The North Carolina Historical Review

North Carolina State Library OS Raleigh THE1 NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL REVIEW APRIL 1959 Volume XXXVI Number 2 Published Quarterly By State Department of Archives and History Corner of Edenton and Salisbury Streets Raleigh, N. C. THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL REVIEW Published by the State Department of Archives and History Raleigh, N. C. Christopher Crittenden, Editor David Leroy Corbitt, Managing Editor ADVISORY EDITORIAL BOARD Frontis Withers Johnston Hugh Talmage Lefler George Myers Stephens STATE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY EXECUTIVE BOARD McDaniel Lewis, Chairman James W. Atkins Josh L. Horne Gertrude Sprague Carraway William Thomas Laprade Fletcher M. Green Herschell V. Rose Christopher Crittenden, Director This review was established in January, 1924, as a medium of publication and discussion of history in North Carolina. It is issued to other institutions by exchange, but to the general public by subscription only. The regular price is $3.00 per year. Members of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, Inc., for which the annual dues are $5.00, receive this publication without further payment. Back numbers may be procured at the regular price of $3.00 per volume, or $.75 per number. COVER—"Tweetsie," one of several engines of the name, which operated commercially on the narrow gauge track of the Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad until 1940. "Tweetsie" now runs as a tourist attraction. This photograph is used through the courtesy of the North Carolina State News Bureau. For a story on "Tweetsie" see pages 168 to 172. The North Carolina Historical Review Volume XXXVI April, 1959 Number 2 CONTENTS THE NORTH CAROLINA INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, 1831-1834 141 William Gordon Kornegay WE'VE COME A LONG WAY: HISTORY AND HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA 153 Christopher Crittenden PAPERS FROM THE FIFTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA LITERARY AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, INC., RALEIGH, DECEMBER 5, 1958 INTRODUCTION 162 LEST WE FORGET: NORTH CAROLINA'S COMMEMORATION OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES 163 Hugh Dortch "TWEETSIE" 168 Julian Scheer BELLE-LETTRES IN NORTH CAROLINA, 1957-1958 173 James S. Purcell A REVIEW OF NORTH CAROLINA NON- FICTION, 1957-1958 _179 Roy Parker, Jr. Entered as second class matter September 29, 1928, at the Post Office at Raleigh, North Carolina, under the act of March 3, 1879. [i] EDUCATION FOR THE PEOPLE 187 D. J. Whitener THE MOST MISTREATED OF PRESIDENTS 197 Harry S. Truman CIVIL WAR LETTERS OF E. N. BOOTS FROM NEW BERN AND PLYMOUTH 205 Wilfred W. Black NORTH CAROLINA BIBLIOGRAPHY, 1957-1958 224 William S. Powell BOOK REVIEWS 232 Stick's The Outer Banks of North Carolina—By Daniel Miles McFarland ; Thornton's A Bibliography of North Carolina, 1589-1956—By H. G. Jones; Acomb's The Revolutionary Journal of Baron Ludwig von Closen, 1780-1783—By Robert F. Durden; Boykin's The Negro in North Carolina Prior to 1861 —By John Hope Frank- lin; Tucker's High Tide at Gettysburg—By John G. Barrett; McCorkle's Regiment Band of the Twenty- Sixth North Carolina—By Ava L. Honeycutt, Jr.; King's Ebb Tide as Seen Through the Diary of Jose- phine Clay Habersham, 1863—By Horace W. Raper; Gammage's The Camp, the Bivouac, and the Battle Field —By Marshall W. Fishwick; Brownlee's Gray Ghosts of the Confederacy: Guerrilla Warfare in the West, 1861-1865—By N. C. Hughes, Jr.; Daniels' Prince of Carpetbaggers—By Dewey W. Grantham, Jr. ; Wool- folk's The Cotton Regency: The Northern Merchants and Reconstruction, 1865-1880—By Henry T. Shanks; Hobbs' North Carolina: An Economic and Social Profile —By Carl F. Cannon, Jr.; Carter's State Regulation of Commercial Motor Carriers in North Carolina—By Henry S. Stroupe ; de Graffenried's The de Graffenried Family Scrap Book: 1191-1956, Seven Hundred and Sixty-Five Years—By Gertrude S. Carraway; and Parker's Aldermans in America—By James W. Patton. HISTORICAL NEWS 251 [in The North Carolina Historical Review Volume XXXVI April, 1959 Number 2 THE NORTH CAROLINA INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, 1831-1834 By William Gordon Kornegay * The educational scene of early ante-bellum North Carolina cannot be depicted as one of great activity. Although the cause of education found its champions in such men as Archibald D. Murphey and Joseph Caldwell, large numbers of the populace were apathetic to popular education. One of the first efforts to provide effective State support for public education was the creation of a small school fund by the legislature in 1825. Educational legislation aimed at utilizing this school fund was introduced into the legislature on several occasions and although it was defeated, it