After months of research, interviews and writing, the much-anticipated book on the record-breaking polio epidemic is now available. “A Summer Without Children: An Oral History of Wythe County, Virginia’s 1950 Polio Epidemic” tells the story of an unforgettable summer in a collection of stories, memories and lessons learned.

Written by Linda Logan, Coordinator of Heritage Education for the Town of Wytheville’s Department of Museums and edited by Radford University Cultural Anthropologist Dr. Stevan Jackson, the book is drawn from first-person accounts, private archives, and interviews with witnesses and survivors. “A Summer Without Children” includes over 130 illustrations, photos and excerpts from period newspapers. The book was made possible by a grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy.

For more information or to place an order for “A Summer Without Children,” please call the Town of Wytheville’s Museum Gift Shop at (276) 223-3457 or e-mail marieb@wytheville.org. Books are $19.95 ($1 tax for Virginia customers) plus $4.25 shipping and handling. You may email your order request and then send your check to Town of Wytheville's Museum Gift Shop, 115 W. Spiller Street, Wytheville, VA 24382. Please make checks payable to The Museum Gift Shop.

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The Wythe County Historical Society has recently issued No. 71 of the Wythe County Historical Review. Get your copy of the latest issue for $5. Reviews make wonderful gifts and are on sale in The Museum Shop, Wytheville Heritage Preservation Center, 115 W. Spiller Street. Previous issues of the Review are also available for sale in The Museum Shop.

The Wythe County Historical Review, No. 71, features articles on James Hays Piper: Modest Man of Accomplishment; "Cattle Bob" Crockett Drives Herd to California and Loyd William Crigger: Craftsman with a Rock Foundation.

RESEARCH

Visit the resources of the Wythe County Historical Society Library where researchers may consults books, periodicals, family files, obituary files, budget files, CD-ROM programs, computerized indexes, photographs, postcards, newspapers, maps and many records. Discover a wealth of information about the history of Wythe County and surrounding areas.
Visitors are welcome to research in the Library at no charge but donations are gladly accepted. There is a charge for copies.

If you are unable to visit the Library, you may mail or e-mail brief questions concerning your family research to wch_library@wytheville.org or Wythe County Historical Society, Library Chairperson, 115 W. Spiller Street, Wytheville, VA 24382. Questions sent by mail must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE).
Pertinent dates and any other information that would be helpful to the researcher should be sent with your request.