CHARLESTON W.Va. (WVDN) – West Virginia Archives and History recently announced the list of individuals who will be recognized as West Virginia History Heroes during a West Virginia History Day at the Legislature program and ceremony to be held at the Culture Center on the Capitol Complex in Charleston on Wednesday, Feb. 21. Two locals made the list.
Jane Hughes is a stellar volunteer at the Greenbrier Historical Society archives and library. A retired librarian, she has separated archival records from library records in the cataloging system, cataloged the family genealogy collection, re-cataloged the Lewisburg homes collection, and documented and cataloged the Greenbrier County Courthouse ledgers that were stored offsite. Hughes has purchased and donated local history books and many materials for the cataloging process. She also helps visitors with their research. In 2022, she helped with research for an article in the society’s journal. This past year, she researched data and photos for the book, Homes Among the Hills, for the society’s tour fundraiser. Nominated by Greenbrier Historical Society.
Alfred “Fred” Ziegler has held several offices with the Monroe County Historical Society and served two terras as president. A tireless researcher, presenter, and published author, he continues to make invaluable contributions to the knowledge of the county’s history. Ziegler has contributed substantially to saving historic structures in Union, and he has written many successful grant applications for the maintenance of the society’s five historic buildings. He spearheaded funding and construction of a new museum to display the society’s Omnibus and other horse-drawn vehicles. At his urging, an endowment fund was started to ensure that the society remains a relevant resource for scholars, researchers, and the community. Nominated by Monroe County Historical Society.
West Virginia History Heroes are nominated by historical, genealogical, preservation, mun, patriotic or like organizations from across the state. The purpose of this annual award is to give state level recognition to individuals chosen for dedicated service on behalf of an organization’s programs or for a recent significant contribution to state and local history through research, interpretation, publication, or preservation. The West Virginia History Hero award is a one-time only recognition.
The 2024 History Hero awards program is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. in the State Theater at the Culture Center and will conclude before 11 a.m. Honorees’ local legislators have been invited to participate in the ceremony at the Culture Center, time and legislative session permitting. During this time, photographs will be taken, copies of which can be obtained by visiting https://wwwculture.zomfolie.co/p7372591 after Feb. 21.
West Virginia History Day at the Legislature was begun by the West Virginia Archives and History Commission in 1997 and is officially designated by the comunission as a special day to recognize the state’s rich and varied history. This annual event, during which groups from around the state provide history displays in the capitol, is now in its twenty-eighth year. This year, nearly three dozen groups have registered to have displays in the upper rotunda of the capitol.
In addition to the Archives and History Commission, co-sponsors of West Virginia History Day are the Mining Your History Foundation, Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, Inc., West Virginia Association of Museums, West Virginia Department of Aru, Culture and History, West Virginia Historical Society, and West Virginia Humanities Council.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.