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NMPL Hosts WV Exhibit

By Staff | Feb 6, 2013

The award winning traveling exhibit Born of Rebellion: West Virginia Statehood is now on display to the public at the New Martinsville Public Library through February 15 during regular library hours.

The circumstances of the creation of West Virginia remain unique in American history. Questions arose as to the constitutionality of the process and even as to whether the new state should be dissolved once Virginia was restored to the Union. The issues involved in West Virginia’s birth still engage people even far beyond our borders-providing material for a 2003 C-SPAN debate and lengthy article in the California Law Review. Born of Rebellion examines the constitutional questions surrounding the statehood process.

Consisting of three freestanding kiosks, the West Virginia Humanities Council exhibit originally toured the state for two years starting in 2006. Its current tour is in observance of the 150th birthday of West Virginia in 2013. Using text, photographs, images, and maps it has been redone with a new lightweight panel system. Exhibit viewers are given an opportunity to cast their vote on the constitutionality of our state. The Humanities Council provides the exhibit at no cost to interested venues. It is currently booked through December of 2013. The exhibit is made possible with support from the WV Department of Education and the Arts.

The Humanities Council made the design phase of the exhibit an innovative educational project by working with graphic design students at West Virginia University. The exhibit features several QR (quick response) codes. Visitors with smart phones can scan these codes and read related articles in e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org.

For more information call the New Martinsville Public Library at 304-455-4545. The display schedule is available at www.wvhumanities.org.