Rare Book and Print Collections Archivist Rigby Philips
With extensive experience in special collections, instruction, outreach, and collection management, Rigby Philips’ unique perspective fuels her role as the new rare book and print collections archivist.
Philips focuses on acquisition and preservation of the Rare Book Collection, the West Virginia Book and Serials Collection, the West Virginia Newspapers Collection, and the Appalachian Book Collection. In addition, she provides research and teaching support for a variety of disciplines across WVUs colleges and schools. Philips also develops exhibitions and displays featuring rare books and materials from the WVRHC’s collections.
Previously, Philips worked to create and enhance bibliographic data for rare and special collections materials at the University of Maryland (UMD) Libraries. She earned her Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from UMD, in addition to a master’s in history and a bachelor’s in history, with a concentration in women and gender.
Remote Education Specialist Beth Shaver
Beth Shaver is the WVRHC’s new remote education specialist. Beth has 14 years of history teaching experience in the 7-12 school system and 4 years of teaching social studies methods courses at Duke University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University.
She is responsible for the American Congress Digital Archives Portal project, managing plans, designs, creations, and implementation of instructional materials and learning objects.
Beth graduated in December 2025 with her PhD in Teacher Education and Learning Science at North Carolina State University.