Forget that business about 1863.
These days, West Virginia and Virginia couldn’t be more civil to one another.
At least where university libraries are concerned.
WVU’s library system linked with the University of Virginia, George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, William & Mary and Virginia Tech for a broad, information-sharing project known as “Digital Virginias.”
More library systems from schools are expected to join this year.
The biblio-clasping of hands is part of the Digital Public Library of America initiative, which is just that, said Karen Diaz, the dean of WVU Libraries.
In the case of Digital Virginias, she said, it’s a catalogue of more 58,000 written documents, historical photographs, political cartoons and more — all layering in the socio-archeology and collective experience of the two states forever shaped by the Civil War.
West Virginia became the 35th state in the Union in 1863, as the conflict that roiled the Republic showed no signs of resolution.
Now-former Virginians of the Commonwealth’s now-former northwestern climes generally trended more Blue than Gray.
That mindset, plus key infrastructure, including the rails of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad which ran through West Virginia, helped in part to grind the war down.
Digital Virginias, meanwhile, trends more 20th century as the two states assumed shapes that went well beyond cartography.
Overdue history?
Many of the 6,759 offerings from WVU Libraries showcase the spirit of Mountain State denizens — whether they were born and bred here, or found their way here and stayed.
There’s the hubris and humanity of Rush Holt, a Lewis County native who was elected to the U.S. Senate at the age of 29, then had to wait until his 30th birthday on June 19, 1935, before he could legally hold the office.
Holt’s idealism (and excesses) even inspired Hollywood.
Jimmy Stewart used Holt as a real-life role model in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” a 1939 tale of politics and personality in the nation’s capital that isn’t all that removed
from today.
There’s the pioneer spirit of George Bird Evans: He was a busy Manhattan illustrator who, with his artist wife, left the city for life off the grid in Preston County at about the same time moviegoers were buying tickets for Jimmy Stewart-as-Mr. Smith-Rush Holt.
Besides turning him-self into an acclaimed outdoors writer, Smith was also Preston’s original telecommuter.
His Colonial cabin didn’t have electricity. A neighbor on the Kingwood Pike would let him use his telephone for toll calls to New York, where he hashed out illustrations and written pieces for the periodicals of the day. Off the work would go in the mail.
Commonwealth (and common wealth)
Virginia’s digital archives may be mined for works focused on civil rights, African-American communities and the simple joys of sharing the arts.
There are the photographic archives from the University of Virginia of Jackson Davis, an education reformer (and photography buff) who turned his camera lens on the more-often-than-not shabby, rundown condition of segregated schools across the Southeast.
William & Mary offers an extensive collection of writings from James Monroe, a Founding Father and fifth President of the U.S. (1817-’25).
Digital archivists from Virginia Tech, meanwhile, preserved and archived a host of 1930s-era playbills, posters and press clippings from the Barter Theatre, in Abingdon, Va.
As its name suggests, the venue that opened in 1933 during the Depression allowed audiences to barter food for admission.
The acting troupe built and painted scenery, stitched costumers and staffed the cafeteria with shelves stocked from those who brought cabbages in exchange for King Lear.
Eighty-six years later, the Barter is still in business, staging productions.
Visit Digital Virginias on Facebook for more information on collections from all the libraries.
Diaz, meanwhile, couldn’t help but sound like a librarian — an enthused one — as she talked about the project. She wants you to explore if you live here or there.
She wants you to have a look-around if you don’t live here or there, since both places have their share of stereotypes waiting to be dispelled, intellectually.
“Digital Virginias will be a valuable resource to anyone who wants to delve into the history of both states,” she said. “We’re thrilled.”
