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
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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
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 Family1818-1846
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
Tavenner Family1847-1854
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
Tavenner Family1854-1861
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
Tavenner Family1861-1865
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Tavenner Family1867
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6
Tavenner Family1867-1868
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7
Tavenner Family1868-1876
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8
Tavenner Family1876-1878
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
Tavenner Family1879-1882
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
Tavenner Family1883-1955
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11
Tavenner Familyundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 12
Tavenner Familyundated
- 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
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
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 Fitzhugh1862-1863
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 25
Unidentified1840-1859
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
General1821-1842
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 27
General1842-1874
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 28
Generalundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 29
Checks1855-1867
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 30
Checks1897-1901
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 31
Account Books1858-1861
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
Miscellaneous1783-1808
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
Miscellaneous1813-1822
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
Miscellaneous1823-1832
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
Miscellaneous1838-1843
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
Miscellaneous1843-1854
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6
Miscellaneous1854-1855
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7
Miscellaneousundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8
Miscellaneousundated
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 Railroadundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
Annotated List of Articles in the Battle Creek (Weekly) Journal (Michigan) Regarding John Brown and His Followersundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11
Civil War Play -- Gauley Mountainundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 12
133rd Virginia Militia -- Brief Historical Sketchundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 13
Poetry by T.J. Tavennerundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
Poetry by T.J. Tavennerundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15
Weston State Hospital--History of Property Titleundated
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, 18811882
- 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 Cook1938
- 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
This series includes a States Rights Ticket, photo of Colonel John S. Camden's headstone, and calling cards.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 20
Ephemeraundated
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 1776undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 22
Miscellaneous Itemsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 23
Envelopes1932-1940, undated
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 18641863-1864
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3
Richmond Daily Dispatch , ten issues from 1862, one from 1863, and one from 18641862-1864
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4
Miscellaneous Newspapers1855-1866
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5
Miscellaneous Newspapers1865-1876
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 6
Miscellaneous West Virginia Newspapers including Buckhannon Record, Charleston Gazette and Charleston Daily Mail1937-1938