Biennial Report of the North Carolina State Department of Archives and History
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THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA THE COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA C9O6 N87h 23-28 19148-60 UNIVERSITY OF N C AT CHAPEL HILL 00033953614 This book must not be token from the Library building. Digitized by the Internet Arciiive in 2009 with funding from Ensuring Democracy through Digital Access (NC-LSTA) http://www.archive.org/details/biennialreportof195658nort TWENTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT of the NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY JULY 1, 1956 TO JUNE 30, 1958 RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY 1958 : NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY Executive Boards McDaniel Lewis, Chairman, Greensboro James W. Atkins, Gastonia Gertrude Sprague Carraway, New Bern Fletcher M. Green, Chapel Hill Josh L. Home, Rocky Mount William Thomas Laprade, Durham Herschell V. Rose, Smithfield Christopher Crittenden, Director, Raleigh IN MEMORIAM Clarence W. Griffin March 22, 1904—January 10, 1958 The Executive Board of the Department on January 17, 1958, passed the following resolution Whereas, our fellow Board member Clarence W. Griffin of Forest City departed this life on January 10 last, and Whereas, he had served for eighteen years as a member of the Executive Board of this Department and had rendered faithful and valuable service in this connection, and Whereas, he had long been a leader in historical interests and activities in North Carolina, having published many books and articles, promoted many movements, and led many oi'ganizations in the field. Now, Therefore Be It Resolved by the Executive Board of the State Depart- ment of Archives and History, First, that we express our deep regret at the passing of Clarence Griffin and our appreciation for all the services he had rendered, both as a member of this Board and in the field of North Carolina history in general, and Second, that this resolution be entered in the minutes of the Board and that copies be sent to the family. 1 For terms of office of members of the Executive Board, see below. Appendix 1, p. 64. : LETTER OF TRANSMISSION To His Excellency Luther H. Hodges Governor of North Carolina Dear Governor Hodges In compliance with Chapter 543, Session Laws of 1955, I have the honor to submit herewith for your Excellency's consideration the Biennial Report of the North Carolina Department of Archives and History for the period, July 1, 1956-June 30, 1958. Respectfully, Christopher Crittenden, Director Raleigh, July 1. 1958 CONTENTS Lonji-ran^-u View 7 Division of Archives and Manuscripts 21 Division of Historic Sites 34 Division of Museums 43 Division of Publications 54 Appendixes: I The Executive Board, June 30, 1958 64 II Appropriations and Expenditures, 1930-1958 65 III Appropriations and Expenditures, 1956-1958 65 IV Number of Employees as of June 30 at the End of Each Biennium 66 V Positions and Salary Ranges, June 30, 1958 67 VI List of Employees, Showing Name, Title, and Period of Service 67 VII Publications of Staff Members 70 VIII Archives and Manuscripts Accessioned 73 IX Services Rendered by Division of Archives and Manuscripts, by State and Foreign Country 94 X Services Rendered by Division of Archives and Manuscripts, by Classification 95 XI Number of Visits to Search Room for Each Biennium, 1928-1958 95 XII Colleges and Universities Represented by Visitors and Mail Inquirers 96 XIII Topics of Research of Visitors and Mail Inquirers 96 XIV Photographic Copies Furnished by the Division of Archives and Manuscripts 98 XV Pages Laminated 98 XVI Visits to Counties by State Archivist to Assist in Handling Official Records Problems 98 XVII Administrative Histories and Inventories Agencies Completed 99 XVIII State Records Microfilmed 99 XIX Records Turnover at Records Center 100 XX New Historical Markers Erected During the Biennium 101 XXI Registration at the Hall of History, by State and Foreign Country 101 XXII Museum Items Accessioned 103 XXIII Volumes, Pamphlets, Leaflets, and Charts Mailed by Month 122 XXIV Copies of The North Carolina Historical Revieiv Mailed by Issue 122 XXV Back Issues of The North Carolina Historical Review Mailed by Month 122 XXVI Paid-up Subscriptions, New or Renewal, Received for The North Carolina Historical Revieiv, by Month 123 XXVII Articles Published in The North Carolina Historical Revieiv 123 XXVIII Documents Published in The North Carolina Historical Review 125 XXIX Copies of Carolina Comments Mailed Per Issue 125 o •T3 C/2 hH P W H _ '^ OS o -< o tJ <;o O o W in o o ^ Q < p w <^ 02 BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY July 1, 1956, to June 30, 1958 Long-Range View During the 1957-1958 fiscal year the Department's Ad- visory Committee held a series of meetings in order to view