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West Virginia and Regional History Center
1549 University Ave.P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.com
URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu
Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center
Administrative Information
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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], William O. Armstrong (1888-1970) Papers, A&M 2176, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Scope and Contents
Letters, speeches, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia of Dr. William O. Armstrong, principal of Dunbar School, Fairmont, and the first Black student to attend the graduate school at West Virginia University. Includes correspondence, articles, speech scripts, and other material regarding Armstrong's involvement with the Marion County Public Library, Marion County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and other organizations. Also includes memorial articles, obituaries, and correspondence to Armstrong's family after his death in 1970.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- African-Americans. SEE ALSO Coal miners - African Americans.
- Armstrong, William O., 1887-1970
- Fairmont.
- Marion County (W. Va.)
- West Virginia University
Container List
Forms: Program; Persons: West Virginia State College; Places: Institute, WV; Subjects: West Virginia State College Summer
Convocation Order of Exercises
1945 August 17
Forms: Typescript speech; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Institute, WV; Subjects: Convocation address (world conditions,
the position of the US in the world community, possible contributions of the graduating class to the developing pattern of
American Democracy)
1945 August 17
Forms: Typescript citation, investiture, newspaper comments, newspaper clippings; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places:
Institute, WV; Subjects: Honorary degree, Doctor of Humanities, William O. Armstrong
1945 August 17
Forms: Newspaper clippings, typescript copy of newspaper comment; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV;
Subjects: Armstrong named judge of "Voice of Democracy" contest
1964 December 3
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV and Chicago, IL; Subjects: American Music
Festival Achievement Award
1949 September 27
Forms: Program; Persons: Dunbar School; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Annual commencement
1955 May 27
Forms: Program; Persons: West Virginia State College; Places: Institute, WV; Subjects: Scholarship Convocation (Armstrong
delivered an address)
1955 October 16
Forms: Typescript, newspaper clipping; Persons: Mayor William G. Meyer and Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV;
Subjects: Marion County Library Week and National Library Week
1962 April 8
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Friends of the Marion County Public Library; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Friends of
the Library organization
1965 September 6
Forms: Typescript copies; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Armstrong memorial planned by
the Library Board, Library receives copies of "Streets for People: A Primer for Americans" for Armstrong memorial shelf
1970 August 15-1970 September 6
Forms: Typescript, newspaper clippings; Persons: Dunbar School; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Dunbar School's undefeated
basketball team, entry in State Dramatic Tournament
1918-1919, 1936
Forms: Typescript, newspaper clippings; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Marion County Planning
Committee of the Marion County Community Action Association (Dr. Armstrong was a member)
1966, undated
Forms: Typescript, newspaper clippings, certificate; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong, Anthony M. Sauro, and Joseph J. Straight;
Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Community Service from the Greater Fairmont Council
of Churches
1966
Forms: Typescript, newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Charleston, WV; Subjects: Armstrong attends
Governor's Third Annual Conference on the Community, Charleston Gazette article on conference and biographical information
1968
Forms: Typescript, newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Dr. Armstrong's
letter to the Editor of the Fairmont Times on the future of WV and better education for youth
1968
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Address by Dr. Armstrong to the Black
Methodists for Church Renewal concerning Black Power in the Methodist Church
1968 November 12
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Letter to the editor regarding
days the Marion County Public Library was closed during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year holidays
ca. 1970 March
Forms: Typescript, newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong, Jr.; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Fairmont Times-West Virginian article on Dr. Armstrong's death on 1970 May 23 [also includes typescript copy]
1970 March 24
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong and John Bloom; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Editorial from
The West Virginian on the deaths of Dr. Armstrong and John Bloom
1970 May 25
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong, Jr.; Places: Charleston, WV; Subjects: Article from The Charleston Gazette on the death of Dr. Armstrong
1970 May 25
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Article on Dr. Armstrong's life
with picture of last photograph taken (published in The West Virginian )
1970 May 26
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong and George Spencer Roberts, Colonel in the United States Air
Force Retired; Places: Fairmont, WV and Sacramento, CA; Subjects: Article from The Fairmont Times regarding the inspirational effect on Roberts' life exerted by Dr. Armstrong
1970 May 28
Forms: Autographed letter signed, card; Persons: Mrs. Miriam A. Hamblin to Mrs. Jane L. Armstrong; Places: Institute, WV to
Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Condolences on Dr. Armstrong's death and contribution to a memorial fund
