Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education
  • Home
  • About
    • Latest News
    • Leadership
    • Our Partners
    • Parking and Directions
    • News Archives
  • Education
    • Educational Resources
    • Internship Program
    • People Powered
  • Research
    • Congressional Collections >
      • Robert C. Byrd Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Jr. Congressional Papers
      • Scot Faulkner CAO Papers
      • Alan B. Mollohan Congressional Papers
    • Digital Collections
    • Byrd's-Eye View
    • Plan a Visit to the Archives
    • Collecting Policy
    • Oral History Project
    • Share Your Story!
    • Blog
  • Events
    • Constitution Day
    • Past Events >
      • Kate Masur 10/8
      • Nancy Spannaus 11/20
      • Tom Barkin 10/24
      • Constitution Day 2024 9/18
      • Mountain Music at the Mill 8/24
      • The Fiddlin' Bobby Byrd, Mountain Musician with Adam Booth 5/9
      • Beto O'Rourke 3/3&4
      • An Evening of WV Stories with Adam Booth 2/22
      • Niagara Movement Film 2/8
      • Voices of the Community Series 2023
      • Summer Fundraiser 2023
      • Constitution Day 2023
      • The Arc of Power
      • Forum on Pollution
      • Formidable - author event
      • Constitution Day 2022
  • Support Us
    • Friends of the Byrd Center
    • Name a Seat
  • Reservations
  • Login
  • WV Civics Coalition

An Unforgettable Dedication - Senator Byrd Opens the Seneca Rocks Visitor Center

10/25/2016

 
By Jody Brumage

Senator Robert C. Byrd participated in countless dedications, groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, and other similar ceremonies during his half-century of service in the United States Senate. Many of these events are recounted in photographs, documents, and objects that are now preserved in the collections at the Byrd Center. One such series of photographs illustrate the dedication of the visitors center at Seneca Rocks, one of West Virginia's most widely-known natural landmarks. The rocks were included in the first National Recreation Area created in the United States, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. Over a decade later, Senator Byrd journeyed to Pendleton County to dedicate the new visitors center in 1978. The experience was one of the most unforgettable dedications the senator attended in his career. 
Picture
Map of the Spruce Knob - Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area

Read More

Senator Byrd's Fight for WV Coal Miners

10/18/2016

 
By Jody Brumage

Throughout Senator Byrd's fifty-one years in the United States Senate, one constant issue to which he devoted great attention was the difficult life faced by the state's coal miners. For decades, West Virginians employed in the mines faced significant challenges including poor safety standards, insufficient pay, and lack of disability benefits, including any aid for victims of black lung. These issues further compounded an already dangerous job, brought to light in many disasters that took place throughout the Appalachian Coalfields, including the Farmington, WV mine explosion of 1968 which killed 78 miners. In the wake of the disaster, Senator Byrd seized the opportunity to improve conditions for miners and obtain increased federal aid and oversight over the coal industry. 
Picture
The Farmington Mine explosion of November 20, 1968. (From the Mine Health and Safety Administration)

Read More

American Archives Month Celebrated at the Byrd Center

10/11/2016

 
By Jody Brumage

Each year, the month of October marks the observance of American Archives Month. Since 2006, American Archives Month has given the profession an opportunity to tell (or remind) people that items that are important to them are being preserved, cataloged, cared for, and made accessible by archivists.  We are excited that here at the Byrd Center, we are able to share our unique collections with you through this website, our traveling exhibit, and through special programs. 
Picture
A section of the Robert C. Byrd Congressional Papers Collection in the Byrd Center Archives.

Read More
    Welcome to the Byrd Center Blog! We share content here including research from our archival collections, articles from our director, and information on upcoming events. 

    Categories

    All
    Director's Posts
    Intern Blogs
    Posts From The Archives

    Archives

    April 2025
    July 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    November 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    December 2011

    RSS Feed

Picture
213 North King Street
PO Box 5000
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
(304) 876 - 5701

Our Mission:

The Byrd Center advances representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
Copyright © Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education
  • Home
  • About
    • Latest News
    • Leadership
    • Our Partners
    • Parking and Directions
    • News Archives
  • Education
    • Educational Resources
    • Internship Program
    • People Powered
  • Research
    • Congressional Collections >
      • Robert C. Byrd Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Jr. Congressional Papers
      • Scot Faulkner CAO Papers
      • Alan B. Mollohan Congressional Papers
    • Digital Collections
    • Byrd's-Eye View
    • Plan a Visit to the Archives
    • Collecting Policy
    • Oral History Project
    • Share Your Story!
    • Blog
  • Events
    • Constitution Day
    • Past Events >
      • Kate Masur 10/8
      • Nancy Spannaus 11/20
      • Tom Barkin 10/24
      • Constitution Day 2024 9/18
      • Mountain Music at the Mill 8/24
      • The Fiddlin' Bobby Byrd, Mountain Musician with Adam Booth 5/9
      • Beto O'Rourke 3/3&4
      • An Evening of WV Stories with Adam Booth 2/22
      • Niagara Movement Film 2/8
      • Voices of the Community Series 2023
      • Summer Fundraiser 2023
      • Constitution Day 2023
      • The Arc of Power
      • Forum on Pollution
      • Formidable - author event
      • Constitution Day 2022
  • Support Us
    • Friends of the Byrd Center
    • Name a Seat
  • Reservations
  • Login
  • WV Civics Coalition