CHARLESTON, W.Va. --A few noteworthy events in recent and not-so-recent state history.

July 14, 1862: The Senate passed the West Virginia Statehood bill, changing the slavery provision of the West Virginia Constitution to allow for the gradual emancipation of slaves.

July 15, 1863: An act was approved giving African-Americans the same rights to criminal trial as whites, but denying them the right to serve on a jury.

July 4, 1897:  Many West Virginia coal miners joined Ohio and Pennsylvania striking miners in what became a nationwide walkout organized by the United Mine Workers. During this strike, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones was sent into West Virginia for the first time to organize miners, delivering speeches at Monongah and Flemington.

July 17, 1951: Democrat Elizabeth Kee of Bluefield was elected to complete the unexpired term of her husband, Rep. John Kee, who died on May 8, becoming the first woman in the state's history to serve in Congress.

July 19, 1961: Twenty-five people died in the worst natural disaster in Charleston. A cloudburst dropped 6 inches of rain in a 14-hour period, leaving 1,500 people homeless. President Kennedy declared Charleston a natural disaster.

July 11 and 12, 1975: Elvis rocked Charleston with three sold-out shows over a two-day period.  

July 11, 1976: Gov. Arch Moore holds a grand opening ceremony for the new $14 million Science and Cultural Center at the Capitol Complex.  

Sources: "West Virginia: A History by Otis Rice," Stephen Brown.

West Virginia Blue Book (1952), 434-435.

Files of The Charleston Gazette.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. --A few noteworthy events in recent and not-so-recent state history.

July 14, 1862: The Senate passed the West Virginia Statehood bill, changing the slavery provision of the West Virginia Constitution to allow for the gradual emancipation of slaves.

July 15, 1863: An act was approved giving African-Americans the same rights to criminal trial as whites, but denying them the right to serve on a jury.

July 4, 1897:  Many West Virginia coal miners joined Ohio and Pennsylvania striking miners in what became a nationwide walkout organized by the United Mine Workers. During this strike, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones was sent into West Virginia for the first time to organize miners, delivering speeches at Monongah and Flemington.

July 17, 1951: Democrat Elizabeth Kee of Bluefield was elected to complete the unexpired term of her husband, Rep. John Kee, who died on May 8, becoming the first woman in the state's history to serve in Congress.

July 19, 1961: Twenty-five people died in the worst natural disaster in Charleston. A cloudburst dropped 6 inches of rain in a 14-hour period, leaving 1,500 people homeless. President Kennedy declared Charleston a natural disaster.

July 11 and 12, 1975: Elvis rocked Charleston with three sold-out shows over a two-day period.  

July 11, 1976: Gov. Arch Moore holds a grand opening ceremony for the new $14 million Science and Cultural Center at the Capitol Complex.  

Sources: "West Virginia: A History by Otis Rice," Stephen Brown.

West Virginia Blue Book (1952), 434-435.

Files of The Charleston Gazette.