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New Editions of Pinehurst High School’s Rebel Yearbook are Available Now!

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memorabilia yearbooks

Thanks to our partners at Moore County Historical Association, five new yearbooks from Pinehurst High School are now available on our website!

Individuals dressed in basketball uniforms both standing and kneeling for a picture. At the center on the floor are two basketballs that have the numbers 61 and 62 written on them. On the far right and bottom left are three individuals not dressed in basketball uniforms. The one standing on the far right is wearing a suit; bottom right is wearing a sweater and skirt; and bottom left is wearing either a top and skirt or a dress, along with a cardigan.
The 1961-1962 Girls’ Basketball Team

The yearbooks span from 1962 to 1966 and highlight sporting events, club activities, and classroom lessons. The Pinehurst Rebels were an involved group, with a multitude of clubs and sports teams for students to participate in. Both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams were popular, and home games always drew large crowds. The Monogram Club, an organization for students who earned varsity letters in their sports, was also robust.

The 1963-1964 Future Homemakers of America. There are two rows, with the back row standing and the front row sitting at desks.
The 1963-1964 Future Homemakers of America

The Future Homemakers of America was another popular student activity. These meetings, like Home Economics classes, included lessons on cooking and sewing. The Glee Club also found popularity among Pinehurst High students, with a few students also participating in the Pinettes, a select singing group. In 1966, students at Pinehurst established the first chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America and attended the State Convention in Durham that year.

The 1964-1965 annual staff for the Pinehurst High School Yearbook
The 1964-1965 Annual Staff

Of course, no yearbook would be complete without a feature of those who brought the edition together: the yearbook staff! The team compiled photos, advertisements, and wrote blurbs to make each book better than the last.

For more yearbooks from Moore County, click here.

For more information about our partner, Moore County Historical Association, click here. 

New Issues of Seven Newspapers Now Available in Latest Batch from Granville County Public Library

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newspapers

Title design of The Deaf Carolinian (Morganton, N.C.).
Title design of The Deaf Carolinian (Morganton, N.C.)

With the help of our partners at Granville County Public Library, we are pleased to announce that new issues from seven different newspaper titles are now available on DigitalNC. This batch of newspapers includes local newspapers, like The Granville Enterprise (Granville, N.C.), school newspapers like The Deaf Carolinian (Morganton, N.C.), and speciality publications like the North Carolina White Ribbon (Greensboro, N.C.) which was published by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Also in this latest batch is a newspaper that is brand new to DigitalNC, the Littleton High School Student Newspaper, which was published under the title The School Visitor (Littleton, N.C.). Be sure to check out these latest additions from Granville County Public Library, which are detailed and linked below!

A poem entitled "Drag the Roads"
Drag the Roads poem in The Granville Enterprise (Oxford, N.C.), March 27, 1914, page 1

These newspapers, along with 11 other newspaper titles contributed by Granville County Public Library, can be found here.

More information about our partner, Granville County Public Library, can be found on their website, linked here.

More materials, including yearbooks, scrapbooks, maps, and ledgers can be found on Granville County Public Library’s contributor page, linked here.

Scrapbooks Detail Wake Forest University History

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memorabilia scrapbooks

Newspaper clipping covering Wake Forest College's move to Winston-Salem. Below the headline "Wake Forest College Hits Mid-Way Point In Move To Winston-Salem" are two illustrations of future campus buildings. On the left, a drawing of a large brick building shows the future Zachary Smith Reynolds Library. On the right, a drawing of an expansive building represents the planned Science Building.
Newspaper clipping from the Wake Forest University scrapbook, General News [June 1953-February 1954], page 39

With the help of our partner, Wake Forest University, we are excited to announce five new scrapbooks have made their way to DigitalNC! Spanning from July 1951 to August 1959, these scrapbooks chronicle Wake Forest University’s move from Wake Forest to Winston-Salem. Wake Forest College, as it was known at the time, was founded in Wake Forest, a town northeast of Raleigh, in the early 19th century. After operating in the area for over a century, the college moved to Winston-Salem following a donation of land and funding from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The construction of Wake Forest College’s new home began in 1952 and the school officially moved to its new campus in Winston-Salem in 1956. The college assumed its current name, Wake Forest University, in 1967.

A photograph of the Wait Chapel under construction. The steel frame of Wait Chapel is pictured.
Newspaper clipping from the Wake Forest University scrapbook, General News [June 1953-February 1954], page 42

These five latest scrapbooks from Wake Forest University are filled with newspaper clippings related that cover student life, campus issues, and the move to Winston-Salem. Some highlights include pictures of campus construction and coverage of President Truman’s appearance at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new campus.

