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West Virginia and Regional History Center
1549 University Ave.P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.com
URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu
Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center; Laureen Wilson
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Biographical / Historical
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.
Louistall married Ernest Monroe in 1981.
Scope and Contents
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)
Related Material
3916, 5107
Separated Material
Separated to the book collection; forwarded to Curator of Books:
The Arch . Institute, WV: West Virginia State College, 1961.
Stealey, Robert F. Clarksburg . Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2005.
WVU Women: the First Century . Morgantown, WV: WVU Women's Centenary Project, 1991.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- African American women
- African Americans -- Education (Higher)
- Diaries and journals.
- Librarians
- Louistall, Victorine Augusta, 1912-2006
- Monroe, Victorine Louistall, 1912-2001
- West Virginia University -- History
- Women -- Education -- United States
- Women college students -- West Virginia
- Women college teachers -- West Virginia
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Louistall, Victorine Augusta, 1912-2006
- Monroe, Victorine Louistall, 1912-2001
Container List
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
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 Clarksburg1939
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
Diploma from West Virginia University for Master of Arts in Library Science1964
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
Travel diary kept during trip to California1964
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Address book1967
- 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 1940-19501940–1980
- 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)1956–1989
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
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 Louistall1980
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 9
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, programs1931–1987
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 10
Postcards1939–2005
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 11
Postcards1977–2006
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 12
Handmade cards1946, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1
Vintage holiday cards1940–1957
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2
Correspondence, postcards, programs, and ephemera1943–2004
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3
Correspondence, programs, postcards, and ephemera1945–1992
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4
Correspondence, including letter and invitation from the governor of West Virginia1936–1973
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5
Correspondence and ephemera1936–1980
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 6
Correspondence, mainly regarding Louistall's involvement in political and community activities, and ephemera1937–1979
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1
Correspondence1943–1983
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2
Correspondence, including material sent by West Virginia University1942–1960
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 3
Correspondence, postcards, and ephemera, including material sent by West Virginia University1945–1989
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 4
Correspondence, programs, and newspaper clipping1945–1980
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 5
Black and white photographs of Louistall, family members, and others1918-1945, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 6
Black and white photographs1926, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 7
Black and white photographs of Louistall and others1940–1951
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 8
Black and white and color photographs of Louistall, family members, and others1948-1962, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 9
Black and white and color photographs of Louistall, family members, and others1949-1968, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 1
Small photograph album1957, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 2
Black and white and color photographs1961
- 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 Louistall1981
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 6
Louistall and Fred Glazer photograph and letter1983
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 7
Black and white photographs of Louistall, her husband, family members, and othersca. 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 coupleundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 10
Black and white framed photograph of Louistallundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 11
Black and white framed photograph of unidentified manundated
- 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]1955
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 1
Newspapers and clippings, mainly regarding Louistall's retirement from West Virginia University1955–1989
- 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]1958–1985
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 3
Correspondence, programs, typescripts, and ephemera1929–1958
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 4
Notebook kept by Louistall while she was a student at KMHS1929
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 5
Case for a diploma1942
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 6
Black and white photograph of school building1956
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 7
Artifacts1972, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 15
Mug commemorating 12th reunion of the Kelly Miller Association1998
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 1
Publications, forms, notes, and a program1946, 1978, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 2
Newsletters, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and programs1967-1972, undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 3
Audit report, invitation, and other material1994
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 4
Artifactsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 14
Scrapbook shaped like an ivy leaf, containing programs, newspaper clippings, photographs and other material regarding the activities of AKA sorority1944–1961
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 5
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 University1947
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 7
Paper by Louistall for Library Science 302 taught by Florence Reese at West Virginia University1960
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 8
Record book listing various financial investments1985–1994
- 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 Association2002
- 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)undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 3
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 Louistall1956
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 7
Obituaries, funeral programs, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other materialca. 1960
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 8
Publications, programs, and correspondence, mostly regarding West Virginia University1963–2004
- Mixed Materials Box: 10
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 activities1953–1995
- Mixed Materials Box: 10
Scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, primarily regarding current events and politics1967–1980
- Mixed Materials Box: 11
Plaque from West Virginia State College naming Louistall, Class of 1936, as a Life Member. Plaque is shaped like the state of West Virginia.2003
- Mixed Materials Box: 11
Plaque from Kelly Miller High School naming Louistall as "Teacher of the Millenium". Plaque is made of green imitation marble.2000
- Mixed Materials Box: 11
West Virginia University Order of Vandalia medal awarded to Louistall for "Distinguished Service"ca. 1992
- Mixed Materials Box: 12 Folder: 1
Four paintings of birdsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 12
Framed watercolor and ink painting of cityscapeundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 12
Framed amateur oil painting of vase of flowersundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 12
Framed amateur oil painting of landscape signed "T. Roberts"undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 13
Ceramic plate commemorating Louistall's marriage to Ernest Monroe1981
- Mixed Materials Box: 15
3 rolls of Kodak Kodachrome 8mm color film. Two of the rolls are labelled "Wash 2", "Toledo", respectively; the third is unlabelled.1958
- Mixed Materials Box: 15
2 rolls of 8mm film in metal canisters. One roll is labelled "Garden 1938, Farm 1938, Re-Grad"; the other "Mexico, Mobile, Natchez 1938".1938
- Mixed Materials Box: 15
200 ft. roll of Reflex band 8mm film, labelled "Kim Bond"undated