Charley Hively is the Coordinator of Reference and Instructional Services at The Ruth Ann Musick Library of Fairmont State University, in Fairmont, West Virginia. He is a lifelong West Virginian and holds several academic degrees: a BA in English from the University of Charleston, MA in English (19th c. American Literature) from Marshall University, MLIS from Clarion (PA), and a PhD (ABD) (19th c. American Literature) from West Virginia University.
He’s written numerous reviews, most recently for Red Holler: Contemporary Appalachian Literature, edited by John Branscum and Wayne Thomas, and for his institution’s literary journal, Kestrel. He’s also a published poet, having works in “Now and Then” and “Grab-a-Nickel,” among others. Several of his poems were included in Wild Sweet Notes: Fifty Years of West Virginia Poetry, edited by noted West Virginia poets Barbara Smith and Kirk Judd. He served as the primary researcher and proofreader of John C. Waugh’s book, The Class of 1846, From West Point to Appomattox: Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan and Their Brothers. At the time of that project, he worked at the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Stonewall Jackson’s birthplace.
He’s been at The Ruth Ann Musick Library of Fairmont State University for the last 13 years, and has worked closely with Dr. Judy Byers, who recently published Mountain Mother Goose: Child Lore of West Virginia. He is currently involved in another project with Byers regarding the uncollected writings of Dr. Ruth Ann Musick, a Fairmont State emerita professor of English and Folklore and the namesake of his Library. Dr. Musick is the author of several well-known collections of folklore: The Tell Tale Lilac Bush, Coffin Hollow, and Green Hills of Magic.
He is involved in several ongoing digitization projects at his library: the audio field recordings and liner notes of Patty Looman, a well-known Appalachian hammered dulcimer performer, as well as instructor and mentor to musicians throughout Appalachia; the musical scores and writings of Dr. William Prunty, a distinguished international composer and Fairmont native; and the Times-West Virginian (Fairmont, West Virginia) newspaper from microfilm. In addition, he’s currently building a website—“MountainLit and Life”—which will feature the literature and writers of West Virginia.
He is a contributor and major donor to the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center, housed on the campus of Fairmont State University. You can learn more about it here: https://www.fairmontstate.edu/folklife/. He currently resides in Bridgeport, West Virginia.
Welcome aboard, Charley!