More information about our partner, Wake Forest University, can be found on their website here. 

Information about Wake Forest University’s Z. Smith Reynolds Library can be found here. Z. Smith Reynolds Library’s Digital Collection can be viewed here.

More materials including yearbooks, magazines, catalogs, and 20 newspaper titles, can be found on Wake Forest University’s contributor page, which is linked here.

New Editions of New Bern High School’s Bruin Yearbook Are Now Available!

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yearbooks

Thanks to our partner, the New Bern-Craven County Public Library, twelve new yearbooks from New Bern High School are now available! These editions of The Bruin span from 1961 to 1975 and showcase student involvement in the classroom and in athletics. The New Bern Bruins were an active bunch, with almost every student participating in at least one organization.

The new yearbooks include:

To view more yearbooks from across the state, visit our North Carolina Yearbook Collections.

A dark red cover with the words "Bruin '72" in bold letters at the top. There are four photographs on the front: the top left is a conductor directing a choir of bruins; the top right is an image of two students, the one of the left has their jaw open in shock and the one on the right stares into the distance; the bottom left is an image of a football team running across the field; the bottom right image depicts students raising their hands in class.
A dark gray cover with a red and white striped hot air balloon. The word "Bruin" is written on the balloon part with the date "1962" stamped on the bottom right of the cover in red ink. A small black and white bruin is climbing into the basket part of the hot air balloon.
A dark red cover with a cartoon bruin in the center. The bruin stands with its hand on its hips and holding a pennant flag with the numbers "73" on it. The bruin is also wearing a small cap on its head and a long sleeve sweater with the letters "NB" on the front. The word "Bruin" is stamped on the cover in the center in black ink.

Front cover designs for New Bern High School’s yearbooks.

The Ocracoke Observer Makes A Splash Debut On DigitalNC

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newspapers

Ocracoke Observer title design

Thanks to the owners and publishers, we are excited to announce that the Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.) is now available on DigitalNC! This latest addition includes 154 issues, spanning from May 1999 to May 2025. The island newspaper is published monthly from March to December, and covers news about Ocracoke Island and its residents. Featured below is an example of the exciting stories that can be found in the Ocracoke Observer, but DigitalNC visitors should be sure to check out more issues, linked here, to discover more stories making waves across the island.

A story from the March 2021 issue of the Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.). Under the headline "Message in a bottle found on Ocracoke came from Canada", a picture shows an adult standing on the beach holding a small green bottle that has a letter inside.
A front page story from the March 2021 issue of the Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.)

To search through all available issues of the Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.), click here.

Information about the Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.) can be found on their website here.

Gem Festival Comes to Macon County in New Editions of The Franklin Press and The Highlands Maconian

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newspapers

Thanks to our partners at Southwestern Community College and Macon County Public Library, as well as funding from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), we are excited to announce that new editions of The Franklin Press and Highlands Maconian are now available on our website!

A crowded room full of tables and wandering people observing gemstones at the 1966 Macon County Gemboree
A huge turnout at the first annual Macon County Gemboree in July 1966

Nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina along the Appalachian Trail, Franklin is a small town known for its gorgeous waterfalls and gem mines. These issues, dating from 1964 to 1974, cover a range of topics, including local elections, FFA competition scores, and local weather.

Two smiling teenagers stand side by side holding a trophy, ring, and flowers. On the left is Miss Ruth Nolen who is presenting the spoils of victory from the "Miss Ruby" contest to Miss Elaine Reece who is standing on the right.
Miss Ruth Nolen (left), winner of last year’s “Miss Ruby” contest, presents the new victor, Miss Elaine Reece (right), with a trophy, ring, and flowers

Taking advantage of the town’s precious stone industry, the Franklin Chamber of Commerce created the Macon County Gemboree as a way to boost tourism. The event first ran from Thursday, July 21 to Sunday, July 24, 1966, complete with a gem and mineral show, guest lecturers, and a “Miss Ruby” contest. The first Gemboree was a roaring success for the “Gem Capital of the World,” with over 2,500 people in attendance. Dealers and visitors traveled from across the country to attend the event, where they indulged in lectures and sparkling exhibitions. According to the July 28, 1966, edition of The Franklin Press and Highlands Maconian, the dealers estimated that the value of all gemstones on display was over four million dollars, or almost forty million dollars in today’s economy.

The event is still held to this day, with the next Macon County Gemboree slated for July 25-27, 2025.

To learn more about Southwestern Community College, visit their website linked here.

For more information about Macon County Public Library, visit their website.

To browse more newspapers from across the state, view our newspaper collection here.

