July 29, 2022
Distinguished Scholar Norman Ornstein to Deliver the 18th Annual Constitution Day Address at the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is pleased to announce that the 18th annual Tom E. Moses Memorial Lecture on the U.S. Constitution will be delivered by Norman Ornstein, Emeritus Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and nationally-known expert on the United States Congress. His topic will be “Threats to American Democracy and the Constitution.”
Norman J. Ornstein is a senior fellow emeritus at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he has been studying politics, elections, and the US Congress for more than four decades. Along with Thomas Mann and Michael Malbin, he created “Vital Statistics on Congress” in 1980, a go-to-reference guide that provides impartial data for congressional watchers, and is updated every two years. He is also a longtime participant of AEI’s Election Watch series and an adviser to the Continuity of Government Commission. Ornstein is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and National Journal, and is author of several books including It's Even Worse than it Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism.
The event will take place in the auditorium of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education on the campus of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 7:00 pm. Persons wishing to attend in-person must reserve their seats by visiting byrdcenter.org/constitution-day and completing the RSVP form. Face coverings will be required for all in-person attendees in the auditorium. A live stream of the lecture will also be available via Zoom. Persons wishing to view the lecture online should use the same link and indicate that you will attend virtually on the RSVP form. If you have any questions, please call (304) 876-5648 or email us at jbrumage@shepherd.edu.
Constitution Day was created by an amendment introduced by Senator Robert C. Byrd and passed in the United States Congress in 2004 to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution by delegates assembled in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. The Byrd Center observes Constitution Day annually through the Moses Memorial Lecture, named for the late Tom E. Moses, a longtime civil libertarian, activist, and founder of the Eastern Panhandle Branch of the ACLU-WV.
A private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University, The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education advances representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens. The center is located at 213 North King Street, Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Norman J. Ornstein is a senior fellow emeritus at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he has been studying politics, elections, and the US Congress for more than four decades. Along with Thomas Mann and Michael Malbin, he created “Vital Statistics on Congress” in 1980, a go-to-reference guide that provides impartial data for congressional watchers, and is updated every two years. He is also a longtime participant of AEI’s Election Watch series and an adviser to the Continuity of Government Commission. Ornstein is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and National Journal, and is author of several books including It's Even Worse than it Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism.
The event will take place in the auditorium of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education on the campus of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 7:00 pm. Persons wishing to attend in-person must reserve their seats by visiting byrdcenter.org/constitution-day and completing the RSVP form. Face coverings will be required for all in-person attendees in the auditorium. A live stream of the lecture will also be available via Zoom. Persons wishing to view the lecture online should use the same link and indicate that you will attend virtually on the RSVP form. If you have any questions, please call (304) 876-5648 or email us at jbrumage@shepherd.edu.
Constitution Day was created by an amendment introduced by Senator Robert C. Byrd and passed in the United States Congress in 2004 to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution by delegates assembled in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. The Byrd Center observes Constitution Day annually through the Moses Memorial Lecture, named for the late Tom E. Moses, a longtime civil libertarian, activist, and founder of the Eastern Panhandle Branch of the ACLU-WV.
A private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University, The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education advances representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens. The center is located at 213 North King Street, Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
June 3, 2022
The Byrd Center Board Recognizes Lisa Welch for Leadership
At its May 6, 2022 meeting the Board of Directors of the Robert C. Byrd Center honored outgoing board member Lisa Welch with a resolution of appreciation. The staff of the Byrd Center joins the Board in thanking Lisa for her many contributions to the Center.
Lisa Welch (center) flanked by Dr. Ray Smock, Interim Director, and Board Member Karen Rice in the garden at the Bavarian Inn, following a luncheon in Welch’s honor on May 23.
A RESOLUTION passed unanimously this 6th day of May, 2022,
by the Board of Directors in Session
by the Board of Directors in Session
|
Lisa M. Welch joined the Board of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education at Shepherd University in April 2017 and has served with great distinction and vision for five years. Long before her service on the Board she was a catalyst for promoting the work and mission of the Center as an active volunteer and as the founding organizer of the Friends of the Byrd Center, a group that is vital to the success of the Center through volunteerism and monetary support.
As a member of the Board, she has been a leader in improvements in the Center’s accounting practices and reporting. She has been instrumental in recruiting new Board members, and, most significantly, in 2021-22, she led the Board in a dynamic year-long Strategic Planning process that will be vitally important in charting the future of the Center. Lisa had been a great friend, colleague, and dedicated leader, who always had the highest interest in the Center’s success in all her work. While this resolution is written in the past tense, the Board does not believe that Lisa’s continued interest in the work of the Center is past. We extend an open invitation that should she decide to return to the Board she would be heartily welcomed back. The Board thanks Lisa for her distinguished service and many contributions with great respect and affection. |
May 12, 2022
Summer Concert and Barbecue Fundraiser to Benefit Civics Education
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV - The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education will hold an outdoor concert and dinner (with barbeque and vegetarian meal options) on June 11th that will feature performances by West Virginia’s own Johnny Staats, master of the mandolin, and Robert Shafer, award-winning guitarist, along with Poet Laureate of West Virginia, Marc Harshman in an effort to raise funds for civics education initiatives.
