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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
Erica Uszak
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], Reverend C. Shirley Donnelly Collection, A&M 4590, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the West Virginia Baptist Historical Society via archivist Gary Higginbotham, 2023 April 4 and September 21.
Biographical / Historical
Clarence Shirley Donnelly (1895-1982) was a Baptist minister who collected historical records relating to the history of West Virginia, especially Fayette County and the surrounding area. He was born in Rock Castle, Jackson County, West Virginia, but spent much of his life in Oak Hill and Beckley, where he served as minister to the Oak Hill Baptist Church and Crab Orchard Baptist Church, respectively. He also served as a chaplain during World War II and received the Bronze Star and other medals for his actions. He founded the Fayette County Historical Society and led other historical organizations and also wrote frequently for the Beckley Post-Herald on various historical and related topics.
Scope and Contents
Reverend C. Shirley Donnelly, a Baptist minister and local historian, collected these materials for his own research and interest in West Virginia history. The collection contains various materials pertaining to coal mining and West Virginia history, especially in the New River area and Fayette County. It includes correspondence, land grant and deed records, pamphlets, journals, local histories, records, photographs, and art relating to mining and life in the New River area. One set of correspondence includes recollections, a yearbook, and newspaper clippings by a World War II sailor from the USS West Virginia. Another series of correspondence includes the antebellum, wartime, and postwar letters and personal receipts of Charles Dequasie, a Confederate soldier from Fayette County, West Virginia, and Robert Edward Dequasie's personal and business correspondence. Other ephemera includes West Virginia and mining journals and certificates belonging to Donnelly and others. A scrapbook and notebook of newspaper clippings pertain to early court hangings and executions in West Virginia. Political posters include those for West Virginia Governor William C. Marland and West Virginia Senators Harley Kilgore and Robert Byrd.
Related Material
Additional material from Rev. C. Shirley Donnelly pertaining to his work was retained by the West Virginia Baptist Historical Society.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Civil War -- letters
- Civil War -- Confederate Army
- Clay County (W. Va.)
- Coal mines and mining -- West Virginia -- Fayette County
- Coal mining - New River field.
- Coal mining - disasters.
- Fayette County (W. Va.)
- Higginbotham, Gary R.
- Land deeds and grants - Fayette County.
- Murder
- Thurmond/Thurman, Fayette County, WV.
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States Navy - USS WEST VIRGINIA.
- West Virginia - Politics and government.
- West Virginia - religion
- West Virginia Baptist Historical Society
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Donnelly, C. Shirley, Reverend
- Higginbotham, Gary R.
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Clay County (W. Va.)
- Fayette County (W. Va.)
- Thurmond/Thurman, Fayette County, WV.
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Container List
Includes correspondence between Donnelly and others about coal mining and mining accidents primarily in Fayette County, West Virginia, in the early twentieth century. Other correspondence includes letters from a sailor recalling his experiences on the USS West Virginia and personal correspondence of Donnelly on various topics. Local histories include manuscripts about the Civil War battle of Carnifex Ferry and the following areas in West Virginia: Thurmond; Fayette County; and Clay County. Highlights of local records include a book of West Virginia land grants (1820s-1840s), 18th and 19th century land deeds, and a roster and history of the West Virginia National Guard (1929, 1950).
