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Dedication, Education, Featured in New W. B. Wicker Materials, our 350th! partner

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Thanks to our new partners at the W. B. Wicker Alumni, DigitalNC is proud to announce that records from the W. B. Wicker School are available online! They also hold the distinction of being our 350th partner at NCDHC! This new collection includes both yearbooks from the school, and paper records published by the school during its operation. Originally named the Lee County Training School, the W. B. Wicker School was founded in 1927, and is one of the oldest educational institutions in Lee County. The school was constructed in part with funds from The Rosenwald Fund. For years, the school was one of the only ways for Lee County’s African-American students to receive a public education in years dominated by Jim Crow legislation and segregation. In the 1960s the school was renamed W. B. Wicker School as a way to honor W. B. Wicker, the school’s longtime popular principal and primary supporter. The school was decommissioned as a high school in 1969 as part of integration efforts for the Lee County schools. Today the building serves as an elementary school for Lee County.

The cover of the 23rd Anniversary program for the Lee County Training School. The cover includes a photograph of the school and a headshot of W. B. Wicker.
The front page of the 23rd Anniversary Program of the Lee County Training School, now online at DigitalNC.

This batch includes a program from the 23rd anniversary of the school, a bulletin from Sanford City Schools, and a booklet advertising the campus’ recent renovations in the twenty-first century. Each record embodies a different aspect of the campus’ history — from its operation by W. B. Wicker in the 1940s, to its status as a national historic landmark in the twenty-first century. A highlight of this batch is “the bulletin of the Sanford City Schools,” which features a front-page story of W. B. Wicker as a place “where excellence is traditional.” The bulletin features stories on the school’s administrative growth, with the school gaining a new librarian, secretary, and full-time assistant principal. Many of the teachers and faculty-members working at W. B. Wicker went to the school as students, or in the case of then-principal Benjamin T. Bullock, worked as a teacher for sixteen years before becoming W. B. Wicker’s successor as principal. Dedication and commitment to the school’s purpose as a space for education are apparent in each of these stories, and readers gain a deeper sense of the importance schools like W. B. Wicker played in their communities.

You can read these new materials online now at DigitalNC here. Thanks again to our amazing new partners at the W. B. Wicker School Alumni for making these records available and our partners at Lee County Libraries for connecting us. If you’re interested in learning more about our new partners, you can visit their new partner page online at DigitalNC here.

Jonesboro Comes to Life in New Historical Society Records

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The title of the Jonesboro Journal.

Thanks to our new partner at the Jonesboro Historical Society, DigitalNC is proud to announce that EIGHTY new records are now available online for the very first time! These materials cover almost every possible aspect of life for Jonesboro residents, from wartime letters and community recipes to yearbooks! Located in Lee County, Jonesboro is now a neighborhood of Sanford, but retains a rich history and was once an independent township. The community retains its independent charm, and has a rich history detailed in the archival record. These new materials range from as far back as 1912, and are as recent as 1996. Mediums run the gamut from the conventional (programs, photographs) to the novel (cookbooks, bulletins). This batch has something for any Tar Heel historian, whether they’re interested in Edwardian fashion or the second world war.

Anyone interested in wartime narratives will be pleased to find an amazing collection of bulletins published by Jonesboro residents. These bulletins were circulated around Lee County, as well as sent overseas to soldiers. Each issue featured letters written by Jonesboro men sent overseas, and often updated their friends and family on their status, station, and well-being. For many families, these letters were often the only news they received on their friends and loved ones, and even those deployed expressed gratitude for updates on where their childhood mates were stationed. During the second world war, Jonesboro men were stationed across the world, including England, northern Africa, and in the Pacific. Home front experiences are also recorded in these newsletters, including prayers written by mothers and clergy. Also included in this collection are photographs of Henry Buchanan, who served in the first world war on mounted horseback!

