Today, West Virginia University Libraries launched a new fundraising initiative to invest in critical expansions of unique West Virginia cultural collections. These efforts will grow the Libraries’ archival and outreach efforts in three areas of state-wide pride and national impact, including the West Virginia & Regional History Center’s (WVRHC) West Virginia Feminist Activist and Women's History Collection, WVU University archives and the William A. Neal Museum of the Health Sciences.
Funds donated to the Libraries campaign will broaden the expertise, services and resources available to WVU and the regional community, increasing engagement with West Virginia’s flagship University and its collections. By utilizing funds for two dedicated full-time archivist positions and a Neal Museum support fund, Libraries will add sustainable operational capacity to the WVRHC and Neal Museum.
“With these additional funds, WVU Libraries will ensure our state’s significant and irreplaceable collections are identified and preserved for future generations,” Dean of WVU Libraries Karen Diaz said. “We are committed to making these primary sources publicly available for WVU students and faculty, for K-12 instruction, for researchers on and off campus and for highlighting our West Virginia and WVU accomplishments on the national stage.”
WVU Libraries will ensure our state’s significant and irreplaceable collections are identified and preserved for future generations. Karen Diaz, Dean, WVU Libraries
The first area for expansion, the West Virginia Feminist Activist and Women's History Collection, has grown from Women’s and Gender Studies founding director and retired English professor Judith Gold Stitzel’s vision to preserve and deepen the understanding of women’s experiences and contributions to the story of West Virginia.
“I truly believe we have a collective responsibility to continue making the story of West Virginia vibrant and complete,” said Stitzel. Today, Stitzel and others have already established an endowment with a goal to support the work full-time. With a dedicated full-time archivist, Libraries will take this award-winning effort to the next level.
The second area for expansion will address the fact that WVU has been making history for over 150 years yet has not had a dedicated University archivist to ensure the vast amount of official University records of archival and historical value are preserved for posterity.
“It’s a tremendous challenge,” said WVRHC Director Lori Hostuttler. “Documenting the legacy of WVU requires a continuous, holistic approach at a level of effort that the WVRHC has never had the staff or resources to accomplish as thoroughly as our University and colleagues deserve.”
The work of a dedicated University archivist will ensure WVU’s rich legacy — represented through records of important faculty research contributions, teaching and learning, athletics and student life — is honored and preserved for future generations of alumni, University administrators, faculty and staff and the people of West Virginia.
The third area for expansion, the William A. Neal Museum of the Health Sciences, tells stories of medicine in the Mountain State and the ongoing incredible work of our medical professionals at WVU. Thanks to the legacy of Dr. William A. Neal, the museum — located on the WVU Health Sciences Campus — was opened in 2022, unlocking the door to the vital work necessary to acquire and manage museum collections and the educational collaboration required to prepare exhibitions such as those with the WVU STEPS program and WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital.
“The Neal Museum needs a growing support fund in order to properly care for the objects entrusted in our care and to develop new exhibits for our visitors,” Neal Museum Curator Katie Thompson said. “My hope for the coming year is to create new educational programs to engage with the WVU community, K-12 students and the public. There is no end to the good we can do by bringing to life West Virginia’s stories that connect us to major medical achievements and developments in public health.”
WVU Libraries’ supporters can contribute to any of the campaigns online at library.wvu.edu/give. Interested donors can also contact WVU Libraries Development Director Paula Martinelli at paula.martinelli@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-0303 to learn more about the need and opportunities for giving.
All gifts to WVU Libraries are made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities.