October 20, 2010
The West Virginia Archives and History Library of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History will continue its series of after hours lectures on Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. In recognition of Veterans Day, the session, entitled “Researching Military History,” will be conducted by Terry Lowry, staff historian for archives and history. The program will take place in the library at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. All sessions are free and the public is invited to attend. The library will close at 5 p.m. and reopen at 5:45 p.m. for lecture guests and participants only.
Lowry will discuss researching military records in all periods of United States history, giving the most attention to the Civil War and World War II. He also will recount the methods he has used in researching his books, including how artifacts can be useful tools for exploring the past. Participants will have the opportunity to view military artifacts from Lowry’s personal collection which he rarely puts on display. This includes items dating from the Civil War to Vietnam.
Lowry is a well known military author with several Civil War-era books including Last Sleep: The Battle of Droop Mountain, November 6, 1983 (1996). In his most recent publication, Lowry researched his father’s World War II unit to produce Bastard Battalion: A History of the 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion in World War II (2009). In addition, he is the author of numerous newspaper and magazine articles. Lowry also serves as the official historian for the 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion.
Advance registration for the workshop is not required, but is encouraged to help plan seating arrangements and ensure plenty of supplies and handouts are available.
To register in advance, contact Robert Taylor, library manager, at (304) 558-0230, ext. 163, or by e-mail at Bobby.L.Taylor@wv.gov. Participants interested in registering by e-mail should send their name, telephone number and the name and date of the session. For additional information about the workshop, contact the Archives and History Library at (304) 558-0230.
The next session, will have Jaime Simmons, research specialist for archives and history, discussing “Digging into the Draper Collection: Researching the Settlement of Western Virginia” on Tuesday, Dec. 7.
The Archives and History Library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. The library is closed on Sunday.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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