Stewart Plein passed away on August 16, 2025, after a short illness. Her loss is deeply felt on the campus of WVU and across the Appalachian region. Professionally, Stewart was a librarian, historian, and curator. Personally, she was a dear friend and mentor, to me, and to many others who might read this. 

 

Stewart joined the WVU Libraries as a volunteer in the Rare Book Room in 2004 and earned her Master of Library and Information Science in 2009. She participated in numerous courses at the University of Virginia’s Rare Book School and earned a Certificate of Proficiency.  She began her career as a special collections librarian in 2011 at the WVU Law Library and in 2014 joined the faculty of the West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC). In August 2024, she retired after a thirteen-year career at WVU. Stewart was a book expert and developed the Rare, West Virginia, and Appalachian book collections at the WVRCH with skill and heart. She built and maintained strong donor relationships to the benefit of the Rare Book Collection in particular.  During her tenure, she added significant collections such as the Presgraves Appalachian Collection, the Ebersole gardening and cookbook collections, and the Lowell and Susan Thing Margaret Armstrong Collection. Stewart was also a gifted teacher whose enthusiasm and expertise inspired students of all ages. She was sought out on campus and shared her love of books with classes in a wide variety of academic disciplines at WVU. She also taught Osher Lifelong Learning classes and gave presentations across the state. She was a supportive mentor to students, researchers, and colleagues who wanted to learn more.  If you showed an interest, she made time to share her knowledge and passion with you.  

 

In addition to the book collections, Stewart managed the WVHRC’s newspaper collection and led the work of federal grants to make them more accessible. Her work resulted in the digitization of approximately 150 historic West Virginia newspapers and their addition to the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America website. She also conducted pioneering research on Black newspapers in West Virginia, discovering new titles and information.  

 

Stewart’s curiosity was continual and infectious. She was a natural scholar who contributed articles, book chapters, blog posts and essays on a variety of book related and historical topics. She led engaging programs, delivered talks, and created exhibitions that beautifully highlighted WVRHC collections.  

 

She was also an active member of the Appalachian Studies Association (ASA), always dedicated to promoting and improving the region that she dearly loved. She served on the Special Collections committee for many years and organized the silent auction for the 2021 conference in Morgantown. She felt great joy and satisfaction that she could make a difference in Appalachia, her heart and home.  

 

Outside of work, Stewart loved nature and reveled in animals, plants, and birds. Her beautiful gardens were spectacular labors of love. She enjoyed many styles of music, British tv shows, and good scones and lemon curd. She was a Trekkie going back to the Original Series. She was warm, smart, and funny. Her natural wisdom and great sense of humor were hard to match.  Despite the sadness, I feel a deep joy and contentment because I had the opportunity to be Stewart’s colleague and friend. She is an example of a professional and personal life well lived that I seek to emulate every day. Rest in peace, Stewart. We are all better for knowing you. 

 

Lori Hostuttler is Director of West Virginia & Regional History Center at West Virginia University