Sept. 28, 2012
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Greg Carroll, staff historian for the West Virginia Archives and History section, will present “Applying for a West Virginia Civil War Medal” on Thursday, Oct. 11, in the Archives and History Library at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. The 6 p.m. program is free and open to the public.
Carroll will explain the origin of Civil War medals and how they were authorized by the state legislature in 1866 as “tokens of respect” for Union veterans of West Virginia military units. Many were unclaimed, and eventually they were turned over to archives and history, which began a program to distribute the remaining medals to descendants who file a properly documented line of descent from the veteran to themselves.
Carroll holds a bachelor’s degree from Marshall University. He has worked for the West Virginia Division of Culture and History in the archives and history section for more than 23 years. While there he has compiled 20 years working with Civil War medal claims.
For planning purposes, participants are encouraged to register for the program, but advance registration is not required to attend. To register in advance, contact Robert Taylor, library manager, by e-mail at bobby.l.taylor@wv.gov or at (304) 558-0230, ext. 163. Participants interested in registering by e-mail should send their name, telephone number and the name and date of the session. For additional information, contact the Archives and History Library at (304) 558-0230. 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 is an agency within the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts with Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary. The Division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the Division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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