West Virginia Archives and History is pleased to announce that the following individuals are among those who will be recognized as West Virginia History Heroes during a West Virginia History Day at the Legislature program and ceremony to be held at the Culture Center on the Capitol on the Capitol Complex in Charleston on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
Jane Hughes of Lewisburg was nominated by the Greenbrier Historical Society. She is a stellar volunteer at the Greenbrier Historical Society archives and library. A retired librarian, she has separated archival records from library records in the cataloging system, cataloged the family genealogy collection, re-catalogued the Lewisburg homes collection, and documented and cataloged the Greenbrier County Courthouse ledgers that were stored offsite. Hughes has purchased and donated local history books and many materials for the cataloging process. She also helps visitors with their research. In 2022, she helped with research for an article in the society’s journal. This past year, she researched data and photos for the book “Home Among the Hills” for the society’s tour fundraiser.
Alfred “Fred” Ziegler of Greenville was nominated by the Monroe County Historical Society. He has held several offices with the Monroe County Historical Society and served two terms as president. A tireless researcher, presenter, and published author, he continues to make invaluable contributions to the knowledge of the county’s history. Ziegler has contributed substantially to saving historic structures in Union, and he has written many successful grant applications for maintenance of the society’s five historic buildings. He spearheaded funding and construction of a new museum to display the society’s Omnibus and other horse-drawn vehicles. At his urging, an endowment fund was started to ensure that the society remains a relevant resource for scholars, researchers, and the community.
West Virginia History Heroes are nominated by historical, genealogical, preservation, museum, patriotic, or like organizations from across the state. The purpose of this annual award is to give state-level recognition to individuals chosen for dedicated service on behalf of an organization’s programs or for a recent significant contribution to state and local history through research, interpretation, publication, or preservation. The West Virginia History Hero award is a one-time only recognition.
The 2023 History Hero awards program is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. in the State Theatre at the Culture Center will conclude before 11 a.m. Honorees’ local legislators have been invited to participate in the ceremony at the Culture Center, time and legislative session permitting.
West Virginia History Day at the Legislature was begun by the West Virginia Archives and History Commission in 1997 and is officially designated by the commission as a special day to recognize the state’s rich and varied history. This annual event, during which groups from around the state provide history displays in the capital, is now in its 28th year. This year, nearly three dozen groups have registered to have displays in the upper rotunda of the capital.