Tickets are now available for the upcoming fundraiser Mountain Music and More. This outdoor event, to be held at historic Patterson’s Mill on June 11th at 6PM, will feature music, poetry reading by the state Poet Laureate, and dinner. Tickets are $150 per person, which includes the meal, performances, and a tax-deductible donation to The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education.
Johnny Staats first burst on the national scene in 2000 with his critically acclaimed release, "Wires & Wood.” Staats is a bluegrass mandolin, guitar and violin player, born and raised in West Virginia and has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and Mountain Stage. He won Charleston's Vandalia Gathering-Mandolin championships in 1996, 1997, and 1999. His Johnny Staats Bluegrass Festival is a part of the Parkersburg, WV homecoming every year.
Robert Shafer has played guitar professionally since high school and is a two-time winner of the National Flatpicking Championship, held annually at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Robert has also held state guitar championships in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Alabama. Robert has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and Mountain Stage. His 1997 release, "Hillbilly Fever" on the Upstart/Rounder label received rave reviews from Guitar Player magazine, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Vintage Guitar magazine and many other publications.
Marc Harshman was appointed West Virginia's Poet Laureate on May 18, 2012 by the former Governor Earl Ray Tomblin. Harshman is well known for his numerous children’s books and work in public poetry.
The Robert C. Byrd Center would like to thank the generous sponsors of this event and in particular Ray and Mary Alvarez, Andy Ridenour, and Mary Watters.
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education works to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens. The center is actively engaged in civics education through public programs, including lectures, film screenings, and public forums, and provides teacher training and learning resource development to West Virginia educators. The facility also plays an important role on the campus of Shepherd University by supporting campus and community programs and organizations.
Interviews with the performers may be available upon request.
Tickets are now available for the upcoming fundraiser Mountain Music and More. This outdoor event, to be held at historic Patterson’s Mill on June 11th at 6PM, will feature music, poetry reading by the state Poet Laureate, and dinner. Tickets are $150 per person, which includes the meal, performances, and a tax-deductible donation to The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education.
Johnny Staats first burst on the national scene in 2000 with his critically acclaimed release, "Wires & Wood.” Staats is a bluegrass mandolin, guitar and violin player, born and raised in West Virginia and has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and Mountain Stage. He won Charleston's Vandalia Gathering-Mandolin championships in 1996, 1997, and 1999. His Johnny Staats Bluegrass Festival is a part of the Parkersburg, WV homecoming every year.
Robert Shafer has played guitar professionally since high school and is a two-time winner of the National Flatpicking Championship, held annually at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Robert has also held state guitar championships in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Alabama. Robert has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and Mountain Stage. His 1997 release, "Hillbilly Fever" on the Upstart/Rounder label received rave reviews from Guitar Player magazine, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Vintage Guitar magazine and many other publications.
Marc Harshman was appointed West Virginia's Poet Laureate on May 18, 2012 by the former Governor Earl Ray Tomblin. Harshman is well known for his numerous children’s books and work in public poetry.
The Robert C. Byrd Center would like to thank the generous sponsors of this event and in particular Ray and Mary Alvarez, Andy Ridenour, and Mary Watters.
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education works to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens. The center is actively engaged in civics education through public programs, including lectures, film screenings, and public forums, and provides teacher training and learning resource development to West Virginia educators. The facility also plays an important role on the campus of Shepherd University by supporting campus and community programs and organizations.
Interviews with the performers may be available upon request.
July 6, 2021
West Virginia is leading the nation in the celebration of the passage of the 26th Amendment
The Byrd Center is sharing this press release on behalf of the Secretary of State of West Virginia as an item concerning West Virginia's congressional history.
Charleston, W. Va. – On July 5th, the nation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution. That amendment would have never been possible without the continued leadership of the late U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph of West Virginia.
In 1971, the 26th Amendment was ratified by 38 states in just 100 days - making it the quickest ratification of any of the Constitution's 27 Amendments. But it took nearly three decades for the idea of reducing the legal voting age to make its way through the halls of the United States Congress.
On November 11, 1942, then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order reducing the mandatory draft age from 21 to 18 in order to provide troop support for America and our allies in World War II. Just days later, it was a young congressman from West Virginia who stood on the floor of the House of Representatives and said, "Mr. President, if you're old enough to serve and die for your country, then you're certainly old enough to vote".
Then-Congressman Jennings Randolph was born and raised in Harrison County. He was just 31 years old when he was first elected to Congress. He was proud to have taken his oath of office on the same day as President Roosevelt but he was disappointed in the President's refusal to support reducing the voting age to match the new draft age of 18.
In fact, reducing the voting age from 21 to 18 wasn't popular with either of the major political parties of the time. Democrats and Republicans in Congress refused to support Randolph's desire to seek an amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing every citizen of at least 18 years of age the right to vote. While 18, 19 and 20-year-olds were being drafted to fight for the United States in wars and conflicts all over the world, they did so without the right to vote for or against the leaders who decided on our involvement.
In 1958, Congressman Randolph was elected to represent West Virginia in the United States Senate. In the much smaller but more powerful U.S. Senate, Senator Randolph continued his fight for the passage of the 26th Amendment.