the Department's program in perspective—to take stock of what we have accomplished in the past, what we have failed to accomplish, where we stand today, and what should be our major future objectives, both short-term and long- range. Attending the meetings (or at least a portion of them) were the Director, the Budget Officer, the four divi- sion heads, the Records Center Supervisor, and the Admin- istrative Assistant of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association. The eight sessions lasted some two hours each—a total of approximately sixteen hours—and a full and free discussion was held of the various phases of our over-all program. It was felt that the conferences did much to clarify our thinking regarding the Department's major objectives and accomplishments, to show in broad view not merely the individual trees but the forest as a whole. We sought to paint the picture with broad strokes of the brush, omitting routine matters and trivial details. The major points that were made (many of which are fur- ther elaborated in the reports of the four divisions and in the appendixes) are these: Past Accomplishments Since its establishment in 1903 the Department of Archives and History (until 1943 the Historical Commis- sion) has made great progress along many lines: 1. From an annual appropriation of $500 in 1903 and $5,000 in 1907 to $346,535 in 1957-1958.1 2. From a salaried staff- of none in 1903 to one in 1907 to forty-two in 1957-1958. 1 For appropriations and expenditures, 1930-1958, see Appendix II, p. 65; and for appropriations and expenditures, 1956-1958, see Appendix III, p. 65. - For the number of employees as of June 30, at the end of each biennium, see Appendix IV, p. 66; for positions and salary ranges, June 30, 1958, see Appendix V, p. 67; for a list of employees showing names, title, and period of service, see Appen- dix VI, p. 67; and for a list of publications by members of the staff, see Appendix VII, p. 70. Twenty-Seventh Biennial Report John David Ellington, Hall of History, October 2Jt, 1958 Members of the administrative start". (Left to rifjlit) James T. Hardy, Mrs. Grace B. Mahler, Christopher Crittenden (Director), Mis. Blanche M. Johnson, Miss Ann J. Kilby, and Mrs, Madlin M. Futrell. 3. In Raleigh, from one small room at the beginning to a total of 48,890 square feet in 1957-1958. 4. Throughout the State, from custody of no historic sites to custody of a number of significant areas. 5. From a somewhat limited field of collecting, preserv- ing, and publishing archives and manuscripts to today's comprehensive program of (a) conducting a well-rounded archives program; (b) handling records administration for the State, the counties, and the municipalities; (c) pub- lishing documentary volumes, a historical quarterly, a news- letter, pamphlets, and leaflets; (d) maintaining the State historical museum and leading a program for historical museums throughout the State; (e) developing and main- taining historic properties throughout North Carolina and marking historic sites; (f) strengthening and broadening the work and activities of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, and finally (g) serving as a clearing house for the historical interests and activities of our people. 6. From a small, limited place in the State government to recognition as a Department performing vital services to other State agencies, State Department of Archives and History 9 7. From limited beginnings to broad and recognized services to the counties and municipalities. 8. From a little-known status to recognition and appre- ciation by the people of the State. 9. From obscurity to a national and international repu- tation. General Needs Thus the Department hag come a long way, and its serv- ices and accomplishments have won wide recognition. In- creasingly it has sought to serve not merely limited classes of college and university history professors, scholars, re- searchers, and other similar groups, based upon a kind of trickle-down philosophy that if such groups are served, eventually the service will trickle down to other groups and individuals. Rather, without sacrificing or lessening the services to such special groups, the Department has under- taken to render a variety of services to all the people. In the beginning most of the services rendered were lim- ited to the State Capital. It was as though we said to the people, "We have certain things to offer you, but you will have to come to Raleigh to get them." Recently a broad extension program has been undertaken—to carry the De- partment's services to all the population in all parts of the State. Although we have come a long way, we should not rest on our laurels but rather should seek to go on to even greater achievements. What are our chief problems and needs? There are certain needs that are felt in practically all of the Department's activities, as follows: 1.