1970 May 28
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong and the Marion County Public Library Board; Places: Fairmont,
WV; Subjects: Tribute to Dr. Armstrong by the Library Board (preface to a list of new library rental books accessioned)
1970 May 31
Forms: Card, typed letter; Persons: Greater Boston Chapter of the Massachusetts Heart Association to Mrs. Jane L. Armstrong,
Mrs. Jane L. Armstrong to Greater Boston Chapter of the Massachusetts Heart Association, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence F. Shaw; Places:
Boston, MA to Fairmont, WV and Fairmont, WV to Boston, MA; Subjects: Memorial contribution to the Massachusetts Heart Association
by Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. Jane L. Armstrong's letter of thanks
1970 June 16-1970 June 27
Forms: Typed letter [carbon copy]; Persons: Mrs. Jane L. Armstrong to Mrs. Miriam A. Hamblin; Places: Fairmont, WV to Institute,
WV; Subjects: Acknowledgement of Mrs. Hamblin's library contribution in memory of Dr. Armstrong
1970 June 27
Forms: Typed letter [copy]; Persons: E.K. Feaster (President, Fairmont State College) to Mrs. Jane L. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont,
WV to Institute, WV; Subjects: Contribution from Mr. and Mrs. Feaster to the Student Loan Matching Fund in memory of Dr. Armstrong,
list of names of other contributors
1970 June 1
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong, Mrs. George R. Lambert, Joseph E. Hoffmann, Mrs. Joseph Early,
Richard H. Talbott, Mrs. Arthur H. Pritchard; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Article from The West Virginian on the Marion County Public Library Board-planned memorial for Dr. Armstrong
1970 August 13
Forms: Typed letter [copy], newspaper clipping, manuscript copy of tribute; Persons: Eleanor Lambert to Mrs. Jane L. Armstrong;
Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Copy of tribute to Dr. Armstrong read at the May Marion County Public Library Board meeting,
clipping from The Fairmont Times
1970 May 26-1970 August 13
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: No place listed; Subjects: Dr. Armstrong elected Vice
Chairman of the trustee section of the West Virginia Library Association
undated
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong, Mrs. George R. Lambert; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Resolution
of the Marion County Public Library Board in memory of Dr. Armstrong, election of officers
1970 August 15
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong, Mrs. George R. Lambert; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Article
regarding Mrs. Lambert's election as Marion County Public Library Board President, planned memorial to Dr. Armstrong
1970 August 18
Forms: Newspaper clipping, typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Article from Times-West Virginian regarding the presentation of a volume for the Armstrong Memorial shelf in the Marion County Public Library
1970 September 6
Forms: Letter [typescript copy, resolution; Persons: Judy K. Rule (Secretary of the West Virginia Library Association) to
Mrs. Jane L. Armstrong; Places: No place listed; Subjects: Resolution adopted by the West Virginia Library Association in
memory of Dr. Armstrong
1970 November 9
Forms: Typed letter signed; Persons: Major Joseph G. Riefer (Commanding Officer of the Salvation Army); Places: Fairmont,
WV; Subjects: Letter of condolence and commendation of Dr. Armstrong's service to the Salvation Army
1971 January 11
Forms: Typed letter [copy]; Persons: Mrs. Jane L. Armstrong to Ruth Early (librarian), Mrs. Fannie Cobb Carter; Places: Institute,
WV to Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Contributions for books to be added to the Armstrong Memorial Shelf
1971 February 25
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong, Robert J. Burns, Ray Vangilder, William E. Shingleton, Dayton
J. Michael, Robert Downs; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Picture of the Marion County Community Action Association committee
for the selection of director and aides for the Association
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: William O. Armstrong, Mr. and Mrs. Gwen Stoker; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Acceptance speech
of Dr. Armstrong for the paintings given to the Library by Mr. Stoker in memory of his wife
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Speech given by Dr. Armstrong before
the Rotary Club on the Integration Program
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Speech to the Black Methodists for Church
Renewal
1968 November 12
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Questions and answers on prejudice in
Marion County
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Speech on the Civil Rights Bill, comment
on conditions in WV
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Speech on human relations goals
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: "Negro Freedom Appreciation Week"
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Anchors (Black history and goals [speech])
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: "These Stormy Years" (speech before
a student audience regarding the fight for freedom)
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: "The Looking Glass" (speech on Methodism)
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Rotary Club speech regarding Civil Rights
undated
Forms: Newspaper clipping; Persons: Fairmont Public Library; Places: No place listed; Subjects: Need for air conditioning
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Dr. William O. Armstrong; Places: Fairmont, WV; Subjects: Prayer given by Dr. Armstrong at Trinity
United Methodist Church on the occasion of Laymen's Day
undated
Forms: Typescript; Persons: Mrs. Jane L. Armstrong; Places: No place listed; Subjects: Statement by Mrs. Armstrong regarding
Dr. Armstrong being one of the "President's Partners" of West Virginia Wesleyan College
undated
Forms: Newspaper clipping, card; Persons: Arch A. Moore, Jr. (Congressman); Places: No place listed; Subjects: Marion County
Chapter of the NAACP, Freedom Fund Dinner (Dr. Armstrong, Vice President)
undated