A photograph of Jonesboro Methodist Church. It is titled "Jonesboro Methodist Church Community Cook Book"
Recipes and more can be found in the Jonesboro Methodist Community Cook Book. A photograph of Jonesboro Methodist Church. It is titled “Jonesboro Methodist Church Community Cook Book!”

For those among us interested in domestic histories, the Community Cook Book published by the Jonesboro Methodist Church will prove particularly appetizing. This book is a wonderful collection of recipes gathered from Jonesboro residents, ranging from soda bread to lobster. Each dish has the name of the community-member who contributed the meal, and they often provide written advice or histories alongside their family recipes. If that’s not enough, the book also provides advice for new couples who may be unaccustomed to hosting guests. The advice features details on setting tables, seating arrangements, silverware, and even proper etiquette once everyone’s seated. Also included are “household hints,” for easy preparation of common ingredients such as tomatoes, pecans, pie crusts, and sandwiches. While some of the etiquette tips may not be as prevalent today (the use of household maids is definitely not as common), this book is a delightful resource for anyone interested in cooking more Southern food, or for those wishing to become “better” hosts.

The collection also includes a wide range of portraits and photographs taken around Jonesboro. If you’re interested in cooking, learning more about the second World War, or just want to look at some gorgeous historic portraits, you can find the batch online now at DigitalNC here. Thanks again to our amazing new partners at the Jonesboro Historical Society for making these records available and for our partner at Lee County Libraries for connecting us.

Temple Theatre Comes to Life in New Photographs

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A color slide of a production of "A Christmas Carol," with the ghost of Christmas past hovering over Scrooge's bed.
The color slides beautifully capture Temple’s shows! This is from a production of A Christmas Carol

Thanks to our partner Temple Theatre in Sanford, a new set of photographs, slides, and scrapbooks are now available online. Highlights from this collection include a series of black-and-white photographs from the theater’s renovation in the 1980s, over seventy slides from Temple Theatre’s grand reopening, and a scrapbook recording the theater’s early days as a movie venue. These fantastic records will join a pre-existing collection digitized early last year, which also includes scrapbooks, slides, and more!

An image of a scrapbook page, with stories about Temple Theater.
Many pages have a variety of theater programs, stories, and ads!

The new scrapbook is an amazing record for anyone interested in film history. Within this book’s pages are meticulously collected newspaper clippings, licensing deals, and advertisements for movies released in the golden age of Hollywood cinema. Everything from classic noir to old-school westerns were featured at Temple Theater, and there were even rotating seasons of live performances. Reports on fiddling contests often share pages with advertisements for the newest Charlie Chaplin routine, and movies are often advertised with corresponding news reels or comedy routines. There’s even an extensive collection recording when Leo, the Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer lion, visited Sanford! Apparently he stayed in the town for a few days, and performed on-stage live as part of the studio’s partnership with the local movie theater.

You can find the new scrapbook, as well as the brand new photographs, online now at DigitalNC here. Interested in learning more about the historic Temple Theatre? You can find their partner page online at DigitalNC here, or visit the theater’s webpage here.

A Legacy of Historic Engagement is Preserved in New War of 1812 Records

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memorabilia scrapbooks

Interested in learning more about the War of 1812? Thanks to our new partners at the North Carolina Society Daughters of 1812, now you can! For the first time ever, six scrapbooks chronicling historic preservation, research, and reenactment are now available. Each scrapbook records written histories, historic banquets, and a variety of materials gathered by daughters of War of 1812 veterans in or around North Carolina. The scrapbooks date from as far back as 1940, to as recently as 2012, covering almost a century of historic engagement.

A photograph of two women in historic colonial dress.

Each scrapbook contains a variety of records related to the operation of a historic preservation society. These range from letters written by Senators, to awards granted to members for their service in historic programming and outreach. A personal highlight are the colorful photographs of the Daughters’ reenactment events, where each member would dress in period-appropriate attire (often including their husbands, children, or even grandchildren!). Each members’ dress is evidence of their breathless devotion to historical accuracy, as well as their skill in sewing and tailoring!

