The West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society.
This society, with a view to more effectually carry out the objects and purposes of its organization, has decided to publish a Historical Magazine, to be called “The West Virginia Historical Magazine, Quarterly.”
The Society solicits, for this magazine, contributions from time to time, from its members, from citizens of the State and from others who may have the will, of trustworthy accounts concisely written, of past and current events, local. State and general, of historical interest pertaining to the State.
There are still floating in the memory of the people, but never in print, many interesting traditions of early historical events relating to early frontier explorations and settlements, border Indian wars, the part taken by Western Virginia, now West Virginia, in the wars of the revolution and of 1812, the Mexican and Civil wars, and the Spanish, Philippine and Chinese wars. Selactions from these, well attested, we desire to gather up and preserve, before they are forever lost; and so with interesting facts relating to the growth and development of the State, settlements of neighborhoods, growth of towns, public improvements, manufacturing and enterprises. A record of such events, seemingly unimportant now, while occurring under our eyes, will have great interest and value in the future.
It is the purpose of the Historical Magazine to gather and record selactions from such facts, and also short biographical sketches of persons who have taken a prominent and useful part m the affairs of the State.
Members and friends of the Historical Society and the public are invited to subscribe to the Magazine.
Price, per annum. $1.00; single copies, 25 cents.
Our Historical Society, when organized, started a museum, on a small scale, with a basketful of Indian and Mound Builders’ relics, and a few other curios. Now, our collection has increased to many thousands of specimens of great variety and many of unusual interest. It is largely visited by the public, with interest and pleasure. We have also, on exhibition, specimens of the coals, timber, and other products of the State, which are of interest and value to outsiders coming to investigate such products, so largely abounding in our State.
Our library was begun but a few years ago, by the donation of a few books, pamphlets, etc., by members of the Society. It has now with the aid of the State, increased to about six thousand volumes of books, several thousand pamphlets, maps, papers, autographs of distinguished people, pictures, etc.
We keep, on our reading tables, most of the prominent newspapers of the State, which are kindly sent us gratuitously by the publishers; these are kept to be bound in volumes for permanent preservation, and will make a valuable record of the current history of the State.
We subscribe for twelve or fifteen of the leading popular magazines for the entertainment of our visitors. These, too, we bind and preserve.
Our library contains a large proportion of Government books. Acts of Congress, departmental. Smithsonian, Geological, and other reports, besides a valuable collection of miscellaneous books on history and general subjects; altogether, it is now, a very valuable library of reference, and is being largely used as such.
We have published a few pamphlets and sent them out to other Historical Societies and libraries, and have received many valuable publications in exchange. We propose, in like manner, to send our Historical Magazine to other Societies and libraries, and hope to receive valuable exchanges.
Although occupying the largest room in the Capitol building, we are very much cramped for room, at present; but we shall soon be in our new quarters in the elegant Capitol Annex building, now being erected, and in which the State has assigned us one entire floor of about ten thousand square feet of floor space, where we can arrange what we have to much better advantage, and have room for expansion.
The Historical Society has transferred to the State all its right, title and interest in and to its library, museum and whatever else it has. With the full title and ownership of the Society collection in the State, we trust it will be the pleasure of the present and future Legislatures to grant the Society such liberal encouragement and support as it deserves and needs to continue, increase and perpetuate it as one of the valuable and permanent educational institutions of the State.
We bespeak the good offices of the press of the State in calling the attention of the public, from time to time, to the aims and efforts of the Society in behalf of the interests of the State, and aid in getting from every part of the State interesting historical sketches for our Historical Magazine, thus encouraging a knowledge of and interest in the objects of the Society, and fostering a loyal patriotism and love for the State.
To the citizens of every county and part of the State, we appeal for contributions of all sorts of articles suitable as exhibits in our museum.
We want fine specimens of the woods and coals of the State, mineral ores, tire and brick clays, marbles, building stones, manufactured products, old books, maps, manuscripts, autographs, aboriginal relics, coin.-!., curios, medals, pictures, etc. Such an aggregation of individual contributions will greatly enhance the interest and value of our museum, not only to our own citizens, but to the thousands of those beyond our borders who come to the Capital of our State and visit our rooms.
Persons or families who have valuable relics, curios, or heirlooms which they are not willing to donate to the Society, are solicited to loan us such articles for exhibition; they will be safely preserved under glass and lock and key in a tire-proof building, safe from the numerous accidents, by tire and otherwise, which befall private residences.
The Society issues receipts for such loaned articles with a clause allowing the owners to reclaim them at their pleasure.
We solicit those in sympathy with the objects of this Society, to become members, and cooperate with us in the work in hand. The initiation fee is $3.00, no after charges.
J. P. HALE,
President.
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