was indicative of a growing interest. It was a result of this interest and the need for uniting the educational forces of the State into a workable body that meetings of teachers and friends of education were held in the early eighteen thirties. In July, 1830, an anonymous writer who called himself "Paedophilus" proposed an annual meeting of North Carolina teachers for the purpose of interchanging views on subjects connected with the teaching profession. In his article ad- dressed to the "friends of Education and of the cause of Lit- erature in North-Carolina," he noted that several teachers had suggested annual meetings for consultation and "discussion of subjects connected with education and the advancement of knowledge." As North Carolina was a State with a scattered population and with no large towns, teachers were * Dr. William Gordon Kornegay is an Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. [141] 142 The North Carolina Historical Review unable to share the experiences of others in their profession. The only way they could compensate for this situation was to . consent occasionally to leave their respective charges, and repair to some pre-appointed rendezvous, whither they can carry for free discussion, all the subjects of inquiry, doubt and diffi- culty which have occurred in the course of their experience. 1 Paedophilus proposed that all persons interested should meet in Raleigh on December 15, 1830. Some of the specific matters that should be discussed at such a meeting were . the best modes of discipline and tuition, the best books and editions of books, grammatical questions, as well as the pro- 2 motion of professional acquaintance & friendship. The date suggested for meeting was during the session of the legislature. Inasmuch as nothing more was said about the meeting, the date passed with no attention being paid to 3 it. During this same period (1830-1831) several States had held literary and educational conventions. One in the State of Tennessee caused comment in North Carolina newspapers. Taking note of these activities, the Register noted on May 12, 1831: A number of Gentlemen, desirous of promoting the general Education of the People of this State, are solicitous of again calling the attention of the friends of Education, and of Teachers generally, to this subject, and for this purpose, propose to hold a Convention at Chapel Hill, on the day before the ensuing Com- mencement of our University. In the announcement of the meeting in Chapel Hill it was noted that the North Carolina Legislature in 1825 had created a fund for the establishment of common schools throughout the State. It was felt the proposed meeting of teachers and friends of education might be able to work out some plan for the use of this fund. 1 Raleigh Register and North-Carolina Gazette, July 19, 1830, hereinafter cited as Raleigh Register. 2 Raleigh Register, July 19, 1830. 3 Raleigh Register, May 12, 1831. .3 So 'S a. 03 « w e "* -x |5 Ow - e °3«H Q.S o .§"3 g . 1* 23 S +s « a 0) w ££ .Mrg -1 a> ' rt cS "&2 0) 3 03 ll SI5 »>-• s «> 05 o^©< 0) Ph ^OH • h-5 CO 05 n' 00 P-t V 3.5 O -P «+* fi^ o3 03 X> 0>T5 §£ in f-l cc irH o3 <D ~ - Pi* - >> >>° 3 ^ O 3 U o >H <u bfi-£ S 5 oS © oS-S* . 3 S •->O Ox X'S o £^ GG T3 S3 t-< S ° .2* bfl s<< m^- s a; 53 X Fh H e8 Ph North Carolina Institute of Education 143 The following week North Carolina newspapers advertised: A Convention Of Teachers and Friends of General Education It is proposed, by a number of persons who feel interested in the subject, to hold a Convention of Teachers and Friends of General Education, in this State, at Chapel Hill, on the day before the ensuing commencement of our University, for the purpose of mutual consultation, and the discussion of subjects connected with Education and the advancement of knowledge. It is hoped that the Teachers throughout the State, and others friendly to Learning, will attend this meeting for the purpose above stated, and for taking into consideration the expediency of organizing a permanent Council, or Senatus Academicus, who shall meet periodically for the aforementioned objects.4 On June 22 and 23, 1831, a group of teachers and friends of education, reported as "numerous and highly respectable," met on the University campus. They organized themselves into a society which they named the North Carolina Institute 5 6 of Education, elected officers, and adopted a constitution. The constitution stated the objectives of the society as "to diffuse knowledge on the subject of education, and by every proper means to improve the condition of common schools and other literary institutions in our state.'' Membership was opened to all interested in the subject. Provision was made for annual meetings during commencement week and the duties of officers were presented. These officers were en- trusted with the .

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