West Virginia Resources
Here are some resources that are available for
genealogical research in West Virginia:
For vital records, write to:
- Vital Registration Office
Division of Health
State Capitol Complex Building 3, Room 516
Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: (304) 558-2931
- They have birth and death records since January 1917, marriage records since 1921, and divorce indexes since 1968. Call for costs. For earlier birth and death records, contact the Clerk of the County Court in the County where the event took place. For marriage records, also check with the County Clerk in the County where the license was issued. For divorce records, also check with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Chancery Side, in the County where the divorce was granted.
For information on State Archives & Libraries, write to:
- Division of Archives and History
West Virginia Library Commission
Department of Culture and History
Science and Culture Center, Capitol Complex
1900 Kanawha Blvd. E.
Charleston, WV 25305-0300
Phone: (304)-558-0220
- Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00, Saturday 1:00-5:00, closed Sunday and all state holidays.
- They have federal census records from 1810-1910, vital statistics from 1917-1955, immigration records, wills, deeds, printed family histories, a genealogy exchange file, a photo collection, map collection, manuscript collection, DAR lineage books, cemetery readings, land records, will books, tax records, and newspapers. Records are organized by county.
For information on state Genealogical Societies, write to:
- West Virginia Genealogy Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Elkview, WV 25071
- Open during study session of meetings, second Thursday at Herbert Hoover High School, Clendenin, West Virginia.
- Publication: LOG (Ledger of Genealogy).
- West Virginia Historical Society
Cultural Center
1900 Kanawha Blvd. E.
Charleston, WV 25305-0300
Phone: (304) 558-0220
