Today in Wheeling History: April 14--Delf Norona, renowned archaeologist, historian, and philatelist who founded the Ohio Valley Stamp Club in Wheeling and established the Mound Museum in nearby Moundsville, was born in Hong Kong (1895).
Delf Norona was born on April 14, 1895, in Hong Kong as a British subject. He spent much of his early life in the Philippines before immigrating to Canada and then settling in West Virginia in 1921. After teaching himself shorthand, Norona became a court reporter. He was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1927.
Norona made significant contributions to archaeology in the Ohio Valley, particularly through his definitive study of the Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville. In 1949, he co-founded the West Virginia Archaeological Society and served as editor of the West Virginia Archeologist journal. Norona was instrumental in establishing the Mound Museum in 1952, where he served as curator until his death. The modern museum that opened in 1978 at Grave Creek Mound bears his name in recognition of his contributions.
As a philatelist, Norona founded the Ohio Valley Stamp Club in Wheeling in 1935. He was a respected expert on U.S. postal history, especially that of West Virginia. His philatelic publications included editing the Cyclopedia of United States Postmarks and Postal History and publishing the General Catalogue of United States Postmarks in 1935.
Norona was also a founder and former president of the Ohio Valley and West Virginia Historical societies. He died on April 12, 1974, at Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale at age 78. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Wheeling. For his contributions to philately, he was posthumously inducted into the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame in 1975.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/2ucfmtxz), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/mw6hr2k7), Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/2s4u24dr), e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia Online (https://tinyurl.com/ykzurucu)
Photo credits: Wheeling Intelligencer, West Virginia History OnView, Wikimedia Commons, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History
Delf Norona was born on April 14, 1895, in Hong Kong as a British subject. He spent much of his early life in the Philippines before immigrating to Canada and then settling in West Virginia in 1921. After teaching himself shorthand, Norona became a court reporter. He was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1927.
Norona made significant contributions to archaeology in the Ohio Valley, particularly through his definitive study of the Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville. In 1949, he co-founded the West Virginia Archaeological Society and served as editor of the West Virginia Archeologist journal. Norona was instrumental in establishing the Mound Museum in 1952, where he served as curator until his death. The modern museum that opened in 1978 at Grave Creek Mound bears his name in recognition of his contributions.
As a philatelist, Norona founded the Ohio Valley Stamp Club in Wheeling in 1935. He was a respected expert on U.S. postal history, especially that of West Virginia. His philatelic publications included editing the Cyclopedia of United States Postmarks and Postal History and publishing the General Catalogue of United States Postmarks in 1935.
Norona was also a founder and former president of the Ohio Valley and West Virginia Historical societies. He died on April 12, 1974, at Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale at age 78. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Wheeling. For his contributions to philately, he was posthumously inducted into the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame in 1975.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/2ucfmtxz), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/mw6hr2k7), Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/2s4u24dr), e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia Online (https://tinyurl.com/ykzurucu)
Photo credits: Wheeling Intelligencer, West Virginia History OnView, Wikimedia Commons, West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History
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