Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special collections and indexes of genealogical value. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of many important research collections.

Manuscript Collections

Willis Guy Tetrick Collection. This collection consists of family and other records of Harrison County and central West Virginia. The original collection is in the possession of the Tetrick family in Clarksburg, West Virginia and may be searched by appointment. Microfilm copies are available at the West Virginia University Library and at the Family History Library.

One portion of the collection is listed in the Family History Library Catalog under WEST VIRGINIA, HARRISON - GENEALOGY. This includes the Family Records of Harrison County, West Virginia. (FHL films 163723-838) and the Family Sheets, an Uncompleted Survey for a “Genealogical History of Harrison County, West Virginia” (FHL films 163848-96) which are arranged alphabetically.

Another portion of the Tetrick collection consists of transcripts of county records, cemetery records, Sons of the American Revolution applications, and newspaper obituaries. These are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under the specific counties or cities (and record types).

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Collection. This collection consists of transcripts of Bible, cemetery, church, marriage, death, obituary, and probate records. It was microfilmed in 1970 at the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. and is available on 44 films at the Family History Library. The volumes are generally arranged by county and many have individual indexes. See the Author/Title Search of the Family History Library Catalog under DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION - WEST VIRGINIA.

Elisha B. Iams Collection. This is a collection of over 70 volumes of information. It was extracted from the records of 16 counties in southwest Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio and thus is an important source of information about early Virginia and Pennsylvania settlers. It includes a card index with 6,500 entries. The collection has not been microfilmed. It is available at the Citizen's Library, 55 S. College Street, Washington, PA 15301.

West Virginia University Library, Genealogies. This is a collection of alphabetized pedigrees and genealogies of West Virginia families. It is available at the Family History Library (FHL films 239244-53).

Smith-Rife Collection of New River Genealogy and Local History. This collection by Aubrey O. Smith and Winton A. Rife relates mainly to families from Boone, Fayette, Greenbriar, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, and Wyoming counties, and some southeast border counties. The original collection is at the Archives and History Library.

The collection is available on microfilm at the Family History Library in two parts. The family section (FHL films 1036968-77) consists of loose alphabetized papers such as family group records, obituaries, newspaper clippings, Bible records, pedigrees, and cemetery records for 189 major families. The locality section (FHL films 1036978-80) contains cemetery transcriptions, church records, county courthouse abstracts, and other records, arranged by county.

Genealogical Records of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, 18th Century to 1975 by Hazel Hansrote. This handwritten collection of genealogies and research extracts is alphabetized by surname. It is useful for finding information about Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania families who settled the West Augusta District (see the “History” section). It is available on microfilm at the Family History Library (FHL films 984210-17).

Published Sources

An excellent source for information on early families and settlers of West Virginians is Jim Comstock, West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia and the supplemental series (see the “History” section of this outline).

You may also want to consult Earl G. Swem, Virginia Historical Index (see the “Periodicals” section) for references to genealogical information published in several outstanding historical and genealogical periodicals. Also see Wardell's, Time Saving Aid to Virginia-West Virginia Ancestors (see the “Biography” section).

Other published sources include:

Brown, Stuart E., Jr. Virginia Genealogies, A Trial List of Printed Books and Pamphlets. 3 vols. Berryville, Va.: Virginia Book Co., 1967-89. (FHL book 975.5 D23b.) This set indexes about 4,000 family histories from manuscripts and books and periodicals published before 1980. This is a supplement to Robert Armistead Stewart's book, mentioned below.

Stewart, Robert Armistead. Index to Printed Virginia Genealogies. 1930. Reprint. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co, 1970. (FHL book 975.5 D22s 1970; the 1965 reprint edition is on film 962558 item 2 and on fiche 6019375.) This book lists indexes about 650 Virginia family histories published before 1930.

Wardell, Patrick G. Virginians & West Virginians, 1607-1870. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1986-1992, 3 vols. in 4. (FHL book 975 D2wp.) Includes genealogical data abstracted from History of Virginia, 6 vols. (New York: American Historical Society, 1924; FHL book 975.5 H2a; films 1421672 item 11 and 1321473) and an index to the biographical volumes of that history.

Butcher, Bernard Lee. Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley, West Virginia. 3 vols. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912. (FHL book 975.4 D2b; film 1000647.)

History of the Great Kanawha Valley: With Family History and Biographical Sketches. 2 vols. Madison, Wis.: Brant, Fuller & Co., 1891. (FHL film 1000648 items 1-2.)

Return to top of page

Previous Document   Next Document

©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
[FamilySearch^TM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/9/2001]