In honor of students and faculty returning to campus for the Fall 2025 semester, West Virginia University Libraries and the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC) are pleased to share the 1867 Deed to West Virginia University is now on display.
Inspired by one of WVU President Michael T. Benson’s foundational goals to embrace and learn WVU’s rich history, the WVRHC is proud to steward and share this foundational document of West Virginia's flagship, land-grant institution.
Pages from the 1867 Deed to West Virginia University (A&M 0403).
“History enables us to imagine our future. It invigorates and strengthens the way toward progress,” said Dean of WVU Libraries Karen Diaz. “It is clear President Benson treasures the past as a trained historian. At WVU Libraries, we preserve, protect, and share the history of West Virginia through the History Center, and we are proud to share President Benson’s passion for embracing and learning WVU’s rich history. We hope you’ll visit and see this important document for yourself.”
The deed and WVU's founding document designated Morgantown as the site of West Virginia's new land-grant college. After much debate as to where the college would be located, advocates of Morgantown offered to donate the entire assets of the Monongalia Academy and Woodburn Female Seminary to the State of West Virginia in 1866 if the state legislature would designate Morgantown as the site of the new college. The Legislature formally accepted the offer in the act which created the Agriculture College of West Virginia on February 7, 1867. Dated April 1, 1867, the deed recorded the transfer of those assets.
Scheduled to be on display at the Downtown Library on floor 6 in the WVRHC’s reading room—and available to view during Welcome Week through September 30—students, faculty, staff, and the public are invited to see the Deed to West Virginia University in-person anytime the Downtown Library is open. Hours can be found at wvu.libcal.com/hours.
About WVRHC
The mission of the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC) is to acquire, preserve, and provide access to information resources in all formats which elucidate the history and culture of West Virginia and the central Appalachian region. As the Special Collections division of West Virginia University Libraries, the WVRHC also preserves selected information resources beyond the state and regional scope which contribute to the student success, research, and land-grant missions of WVU.