CHARLESTON, W.Va. - U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin will be a special guest at the West Virginia Division of Culture and History's Archives and History Library when the State Archives staff introduces the new online finding aid for his gubernatorial papers at an exhibition and demonstration at 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 13, 2014, at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex. The event is free and open to the public. The collection includes a diverse selection of materials from his Inaugural Speech in January 2005 through November 2010, when he resigned his position to fill the U.S. Senate position made vacant by the death of long-time Sen. Robert C. Byrd.

"One of my all-time greatest honors was to serve the wonderful people of West Virginia as their 34th governor," Manchin said. "During my tenure, we set our priorities based on our West Virginia values - including taking care of our children, veterans and seniors. We focused on policies to help those who could not help themselves, while also making sure we were not giving anyone a handout, but a hand up. "Whether it was fixing our workers' compensation system, lowering taxes for our businesses and residents, creating jobs or taking care of our veterans and seniors, my administration was dedicated to making West Virginia a better place by running a responsible government with a customer service mindset. I appreciate all of the hardworking state employees for their ongoing commitment to serving our state. I truly thank Secretary Kay Goodwin, Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, and the staff at the Culture Center, especially Joe Geiger, for working diligently to file this information and list these documents online so that generations to come can enjoy learning about our journey," he said.

The collection, which has been archived and catalogued by members of the Archives and History staff, includes inaugural and state-of-the-state addresses, talking points, press releases, columns, schedules, requests for certificates and letters, executive appointment letters, proclamations, grants, legislation, National Governors Association and Southern Governors' Association materials, general correspondence and photographs.

"This collection is an exceptional representation of Sen. Manchin's years as governor of our state and is an important addition to the State Archives collection," said Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith. "We are proud to add it to the collections of governors' papers which are housed in the State Archives." Reid-Smith said that the Archives has papers from many of the state's governors, including those of West Virginia's first governor, Arthur I. Boreman.

The online finding aid will allow people to have free, 24-hour access to the catalog listings. Archives patrons may then visit the library in Charleston to view the papers and request copies of any of the materials in the collection.

"Students, historians, reporters and researchers will find this collection a remarkable addition to their primary source documents for the years that Sen. Manchin served as governor," said State Archivist Joe Geiger. "They chronicle the governor's efforts to spearhead mine safety, economic stability, educational advances and wellness in West Virginia as well as his involvement in many other issues important to the people of West Virginia."

For more information, contact Caryn Gresham, deputy commissioner for the division, at (304) 558-0220.

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is an agency within the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History with Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary. The division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the division's programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

West Virginia Archives and History