The fight wasn't easy and it certainly wasn't quick. In fact, it wasn't until the height of the Vietnam War with national television news outlets on a nightly basis showing young soldiers being carried from the battlefield that public sentiment for reducing the voting age turned towards support for Randolph's initiative.
It took Randolph 29 years to get the idea of reducing the voting age to 18 passed by Congress and then to the states for ratification. What took Randolph nearly three decades to get through Congress took only 100 days to get ratified by the required 38 states. The ratification took place on July 1, 1971. The West Virginia legislature ratified the 26th Amendment on April 29, 1971.
See the calendar of the 26th Amendment here.
Learn more about the history of the 26th Amendment here.
On July 5, 1971, then-President Richard Nixon made it official and signed the 26th Amendment into law. With the stroke of a pen, more than 11 million new voters (ages 18, 19 and 20) were made eligible to vote.
Through Senator Randolph's leadership, West Virginia played a significant role in reducing the voting age to 18 in the United States. Because of that leadership, the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office has helped to lead the nation in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 26th Amendment.
The centerpiece to the West Virginia effort is the Jennings Randolph Award for civic engagement in high schools. The award is given to any public or private high school with a student-led effort that successfully registers at least 85% of their eligible students to vote. Four years ago, Secretary of State Mac Warner reconnected the award and its objective with more than 220 West Virginia high schools.
In just 54 months, Warner's office worked with West Virginia's county clerks to register more than 67,000 eligible high school students to vote.
"One of our accomplishments that I'm most proud of is encouraging an incredible number of our young people to register to vote while still in high school," Secretary Warner said. "Eligible citizens who are registered to vote can be engaged to participate in our election process. If we can register citizens early, I believe that we can keep them engaged their entire lives."
In addition to registering voters, Warner and his team are promoting the personal leadership of Jennings Randolph. Character actor Lee Dean of Huntington is also a Field Representative for the Secretary of State's Office. Dean has been traveling the state with Warner portraying Senator Randolph. The two men also use online streaming, Facebook, Zoom and Teams to meet and talk with groups and organizations throughout the state.
Using Randolph's own words, Dean is bringing the history of the 26th Amendment alive. Clad in young Randolph's trademark white suit, Dean's portrayal of the congressman, then-senator, who never gave up on young people is fun and fact-filled for every audience.
Warner is a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). His office has shared West Virginia's history, award programs, and 50th-anniversary strategy with election officials throughout the country.
"So on July 5th of this year, I hope we can all pause for just a minute to think about the men and women who gave their lives for our country without the right to vote," Warner said. "There is no better way to pay tribute to their sacrifice than to register to vote or to make sure that your current registration is up to date and accurate".
Under Warner's leadership, it is now easier than ever in West Virginia to register to vote online anytime at www.GoVoteWV.com.
To learn more about the West Virginia celebration of the 26th Amendment click here.
Charleston, W. Va. – On July 5th, the nation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution. That amendment would have never been possible without the continued leadership of the late U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph of West Virginia.
In 1971, the 26th Amendment was ratified by 38 states in just 100 days - making it the quickest ratification of any of the Constitution's 27 Amendments. But it took nearly three decades for the idea of reducing the legal voting age to make its way through the halls of the United States Congress.
On November 11, 1942, then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order reducing the mandatory draft age from 21 to 18 in order to provide troop support for America and our allies in World War II. Just days later, it was a young congressman from West Virginia who stood on the floor of the House of Representatives and said, "Mr. President, if you're old enough to serve and die for your country, then you're certainly old enough to vote".
Then-Congressman Jennings Randolph was born and raised in Harrison County. He was just 31 years old when he was first elected to Congress. He was proud to have taken his oath of office on the same day as President Roosevelt but he was disappointed in the President's refusal to support reducing the voting age to match the new draft age of 18.
In fact, reducing the voting age from 21 to 18 wasn't popular with either of the major political parties of the time. Democrats and Republicans in Congress refused to support Randolph's desire to seek an amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing every citizen of at least 18 years of age the right to vote. While 18, 19 and 20-year-olds were being drafted to fight for the United States in wars and conflicts all over the world, they did so without the right to vote for or against the leaders who decided on our involvement.
In 1958, Congressman Randolph was elected to represent West Virginia in the United States Senate. In the much smaller but more powerful U.S. Senate, Senator Randolph continued his fight for the passage of the 26th Amendment.
The fight wasn't easy and it certainly wasn't quick. In fact, it wasn't until the height of the Vietnam War with national television news outlets on a nightly basis showing young soldiers being carried from the battlefield that public sentiment for reducing the voting age turned towards support for Randolph's initiative.
It took Randolph 29 years to get the idea of reducing the voting age to 18 passed by Congress and then to the states for ratification. What took Randolph nearly three decades to get through Congress took only 100 days to get ratified by the required 38 states. The ratification took place on July 1, 1971. The West Virginia legislature ratified the 26th Amendment on April 29, 1971.
See the calendar of the 26th Amendment here.
Learn more about the history of the 26th Amendment here.
