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Richard G. Trefry Archives Exhibits

American Public University System’s Richard G. Trefry Archives contain documents and items that represent the history, development, and progress of the institution as its recorded memory.

Home > Finding Aids > Paul J. Rich Local History Collection

Paul J. Rich Local History Collection

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Overview

This collection consists of materials detailing the history of Jefferson County, WV, in particular the towns of Charles Town, WV and Ranson, WV, which is the location of the APUS Headquarters. The collection includes newspapers, photographs, postcards, letters, ledgers, and various other types of records, documents, and physical items. The material was donated to the APUS University Archives by Paul Rich. Additional archival collections reflecting the history of Jefferson County, WV can be found at the West Virginia State Archives, West Virginia University's West Virginia and Regional History Center, and Shepherd University’s Archives and Special Collections.

Collection Title

Paul J. Rich Local History Collection

Dates

1865-Present

Extent

10 linear feet (Summary: 6 archival boxes and 1 shelf of oversized items)

Creator(s)

Norman F. Johnson

Charles Town Race Track

Spirit of Jefferson

Powhattan College

John Peale Bishop

Jefferson County Garden Club

Wilson and Gallaher Family

Earl Johnson

St. Philip’s Parochial and Industrial School

American Public University System

Acquisition information

Gift of Paul J. Rich, 2010-Present.

Language(s)

English

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the Richard G. Trefry Archives.

Repository

Richard G. Trefry Archives, American Public University System, Charles Town, West Virginia

Processed Information

Processed by APUS Archivists at the time of their donation, 2010-Present.

Access Restrictions

No special access restriction applies.

Physical Access Restrictions

None

Technical Access Restrictions

None

Publication Rights

Copyright has been assigned to the Richard G. Trefry Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote from material must be submitted in writing to the Richard G. Trefry Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of American Public University Systems as the owner of the physical items and as the owner of copyright in items created by the donor. Although copyright was transferred by the donor, copyright in some items in the collection may still be held by their respective creator(s). For further information contact the Richard G. Trefry Archives.

Subjects

West Virginia – History – 19th & 20th Century

Higher Education – History – 20th Century

Civil War – United States History – 19th Century

Preferred Citation

[item identification], Paul J. Rich Local History Collection, Richard G. Trefry Archives, American Public University Systems, Charles Town, West Virginia.

Related Collections

Jefferson County Museum Collection (1734-Present), Jefferson County Museum, https://jeffcomuseumwv.org/collection

Jefferson County Records (1800-Present), West Virginia Archives & History, https://archive.wvculture.org/history/teacherresources/counties/jefferson.html; https://archive.wvculture.org/history/archives/bluenote.html#jefferso

Jefferson County Records (1730-2014), West Virginia & Regional History Center, https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&op%5B%5D=&q%5B%5D=Jefferson%20County

Physical Location

Richard G. Trefry Archives, American Public University Systems, 111 W. Congress Street, Charles Town, West Virginia, 25414.

Biographical/Historical

Since 2003, American Public University System has had its headquarters in Charles Town, WV located in historical Jefferson County. The area is rich with history. The town of Charles Town is named after Charles Washington, brother of George Washington, and the Washington family owned extensive tracks of land all over the county.

In 1859, John Brown led his ill-fated raid on the Harpers Ferry armory to start a revolt amongst the enslaved peoples of the area and the country to end slavery in America. Brown would be captured, and taken to Charles Town to be tried and ultimately hanged for his crimes.

Throughout the Civil War, Charles Town and the rest of Jefferson County played important roles. Being a part of the Shenandoah Valley meant the County saw significant action during the Valley Campaign. And the town of Harpers Ferry changed hands multiple times during the war.

Following the war, the area has developed into an agricultural center, becoming a major producer of apples. While towns like Ranson enjoyed industrial expansion and a tourism bump through the building of the Charles Town Racetrack. The second conference of the Niagara Movement was held in 1906 in Harpers Ferry that saw the establishment for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1944, Congress designated Harpers Ferry a National Historical location and since then, the area has served as a historical hub.

