The North Carolina Digital Heritage Center is pleased to announce that new materials from our generous partners at North Carolina Central University are now available for viewing and research purposes on DigitalNC! The materials consist of publications from historically Black Churches in and around Raleigh, Durham, Henderson and Oxford North Carolina, a handmade scrapbook consisting of newspaper clippings detailing Black law enforcement officers and agents in Durham and educational materials pertaining to The North Carolina Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers, Inc and the North Carolina Teachers Association. These materials give insight into Black life in the region.

The North Carolina Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers, Inc was founded in 1927 with the mission to improve student attendance rates, promote the overall health of students, lengthen the school year (NCpedia). Additionally local chapters raised money to buy land for schools, beautify campus grounds and to purchase musical instruments and other supplemental educational materials (NCpedia). In the 1950’s and 60’s local units garnered the support of radio and V ads along with a membership of over 300,000 participants to meet financial goals (NCpedia). The materials we have from the North Carolina Congress of Colored Parents and Teacher’s, Inc. are from the mid to late 1960’s. During this time education was still racially segregated by law. However, in 1969 the organization merged with it’s white counterparts and became known as the North Carolina Parent-Teacher’s Association. History of the north Carolina Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers Inc. was gathered from NCpedia.

We have publications for the North Carolina Teachers Association as well. The North Carolina Teachers Association serve African American educators across the state of North Carolina. The organization originated as early as 1881. Educators from across the state would meet annually at various schools for networking and skill sharing sessions. The organization eventually merged with its white counterparts in 1970 when racial segregation ended (NCpedia). We have the a special edition souvenir program from 1970 honoring Mrs. Ruth Braswell Jones, who served as president from 1968-1970. The bulk of materials we have for the North Carolina Teachers Association are standard publications called the Teachers Record that document notable events and accomplishments of Black educators in North Carolina along with their annual conventions. The history of North Carolina Teachers Association was gathered from NCpedia.

You can also browse through materials from historically black churches in and around the region.

• St. Joseph A.M.E. Zion Church- Durham, NC
• New Hope Missionary Baptist Church- Durham, NC
• Russell Memorial C.M.E Church- Durham, NC
• Saint Ambrose Episcopal Church- Raleigh, NC
• Original Shiloh Missionary Baptist Association hosted at Olive Grove Baptist Church- Vaughn, NC
• Shiloh Baptist Church, Henderson, NC
• Kesler Temple A.M.E. Zion Church- Henderson, NC
• Holy Temple United Holy Church- Henderson, NC
• Lawson Chapel Baptist Church- Roxboro, NC
• United Holy Church of America, Inc- New York City

To check out all the materials from this batch including the Black law enforcement scrapbook and a publication on Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People you can visit DigitalNC! To see what other interesting collections NCCU has made possible please visit North Carolina Central University contributors page. If you are curious as to what is happening on campus visit North Carolina Central University direct website.