Student Writing and Dorm Room Decorating Featured in the Latest Materials From William Peace University

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campuspublications memorabilia photos

With the help of our partners at William Peace University, we are excited to announce the addition of new literary magazines from William Peace University and early 20th century photographs taken at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The four latest literary magazines, Prism [2018], Prism [2019], Prism [2022], and Prism [2025], join 97 additional literary magazines that were already on DigitalNC. For over a 100 years of student art and literature, be sure to check out William Peace University’s literary magazine collection available on DigitalNC.

This newest batch also includes some old images of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Taken just 30 miles up the road from William Peace University, these five photographs show the campus environment of William Peace University’s collegiate neighbor. In addition to pictures of still-standing campus buildings like the South Building, this latest batch also includes pictures of bygone structures, like Swain Memorial Hall, which was the predecessor of present-day Memorial Hall. Perhaps most interesting of these pictures are two from around 1903 that show dorm interiors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In one, a close up of a dormitory mantle shows dozens of pictures fastened to the wall and stacked on top of each other above a mantle. In another, the sitting area of a student’s dorm room is decorated with pictures and flags across the walls and door. Above the array of portraits adhered to the door is a small horizontal sign that reads “Pretty Girls Wanted!!”

A dorm room at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1903. The sitting area of the student's dorm room is decorated with pictures and flags across the walls and door. Along the top of the door a white horizontal sign reads "Pretty Girls Wanted!!"
Dorm room at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, taken October 15, 1903
Close up of the door featured in a 1903 picture of a dorm room at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Along the top of the door a white horizontal sign reads "Pretty Girls Wanted!!"
Close up detail of the “Pretty Girls Wanted!!” sign

More information about our partner, William Peace University, can be found on their website here. 

More materials including over 100 years of the campus yearbook The Lotus can be found on William Peace University’s contributor page, which is linked here.

Hidden Object Puzzles Reveal More Than the History They Depict in New Issues of The Taylorsville Times

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newspapers

Masthead for The Taylorsville Times. Below the newspaper title is written: [Numb]er 34. Taylorsville, North Carolina, Thursday, August 24, 1933. $1.00 per year.

Thanks to funding from our partner, Alexander County Library, over 3,000 issues of The Taylorsville Times (Taylorsville, N.C.) spanning from 1927 to 1996 are now available to peruse on DigitalNC. This weekly newspaper has focused on informing readers of local, national, and global news for around a century. Around the 1920s, The Mountain Scout and Taylorsville Times newspapers merged to form The Taylorsville Times and Mountain Scout. The merged paper published until August of 1933, when “Mountain Scout” was removed from its name. Since then, the paper has continued to publish under The Taylorsville Times title.

The earliest issues from this batch from 1927 and 1928 provide a look into the period’s perspective of American history through short hidden object puzzles they call “American History Puzzle Picture.” The puzzle is formatted with a drawing depicting a critical or well-known event related to American history, a short description of said event, and the hidden object the player needs to find. Though published as a simple, educational puzzle, these snippets provide a complex gleam into America’s period of conformist nationalism by showing who and what was considered pivotal in the late 1920s; interpretations of how people and places looked, language usage, etc. Take a look at and try finding the hidden objects in the—expected and, some not—depictions of American history below.

American History Puzzle Picture. Image depicting De Soto being buried beneath the Mississippi River. Text below the image reads: "The body of De Soto being buried beneath the waters of the Mississippi which he discovered in 1541. Because of the Indians they buried him during the middle of night. Find an Indian."
American History Puzzle Picture. Image depicting Patrick Henry addressing the Virginia assembly. There are multiple people seated in the room and one individual at a podium with their hand up towards Patrick Henry (only partially visible). Text under the image reads: "Patrick Henry making the address before the Virginia assembly. A bold defiance against the tyrancy of King George III, in which he said 'I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.' Find the face of King George."
American History Puzzle Picture. Image depicting George Washington standing next to a field with soldiers lined up. Behind Washington (left side of the image) there is a horse and two people. Text under the image reads: "George Washington made commander in chief of the American army. Find a portrait of Washington."
American History Puzzle Picture. Image depicting a stage coach with people standing up, facing the back of the coach with guns in their hands pointed at bandits on horses chasing the coach. Text below the image reads: "A stage coach holdup. Find the bandit leader."
American History Puzzle Picture. Image depicting individuals surrounding a railroad track that has a train with people on it. in the bottom left of the image is an individual sitting on a wood beam that has a metal protrusion sticking up. Text under the image reads: "Driving the golden spike connecting the East and West at Ogden, Utah (1869). May 10. Find the modern train."
American History Puzzle Picture. Image depicting steamboat on a river. Two individuals stand on a dock looking out at the steamboat on a river. Text below the image reads: "The successful steamboat invented by Robert Fulton as it steamed up the Hudson River from New York to Albany, in the year 1867. Find the inventor."
American History Puzzle Picture. Image depicting soldiers walking through a town. One person is on a horse. There is a woman, identified as Barbara Fritchie waving a Union flag at a window. Text below the image reads: 'Stonewall Jackson and Barbara Fritchie. When she appeared at a window waving a Union flag, Jackson said "Who touches but a hair of yon' gray head, dies like a dog, march on.' Find a Union Solider."

