5.25 Linear Feet, Summary: 5 ft. 2 1/2 in. (8 document cases, 5 in. each); (3 flat storage boxes, 3 3/4 in. each); (1 flat
storage box, 3 in); (2 flat storage boxes, 1 3/4 in. each); (1 index card box, 4 3/4 in.)
Creator
Monroe, Victorine Louistall, 1912-2001
Location
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown,
WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Language
English
.
Abstract
Papers of Victorine Louistall Monroe, the first African-American woman to receive a graduate degree from West Virginia University
(WVU), and the first African-American to serve as a WVU faculty member. Contains material regarding Louistall's education,
career, and personal life, including correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, awards, and other material.
See "Scope and Content Note" and "Historical Note" for further information.
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
Conditions Governing Access
No special access restriction applies.
Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Victorine Louistall Monroe Papers, A&M 3916, West Virginia and Regional
History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Victorine Louistall Monroe (19 August 1912 to 6 October 2006) was born in Cumberland, Maryland to Campbell M. Louistall and
Malinda (Waller) Louistall. The family later moved to Clarksburg, West Virginia, where Louistall attended Kelly Miller High
School. She attended West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University), where she was a member of the Alpha
Kappa Alpha sorority, which she remained active in throughout her life. She graduated with a degree in business administration
in 1936. She later attended West Virginia University, becoming the first African-American woman to earn a graduate degree
there, receiving a Masters of Education in 1945.
After graduating from WVU, Louistall worked at Kelly Miller High School and Roosevelt-Wilson High School. She was hired as
a professor at West Virginia University in 1966, becoming the first African-American to serve as a WVU faculty member. Louistall
retired from WVU in 1978. She was appointed to the West Virginia Library Commission by Governor Jay Rockefeller, serving from
1980 until June 1992. She was also a member of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
Papers of Victorine Louistall Monroe, the first African-American woman to receive a graduate degree from West Virginia University,
and the first African-American to serve as a WVU faculty member. Contains material regarding Louistall's education, career,
and personal life, including correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, awards, and other material.
This collection contains thirteen series:
Series 1. Biographical Materials; 1936-2006 (boxes 1-2)
Series 2. Correspondence; 1921-2006, undated (boxes 2-4)
Series 3. Photographs; 1908-1983, undated (boxes 4-5, 9)
Series 4. Newspaper Clippings; 1955-1989 (boxes 6 and 9)
Series 5. Kelly Miller High School; 1929-1998, undated (boxes 6 and 15)
Series 6. Alpha Kappa Alpha; 1944-1994, undated (boxes 7 and 14)
Series 7. Subjects; 1929-2002, undated (boxes 7-8)
Series 8. Miscellaneous; 1943-2004 (box 8)
Series 9. Scrapbooks; 1941-1980 (box 10)
Series 10. Awards; 1992-2003 (box 11)
Series 11. Artwork; undated (box 12)
Series 12. Artifact; 1981 (box 13)
Series 13. Motion Picture Film; 1938-1959, undated (box 15)
Diploma from West Virginia State College for Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Also contains program for the
Alpha Delta Sigma Honorary Scholastic Society annual ceremony, graduation program, and a group photograph of the graduating
class.
1936
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
Confirmation certificate from Christ Church, Fairmont for All Saints Mission in Clarksburg
1939
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
Diploma from West Virginia University for Master of Arts in Library Science
1964
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
Travel diary kept during trip to California
1964
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Address book
1967
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6
Guest book for Louistall's Retirement Reception held at E. Moore Hall, West Virginia University.
1968
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7
Guest book for Louistall's wedding to Ernest Monroe. Also contains invitation, photographs, and program.
1981
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8
Program for Roosevelt-Wilson High School Class of 1959 25th Class Reunion (Louistall was guest speaker)
1984
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1
Small guest book for 13th wedding anniversary dinner. Includes a few photographs, copy of invitation, and list of guests.
1994
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
Program for Louistall's funeral, held at Christ Episcopal Church.
2006
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
Guest book, used sporadically from 1940-1980 but mainly from 1940-1950
1940–1980
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
Certificate issued by Eta Omicron and Gamma Chi Omega chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority honoring her as an "Outstanding
West Virginia Woman" (1985); Certificate of Appreciation for five years service issued by the National Foundation for Infantile
Paralysis (1956); Certificate of Appreciation issued to Louistall by The Woman's Club of Clarksburg with letter from the club
president (1989)
Letter from Louistall, then seven years old, to her mother. Written in pencil.
1921
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6
Service of Notice from New York State Department of Mental Hygiene concerning commitment of Louistall's father to a state
hospital; and letter from Pilgrim State Hospital in West Brentwood, New York regarding her father's death and her wishes for
the disposition of his body.
