The Jefferson County Museum invites the public to attend a free lecture by Shepherd University Professor Emeritus of History, Dr. John Stealey at 2pm on May 3, 2015. In his presentation titled West Virginia Free or Slave State?, Dr. Stealey will take his audience back to a pivotal moment in West Virginia’s history, exploring the Civil War tensions that lead to West Virginia’s 1863 statehood and the broader effects on the region’s communities. Light refreshments will be served before the lecture. Please note that seating will be first come-first served.

For 42 years, Dr. Stealey taught history at Shepherd University, focusing on West Virginia, Appalachian, and lower Shenandoah Valley history. He retired in 2011 and was named Professor Emeritus of History. A seventh generation West Virginian from Clarksburg, Stealey earned his Ph.D in history at West Virginia University in 1970. He served 21 years as president of the Jefferson County Historical Society and 24 years as editor of the organization’s annual magazine. He also served as president of Old Charles Town Library, Inc., and a member of its board of directors for many years. Since 1984, he has chaired the visiting committee of the West Virginia University Libraries. He has published 37 articles, encyclopedia entries, and book chapters; reviewed 41 books for scholarly journals, and published three books with academic presses.

This lecture is presented as part of the Jefferson County Museum’s 50th Anniversary schedule of events. The museum was founded in 1965 with the mission to preserve the history and heritage of the county. Its extraordinary collection encompasses a wide range of artifacts reflecting the events and the lives of the people of Jefferson County from early Native American activities to the settlements of the 1700s through the 21st century. The museum is open from mid-March through mid-December, Tuesdays Saturdays, from 11 am 4 pm. Admission is $3; children under 18, students with ID, and members of the Charles Town Library are free.

For more information on this event please contact historian, Doug Perks, at 304-725-8628 or perkssonny9@live.com. To learn more about the Jefferson County Museum, visit our website at www.jeffcomuseumwv.org or our Facebook Page at facebook.com/jeffersoncountymuseum.