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

  • Account books
  • Barr, Henrietta Fitzhugh
  • Brown, John.
  • Camden family
  • Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891
  • Camden, John S.
  • Cassady, Capt. James S.
  • Civil War - Southern sympathizers in WV.
  • Civil War - Union soldiers' letters.
  • Civil War - Virginia 133rd Regiment.
  • Civil War - West Virginia 11th Infantry.
  • Civil War -- War diaries
  • Civil War -- letters
  • Civil War -- Confederate Army
  • Civil War -- Confederate letters
  • Civil War -- Confederate newspapers
  • Civil War -- Confederate sympathizers
  • Civil War -- Kanawha Riflemen
  • Cook family
  • Cook, Roy Bird, 1886-1961
  • Diaries and journals.
  • Fleischer family
  • Harpers Ferry (W. Va.) -- History -- John Brown's Raid, 1859
  • Harrison County (W. Va.)
  • Jackson family
  • Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863
  • Land.
  • Matthews family
  • McGrew, James Clark.
  • Newspapers.
  • Parkersburg (W. Va.)
  • Poets and poetry.
  • Ravenswood (W. Va.)
  • Rector, Enoch.
  • Richmond (Va.)
  • Rowan, Andrew Summers
  • Surveyors and surveying.
  • Tavenner family
  • Tavenner, Jennet Withers.
  • Tavenner, Thomas, 1776-1857
  • Tavenner, William Cabell.
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
  • Wells family
  • Weston (W. Va.)
  • Women's history -- 1850-1899
  • Wood County (W. Va.)
  • Young family

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Barr, Henrietta Fitzhugh
  • Brown, John.
  • Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891
  • Camden, John S.
  • Cassady, Capt. James S.
  • Cook, Roy Bird, 1886-1961
  • Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863
  • McGrew, James Clark.
  • Rector, Enoch.
  • Rowan, Andrew Summers
  • Tavenner, Jennet Withers.
  • Tavenner, Thomas, 1776-1857
  • Tavenner, William Cabell.

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Harpers Ferry (W. Va.) -- History -- John Brown's Raid, 1859
  • Harrison County (W. Va.)
  • Parkersburg (W. Va.)
  • Ravenswood (W. Va.)
  • Richmond (Va.)
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
  • Weston (W. Va.)
  • Wood County (W. Va.)

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.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1A
    Cook, Roy Bird Correspondence (Tavenner Genealogy)
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1B
    Tavenner Family
    1818-1846
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
    Tavenner Family
    1847-1854
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
    Tavenner Family
    1854-1861
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
    Tavenner Family
    1861-1865
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
    Tavenner Family
    1867
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6
    Tavenner Family
    1867-1868
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7
    Tavenner Family
    1868-1876
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8
    Tavenner Family
    1876-1878
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
    Tavenner Family
    1879-1882
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
    Tavenner Family
    1883-1955
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11
    Tavenner Family
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 12
    Tavenner Family
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 13
    Tavenner Family (copies)
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
    Matthews, Mason to His son, Joseph William Matthews, CSA (contains transcripts)
    1861-1865
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15
    Rector College and Reverend Enoch Rector (transcripts)
    1822-1936
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 16
    Rowan, Andrew S. (contains transcripts)
    1823-1937
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 17
    Young, John V., Captain, 11th Virginia, Company G (Union) (contains transcriptions)
    1862-1864
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 18
    Young, John V., Captain, 11th Virginia, Company G (Union) (contains transcriptions)
    1864-1865
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 19
    Young, John V., Captain, 11th Virginia, Company G (Union) (contains transcriptions)
    1864-1865
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 20
    Miscellaneous (contains transcriptions)
    1796-1937
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.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 21
    Camden, E.D. (contains transcriptions)
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 22
    Camden, E.D. (contains transcriptions)
    1866
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 23
    Kinzer, W.T. (contains transcripts)
    1861-1864
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).

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 24
    Barr, Henrietta Fitzhugh
    1862-1863
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 25
    Unidentified
    1840-1859
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.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 26
    General
    1821-1842
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 27
    General
    1842-1874
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 28
    General
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 29
    Checks
    1855-1867
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 30
    Checks
    1897-1901
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 31
    Account Books
    1858-1861
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.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1
    Miscellaneous
    1783-1808
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
    Miscellaneous
    1813-1822
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
    Miscellaneous
    1823-1832
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
    Miscellaneous
    1838-1843
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
    Miscellaneous
    1843-1854
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6
    Miscellaneous
    1854-1855
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7
    Miscellaneous
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8
    Miscellaneous
    undated
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).

  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
    Kanawha Valley Economic Petition with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
    Annotated List of Articles in the Battle Creek (Weekly) Journal (Michigan) Regarding John Brown and His Followers
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11
    Civil War Play -- Gauley Mountain
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 12
    133rd Virginia Militia -- Brief Historical Sketch
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 13
    Poetry by T.J. Tavenner
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
    Poetry by T.J. Tavenner
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15
    Weston State Hospital--History of Property Title
    undated
Series 7. Pamphlets, Box 2, Folders 16-19
1845-1935
Scope and Contents

This series includes pamphlets and magazines.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 16
    The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography . Vol. 9, no. 1 (July 1901)
    1901
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 17
    Southern Literary Messenger and Southern and Western Literary Messenger and Review . Vol. 13, no. 9 (September 1847)
    1847
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 18
    Item 1: The Home Circle (July 1856 and October 1856, Nashville)
    1856
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 18
    Item 2: Southern Planter . No. 6 (June 1856)
    1856
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 18
    Item 3: Address of the Hon. Charles. J Faulkner at the Memorial Services in Honor of President Garfield in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Martinsburg, West Virginia, On Monday, September 26, 1881
    1882
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 18
    Item 4: Daniel Boone: Little-Known History of the Famous Pioneer, Trail-Blazer, Indian Fighter in the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia , by Roy Bird Cook
    1938
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 19
    Pages from the Past: Recollections, Traditions and Old Timers' Tales of Long Ago , by George W. Summers; 1935.
    1935
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.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 20
    Ephemera
    undated
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.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 21
    Miscellaneous Items and One Commission (copy) Dated 1776
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 22
    Miscellaneous Items
    undated
  • Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 23
    Envelopes
    1932-1940, undated
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.

  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1
    Mary Randolph Cook Genealogy (1932); Citizenship Paper for Ian Christian Brevoor (1797); Map, George Washington Land Grant (1772)
    1772, 1797, 1932
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2
    Richmond Whig , six issues from 1863, four issues from 1864
    1863-1864
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3
    Richmond Daily Dispatch , ten issues from 1862, one from 1863, and one from 1864
    1862-1864
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4
    Miscellaneous Newspapers
    1855-1866
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5
    Miscellaneous Newspapers
    1865-1876
  • Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 6
    Miscellaneous West Virginia Newspapers including Buckhannon Record, Charleston Gazette and Charleston Daily Mail
    1937-1938