1952
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7
Letter from head of library at West Virginia University offering Louistall a faculty position and a copy of her letter of
resignation from public school in Clarksburg.
1966
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8
Letter from Governor Rockefeller to Louistall
1980
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 9
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, programs
1931–1987
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 10
Postcards
1939–2005
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11
Postcards
1977–2006
Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 12
Handmade cards
1946, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1
Vintage holiday cards
1940–1957
Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2
Correspondence, postcards, programs, and ephemera
1943–2004
Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3
Correspondence, programs, postcards, and ephemera
1945–1992
Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4
Correspondence, including letter and invitation from the governor of West Virginia
1936–1973
Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5
Correspondence and ephemera
1936–1980
Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 6
Correspondence, mainly regarding Louistall's involvement in political and community activities, and ephemera
1937–1979
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1
Correspondence
1943–1983
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2
Correspondence, including material sent by West Virginia University
1942–1960
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 3
Correspondence, postcards, and ephemera, including material sent by West Virginia University
Black and white photographs of Louistall, family members, and others
1918-1945, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 6
Black and white photographs
1926, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 7
Black and white photographs of Louistall and others
1940–1951
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 8
Black and white and color photographs of Louistall, family members, and others
1948-1962, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 9
Black and white and color photographs of Louistall, family members, and others
1949-1968, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 1
Small photograph album
1957, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 2
Black and white and color photographs
1961
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 3
Color prints and negatives (Alpha Kappa Alpha events, Summer School, Steubenville and Library Science Classes, Olive's Retirement
Reception)
1971–1973
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 4
Small photograph album labeled "First Trip to Hawaii December 20, 1973-June 5, 1974 with Erlene Parish my cousin from Washington,
DC." Contains 48 photos.
1973–1974
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 5
Wedding photo of Louistall
1981
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 6
Louistall and Fred Glazer photograph and letter
1983
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 7
Black and white photographs of Louistall, her husband, family members, and others
ca. 1920-1960, undated
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 8
Black and white matted portrait photograph of unidentified woman.
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 9
Black and white portrait photograph of Louistall and tinted photograph of unidentified couple
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 10
Black and white framed photograph of Louistall
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 11
Black and white framed photograph of unidentified man
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 1
Black and white photograph of five African-American men. Titled along bottom of image "President and Normal Teachers of W.V.C.I.,
Institute, W.Va. 1908" [oversize]
1908
Mixed Materials Box: 9 Folder: 2
Color photograph of unidentified woman and child [oversize]
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 9
Rolled black and white photograph of attendees at Alpha Kappa Alpha Convention in Pittsburgh [oversize]
Newspapers and clippings, mainly regarding Louistall's retirement from West Virginia University
1955–1989
Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 2
Clippings from the Charleston Gazette of a series of articles by John C. Harlan titled "The Negro and West Virginia History"
1969–1970
Mixed Materials Box: 9
Newspaper clippings (including article written by Louistall regarding Emmett Saunders and Kelly Miller High School, newspaper
insert regarding West Virginia University, and article regarding Louistall's retirement) [oversize]
West Virginia State College Bulletin titled "A Story in Pictures"
1929
Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 6
Historical Geology Manual by Dana Wells, West Virginia University
1947
Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 7
Paper by Louistall for Library Science 302 taught by Florence Reese at West Virginia University
1960
Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 8
Record book listing various financial investments
1985–1994
Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 9
Calendar titled "Honoring Our History" issued by the Alliance for the Collection, Preservation and Dissemination of West Virginia's
Black History (Louistall is identified as owner of one of the photos)
1993
Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 10
Letter and Certificate for Perpetual Membership of Ernest Monroe in the Monfort Missionary Spiritual Association
2002
Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 1
Printed copies of a poem by Louistall titled "From My Window"
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 2
Cook book owned by Louistall (includes some typed and handwritten recipes)
Programs (includes items regarding WVU commencement, Clarksburg local events, Negro Spirituals, and other subjects)
1943–1992
Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 4
Programs, correspondence, newspaper clippings (includes items regarding events hosted the president of WVU, libraries and
public schools, and other subjects)
1948, 1978-1986
Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 5
Programs, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, and ephemera (includes items regarding theater and music performances, libraries,
and other subjects)
1956–1994
Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 6
Papers from a history course taken by Louistall
1956
Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 7
Obituaries, funeral programs, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other material
ca. 1960
Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 8
Publications, programs, and correspondence, mostly regarding West Virginia University
Scrapbook documenting Louistall's hospitalization for an operation, including a typed account of her experience and "get well"
cards she received.
1941
Mixed Materials Box: 10
Floral scrapbook containg correspondence, newspaper clippings, programs, publications, and other material, primarily regarding
Louistall's professional and public activities
1953–1995
Mixed Materials Box: 10
Scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, primarily regarding current events and politics
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