R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

West Virginia
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Taxation
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIPLook this term up in the glossary.

Most West Virginia courts or counties recorded naturalizationLook this term up in the glossary. proceedings in the minutesLook this term up in the glossary. and docketsLook this term up in the glossary. of the courts rather than keeping separate registers. Prior to 1906, any court of record could naturalize immigrants. From 1906 to 1929 the federal government regulated naturalization but allowed most state or county courts to continue naturalizing immigrants. After 1929 only federal courts handled naturalizations.

For pre-1906 naturalizations you will have to search the records of all local, state, and federal courts in the area where your ancestor lived. In West Virginia most immigrants were naturalized in the state circuit or county courts so you will want to begin your search in those courts. These records are in the possession of the clerk of the circuit court or county clerk of the county. The Family History Library has copies of most West Virginia court records to the early 1900s (see the “Court Records” section of this outline).

For naturalization records after September 1906, contact the National Archives—Mid-Atlantic Region (for the records of the U.S. district courts in West Virginia) or your local office of the Immigration and Naturalization ServiceLook this term up in the glossary.. Some records between 1906 and 1929 are also at the office of the clerk of the circuit court in each county.


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NEWSPAPERSLook this term up in the glossary.

By 1863 nine newspapers were being published in West Virginia. The largest collections of newspapers are at the Archives and History Library and the West Virginia University Library. A guide to the collection at the West Virginia University Library is Newspapers in the West Virginia University Library (Morgantown, W.Va.: West Virginia University Library, 1964; not at FHL).

The Family History Library has more than 1,100 microfilms of West Virginia newspapers including the Wheeling Register from 1863 to 1913.

The Family History Library has the obituary portion, Obituaries from Newspapers, of the Tetrick collection which includes obituaries from northern West Virginia from 1929 to 1949 (FHL films 163932-49). This is listed in the Family History Library Catalog under WEST VIRGINIA, HARRISON, CLARKSBURG - OBITUARIES (see the “Genealogy” section of this outline).

The library also has a collection of obituaries from 1931 and 1932 in W. Guy. Tetrick, Obituaries from Newspapers of Northern West Virginia. 2 vols. (Clarksburg, W.Va.: W. G. Tetrick, 1933; FHL 975.4 V4t; film 1033974 items 2-3). This is listed in the Family History Library Catalog under WEST VIRGINIA - VITAL RECORDS.


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PERIODICALSLook this term up in the glossary.

A variety of genealogical material has been published in periodicals. An index to several significant periodicals and other published sources is Earl Gregg Swem, Virginia Historical Index, 2 vols. in 4, 1934-36, Reprint (Gloucester, Mass.: Peter Smith, 1965; FHL book 977.5 H22s; fiche 6046961; 1965 reprint on films 485948-49).

See the Virginia Research Outline for a list of helpful periodicals that include pre-1863 West virginia. Other major genealogical periodicals helpful for West Virginia are:

The Journal of the Kanawha Valley Genealogical Society. 1977-. Published by the Kanawha Valley Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 8555, South Charleston, WV 25303-8555. (FHL book 975.43 D25j.)

Tri-County Researcher. 1976-. Published by Linda Goddard Stout, P.O. Box 196, Proctor, WV 26055-0196, Telephone: 304-455-3203. (FHL book 975.41 B2t; vols. 1-11 and 13 are on fiche 6048907-18.) Covers Marshall, Tyler, and Wetzel Counties.

Virginia Genealogist. 1957-. Published by John Frederick Dorman, P.O. Box 4883, Washington, D.C. 20008. (FHL book 975.5 B2vg; vols. 1-12, 21-35 on films 844855 item 2-4 and 844856-7.) There are cumulative indexes for volumes 1-35.

West Augusta Historical and Genealogical Society Newsletter. 1944-. Published by the West Augusta Historical and Genealogical Society, 2515 10th Ave., Parkersburg, WV 26101-5829. (FHL book 975.422 D25t.)

West Virginia History: A Quarterly Magazine. 1939-. Published by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Cultural Center, Capitol Complex, Charleston, West Virginia, 25305-0300. (FHL book 975.4 B2wh.)

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