U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph Biography Project

06/19/2026

Trains were an important source of travel during Jennings Randolph's formative years and through much of his political career. 🚂 Randolph was raised in a house on Main Street, within 75 feet of the B&O Railroad in Salem, WV. In later years, Randolph depended on trains for his campaign travels and for other whistle-stop tours.

In Spring 1967, Senator Randolph was asked to ride on the C&O-B&O train and pose for pictures for the new passenger timetable. Also photographed aboard that train was American actress and singer, Dorothy Lamour.

As automobiles and aviation surpassed trains as a main form of public transportation, routes were cut and rail lines abandoned. Many of those old rail lines have become West Virginia Tourist Attractions with the WV RAIL-TRAILS system. https://wvrailtrails.org/

04/26/2026

🎓 Graduation season is upon us - so here is a throw back to 1924, when Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem University (then Salem College). -- (Photos from the 1924 Salem College Yearbook, WV State Archives)

04/10/2026

In 1962, Jennings Randolph wrote to Winston Churchill to let him know he sponsored one of the Senate resolutions to make Churchill an Honorary U.S. Citizen.

Churchill replied, "My dear Senator, I am indeed obliged to you for your letter of September 5, and for the graceful and complimentary terms in which you refer to me. Pray accept my very good wishes."

To read more about "Sir Winston Churchill’s Path to United States Citizenship" - check out the following link: https://jfk.blogs.archives.gov/2020/04/09/sir-winston-churchills-path-to-united-states-citizenship/

On this day in 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed a Congressional resolution making Sir Winston Churchill an Honorary Citizen of the United States—the first in U.S. history.

This pen marked that moment.

It is a poignant reminder of a statesman whose words, leadership, and commitment to freedom bound together two nations in a common cause.

We are proud to preserve and share stories and objects like this that illuminate the legacy of a man—an honorary American—who helped shape the modern world.

03/28/2026

There are many important historical documents and artifacts housed in the WV Culture Center - including the 906+ boxes that constitute the Jennings Randolph Collection in the WV Archives. It is good to read that our state leaders understand the needed improvements to better serve the public, staff and historical preservation.

For nearly 50 years, the Culture Center has been the beating heart of West Virginia’s arts and music scene and the gatekeeper of the state’s rich history.

Like any building a half-century old, ongoing maintenance and renovations are necessary to keep it functional and safe for thousands of visitors annually. Millions of dollars in upgrades are currently underway and should be completed later this summer.

🗞️ READ MORE: bit.ly/3Q2QCy9

03/23/2026

55 YEARS AGO TODAY (March 23, 1971) the United States Congress formally passed a resolution to create the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution reducing the voting age from 21 to 18 years old. Then, Congress sent the legislation to the states for ratification. It took less than 100 days to ratify the Amendment!

West Virginia's United States Senator Jennings Randolph (a Harrison County native) was considered "the Father of the 26th Amendment" for his 29-year effort to pass the 26th Amendment that reduced the voting age to 18 after President Franklin Roosevelt reduced the military draft age to 18 in 1942.

03/09/2026

Marking the 124th birthday of Senator Jennings Randolph at his former residence and campaign headquarters. Beautifully renovated and historic Tygart Hotel, Elkins, WV

03/09/2026

March 8th marked Jennings Randolph's 124th birthday and time spent at the beautifully renovated and historic Tygart Hotel in Elkins, WV. While in Congress, Randolph used the hotel as a residence as well as campaign headquarters. The hotel owners at the time, Ralph & Mary Frances Shepler, were friends from Salem College. To learn more about the history of the Tygart Hotel, click the link in the comments.

02/16/2026

The daughter of a former Mayor of Keyser, WV, and the son of a former Mayor of Salem, WV, were united in marriage 93 years ago this month.

On Saturday, February 18, 1933, Jennings Randolph wed Mary Katherine Babb in the home of her parents in Keyser. The small ceremony was attended by close family and friends including Cam Henderson and his wife.

The couple left for Washington, D.C. to honeymoon at the old Willard Hotel and get settled into the area in time for Roosevelt's Presidential Inauguration and Randolph's Congressional swearing-in.

The couple were married for 48 years when Mary passed away from cancer in 1981.

01/29/2026

On this day, 40 years ago, the launch of mission STS-51L ended in tragedy when the Space Shuttle Challenger and its 7 member crew were lost 73 seconds after liftoff.

Two years before this tragedy, Astronaut Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee spoke at a black tie dinner honoring retiring Senator Jennings Randolph at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. 🚀 Scobee narrated the film he helped shoot on the Challenger mission STS-41-C that he piloted in 1984.

Today we remember Dick Scobee and the other brave astronauts on board the Challenger disaster: Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis, Judith Resnik, Mike Smith, and Ron McNair.

01/28/2026

Jennings Randolph had many friends - and Pittsburgh Steelers founding owner Art Rooney Sr. was among them. Though Randolph was a Washington Redskins (now Commanders) football fan, he supported his friend and the team. 🏈 Rooney was also very supportive of Randolph - which can be found in the correspondence they shared. Check out the comments below to see more from the Randolph collection at the WV Archives! 👇

in 1901, Arthur Joseph Rooney Sr. was born. Known as “the Chief,” Rooney embodied the evolution of Pittsburgh sports, from the sandlots to the City of Champions.

As the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was a central figure in the NFL’s rise, helping the league navigate the draft, revenue sharing, and its relationship with the players association.

Revered as much for his character as for the Steelers’ success, Rooney was remembered by Pittsburghers as a hard-playing guy who never quit on a friend.

📸 Portrait of Art Rooney, Sr. by Dennis Karchner. Gift of Arthur Joseph Rooney, Jr.