Libraries
The local area public libraries are excellent places to find information; the largest one in the tri-county area is Martinsburg Berkeley County Public Library. The main branch library in Martinsburg has a room dedicated to local history and family research and there are genealogy classes offered (see the events calendar on the main page).
Other local public libraries include:
Certain collections (the Civil War Center and the Byrd Congressional Center) can be searched in the library's online library catalog but are housed separately from the library; each center has its own hours of operation and focus. Any items in these collections are kept by the center and are labeled as "In-house use only" in the catalog. The one most useful for local historical research is the
George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War
While it may possess lists of soldiers and sailors, the Civil War Center is not a "genealogical" center; its primary focus is the Civil War in the area--and that conflict's effects on people, economy, and world-view.
Local historical societies near Shepherd University include
Historic Shepherdstown and Museum
Jefferson County Historical Society
Berkeley County Historical Society