The written histories in each scrapbook are also an amazing way to find out more about North Carolina’s involvement in one of the lesser recognized aspects of American history. North Carolina witnessed several historic battles during the course of the war, and its coast bore witness to a rogues’ gallery of privateers, pirates, and buccaneers. Many histories are concerned with one Johnston Blakely, captain of the Wasp. During the War of 1812, Captain Blakely captured many British boats and disrupted countless others. He was a graduate of the University of Chapel Hill in its early days, and remained in North Carolina after his service. Another prominent name mentioned in the scrapbooks is Theodosia Burr, the daughter of Aaron Burr. Theodosia went missing off the coast of the Carolinas around the War of 1812, and several oral histories in the scrapbooks speculate on her fate.

You can read these histories and discover North Carolina’s involvement in the War of 1812 online now here. Thanks again to our amazing partners at the North Carolina Chapter of the Daughters of the War of 1812 for making this collaboration possible. You can find their partner page on DigitalNC here, or visit their website online here.

Queens University Records Now Available Online!

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A newspaper clipping with the title "Winchester Student 'Blows Up'" and an article about Rat Day celebrations at Queens University.

Thanks to our spectacular partners at Queens University of Charlotte, DigitalNC is pleased to announce a brand new collection of scrapbooks, newspapers, and newsletters are now available online! The records stretch from as far back as 1921 to as recent as 2005, and encompass a vast experience of student life at one of Charlotte’s most historic campuses. Two hundred issues of student newspapers will join a pre-existing collection already hosted online at NC Digital, extending our digital coverage of the publication by almost a decade!

The newspaper, then known as the Queen’s Blues, span from 1920 to 1931, during the period when Queen’s University was a private Christian woman’s school. Both the paper’s articles and advertisements position themselves at this historic intersection, serving the needs of yesteryear’s college girl. Front-pages are often arranged in order to feature articles on Sunday seminars alongside opera reviews, and ads for charity-drives frequently feature alongside flash sales for the fanciest flapper fashions. A Queen’s girl is portrayed as both demure and mindful, but also modern and urbane. Of particular interest is the Queens Jester section on the back page of each issue, which includes a column of student-submitted jokes and humorous observations. While some may not have aged well, many still elicit a sensible chuckle.

A cartoon introducing the new Queens University Fighting Squirrel mascot.

Issues of The Queen’s Chronicle are also included in this collection. These are fourteen issues of student newsletters published nearly eight decades after issues of Queens Blues. Ranging from 2002 to 2005, the pages of the newsletter reflect the similarities and differences of student life at Queens’ campus through the decades. Particularly noticeable is the addition of male students’ voices featured within the newsletters’ pages, as well as an increased focus on sports such as lacrosse, soccer, and basketball.

You can read issues of both The Queens’ Chronicle and Queens’ Blues, as well as five new scrapbooks, online now at DigitalNC. Interested in learning more about Queens University? You can find their partner page online at DigitalNC here, or navigate to the university’s website here. Thanks again to our amazing partners for making this collection possible.

Maps and More from High Point Now Available!

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Thanks to our partners at High Point Museum and the Heritage Research Center at High Point Public Library, a new batch of materials including a beautiful series of programs from swim competitions, booklets on High Point manufacturers, and full-color maps of Guilford County. The materials range from as far back as 1920 to as recent as 2018, encompassing nearly a century of North Carolina memory. They will join an already massive collection of High Point Museum materials already online at DigitalNC, with nearly four hundred objects already digitized.

A purple and white map of High Point, North Carolina.
This is just one of the many gorgeous maps in the collection!

The highlight of this collection is absolutely the nine beautifully illustrated maps that detail the geography of High Point and its surrounding area. These nine maps each date from different eras of Guilford County history, and reflect the changing landscape of one of North Carolina’s largest manufacturing centers throughout the years. Care is taken with many of the maps to label the individual streets and businesses, and include meticulously maintained directories. Event maps, such as for the Henredon Classic and North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, include historic blurbs and art for visitors to appreciate. A truly massive amount of care and attention for High Point was poured into the creation of each map, and that care leaps from the page even today.