On July 5, 1971, then-President Richard Nixon made it official and signed the 26th Amendment into law. With the stroke of a pen, more than 11 million new voters (ages 18, 19 and 20) were made eligible to vote.
Through Senator Randolph's leadership, West Virginia played a significant role in reducing the voting age to 18 in the United States. Because of that leadership, the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office has helped to lead the nation in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 26th Amendment.
The centerpiece to the West Virginia effort is the Jennings Randolph Award for civic engagement in high schools. The award is given to any public or private high school with a student-led effort that successfully registers at least 85% of their eligible students to vote. Four years ago, Secretary of State Mac Warner reconnected the award and its objective with more than 220 West Virginia high schools.
In just 54 months, Warner's office worked with West Virginia's county clerks to register more than 67,000 eligible high school students to vote.
"One of our accomplishments that I'm most proud of is encouraging an incredible number of our young people to register to vote while still in high school," Secretary Warner said. "Eligible citizens who are registered to vote can be engaged to participate in our election process. If we can register citizens early, I believe that we can keep them engaged their entire lives."
In addition to registering voters, Warner and his team are promoting the personal leadership of Jennings Randolph. Character actor Lee Dean of Huntington is also a Field Representative for the Secretary of State's Office. Dean has been traveling the state with Warner portraying Senator Randolph. The two men also use online streaming, Facebook, Zoom and Teams to meet and talk with groups and organizations throughout the state.
Using Randolph's own words, Dean is bringing the history of the 26th Amendment alive. Clad in young Randolph's trademark white suit, Dean's portrayal of the congressman, then-senator, who never gave up on young people is fun and fact-filled for every audience.
Warner is a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). His office has shared West Virginia's history, award programs, and 50th-anniversary strategy with election officials throughout the country.
"So on July 5th of this year, I hope we can all pause for just a minute to think about the men and women who gave their lives for our country without the right to vote," Warner said. "There is no better way to pay tribute to their sacrifice than to register to vote or to make sure that your current registration is up to date and accurate".
Under Warner's leadership, it is now easier than ever in West Virginia to register to vote online anytime at www.GoVoteWV.com.
To learn more about the West Virginia celebration of the 26th Amendment click here.
June 16, 2021
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education Receives Major Grant from the Benedum Foundation for Expanded Civics Education.
The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation has awarded the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education a grant of $136,250.00 for a new initiative that will expand civics education in West Virginia. “People Powered: Civic Action, Community Engagement, and American Representative Democracy” will launch in the fall of 2021 and will bring together the Byrd Center’s leadership in teacher training with leading learning resource creators from across the United States to deliver innovative educational materials to West Virginia teachers and students.
“People Powered” is a supplemental year-long curriculum designed to support the 10th-12th grade civics and social studies standards which are taught in schools throughout West Virginia. Grant funding will enable the Byrd Center to produce lesson plans which utilize the primary sources in its archival collections in engaging, inquiry-based learning tools to connect the broader concepts of American government and civic life with a West Virginia and Appalachian regional focus. The grant will also allow the Byrd Center to offer specialized training for teachers to incorporate these resources in their classrooms. Paired with tested learning tools from such highly regarded institutions as the National Archives and Records Administration and iCivics, “People Powered” will provided a robust resource for West Virginia educators.
The Byrd Center is uniquely positioned to lead such an initiative. For six years, the center has worked closely with teachers to discover and implement primary sources in classroom instruction, demonstrating the immense value these resources can lend to civics education. The center’s highly regarded Teacher Institute has served over 300 West Virginia teachers since its launch in 2013. From this foundation, “People Powered” will be the Byrd Center’s next step in engaging with West Virginia’s excellent educators as we work together to prepare our nation’s next generation of public leaders and engaged citizens.
Educators who are interested in using the “People Powered” program with their students during the coming academic year are invited to contact the Byrd Center to join our list of participating pilot teachers. For more information, please visit www.byrdcenter.org/people-powered.
The Benedum Foundation has served West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania since it was established in 1944 by Michael and Sarah Benedum. The foundation provides grants to support specific initiatives in the areas of education, economic development, health and human services, and community development.
The Byrd Center is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University. Its mission is to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens. The center houses an archive containing the papers of five former members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives from the state of West Virginia, including the papers of Senator Robert C. Byrd.
“People Powered” is a supplemental year-long curriculum designed to support the 10th-12th grade civics and social studies standards which are taught in schools throughout West Virginia. Grant funding will enable the Byrd Center to produce lesson plans which utilize the primary sources in its archival collections in engaging, inquiry-based learning tools to connect the broader concepts of American government and civic life with a West Virginia and Appalachian regional focus. The grant will also allow the Byrd Center to offer specialized training for teachers to incorporate these resources in their classrooms. Paired with tested learning tools from such highly regarded institutions as the National Archives and Records Administration and iCivics, “People Powered” will provided a robust resource for West Virginia educators.
The Byrd Center is uniquely positioned to lead such an initiative. For six years, the center has worked closely with teachers to discover and implement primary sources in classroom instruction, demonstrating the immense value these resources can lend to civics education. The center’s highly regarded Teacher Institute has served over 300 West Virginia teachers since its launch in 2013. From this foundation, “People Powered” will be the Byrd Center’s next step in engaging with West Virginia’s excellent educators as we work together to prepare our nation’s next generation of public leaders and engaged citizens.