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 Item: I00016
Roster and Records, West Virginia National Guard1950
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2 Item: I00018
Abstract of Oak Hill Post Office Property1794-1916
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3 Item: I00021
Application for Town of Oak Hill Electric Light, Water Works, Power Plant Franchise1909
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4 Item: I00024
Vandalia Cemetery, Fayette County, Recordsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5 Item: I00025
Huse Memorial Park (Cemetery), Fayette County, Recordsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 6 Item: I00027
Handwritten History of Education in Fayette County, WVundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 7 Item: I00026
History of Harvey Chapel 1877 -- Present Day Methodist Episcopal Churchundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 8 Item: I00028
Mine Disasters in Fayette County written by Rev. Clarence Figgatt, Mt. Hope, WVundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 9 Item: I00020
Public Hangings at Fayetteville, WV (beginning 1893) written by Shirley Donnellyundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 10
Correspondence with USS West Virginia Sailor Charles Rogusky to Writer/Historian Myron J. Smith, Jr.1977
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 11
"USS West Virginia Crosses the Equator Again" -- roster of crew and photos of ship1944
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 12
Newspaper clippings and documents relating to the USS West Virginia1941-1961
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 13 Item: I00017
History of the 201st Infantry West Virginia National Guard1929
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 14
John Cheslock Manuscripts1969
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 15
William Derenge and Layland Mine Explosion Newspaper Articles1958-1982
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 Item: 1
Letter written by William Derenge from Quinwood, WV -- Thank you for being sent Highlights in the History of Fayette County WV by Donnelly1959
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 Item: 2
Letter written by William Derenge from Quinwood, WV -- talked about stint timbering, serving in the army, death of brother John1967
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 Item: 3
Letter written by William Derenge1968
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 Item: 4
Letter written by William Derenge from Quinwood, WV -- His work in 1904 in Greenwood -- Brownwood mine, later Lawton at age 13. Then worked at Mindon Mine both with his father.1969
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 Item: 5
Letter written by William Derenge -- writing about correcting three of Donnelly's facts on the Layland Mine Explosion1972
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 Item: 6
Letter Written by William Derenge from Quinwood, WV1974
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 Item: 7
Letter Written by William Derenge from Quinwood, WV -- Donnelly's 1956 book about Layland Mine disaster and other mine disasters.1974
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 Item: 8
Letter written by William Derenge from Quinwood, WV -- details of Layland Mine Explosion; references to Russian coal workers there and his own father from Lithuania1975
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 Item: 9
Letter Written by William Derenge from Quinwood, WV -- Layland Mine1976
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 16 Item: 10
Letter written by William Derenge from Quinwood, WV -- chapel car1977
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 17
Print and Negatives of a letter to the Church of Christ1731
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 18
New York Detective Library magazine1890
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 19 Item: 100006
History of Dempsey Community by C. Shirley Donnellyundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 20
Fayette County News Articles1970-1977
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 21 Item: L00010
Letter from Harlan Adkins regarding Layland Mine with picture of survivors1972
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 unfoldered
Notebook of Clay County History (writings from 1897 through 1902 were gathered and typed by Rev. C. Shirley Donnelly, from the Clay County Star (WV) about the history of Clay County. An index is at the end of the book.)1947
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 unfoldered
Notebook including typescript of "A Hole in the Ground and other stories by C. Pierson, Author of the Haunted Bottom and Other Stories. History of Clay County, Pioneer and Pioneer Days of Nicholas County." (1899) Introduction by William P. Gould of Ft. Myers, Florida (1925). Compiled and published by C.W. Bell of Zela, WV1899-1925
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Item: 100030
New River Banking And Trust, Thurmond, WV 75th Anniversary1979
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100001
Story of Justus Collins who persevered in the Mine Fields by Shirley Donnelly1976
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100002
Notable Mine Disasters in Vicinity of Oak Hill1900-1927
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100003
History of New River Gorge Area by Otis K. Rice, Published by Fayette Plateau Chamber of Commerceundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100004
Mine ticket -- Stuart Colliery company -- stoppages against accountundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100005
Multiple articles Mine disastersundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100007
Fayetteville Rifles First From Fayette1961
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100008
Land Office Treasury Warrant -- County of Montgomery1781
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100009
Land Deed "County of Kenhawa on Marsh Fork of Cole River"1795
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100010
Land Deed "500 Acres to John Preston and Francis Preston County of Montgomery"1799
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100011
Land Deed Delinquent -- Public Auction Fayette County1841
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100014