APUS is just one of the many institutes of higher learning that have made the area their home. Shepherd University in Shepherdstown is still an active and vibrant university. While Storer College (1867-1955) was a historically Black college located in Harpers Ferry. And Powhattan College in Ranson was a women’s college.

Scope and Content

Collection includes a variety of different types of materials relating to the history of Charles Town and Jefferson County, WV. This includes newspapers, images, postcards, letters, maps, artwork, books, ledgers, and other types of documentation. The collection also houses various physical items such as hats, sacks, and other ephemera detailing the history of the area. 

Collection Inventory

File Name

Date of Record

Box

Folder

Jefferson County - Compiled from Early Historical Writings - Barabra Rebok and Doug Rebok

 

001

001

Hand Fan - The New Central Restaurant (Charles Washington Hall)

 

001

002

Powhatan College Material

7/6/1907

001

003

Postcards from Jefferson County, WV

 

001

004

Menu - The Thomas Jefferson Hotel

9/29/1923

001

005

Framed page from "Historical Collections of Virginia" depicting an engraving of downtown Charles Town

 

001

006

Framed page from "Historical Collections of Virginia" depicting an engraving of downtown Charles Town

001

006

Yearbook - Charles Town High School - The Rambler

 

001

007

Photographs - Downtown Charles Town

4/19/1932

001

008

Playbill - 20th Century Minstrels

2/23/1908

001

009

Advertisement - Tuberculosis Lecture

10/21/1914

001

010

Advertisement - Prof. W.L. Lindsay: A Musical Prodigy

 

001

011

Pamphlets of the West Virginia Anti-Tuberculosis League

 

001

012

Pamphlets

 

001

013

Earl Johnson Family Papers

 

001

014

The War-Whoop - Powatan College

 

001

015

History of Charles Town Baptist Church 1792-1982 by Anna Fries Brumback, &
Five-Year Supplement 1982-1986

 

001

016

Charles Town Horse Show Association Items

 

001

017

Charles Town, Incorporated Program

7/25/1958

001

018

John Brown - Lock of Hair

 

001

019

Frank Leslie Illustration - Jefferson County Courthouse, John Brown's Trial, Charles Town

 

001

020

Souvenir of Charles Town, WV Booklet

1/19/1911

001

021

Leslie David John's notice of classification

9/11/1942

001

022

Charlestown Mining, Manufacturing and Improvement Company Deed

001

023

Post Cards and match book - Charles Town and Jefferson County

 

001

024

Civil War Era currency for Charles Town (Virginia)

 

001

025

Jefferson County Choral/Performance Programs

4/28/1947

001

026

The Washington Homes of Jefferson County, West Virginia

1/1/1975

001

027

33rd Annual Exhibitiion Charles Town Horse Show Association

6/13/1945

001

028

Vulcan Road Machine Company (Charles Town) Letter to John W. Robinson

001

029

Charles Town Postcards

 

001

030

Charles Town Postcards

 

001

031

Ownership receipt - purchase of slave

 

001

032

Charles Town High School Yearbook - The Rambler

 

001

033

V-J Day Program - Jackson-Perks Post No. 71 American Legion Charles Town

8/14/1946

001

034

Wainwright Free Baptist Church Birthday Party Invitation

7/18/1919

001

035

Charles Town Bicentennial 1786-1986 Photograph book

 

001

036

Letter/receipt to Elie Beatty

001

037

Charles Town American Legion Post 102 Hat

 

002

 

Straw Hat

 

002

 

The Reed Grain and Milling Co. - Corn Meal sack

 

002

 

Felt arm band

 

002

 

Medallion of Charles Town Turf Club

 

002

 

Green Bottle - "Conklyn - Charles Town, W. Va."

