This week in Affrilachian history: Sept. 20 through Sept. 26

Presented by The West Virginia Humanities Council

The following events happened on these dates in Affrilachian history. To learn more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at wvencyclopedia.org.

Sept. 20, 1910: Dorothy Johnson Vaughan was born in Kansas City but moved at a young age to Morgantown, where she was valedictorian of Beechurst High School. Like fellow West Virginian Katherine Johnson, Vaughan became a mathematician and computer expert for NASA and made significant contributions to the U.S. space program.

Sept. 22, 1893: Elizabeth Simpson Drewry was born in Virginia but soon moved to Elkhorn, McDowell County. In 1950, she became the first Black woman elected to the legislature. In 1956, she introduced a constitutional amendment allowing women to serve on juries in West Virginia.

Sept. 24, 1911: Laura Jackson Arnold died in Buckhannon. The sister of Stonewall Jackson, she was a staunch Unionist during the Civil War, opening her home to care for injured Union soldiers.

Sept. 25, 1866: Editor and publisher M. T. Whittico was born in Virginia. He moved to Keystone about 1900 and made the McDowell Times the preeminent Black newspaper in West Virginia, with topics ranging from race issues to life in the coalfields. He also played a key role in McDowell County Republican politics.

Sept. 26, 1863: The Great Seal of West Virginia was adopted by the legislature. The seal, which has remained unchanged, was designed by Joseph H. Diss Debar.

e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council. For more information contact the West Virginia Humanities Council, 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301; (304) 346-8500; or visit e-WV at www.wvencyclopedia.org.