Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Conditions Governing Access

No special access restriction applies.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Paul Atkins, Journalism Professor, Papers, A&M 4235, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Scope and Contents

Professional and family papers of Paul Atkins, a journalism professor at West Virginia University who retired after 33 years of service. Also includes papers of his wife Mildred, who was an artist.

This collection is minimally processed.

box 1; newspaper inserts regarding history of and tourism in West Virginia, including the Civil War in WV; ca. 1960-1970
box 1; framed photo of Paul Atkins
box 1; framed artwork by Mildred Atkins
box 1; poster with drawing of a mill by Marcia Sontheimer; ca. 1970s
box 1; other material
box 2; narrative regarding Paul Atkins in WWII
box 2; 1st Cavalry Division Association, Membership Directory (filed with WWII narrative)
box 2; history of Daily Athenaeum (includes many items); ca. 1900-1980
box 2; family genealogy from bible pages
box 2; Civil War Roundtable, Morgantown -- conference material; 2004-2008
box 2; Woodburn Association of Neighbors (includes minutes, correspondence, etc.); 2006-2010
box 3; thesis by Paul Atkins regarding the Virginia Secession Convention; 1950
box 3; lecture notes for journalism 227, historical newspapers concerning American journalism; ca. 1970s
box 3; subject files (includes publications and other material regarding West Virginia University, and journalism in general, among other topics); ca. 1960-2010
box 4; papers of Mildred Atkins (includes brochures and clippings regarding arts and crafts in West Virginia, and the artwork of Mildred Atkins); ca. 1970-1995
box 4; recipes collected by Mildred Atkins; undated
box 5; slides of artworks by Mildred Atkins; 1976
box 5; diploma earned by Mildred Atkins; 1976
box 5; exhibit sign-in book
box 5; textile notebook
box 5; obituary and funeral program for Paul Atkins (includes biographical information); 2019/02/21
box 6; miscellaneous publications regarding journalism or West Virginia history; ca. 1980-2005
box 7; miscellaneous publications regarding West Virginia history and tourism (brochures, booklets); ca. 1958-2005
box 8; artifact -- WWII duffle bag owned by Paul Atkins; 1940s
box 8; artifact -- Dominion Post totebag (Morgantown newspaper); undated
box 9; artifact -- art textile by Mildred Atkins; undated
box 9; artifact -- oval frame (for large tintype located in box 22 of this collection)
box 10; Society of Professional Journalists -- publications
box 10; Battle of Point Pleasant -- clippings; 1974
box 10; recipes (6 pages in 1 folder); ca. 1890-1910
box 10; plaque; 1993
box 11; photographs (many are identified, includes a CDV, cabinet cards, and prints); ca. 1860-1960
box 11; sympathy cards; 1965
box 12; Society of Professional Journalists -- book entitled "Talent, Truth and Energy"; 1984
box 12; Atkins family genealogy book; 1991
box 12; "The Record" (literary publication of John Marshall High School); 1930s
box 12; publications on West Virginia topics (including history and journalism); ca. 1960-1995
box 12; publications on journalism; ca. 1960-1995
box 13; photographs -- family, Germany after World War II; 1940s-1970s
box 14; distinguished teaching in journalism award (includes clippings and letters); 1981
box 15; photographs -- portraits of family members
box 15; vhs tapes -- topics include WVU football game and Forks of Cheat, among others
box 15; audio cassette tapes -- topics include West Virginia History and dulcimer music
box 15; souvenir -- Japanese flag from World War II
box 15; microfilm -- sampling of historical newspapers
box 15; other material
box 16; photographs -- miscellaneous family pictures
box 17; miscellaneous publications regarding West Virginia history and tourism (brochures, booklets)
box 17; "Hellraiser" (historical novel re Mother Jones) by Jerry Ash (autographed copy)
box 17; "Peaceful Patriot" (re Thomas Bennett) by Bonni McKeown (autographed copy)
box 18; glass plate negatives -- Sisson family of Richmond, Virginia (includes key in first folder); ca. 1901-1914
box 19; letter blocks for printing
box 19; funeral autograph book
box 19; miscellaneous correspondence
box 19; World War II portrait of Paul Atkins
box 19; family portrait including Paul Atkins
box 19; High School diploma from Welch High School for Paul Atkins; 1942
box 19; artifacts -- wooden shoes; 1940s
box 19; journal or diary by Mildred Atkins; 1951
box 19; three books on tin collecting
box 20; Dietzgen drawing tools
box 20; postcard booklet (5 items, including Charleston, Parkersburg, and other locations)
box 20; photographic portrait of the Johnsons
box 20; two vinyl disc recordings of folk music (including singer Patrick Gainer, and dulcimer player Worley Gardner)
box 20; cased photograph -- ambrotype of unidentified woman; ca. 1860
box 20; photograph albums
box 20; negatives
box 20; framed "Theorem Painting" by Virginia Leitch Hiss
box 21; Mildred Atkins material (includes information on ceramics, West Virginia Artist and Craftsmen Guild, spinning and weaving, etc.)
box 22; tintype portrait of female, 6 1/2 in. x 8 1/2 in. (originally in oval frame in box 9); ca. 1870-1890
box 22; autograph book of Emma Farish; 1879
box 22; cabinet card photo of mother of Emma Farish Sisson
box 22; three southern cookbooks, including "Cooking in Richmond, Virginia" (1948), etc.
box 22; thesis by Paul Atkins, "Henry Wise and the Virginia Secession Convention, February 13 - April 17, 1861"
box 22; other material
box 23; maps and brochures regarding West Virginia University (WVU) and Morgantown
box 23; travel diaries
box 23; Mountaineer Week programs (1970s)
box 23; WVU Journalism alumni lists
box 23; other material