 

002

 

Shepherdstown Opera House

 

002

 

Jefferson County Sesqui-centennial Historical Booklet

9/16/1951

003

001

Photograph of N. George St. and Architectural drawings of the Opera House [reproduction]

 

003

002

Charles Town/West Virginia Postcards

 

003

003

J. H. James & Sons business

11/6/1942

003

004

Charles Town Grain & Feed business

 

003

005

Charles Town High School - Football

 

003

006

Jefferson Theatre Program

 

003

007

WXVA Radio Charles Town

5/1/1962

003

008

Programs and Constitution of the Jefferson County Garden Club

 

003

009

Programs of the Jefferson County Garden Club

 

003

010

Postcards and matchbooks

 

003

011

The Rambler - 1935

 

003

012

Survey of the Public Schools of Jefferson County, West Virginia

3/1/1954

003

013

History of Black Education in Jefferson County and Information on St. Philip's Parochial and Industrial School

1/1/2003

003

014

Charles Town, West Virginia: Road Trip to History PBS Series, DVD

 

003

015

Loyal Order of Moose, P.A.P. 948 Charles Town West Virginia

 

003

016

Promotional Pamphlet for Powhatan College

 

004

001

Etching of Charles Town

 

004

002

Sheridan's Campaign in the Valley of the Shenandoah - Fight of Duffie's Cavalry, Near Hunter's House Charlestown, VA. - Covering the Retreat of the Federal Forces

 

004

003

Racing Primer Comic

 

004

004

Pamphlet on John Brown's Grave by John Ward Stimson

 

004

005

Photographs

 

004

006

Postcard

4/28/1909

004

007

First Day of Issue Stamps

 

004

008

Postcards

 

004

009

Racing Programs

 

004

010

Wilson and Gallaher Family Records (1 of 6)

 

004

011

Wilson and Gallaher Family Records (2 of 6)

 

004

012

Wilson and Gallaher Family Records (3 of 6)

 

004

013

Wilson and Gallaher Family Records (4 of 6)

 

004

014

Wilson and Gallaher Family Records (4 of 6)

 

004

014

Wilson and Gallaher Family Records (5 of 6)

 

004

015

Wilson and Gallaher Family Records (6 of 6)

 

004

016

Photograph of Restaurant and Pool Hall on W. Liberty Street

 

004

017

APUS Commencement Programs

 

004

018

Photograph of Statue of Liberty torch in France

 

004

019

WWII Ration Book

 

004

020

APUS Debate Medals and Pins

 

004

021

APUS Debate Medals and Pins

 

004

022

Porcelain Milk Creamer - "St. George's Chapel, Charles Town, W.Va., Built 1740" - Charles W Brown

 

005

 

Norman F Johnson - WM Smith & Co.

 

005

 

Charles Town, W.Va. Brass key

1/1/1960

005

 

The Girl Graduate - 'Her Own Book'

5/22/1907

005

001

1891 Photograph of Gathering in Harpers Ferry

1891

006

001

Charles Town Post Office Receipt

006

002

Powhatan College Course Catalog - 1907-1908

1/1/1907

006

002

L. F. Grantham Promissory Note

10/15/1928

006

003

Local Post Cards

 

006

004

John Peale Bishop Cartoon

 

006

005

Charles Town Methodist Church 1946 Calendar

 

006

006

Powhatan Brass and Iron Works Advertisement

 

006

007

Gibson House Post Card

 

006

008

Porcelain Candy Dish - "Powhatan College, Charles Town, W. Va." - Charles W Brown

 

007

 

Spirit of Jefferson

 10-12/1887

 ON SHELF

 

Map of Property of Charlestown

 

 ON SHELF

 

Charlestown Mining Manufacturing - Improvement Company Map

 

 ON SHELF

 

Charlestown, West VA 1896 - Sheridan's Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, antique engraving

 

 ON SHELF

 

Map of Jefferson County, VA

 

 ON SHELF

 

Photograph: Men at Charles Town Train Station

 

 ON SHELF

 

Charles Town - Images of America (2 copies)

 

 ON SHELF

 

Charlestown, Virginia, When Taken Possession of By General Banks

 

 ON SHELF

 

The Virginia Free Press (Newspaper)

7/9/1881

 ON SHELF

 

Spirit of Jefferson (Newspaper)

6/2/1885

 ON SHELF

 

Spirit of Jefferson, July 24, 1888

7/24/1888

ON SHELF

 

H. A. Alger Checks

3/6/1918

 ON SHELF

 

Photograph of the horse "Sir Jerome"

5/29/1943

 ON SHELF

 

Horse Poster - J.H. Miles' "Bullsel"

4/11/1950

 ON SHELF

 

Charles Town Race Posters

 

ON SHELF