Educators who are interested in using the “People Powered” program with their students during the coming academic year are invited to contact the Byrd Center to join our list of participating pilot teachers. For more information, please visit www.byrdcenter.org/people-powered.
The Benedum Foundation has served West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania since it was established in 1944 by Michael and Sarah Benedum. The foundation provides grants to support specific initiatives in the areas of education, economic development, health and human services, and community development.
The Byrd Center is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University. Its mission is to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens. The center houses an archive containing the papers of five former members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives from the state of West Virginia, including the papers of Senator Robert C. Byrd.
April 21, 2021
The Robert C. Byrd Center will partner with West Virginia University Libraries on a National Endowment for the Humanities Award.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded the West Virginia University Libraries nearly $60,000.00 to the “The American Congress Digital Archives Portal Project.” The Byrd Center will be a collaborating institution for this project along with the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas. The goal is to create the first-ever online portal bringing together congressional archives from repositories throughout the United States.
Unlike presidential papers, which are centralized in one location with dedicated staff and funding, congressional collections are geographically dispersed among institutions large and small with varying degrees of resources. For researchers, collections may be difficult to use, both because of a lack of travel funding and the breadth and varying levels of description in congressional archives. The pandemic has made these problems more acute due to archives closures and travel restrictions.
The American Congress Digital Archives Portal project will address these challenges and provide easier access to archives for scholars, educators and the public. The project will give open access to congressional archives by bringing together sources from multiple institutions into a single online platform, illuminating the value of each collection and the relationships among them. The portal will include correspondence, memoranda, audiovisual materials, and more.
The Byrd Center holds the papers of five former members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives from West Virginia, spanning over sixty years, including the papers of the United States’ longest-serving Senator, Robert C. Byrd.
This award was made through NEH’s Humanities Collections and Reference Resources program which supports projects that provide an essential underpinning for scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities. The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University. Its mission is to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
Unlike presidential papers, which are centralized in one location with dedicated staff and funding, congressional collections are geographically dispersed among institutions large and small with varying degrees of resources. For researchers, collections may be difficult to use, both because of a lack of travel funding and the breadth and varying levels of description in congressional archives. The pandemic has made these problems more acute due to archives closures and travel restrictions.
The American Congress Digital Archives Portal project will address these challenges and provide easier access to archives for scholars, educators and the public. The project will give open access to congressional archives by bringing together sources from multiple institutions into a single online platform, illuminating the value of each collection and the relationships among them. The portal will include correspondence, memoranda, audiovisual materials, and more.
The Byrd Center holds the papers of five former members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives from West Virginia, spanning over sixty years, including the papers of the United States’ longest-serving Senator, Robert C. Byrd.
This award was made through NEH’s Humanities Collections and Reference Resources program which supports projects that provide an essential underpinning for scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities. The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University. Its mission is to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
April 13, 2021
The Byrd Center will host virtual lecture on Native American Indian Policy with Phil Baker-Shenk
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education at Shepherd University will host a virtual lecture entitled “Native American Indian Policy since Little Bighorn,” featuring Phil Baker-Shenk. The program will take place live on Zoom on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 7:00 pm EST. The event is free to the public, but registration is required in order to receive the link for joining the Zoom session.
Phil Baker-Shenk is a lawyer who represents tribal governments throughout the United States. Phil has decades of experience forging practical, common-sense solutions to the diverse challenges confronting his Indian law clients. He regularly appears before courts, federal agencies and tribal governing bodies. He has worked as general counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, drafting legislation and committee reports dealing with Indian gaming, housing, economic development, tribal status, education, child welfare, and self-governance, among many other issues.
In this lecture, Baker-Shenk will recount some stories of Native valor and fortitude that may not have made it into our American history books. He will describe the federal policies that legalized larceny of Indian land, gold, fish, water, oil and kids, and then federal policymakers’ long and arduous slog through recent decades to shape federal policies that delegitimize and reverse those thefts. Baker-Shenk will explore with you some of the myths that have fueled bad federal Indian policy over the years and how the rule of law, when it truly seeks policies pledged to liberty and justice for all, can indeed bend into the arc of a more moral universe.
You must RSVP in order to receive the Zoom link to join the events live, which you can do by visiting www.byrdcenter.org/native-american-indian-policy-since-little-bighorn. You may also RSVP by calling the Byrd Center’s office at (304) 876-5648.
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University. Its mission is to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
Phil Baker-Shenk is a lawyer who represents tribal governments throughout the United States. Phil has decades of experience forging practical, common-sense solutions to the diverse challenges confronting his Indian law clients. He regularly appears before courts, federal agencies and tribal governing bodies. He has worked as general counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, drafting legislation and committee reports dealing with Indian gaming, housing, economic development, tribal status, education, child welfare, and self-governance, among many other issues.