Booklet written by Clarence Shirley Donnelly: The Battle of Carnifex Ferry1950
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: 100022
Town Records Oak Hill, WV1903-1923
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: L00002
Letter in response to Donnelly inquiry -- Bio of Dr. Laird founder of Laird Foundation1958
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: L00003
Letter from Major Eli M. Dews -- Confederate Soldier's discharge signed by letter sender's great -- grandfather, Captain Samuel S. Dews.1979
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: L00004
Letter from G. Edmonds -- Whipple Mine Explosion 19071967
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: L00005
Letter from J.A. Shuck regarding Red Ash Mine Explosion1962
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: L00006
Letter from J.A. Shuck regarding Echo Mine Explosion1963
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: L00007
Letter from Mrs. Elmer Biros regarding where were killed miners buried from Lochgelly Mine1968
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: L00008
Letter from Mrs. Elmer Biros regarding Lochgelly Mine1968
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: L00009
Letter from Grace Loving regarding Lochgelly mine explosion1969
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: L00014
Letter from Sylvester Berry regarding Red Ash, Beury, Old Sugar Creek Mine, Layland Mines1972
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 unfoldered
Letter from West Virginia Governor John Rockefeller to Donnelly on New River Gorge Bridge1977
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 unfoldered
Letter from Harlan Adkins to Donnelly1972
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 unfoldered
Booklet on Fayette County Schools1925
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 unfoldered
Certificate of life membership in disabled citizens of World War Iundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 unfoldered
Gamble pamphlet1904
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 unfoldered
Mountaineers Certificate for C. Shirley Donnelly1961
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 unfoldered
Handwritten Diary/Book recordings: West Virginia Land Grants1820-1850
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 unfoldered
Map of West Virginia with county boundariesundated
Contains the personal correspondence, receipts, and inventories of Charles A. Dequasie, a Confederate soldier from Fayette County, West Virginia. Includes antebellum, wartime, and postwar correspondence with his wife, Rachel, and other family members. Also includes the personal and business correspondence (circa 1890-1920s) of his son, Robert Edward Lee Dequasie. Receipts mainly include the tax receipts of Charles Dequasie. Also included are Dequasie's 1865 military parole given at the war's end, as well as an 1862 Confederate travel pass from Richmond, Virginia.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1-5
Assorted Correspondence of the Dequasie Family1830-1920
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 Item: P00008
Copy of certificate for Charles A. Desquasie from Thurmond, WV1865
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 Item: P00010
Copy of Desquasie discharge paper1862
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
Dequasie correspondence and tax tickets and receipts1849-1907
Photographs and art illustrate different scenes and activities in West Virginia, especially in the New River Gorge area, such as schools, churches, landscapes, and individual and group portraits. Morgantown, Lansing, Hinton, Oak Hill, and various Fayette County towns are depicted. Some photographs focus on Civil War history while others focus mainly on Fayette County history. It also features art prints of the West Virginia state capitol and the New River Gorge Bridge, West Virginia.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00001
Photograph -- Hinton, WV -- March of KKK members marching down main street1924
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00002
Postcard of Lansing, WV1837
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00003
Photograph -- Bridge Destroyed during Civil War, Gauley Bridge, WV1929
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00004
Photo of Grave of Stonewall Jackson's Mother, Ansted, WVundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00005
Photograph of Famous Lee's Tree Located on Sewell Mountain near Rainelle, WV Rt 60.1929
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00006
Photograph of Old Stone House Near Lookout, WV with letter to Arnold Betty and children1927-1963
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00007
Photograph of Tobacco and General Merchandise sale1874
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00009
Copy of document: Robert A. Bailey commission to Captain of Riflemen1861
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00011
Postcard of fairgrounds1924
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Item: P00013
Photograph of McKendree Hospital1920
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Item: P00014
Photograph of Morgantown, WV, Company G, World War I Soldiers1918
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00015
Photograph of Harrison Ash (1861 -- 1923) Chief of Police -- Thurman, WVundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00016
Photograph of Country Store at Victor, Fayette County, WVundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00017
Photograph of Morris Harveyundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00018
Photograph of Merchants and Miners Bank, Oak Hill, WV1906
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00019
Photograph of Marian McQuade of Oak Hill, WV, founder of Grandparents Day1992
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00020
Photograph of Old Rock Head Fayette County, WVundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00021
Photograph of Charles Edgar Mahan IV, President of Fayette County Bankundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00022
Photograph of Hawks Nest near Anstead, WV1930
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00023
Photograph of Kanawha Falls1930
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00024