To learn more about and view other materials contributed by Alexander County Library, visit their contributor page linked here.

View all issues of The Taylorsville Times (Taylorsville, N.C.) on DigitalNC, linked here.

To view more newspapers from across the state, view our North Carolina Newspapers Collection linked here.

New Editions of the Timekeeper Available Now!

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yearbooks

Thanks to a community contributor, we are pleased to announce that three new editions of The Timekeeper from Aberdeen High School are now available on our website!

A cheerleader holding pom poms, Betty Dare Funderburk, is on the left, and Les Scott stands on the right holding a cheering horn.
Betty Dare Funderburk and Les Scott were voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in 1963

These yearbooks cover the years 1963, 1964, and 1965, highlighting life in high school during the mid-20th century. Each edition features student portraits, images of sporting events, and signed notes from teachers and friends. The yearbooks highlight club activities as well as senior superlatives. The 1964 edition contains images of students voted in categories such as “Most Athletic,” “Most Dependable,” and the classic “Most Likely to Succeed.”

Betty Jo Swaim stands on the left, holding a door open. She was just crowned as "Daisy Mae" and has a flower crown on her head. She chose Wayne Lewis as her "Lil' Abner," and he stands to her right.
The 1964 “Daisy Mae,” Betty Jo Swaim, and her “Lil’ Abner,” Wayne Lewis

The Timekeeper contains quintessential photos from high school life in the 1960s, complete with stories from “Twerp Week.” This event, according to the 1965 yearbook, is “an annual affair enjoyed by the entire student body. Girls are obligated to carry the boys’ books and to open doors for them.” Other activities during this week included a Sadie Hawkins race and dance, Sloppy Joe Day (a day where students can dress however they want to), and the crowning of “Daisy Mae” and “Lil’ Abner.” Students looked forward to this week each year!

A smiling group of nineteen high school students stand in front of a brick building. These students are the members of the library club.
Members of the 1964 Aberdeen High School Library Club

Another notable club was the library club. These students were responsible for checking books in and out, reshelving items, and circulating materials to patrons.

To see more editions of The Timekeeper, click here.

To explore more materials from North Carolina Community Contributors, visit their contributor page here.

To view more North Carolina High School yearbooks, visit DigitalNC.

A New Partner, the Mary Potter Alumni Club, and New Yearbooks Hit DigitalNC in Our Latest Records!

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underrepresented yearbooks

With the help of our brand new partner, Mary Potter Alumni Club, we are excited to announce the addition of six yearbooks to DigitalNC. These yearbooks join the company of several other yearbook issues and one periodical from Mary Potter High School (Oxford, N.C.), a historic African American school in Granville County.

Built in 1889, Granville County’s first African American school was established with George Clayton Shaw, an educator and son of formerly enslaved parents who were staunch advocates of education hired as the school’s first principal. Originally referred to as Timothy Darling, the school was renamed Mary Potter Academy shortly after its opening in honor of its primary benefactor, Mary Potter. For decades Mary Potter Academy operated as a private school before becoming public and changing its name to Mary Potter High School in the 1950s. The school was eventually turned into an integrated middle school that served Oxford students well into the 21st century.

The cover of The Ram [1948]. The black yearbook cover features an embossed illustration of Planet Earth with two orange-colored spiral lines extending from it that say "The Ram" and "1948" in embossed text.
The Ram [1948]

DigitalNC vistors can now browse the following years of The Ram:

These yearbooks and more can be viewed in DigitalNC’s exhibit North Carolina African American High Schools, which is linked here.

More information about our partner, Mary Potter Alumni Club, can be found on their Facebook page, linked here. 

Materials from Mary Potter Alumni Club can also be browsed through their contributor page, linked here.

Information about Mary Potter High School is from the NCDNCR’s Mary Pottery Academy highway marker page, linked here.

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This blog is maintained by the staff of the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center and features the latest news and highlights from the collections at DigitalNC, an online library of primary sources from organizations across North Carolina.

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