Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education
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West Virginia and the Creation of the Federal Food Stamp Program

11/22/2017

 
By Jody Brumage
​
On May 29, 1961, Mr. and Mrs. Alderson Muncy became the first recipients of food stamps in the United States. McDowell County, located along West Virginia’s border with Kentucky in the south-eastern part of the state, was the first designated location for a pilot food stamp program established by an executive order signed by President John F. Kennedy. While the first program for providing assistance to lower-income families for purchasing food was launched at the end of the Great Depression, the program of which the Muncy’s became the first recipients was the precedent for our nation’s current program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
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John F. Kennedy, Democratic Nominee for President, meets with West Virginians in 1960.

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Berkeley County Students and Faculty Visit the Byrd Center

11/8/2017

 
By Jay Wyatt

On Monday, October 23, the Byrd Center welcomed 80 high school students and faculty from Berkeley County Public Schools for a day-long workshop focusing on government and deliberate discourse. The students came from all four Berkeley County high schools: Martinsburg, Spring Mills, Hedgesville, and Musselman, and each are participants in their school’s Leadership Program . The workshop allowed students to learn from historical records as well as the opportunity to respond to current events in a group discussion.​
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Students and faculty gather in the Auditorium for opening remarks at the beginning of the workshop.

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    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. 

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Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
(304) 876 - 5702

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.
© 2021 Robert C. Byrd Center for
​Congressional History and Education
  • Home
  • About
    • Latest News
    • Statement on Systemic Racism
    • Leadership
    • Our Partners
    • Parking and Directions
  • Education
    • People Powered 2023 Program
    • Educational Resources
    • Teacher Institute
    • Internship Program
  • Research
    • Congressional Collections >
      • Robert C. Byrd Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Congressional Papers
      • Harley O. Staggers, Jr. Congressional Papers
      • Scot Falkner CAO Papers
    • Blog
    • Digital Collections
    • Oral History Project
    • Plan a Visit to the Archives
    • Collecting Policy
  • Events
    • Forum on Pollution
    • Formidable - author event
    • Summer Fundraiser 2023
    • Voices of the Community
    • Constitution Day
    • Past Events
  • Support Us
    • Friends of the Byrd Center
    • Name a Seat
    • Annual Report
  • Reservations
  • Login