Photograph of New River at Gauley Junctionundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00025
Photograph of New River (?)1933
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00027
Photograph of Tourist Cottages Canyon View Park, Gauley Bridge, WV Rt 601940-1949
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00028
Photograph of Canyon View Park Office Gauley Bridge, WV1940-1949
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00029
Photograph of Modern Double Band Saw Mill of Wilderness Valley, WV1925
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00030
Photograph of Mr. M.J. Simms, President of Montgomery National Bank1911-1912
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00031
Photograph of R(h)odes Band, Gatewood, WV1899
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00032
Photograph of Unknown High School (most likely in Fayette County)undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00033
Photograph of Large Home unknown (most likely in Oak Hill)undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00039
Photograph of Grave Marker Betsy and Peggy Morris "killed by Indians 1792" Lockwood, Nicholas County, WVundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00042
Photo of Camper Trailer being pulled by car in West Virginia1956
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00043
Photograph of unknown WV residents in front of store?undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00044
Photo of Charleston soon after Courthouse was built1892
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00045
Photo of Charleston Kanawha County Courthouse1900
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00046
Photograph of group of men huntingcirca 1900-1920
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00047
Photo of Sketch of St. John' s Episcopal Church Quarrier Street, Charleston by Harry Rus Warneundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00048
Photo St. John's Episcopal Church Quarrier Street, Charlestonundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00049
Photograph of woman by Blackwater Falls1950-1959
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00052
Picture of Omri N. Blake and introductory Letter regarding Swiss exploitsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00053
Photo of burning of State Capitol Building Charleston, WV1921
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00054
Photograph of horses and Buggy /Wagon heading up Rocky Hillundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00058
Photograph of Ruins of the Kanawha Falls Hotel after the fire1968
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00062
Photograph of Unknown Group of school boysundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00063
Photograph of Railway through unknown townundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00064
Photograph of Railway past house in unknown townundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00066
Photograph of Teacher Institute1906-1907
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00034
Picture of Oak Hill Grade Schoolundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 unfoldered
Picture of High School Class1920
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Item: P00035
Picture of Lewis Oak in Marlington, WVundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 unfoldered
Picture of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver P. Reffe1917
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 unfoldered
Marriage picture of Wennier Eckreckerdoor and Harriet Ann Tory1881
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Item: Po00006
Red Sweet Springs, WV 8"x10 1/2" Print (2 copies)undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
Sketch of the Old West Virginia Capitol building, Charlestonundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1
Sketch of the West Virginia Capitol building, Charleston1949
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Item: A00004
New River Gorge Bridge, WV "Always in October" #48 of 1000 Juanita H. Akers1981
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Item: A00005
New River Gorge Bridge, WV "Bridge Over Antiquity" #475 of 1000 Juanita H. Akers1977
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Item: A00003
New River Banking And Trust early 1900s Thurmond, WV Print1979
Donnelly documented and saved newspaper clippings of the last public hangings and first executions by the electric chair in West Virginia, which is reflected in his scrapbook and his notebook of newspaper clippings on such events. It includes the original court reporter transcript of the circuit court in Fayette County and photographs relating to the murder case regarding the accused Lemuel Thomas Steed. Also includes Donnelly's ticket of admission to Steed's execution in 1948.
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 unfoldered
Scrapbook -- Lemuel Thomas Steed, Murder Defendant and conviction1948
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 unfoldered
Original Court Reporter Transcript of Steed case in the Circuit Court of Fayette County, WV1948
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 unfoldered
Ticket to Rev. C. Shirley Donnelly from West Virginia Penitentiary for Admittance for Hanging1948
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 unfoldered
Photographs of murder victim and crime scene -- Steed case1948
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 unfoldered
Clippings on Fazio murder case -- first possible death in electric chair1949
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 unfoldered
Clippings and death sentences of first 3 WV men sentenced to deathundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 unfoldered
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 unfoldered
Notebook with newspaper clippings1897-1956
Political posters include original Democratic Party posters for West Virginia Governor William C. Marland and West Virginia Senators Harley Kilgore and Robert Byrd.
- Mixed Materials Folder: 1 Item: Po00002
Campaign Poster: William C. Marland Democratic Candidate for Governorcirca 1940-1959
- Mixed Materials Folder: 1 Item: Po00003
Campaign Poster: regarding elect Kilgore to U.S. Senatecirca 1940-1959
- Mixed Materials Folder: 1 Item: Po00004
Campaign Poster: Robert C. Byrdcirca 1958-1975