Roy Bird Cook (1886-1961), Collector, Tavenner Family Papers and Other Material A&M 0081

Roy Bird Cook (1886-1961), Collector, Tavenner Family Papers and Other Material A&M 0081


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West Virginia and Regional History Center

1549 University Ave.
P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.com
URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu

Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center

Repository
West Virginia and Regional History Center
Identification
A&M 0081
Title
Roy Bird Cook (1886-1961), Collector, Tavenner Family Papers and Other Material 1772-1955 1855-1866
URL:
https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196475
Quantity
1.1 Linear Feet, 1 ft. 1 in. (2 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 large flat storage box, 3 in.)
Creator
Cook, Roy Bird, 1886-1961
Location
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Language
English
Abstract
Papers of Thomas Tavenner and the Tavenner family of western Virginia, including correspondence; memoirs; journals; financial and legal documents; pamphlets; newspapers; and other material. Much of the material in this collection regards the Civil War. The Tavenner family were Confederate sympathizers.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Conditions Governing Access

No special access restriction applies.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Roy Bird Cook (1886-1961), Collector, Tavenner Family Papers and Other Material, A&M 0081, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Roy Bird Cook was born at Roanoke, Lewis County on April 1, 1886, the son of David Bird and Dora Elizabeth Conrad Cook. In 1905, at age 19, he received his pharmacy license, the youngest person to ever do so in West Virginia. His pharmacy career spanned fifty-six years. During his lifetime, Cook served on many pharmacy and state boards and commissions. His interest in local history, the Confederacy and Stonewall Jackson inspired him to collect manuscripts and some 600 volumes on those subjects. His many awards and honors include an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from West Virginia University in 1938.

Scope and Contents

Papers of Thomas Tavenner and the Tavenner family of western Virginia, including correspondence; memoirs; journals; financial and legal documents; pamphlets; newspapers; and other material. Much of the material in this collection regards the Civil War. The Tavenner family were Confederate sympathizers.

The collection is organized into ten series, including:

Series 1. Correspondence; 1796-1955, undated; box 1, folders 1A-20
Series 2. Reminiscences; 1861-1866, undated; box 1, folders 21-23
Series 3. Journals; 1840-1863; box 1, folders 24-25
Series 4. Financial papers; 1821-1901, undated; box 1, folders 26-31
Series 5. Indentures and Deeds; 1783-1855, undated; box 2, folders 1-8
Series 6. Subject series; 1859, undated; box 2, folders 9-15
Series 7. Pamphlets; 1845-1935; box 2, folders 16-19
Series 8. Ephemera; undated; box 2, folder 20
Series 9. Miscellaneous; 1932-1940, undated; box 2, folders 21-23
Series 10. Oversize; 1772-1938; box 3, folders 1-6

Related Material

81, 858, 895, 1309, 1379, 1528, 1561

For additional information regarding Captain John V. Young of the 11th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, see A&M 895, Cook, Roy Bird (1886-1961), Collector. Papers

See also A&M 3763, Tavenner, William C. Civil War Correspondence and Other Material

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Significant Places Associated With the Collection

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Container List

Series 1. Correspondence, Box 1, Folders 1A-20
1796-1955, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes correspondence between members of the Tavenner family in (West) Virginia, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, Louisiana, and Michigan. Other correspondence includes Mason Matthews to his son Joseph William Matthews, CSA; Rev. Enoch Rector and Rector College; Andrew S. Rowan; and Capt John V. Young, 11th Virginia, USA.

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Series 2. Reminiscences, Box 1, Folders 21-23
1861-1866, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes memoirs of E.D. Camden, Capt. James B. Cassady, and W.T. Kinzer.

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Series 3. Journals, Box 1, Folders 24-25
1840-1863
Scope and Contents

This series includes the Civil War journal (1862-63) of Henrietta Fitzhugh Barr and one unidentified journal (1840-59).

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Series 4. Financial papers, Box 1, Folders 26-31
1821-1901, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes receipts, tax papers, business contracts and miscellaneous items. Also includes an account book of Thomas Tavenner (1858-59) and a Cow Book.

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Series 5. Indentures and Deeds, Box 2, Folders 1-8
1783-1855, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes indentures for lands deeded to George Washington by King George III, 19 February 1754 and deeds regarding land purchases by Thomas Tavenner and various members of his family. Most deeds are for land in Wood County, while others are for land located in Monongalia, Kanawha, Wirt, and Harrison counties in western Virginia, and Edwards and Wabash counties in Illinois.

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Series 6. Subjects, Box 2, Folders 9-15
ca. 1859, undated
Scope and Contents

This series consists of a Kanawha Valley Economic Petition with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad; an index of articles on the John Brown Raid in the Battle Creek (Weekly) Journal (Michigan); a Civil War play about Gauley Mountain; a short history of the 133rd Virginia Militia; poetry written by Thomas Tavenner; and a typescript history of the property title for Weston State Hospital (5 pages).

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Series 7. Pamphlets, Box 2, Folders 16-19
1845-1935
Scope and Contents

This series includes pamphlets and magazines.

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Series 8. Ephemera, Box 2, Folder 20
Undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes a States Rights Ticket, photo of Colonel John S. Camden's headstone, and calling cards.

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Series 9. Miscellaneous, Box 2, Folders 21-23
1932-1940, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes typescripts sent to Roy Bird Cook, a Captain's commission (copy) for Henry Harris signed by John Hancock in 1776, and miscellaneous envelopes and paper.

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Series 10. Oversize, Box 3, Folders 1-6
1772-1938
Scope and Contents

This series includes genealogy (1932) of Mary Randolph Cook, citizenship papers for Ian Christian Brevoor (1797), a map of George Washington's land grant (1772) on the Little Kanawha River, and Civil War newspapers including 10 issues of the Richmond Whig (1863-64), 11 issues of the Richmond Daily Dispatch (1862, 1864), and miscellaneous newspapers from Staunton, Virginia, New York, Pittsburgh, and Louisville.

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