A Glimpse at Some Lesser-Known Prominent West Virginians, with Dr. Kenneth R. Bailey, speaker
January 5, 2010: Genealogy and Law: An Introduction to Some Legal Issues in Genealogical Research, with Scott Johnson, speaker
February 2, 2010: Digging into West Virginia's 18th Century, Groundhog Style, with Doug Wood, speaker
March 2, 2010: Going Back before 1850: Genealogical Strategies for Early American Research, with Jaime Simmons, speaker
April 6, 2010: West Virginia Coal Mine Disasters in the Era before Regulation, with Dr. Paul Rakes, speaker
May 4, 2010: Election 1960: The West Virginia Primary
June 1, 2010: West Virginia Statehood, with Joe Geiger, speaker
July 6, 2010: Scrapbooking Workshop
August 3, 2010: Beginning Genealogy Workshop
Registration for these free workshops is helpful but not required. For more information or to register, call (304) 558-0230 or e-mail Robert Taylor, library manager.
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View recent additions to the online Audio/Video clips.
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West Virginia History Day at the Legislature will be held on February 18, 2010, at the Capitol Complex. History Hero nomination and Display Space reservation forms are now available.
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Archives and History has a new online exhibit, "His Soul Goes Marching On: The Life and Legacy of John Brown."
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Back By Popular Demand! Check out our Pic of the Week.
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View recent donations to the West Virginia State Archives.
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Embracing Our Differences invites artists, photographers, professionals, amateurs, teachers and students to participate in its 7th annual visual art exhibit celebrating diversity.
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Statewide “Poetry Out Loud” competition announced
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National Museum of the American Indian Invites Applications for Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program
The National Museum of the American Indian's Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program offers support to a wide range of arts activities with the goal of increasing the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of contemporary Native American arts. The NMAI considers the recognition of living artists of the Western Hemisphere and Hawaii to be of primary importance and will give awards to projects that strengthen the scholarship in this underserved field and create opportunities for new and innovative work.
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Peoples Bancorp Foundation Offers Community Grants in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky
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Arts Day at the State Capitol to be held on January 25, 2010
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Americans for the Arts-the Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences in Greater Charleston, WV (PDF)
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The Economic Impact of Tamarack (pdf)
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West Virginia in the New Economy
Visit http://www.createwv.com/ to download the report, "Culture, Creativity and Innovation, West Virginia in the New Economy"
Here a diverse community of West Virginians comes together to create a West Virginia that thrives on innovation, artistic vision, connectivity, diversity, entrepreneurship, technology and growth.
In short – a West Virginia for the New Economy.
But it's more than that. Our vision is not to try and replicate what others have done. It's to forge a dynamic new West Virginia that is rooted in what has always made West Virginia great. It's the combination of the simple beauty of our surroundings and the soulful strength of our unique history with 21st century tools to share our strengths with the world, and to invite them to share with us. It's about welcoming the new in the context of what's already great about West Virginia.
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Call for Artists: Regional Showcase The Middle Street Gallery is seeking artists for a special show in March, 2010.
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President Obama announces opportunities for arts participation in 2009 through his United We Serve program
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Listening for a Change: Oral History and Appalachian Heritage
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West Virginia Division of Culture and History announces Poetry Out Loud contest winner for 2009
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News from the National Endowment for the Arts
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Help us help you!
The Arts Section is looking for feedback to help us be better responsive to the needs of our constituents. Please take a few moments to fill out the HELP US HELP YOU! survey. Candid responses are appreciated.
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William Davis honored with Governor's Arts Award for lifetime achievement
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Accessibility Mini-Grants from Ohio River Border Initiative
The Ohio River Border Initiative now has Accessibility Mini-Grants available at www.orbi.org. Applications will be accepted beginning April 1, 2008. Grants up to $1000 for counties that border Ohio.
For more information visit www.orbi.org or email Bill Howley at billhowley@hughes.net. Phone 304-655-8255.