In this lecture, Baker-Shenk will recount some stories of Native valor and fortitude that may not have made it into our American history books. He will describe the federal policies that legalized larceny of Indian land, gold, fish, water, oil and kids, and then federal policymakers’ long and arduous slog through recent decades to shape federal policies that delegitimize and reverse those thefts. Baker-Shenk will explore with you some of the myths that have fueled bad federal Indian policy over the years and how the rule of law, when it truly seeks policies pledged to liberty and justice for all, can indeed bend into the arc of a more moral universe.
You must RSVP in order to receive the Zoom link to join the events live, which you can do by visiting www.byrdcenter.org/native-american-indian-policy-since-little-bighorn. You may also RSVP by calling the Byrd Center’s office at (304) 876-5648.
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University. Its mission is to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
March 5, 2021
New Roadmap for Teaching American History and Civics
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is proud to endorse the goals of a bold new roadmap to the teaching of American History and Civics as described by the Educating for American Democracy Initiative.
The Byrd Centers outreach programs, our teacher training institute, and our scholarship on the history of Congress, already fit nicely within this new call for a national renewal of history and civics education.
The Educating for American Democracy Initiative is the result of more than two years of work by educators, historians, political scientists, and education administrators from K-12 and including higher education at colleges and universities across the nation. The work of this initiative was funded by major grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
We urge all citizens who are interested in restoring American History and Civics to their rightful place in all schools, to read the 36-page report of this exciting new plan. Please help support our programs that take us all down the road to a better understanding of American government and American Democracy.
To read the executive summary and the full report, click on the Educating for American Democracy image, above.
The Byrd Centers outreach programs, our teacher training institute, and our scholarship on the history of Congress, already fit nicely within this new call for a national renewal of history and civics education.
The Educating for American Democracy Initiative is the result of more than two years of work by educators, historians, political scientists, and education administrators from K-12 and including higher education at colleges and universities across the nation. The work of this initiative was funded by major grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
We urge all citizens who are interested in restoring American History and Civics to their rightful place in all schools, to read the 36-page report of this exciting new plan. Please help support our programs that take us all down the road to a better understanding of American government and American Democracy.
To read the executive summary and the full report, click on the Educating for American Democracy image, above.
February 17, 2021
Byrd Center Partners with League of Women Voters to Host Two-Event Series on Electoral College and Ranked Choice Voting
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is partnering with the League of
Women Voters of Jefferson County to host two virtual events in a series entitled “How Representative is our Democracy?” The events will take place live on Zoom on Thursday, February 25, 2021 and Wednesday, March 10, 2021, each at 7:00 pm.
How representative is our democracy? Coming out of the historic 2020 election, many people are examining the United States' electoral system more closely than ever, leading us to consider whether our present systems for voting and electing public servants are truly representative of the will of the people.
In the first event on Thursday, February 25, 2021, Neal Barkus, President of Conservation West Virginia, Inc., and author of the blog Panhandle Progressive, and Dr. Ray Smock, Byrd Center Interim Director and former Historian of the United States House of Representatives, will discuss the history of the Electoral College, the existing framework for our national elections spelled out in the Constitution. Barkus and Smock, each having studied and written about the Electoral College, will reflect on the shortcomings of this system in representing the will of American voters historically and contemporarily, setting the stage for the discussion of election reform which will be featured in our second event in the series.
The second event on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 will feature Dr. Mark Brewer, Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine who will discuss ranked choice voting, an election reform method that is being implemented in states across the nation. Brewer has written extensively about political behavior and institutions, examining the impact of partisanship on the electoral process. His scholarship and experiences in Maine where ranked choice voting was implemented for the first time during last November’s election will offer attendees a first-hand perspective of how this election reform can impact the voting process and its outcomes.
Both events will be conducted via Zoom and offer attendees the opportunity to ask questions of our speakers. You must RSVP in order to receive the Zoom link to join the events live, which you can do by visiting byrdcenter.org/how-representative-is-our-democracy. Visit this link to access resources from our speakers and introductory information to ranked choice voting. You may also RSVP by calling the Byrd Center’s office at (304) 876-5648.
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University. Its mission is to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
Women Voters of Jefferson County to host two virtual events in a series entitled “How Representative is our Democracy?” The events will take place live on Zoom on Thursday, February 25, 2021 and Wednesday, March 10, 2021, each at 7:00 pm.
How representative is our democracy? Coming out of the historic 2020 election, many people are examining the United States' electoral system more closely than ever, leading us to consider whether our present systems for voting and electing public servants are truly representative of the will of the people.
In the first event on Thursday, February 25, 2021, Neal Barkus, President of Conservation West Virginia, Inc., and author of the blog Panhandle Progressive, and Dr. Ray Smock, Byrd Center Interim Director and former Historian of the United States House of Representatives, will discuss the history of the Electoral College, the existing framework for our national elections spelled out in the Constitution. Barkus and Smock, each having studied and written about the Electoral College, will reflect on the shortcomings of this system in representing the will of American voters historically and contemporarily, setting the stage for the discussion of election reform which will be featured in our second event in the series.
The second event on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 will feature Dr. Mark Brewer, Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine who will discuss ranked choice voting, an election reform method that is being implemented in states across the nation. Brewer has written extensively about political behavior and institutions, examining the impact of partisanship on the electoral process. His scholarship and experiences in Maine where ranked choice voting was implemented for the first time during last November’s election will offer attendees a first-hand perspective of how this election reform can impact the voting process and its outcomes.
