Ohio River

This collection contains photocopies of sheet music, photographs, and other material regarding music that was played on or associated with steamboats traveling the Ohio River in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Three ledgers containing accounts of the steamboat Sonoma, which operated on the Ohio River between Ravenswood and Marietta, Ohio, and intermediate points. The volumes contain listings of goods shipped, the shipper and destination, passenger lists and fares charged, and crew members’ names, job listings, and rates of pay.

Newspaper clippings, picture-books, postcard albums, and government reports relating to floods along the Ohio River Valley especially at Pittsburgh, Wheeling, and Parkersburg.

Sermons, essays, lectures, correspondence, and miscellaneous papers of a Methodist preacher who served in Clarksburg and Sutton, West Virginia; Louisa, Kentucky; and along the Ohio River from Ashland, Kentucky, to Parkersburg.

Two prints of artistic renderings of Ohio River scenes by artist Roy Riethmiller, including 1) Ohio Power Company -- Cardinal Plant -- Brilliant, Ohio (1983; 16 1/2 in. x 29 in.; 58/250); 2) Henry Covered Bridge, Pennsylvania (1984; 13 1/2 in. x 17 in.); 3) Veteran's Memorial Bridge -- Weirton, West Virginia (1992; 16 1/2 in. x 24 in.; 22/250).

A scrapbook containing a brief history of Sistersville and the oil industry in Tyler and other counties and states; a stock certificate of the Sistersville & Salem Turnpike Company, 1853; bills of lading for Ohio and Muskingum River steamers, 1855-1934; and a list of steamboats operating on the Muskingum River, 1830-1890

The official logbook of a cargo vessel which traveled up and down the Ohio River between Marietta, Ohio and Ravenswood, W.Va. The log covers a three month period, October to December, 1883. The log records the stops that were made on each run, the kinds of items that were being transported, and to whom cargoes were delivered.

Bills of lading from the Ohio River Transportation Company, Wheeling Wharf Boat Company, Parkersburg Rig & Reel Company, Shippers Packet Company Lines, and G. M. Beaver, steamboat agent and wharf boat proprietor, Sistersville. Also includes a promotional flyer to vote for Jeff Frame, Wharf Master, in a 1905 election.

Letters of a West Virginia River Captain to his daughter, 1877-1885; papers of Captain Edward B. Cooper, 1879-1891, Master of the Steamer Sonoma operating between Ravenswood and Parkersburg; bills of lading and miscellaneous papers, 1891-1930, 1955; log book of the Steamer Victor, 1932, operating out of Ashland, Kentucky for the Ashland Oil Company; and a log book of the Steamer Greenbrier, 1939, operating on the Ohio and Kanawha rivers.