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, & |
|
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 |
|