KYOWVA Genealogical and Historical Society

• Application Forms
  • - KYOWVA Membership
  • - Lineage Societies
• Available Resources
  • - KYOWVA Newsletters
  • - Publications
  • - Surnames
  • - Queries
• Society Projects
  • - Oaklawn Cemetery Book
  • - 200th Anniversary Cabell County History Book
  • - History of Owens Illinois, Second Edition

At Our Next Meeting

September 21, 2010

KYOWVA Annual Picnic, 6 p.m., place to be announced. There will be no regular meetings during the months of July or August. However, our library will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday, and on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month for research. Please visit us at the KYOWVA Library Room, Second Presbyterian Church, 901 Jefferson Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia. All members and the general public are welcome.

Society Projects

 The Oaklawn Cemetery Book, 200th Anniversary Cabell County History Book is still underway. See our Projects page for details.

Visit KYOWVA

Our library and offices are open 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday and on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Sunday hours are available by appointment only. Click here for information and directions to KYOWVA.

2010 West Virginia History Hero Awards

Our History Hero Award winner for 2010 is Debbie Cambell, shown here receiving her award from State Senator Evan Jenkins. Debbie was vice president of KYOWVA from 2002 to 2006 and has been president since 2007. Under her leadership, the society has relocated to a larger and more accessible facility. She constantly promotes genealogical and historical research and has presented workshops on web-based research and scrap booking history. As chairperson of the book committee, Campbell was the leading force behind publication of the 2-volume History of Owens-Illinois (2008-2009) and was responsible for publication of The Regimental Court of Enquiry: 120th Regiment of Cabell County Virginia Militia (2009). She also is involved in compiling a 200th-anniversary history of Cabell County for publication in 2010. Nominated by KYOWVA Genealogical and Historical Society

What is a History Hero?

Each year, historical societies and other organizations working to record and preserve West Virginia's history for future generations recognize the efforts of their most significant contributor through the annual West Virginia History Day "History Heroes" awards. The recipients are recognized and receive their awards during the History Day program at the West Virginia Division of Culture and History in Charleston. Later in the day, the group of recipients are presented to and honored by the State Legislature in the chambers of the Capitol Building.

Previous Years Award Recipients:

2009 - Anne Shuff, KYOWVA librarian, society treasurer
2008 - Karen LeGrand, past president of KYOWVA
2007 - Mary Ann Chatterton, society representative, fund-raiser, library volunteer
2006 - Richard Blake, KYOWVA webmaster
2005 - Barbara Bell, former KYOWVA vice-president, library volunteer, local history researcher
2004 - Ralph W. Honaker, local author and researcher, donor of many books to the library
2003 - Virginia Midkiff Graham, local researcher, KYOWVA library volunteer and supporter
2002 - Charlene P. Leist, ultimate volunteer, assistant recording secretary, library volunteer
2001 - Ernestine Hippert, served as a KYOWVA officer for over 12 years, numerous projects
2000 - Elena Chafin, charter member, corresponding secretary, contributor to most book projects
1999 - June Faye Booth Ashworth, officer and board member of KYOWVA, author and local genealogy columnist
1998 - Ernest Midkiff, personally renovated KYOWVA's main library room, created a tribute to area soldiers who died in four wars

We would be remiss not to recognize another 1998 nominee, Sheri K. Pettit.  Sheri served a number of years in various capacities including president of KYOWVA. At the same time, she was also active in numerous historical and genealogical societies including the Cabell-Wayne Historical Society, Mining Your History Foundation, Guyandotte Historical and Improvement Association, and the Madie Carroll House Preservation Society. Sheri received a History Hero Award nomination from Guyandotte Civil War Days and Raid on Guyandotte, and the Madie Carroll House Preservation Society.