Conditions Governing Use

Collection materials may be subject to laws governing rights. Researchers are solely responsible for determining the rights status of the materials they use. Permission may be required for some uses such as publication or reproduction.

Conditions Governing Access

Researchers are permanently restricted from releasing--in any form--any personally identifiable information without the written permission of the subject who is/was incarcerated (or their parent or guardian, if a minor). The researcher must also communicate in writing with the West Virginia and Regional History Center that all incarcerated or formerly incarcerated persons' personally identifiable data, or copies thereof, have been completely destroyed once the study/use of material is concluded. This personally identifiable data includes name, address, and ID number.

Digitization of letters in the collection is prohibited. However, researchers may take pictures or scan letters as long as all personal identifiable information is removed/redacted.

This collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia & Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure these materials are available.

This collection is unprocessed. It may contain restricted materials. Please contact the West Virginia & Regional History Center in advance to request access.

Scope and Contents

Records of the Appalachian Prison Book Project, a non-profit organization that supports and furthers educational justice throughout the Appalachian region by providing books and educational opportunities to incarcerated people, among other initiatives. These records include primarily correspondence from people in prison requesting specific books, as well as notebooks logging volunteer hours and books sent and other materials (Box 46).

Addendum of 2025 January 28 consists of correspondence from incarcerated people requesting books and journals (2023-2024).

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Appalachian Prison Book Project