Both events will be conducted via Zoom and offer attendees the opportunity to ask questions of our speakers. You must RSVP in order to receive the Zoom link to join the events live, which you can do by visiting byrdcenter.org/how-representative-is-our-democracy. Visit this link to access resources from our speakers and introductory information to ranked choice voting. You may also RSVP by calling the Byrd Center’s office at (304) 876-5648.
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University. Its mission is to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
February 2, 2021
Community Invited to Join Friends of the Byrd Center
The Friends of the Byrd Center, a local group of citizens, announced this week that it has raised $100,000 toward its $200,000 goal to support the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, located at Shepherd University. This Friends campaign was boosted to its halfway mark by the end of 2020 with a gift of $60,000 by an anonymous donor to match every dollar raised. This generous matching offer to double the value of each donation will continue into 2021 as the campaign ramps up to reach its goal of $200,000.
Lisa Welch, a member of the Byrd Center’s board of directors, who encouraged the Friends of the Byrd Center to lead this fundraising effort, said, “It’s incredibly gratifying to see the Shepherdstown community’s generous ongoing support of this valuable community asset.” The chair of the steering committee Marianne Alexander, another board member, said, “The success of our fundraising campaign in a few short months clearly shows that the Byrd Center is a vital part of the fabric of our community and the university.”
For many area residents, the Byrd Center is Shepherdstown’s center for civic engagement where free public programs feature lectures, book talks and film screenings on current policy issues that relate to the history of Congress and the U.S. Constitution. The Byrd Center Auditorium is also a meeting place for a multitude of community groups. Many area residents attend Shepherd University’s Lifelong Learning classes in the Byrd Center’s auditorium and classrooms.
Shepherd students serve as interns at the Byrd Center’s political archives to gain the knowledge and skills that lead directly to careers in public history and archival work. The Center’s staff uses the archives for teaching materials that enliven and enrich civic education for WV high school students as well as for their teachers through the Center’s grant-supported teacher institutes.
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional Education and History is a nonprofit organization on the campus of Shepherd University. Originally sustained by Congressional appropriations, the Center’s future depends on private donations and competitive grants to continue its programs. Current funding will expire by the end of 2022. Learning of this impending budget shortfall last summer, the Friends of the Byrd Center began planning a fundraising campaign to raise $200,000. This sum will give the Center an additional year to establish a more diverse funding base that will provide continuing financial support for its staff and maintain its current program offerings.
Now, we need members of the community to close the gap. Donations to the Byrd Center can be made online at www.byrdcenter.org , or by check payable to “The Byrd Center” and mailed to: The Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, PO Box 5000, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. Contributions are tax deductible.
Lisa Welch, a member of the Byrd Center’s board of directors, who encouraged the Friends of the Byrd Center to lead this fundraising effort, said, “It’s incredibly gratifying to see the Shepherdstown community’s generous ongoing support of this valuable community asset.” The chair of the steering committee Marianne Alexander, another board member, said, “The success of our fundraising campaign in a few short months clearly shows that the Byrd Center is a vital part of the fabric of our community and the university.”
For many area residents, the Byrd Center is Shepherdstown’s center for civic engagement where free public programs feature lectures, book talks and film screenings on current policy issues that relate to the history of Congress and the U.S. Constitution. The Byrd Center Auditorium is also a meeting place for a multitude of community groups. Many area residents attend Shepherd University’s Lifelong Learning classes in the Byrd Center’s auditorium and classrooms.
Shepherd students serve as interns at the Byrd Center’s political archives to gain the knowledge and skills that lead directly to careers in public history and archival work. The Center’s staff uses the archives for teaching materials that enliven and enrich civic education for WV high school students as well as for their teachers through the Center’s grant-supported teacher institutes.
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional Education and History is a nonprofit organization on the campus of Shepherd University. Originally sustained by Congressional appropriations, the Center’s future depends on private donations and competitive grants to continue its programs. Current funding will expire by the end of 2022. Learning of this impending budget shortfall last summer, the Friends of the Byrd Center began planning a fundraising campaign to raise $200,000. This sum will give the Center an additional year to establish a more diverse funding base that will provide continuing financial support for its staff and maintain its current program offerings.
Now, we need members of the community to close the gap. Donations to the Byrd Center can be made online at www.byrdcenter.org , or by check payable to “The Byrd Center” and mailed to: The Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, PO Box 5000, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. Contributions are tax deductible.
January 28, 2021
Byrd Center Director Dr. Jay Wyatt to take position at National Archives and Records Administration. Dr. Ray Smock, Byrd Center Director Emeritus, to return as Interim Director
Dr. Ray Smock (left) presents a resolution of the Congressional Education Foundation to Dr. Jay Wyatt (right) in recognition of his leadership of the Byrd Center.
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education announced today that Dr. Jay Wyatt will resign as Director effective February 1, 2021. Wyatt will join the staff of the National Archives and Records Administration's Center for Legislative Archives in Washington, D.C.