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Arts section of Division of Culture and History offers new e-mail service
2/20/2007
The arts section of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History is offering a new e-mail service available through its office. The new service is designed to provide periodic e-mail messages with deadline dates for all its grants and regional information that may be of interest. In addition, the service will allow the arts section to send information and announcements about specific grants as well as resource advice to assist applicants.
Anyone interested in being placed on this arts database should send an e-mail message to artslist@wvculture.org, including name, mailing address, position/discipline, organization, grants of specific interest to you or your organization, grants you have applied for in the past, and any additional pertinent information indicating your interest in the arts. E-mail addresses will not be shared with any other database service, including spam, mass marketing campaigns or other organizations.
Specific questions about grants and applications should continue to be directed to the individual grant coordinators: Barbie Anderson, grants coordinator; Debbie Rainey Haught, community arts coordinator; Gregg McAllister, arts in education and mini grant coordinator; Rose McDonough, cultural facilities and accessibility coordinator; and Jeff Pierson, individual arts coordinator.
For more information or to reach the arts section, call (304) 558-0240.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the state capitol complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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We are always looking for professional teaching artists
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Literary map of WV featuring 138 authors and original art.
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Poets & Writers Magazine announces state and national prizes in writing
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Local Writers' Groups in West Virginia
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Arts and Crafts Industry contributes $54.5 million to West Virginia economy
ARTS & CRAFTS INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES $54.5 MILLION ANNUALLY TO STATE ECONOMY
Results of Ground-breaking Study Demonstrate Significance of Industry
Charleston, W.Va. – The results of a recent study into the economic impact of the arts and crafts industry show that more than $54 million is contributed to the state economy each year through the sale of arts and crafts in West Virginia.
The study, sponsored by six state arts and crafts organizations and the Small Business Development Division of the West Virginia Development Office, is the first of its kind to measure the arts and crafts industry in West Virginia. (study highlights)
Modeled on the 2001 CODA Survey: The Impact of Crafts on the National Economy, the West Virginia study queried some 2,539 artists and craftspeople in the state about their overall sales, income, studio situations and needs. The findings will be used to demonstrate the significance of the industry as a means of earning a living for thousands of West Virignia residents and lend
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www.artsaction.org - Take action for a quality arts education.
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Blair Mountain information
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Cemeteries and the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office
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Public meetings to be held to obtain input for revisions to the five-year statewide comprehensive historic preservation plan
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Free Education Resources for K-12 Teachers from the National Park Service
As part of its Save Our History initiative to support historic preservation and local history education in communities across the country, The History Channel is offering a new, four-part series of lesson plans commemorating the 40th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) for middle and high school teachers and educators at local history organizations. The first lesson plan in the series was created by the staff of Heritage Education Services at the NPS and can be downloaded at http://www.saveourhistory.com/educators/monthly_lesson_plans.html.
Future contributors will include the National Archives, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and the National Trust. All activities are linked to National Standards and can serve as the basis for entries for the Save Our History National Honors Teacher and Student of the Year Contests. For more information on the National Honors please visit www.saveourhistory.com.
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Guidelines for submitting a collection to the Archaeological Collections Facility
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Guidelines for Phase I, II, and III Archaeological Investigations and Technical Report Preparation
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West Virginia's County Courthouses - photos and text from the 2003 calendar are online
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Ladies Fashion Doll exhibition by Pete Ballard unveiled at Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex
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Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex to present “Experimental Archaeology in Action” demonstrations
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Museum in the Park at Chief Logan State Park opens “Riding the Rails: Railroads Connecting West Virginia” exhibit
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West Virginia Division of Culture and History posts photographs of West Virginia State Museum construction and fabrication on its website
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Appalachian Regional Commission to make $200,000 grant to West Virginia State Museum at the Cultural Center
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Fenton Art Glass exhibition to open at the Cultural Center on Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. - press photos available
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Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation makes $40,000 grant to West Virginia State Museum at the Cultural Center
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Division announces plans for West Virginia Independence Hall exhibit of Civil War battle flags.
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