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], Anna Shue Atkins Papers, A&M 3984, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Anna Blanche Shue Atkins (4 October 1918-29 July 2010) was a native of Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Her parents were Emery E. and Pearl Williams Shue; Atkins was the oldest of nine siblings. Atkins attended West Virginia University, the Richmond Professional Institute of the College of William and Mary, and Virginia Commonwealth University, where she studied education. She married Paul J. Atkins in 1943; the couple had a daughter, Anna Lee Atkins White. Atkins moved to Chesterfield, Virginia in 1950 and lived there for the rest of her life. She worked as a schoolteacher. She wrote poetry and prose and was also interested in genealogy and local history.

Scope and Contents

Papers of Anna Shue Atkins (1918-2010), a poet, writer, and schoolteacher who was born and spent her early life in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Contains Atkins's poetry and autobiographical writings, as well as her genealogical research, legal documents, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other material.

This collection consists of three boxes. Highlights of the contents of these boxes are described below.

Box 1:

-two binders (green and blue) of poetry and prose by Atkins, labeled "Bits and Pieces"

-two binders (both dark blue) of Atkins's autobiographical writings regarding her childhood, education, and family members

-binder containing scrapbook of "Joy of Farming" newspaper articles

Box 2:

-family history and genealogy material regarding the Shue family and other families, including Atkins's notes, newspaper clippings, and correspondence

-legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates; diplomas and other school records; property deeds; bank statements; and property surveys

-cookbook with notations and additions by Atkins

Box 3:

-copies of works by Atkins submitted for publication and associated rejection slips

-manuscript draft and notes for a work of fiction by Atkins titled "Dorie"

-poetry, prose, and academic papers written by Atkins

-notes from a workshop held by the Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia, as well as genealogical information collected by Atkins

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Atkins, Anna Blanche Shue, 1918-2010
• Authors -- Letters and papers
• Birth, marriage, and death records.
• Family histories.
• Genealogies.
• Pocahontas County (W. Va.)
• Poets and poetry.