Wyatt joined the Byrd Center staff as Director of Programs and Research in 2013 and led the development of numerous popular public program series, exhibits, and educational initiatives. In 2018, he was named Director following the retirement of the Byrd Center’s Inaugural Director, Dr. Ray Smock.
Joe Stewart the Chairman of the Byrd Center’s governing board said “while we are sorry to lose the outstanding service of Jay Wyatt at the Byrd Center, the Board is thrilled with the national recognition of his unique talents. We extend our heartiest congratulations to Jay.”
The Byrd Center’s board of directors unanimously passed a resolution of distinguished service at its meeting on January 27, citing Dr. Wyatt’s many contributions to civic education and public outreach through the Center’s programs and research. The board earlier promoted Mr. Jody Brumage, the Center’s Archivist and Office Manager to the position of Director of Education and Outreach in recognition of his leadership role in the Center’s educational programs.
Dr. Ray Smock, the Byrd Center’s Director Emeritus, will return as Interim Director. Smock served as the Center’s director from 2002 until his retirement in 2018. Smock was the Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983-95. Chairman Stewart extended special appreciation to Smock for “generously agreeing to resume the directorship of the Byrd Center.”
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University. Its mission is to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
Wyatt joined the Byrd Center staff as Director of Programs and Research in 2013 and led the development of numerous popular public program series, exhibits, and educational initiatives. In 2018, he was named Director following the retirement of the Byrd Center’s Inaugural Director, Dr. Ray Smock.
Joe Stewart the Chairman of the Byrd Center’s governing board said “while we are sorry to lose the outstanding service of Jay Wyatt at the Byrd Center, the Board is thrilled with the national recognition of his unique talents. We extend our heartiest congratulations to Jay.”
The Byrd Center’s board of directors unanimously passed a resolution of distinguished service at its meeting on January 27, citing Dr. Wyatt’s many contributions to civic education and public outreach through the Center’s programs and research. The board earlier promoted Mr. Jody Brumage, the Center’s Archivist and Office Manager to the position of Director of Education and Outreach in recognition of his leadership role in the Center’s educational programs.
Dr. Ray Smock, the Byrd Center’s Director Emeritus, will return as Interim Director. Smock served as the Center’s director from 2002 until his retirement in 2018. Smock was the Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983-95. Chairman Stewart extended special appreciation to Smock for “generously agreeing to resume the directorship of the Byrd Center.”
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University. Its mission is to advance representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
November 20, 2020
Video Series Focused on the Fight for Racial Equality in America is Now Available
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education has produced a series of 6 video lectures that explore the immense struggle to overcome systemic racism and achieve racial equality for Black Americans from the efforts to end of the institution of slavery in the nineteenth century to the enduring fight for equality that exists today. This highly acclaimed educational series of lectures is entitled “Of, By, and For the People: Congress and the Fight for Racial Equality in America,” and it is available now at no charge to the public on the Robert C. Byrd Center website: byrdcenter.org/of-by-and-for-all-people.
In keeping with the goals of the Robert C. Byrd Center, the lecture series focuses on Congress’ position at the center of historic debates on racism and equality in America, highlighting the instruments and institutions of representative democracy that have been crucial in our long national fight to become a more perfect union. The 6 video lectures are 40 – 90 minutes in length. They are “Slavery, Civil Rights and the Gag Rule Debates in Congress,” “To March Ahead of His Followers: Charles Sumner and the Civil Rights Act of 1875,” “No Innocent Bystanders: The Power and Responsibility of Local Action,” The Bill of the Century: The Epic Battle for the Civil Rights Act,” “From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime,” and “The Shame of America: the New Deal Senate and the Federal Anti-Lynching Bill.”
Included on the website is a selection of educational resources, archival documents and lesson plans for exploring the struggle for African American Civil Rights from the Byrd Center Archives as well as the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress. The lesson plans are designed for secondary level students and are applicable in civics, history, social studies, or government courses of instruction.
A private, non-partisan and non-profit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, the Robert C. Byrd Center for History and Education advances representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
In keeping with the goals of the Robert C. Byrd Center, the lecture series focuses on Congress’ position at the center of historic debates on racism and equality in America, highlighting the instruments and institutions of representative democracy that have been crucial in our long national fight to become a more perfect union. The 6 video lectures are 40 – 90 minutes in length. They are “Slavery, Civil Rights and the Gag Rule Debates in Congress,” “To March Ahead of His Followers: Charles Sumner and the Civil Rights Act of 1875,” “No Innocent Bystanders: The Power and Responsibility of Local Action,” The Bill of the Century: The Epic Battle for the Civil Rights Act,” “From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime,” and “The Shame of America: the New Deal Senate and the Federal Anti-Lynching Bill.”
Included on the website is a selection of educational resources, archival documents and lesson plans for exploring the struggle for African American Civil Rights from the Byrd Center Archives as well as the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress. The lesson plans are designed for secondary level students and are applicable in civics, history, social studies, or government courses of instruction.
A private, non-partisan and non-profit educational organization located on the campus of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, the Robert C. Byrd Center for History and Education advances representative democracy by promoting a better understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through programs and research that engage citizens.
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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.
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© 2021 Robert C. Byrd Center for
Congressional History and Education |