oversize box 24; World War II US Army carrying case
oversize box 24; drawing of Paul Atkins
oversize box 24; diploma earned by Paul Atkins
oversize box 24; group photograph including father of Paul Atkins
oversize box 24; other material
oversize box 25; three WWII US Army garments issued to Paul Atkins
oversize box 26; WWII US Army dress jacket with patches and insignia issued to Paul Atkins
oversize box 26; WWII US Army jacket issued to Paul Atkins

box 27, folders 1-4; Mildred Atkins scrapbook, newspaper clippings, and arts and crafts photographs; 1976–1980, undated
box 27, folders 5-9; Miscellaneous pictures and 35mm slides (includes 1 daguerreotype, 1 Morgantown postcard, 3 watercolor prints of West Virginia University buildings [Chitwood, Dairy Farm, Mountainlair], 1 art print, 35mm slides [9 items], and 1 glass plate negative)
box 27, folders 10-11; Photographs related to Paul Atkins and a certificate of appreciation to Paul Atkins from the National World War II Museum
box 27, folder 12; Arthurdale material (includes newspaper clippings titled: 1. "Arthurdale 1940s movie series lets reviewers go back in time"; 2. "There were no books, no supplies, Arthurdale residents learned with hands-on lessons"; and 3. "Eleanor Roosevelt helped for cooperative community". Also includes a driving tour map and an Arthurdale program); 2006, undated
box 27, folder 13; news bulletin regarding Mother Jones research by professor Edward Steel; 1986
box 27, folders 14-15; Inserts from a family Bible (published in 1887) found in the Atkins house as well as copies of a family record from the Bible documenting the Sisson family in the period ca. 1860-1890.
box 27, folder 16; Artifacts (includes six rulers for Linotype and Intertype typecasting [typesetting] machines); undated
box 28; Kodak Carousel Transvue 80 Slide tray with slides of Mildred Atkins's pottery and/or ceramic work, and related images; ca. 1970s
box 28; two binders of 35mm slides, including images of 1. textiles, pottery, and ceramics (1970s), and 2. the Philippines and New Guinea (1980s); ca. 1970-1990
box 29; five miscellaneous books titled: "A Farang from Virginia"; ca. 2000, "Images of America: Arthurdale"; ca. 2007, "West Virginia Yesterday and Today"; ca. 1931, "Giving Back: Reflections on the Eberly Legacy"; ca. 2010, and "A Book for Kappa Sigma Pledges"; ca. 1947
box 30; six miscellaneous books including: two cookbooks, two poetry books ("Make Bright the Arrows" by Edna St. Vincent Millay; ca. 1940, a book of Portuguese sonnets; undated), "Stories from the Bible"; ca. 1929, and an Atkins family genealogy; ca. 1975
box 31; a leather Dominion Post satchel; undated
box 32; a family Bible; ca. 1887
box 33; wooden stamps for printing letters and numbers (these likely belonged to Mildred)
box 34; funeral of Paul Atkins -- folded flag; 2019
box 34; funeral of Paul Atkins -- shell casings from 21 gun salute (in small box); 2019
box 34; WWII -- purple heart; ca. 1940s
box 34; WWII -- discharge servic record; ca. 1940s
box 34; WWII -- medals (in small box); ca. 1940s
box 34; WWII -- belt; ca. 1940s
box 34; West Virginia University -- Diploma, Bachelor of Science in Journalism; 1949

oversize box 35; WWII -- army jacket with insignia; ca. 1940s

unboxed; artifact -- Royal typewriter; undated
unboxed; artifact -- wallphone; ca. 1900-1930
unboxed; artifact -- bust of Perly Isaac Reed, founder of WVU School of Media; undated
unboxed; artifact -- walking cane made of wood; undated

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• West Virginia University. Reed College of Media