You can find these new maps, along with the rest of this batch, online now at DigitalNC here. Interested in learning more about High Point’s history? You can find the partner page for our friends at High Point Museum here and the Heritage Research Center at High Point Public Library here. Interested in looking at more historic maps? Try our maps collection online here!

New Hyde County Courthouse Record Now Available

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Thanks to our new partner at the Friends of Hyde Countys Historic 1854 Courthouse, DigitalNC is pleased to announce a brand new report on the courthouse is now available online! This report, from 2011, is an exhaustive body of research drafted by the Historic Research Committee Chairman. It records the names of presiding Superior Court Judges as well as the names of Court Pleas Justices, sorted both chronologically and alphabetically. The report also includes a wonderfully detailed history of the 1854 courthouse, including details on the building’s architectural design and its placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

Image of the side of a brick two story courthouse with each addition marked by the date it was built (1838; 1892; 1909)

The Chairman’s report also includes biographical excerpts on each presiding court justice, alongside notes on additions and improvements made to the courthouse (such as a secure vault in 1909). This body of work is full of amazing historical anecdotes about significant figures in North Carolina’s history. For example, did you know that Joseph W. Todd is said to have been the only lawyer ever to successfully make a joke to the State Supreme Court? He also coined the name “red-legged grass-hoppers” to the state senate’s internal revenue service, who were the first to wear leather leggins in their walks through the Appalachians in search of moonshine stills. Or that Romulus M. Saunders, a longtime legislator for the state, is said to have a “defective” early education?

Interested in learning more about the eighth oldest courthouse in North Carolina? You can find more materials from the Friends of Hyde Countys Historic 1854 Courthouse online at their partner page.

Poets Muse in the Mountains in New Southwestern Records

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An illustration of two lovers united by a flaming heart. They watch over an ancient Greek landscape.
From Pen and Ink Vol 2, Number 2

Thanks to our partners at Southwestern Community College, DigitalNC now contains a new batch of records from the school spanning over three decades from 1967 to 2002. These records not only reflect the administrative and academic growth of Southwestern, but also the vibrant culture and community of its faculty and students. While administrative reports and meeting minutes paint a vivid picture of the financial and curricular development of the campus, a vast and varied collection of newsletters, brochures, and magazines reveal the beauty of living and working around Jackson County, North Carolina.

Perhaps one of the most entertaining and colorful reflections of mountain life can be found in the form of Pen & Ink, a literary magazine published by Southwestern students beginning in 1978. Each issue of this magazine contains poetry and art submitted by Southwestern’s very own students and faculty, reflecting their musings on life, love, and learning. Artistic subjects range from portraits of famous scientific thinkers to beautiful, airbrush-esque fantasy scenes that take up entire pages of the magazine. And, while many poems are devoted to loves lost or not yet earned, there’s a wonderful selection of poems to be found about mountain living or rock and roll. Earnest introspection splashes out from each page of Pen & Ink, reflecting the often pseudonymous or anonymous authors freedom during the end of the 1970s.

The title of "Horrorscopes" by staff writer Leslie Bachman. An illustration of a witch is included.
An example of the Halloween themed “Humorscopes” often featured in Cornerstone.

You can also find colorful examples of student life at Southwestern in newly digitized issues The Cornerstone, a regular newsletter published by and for students. Each issue of The Cornerstone contains photos of student life at Southwestern, from spring flings to Halloween celebrations, as well as a recurring section of “Humorscopes,” satirical predictions of students’ futures based on their zodiac sign. The Cornerstone also diligently worked to amplify student voices, providing a sections on the front and back page expressly for student feedback. The front page section, known as “The Colliquoy,” frequently cited students and their concerns on pertinent topics and stories, while the back-page section, titled “The Cornerstone Market” offered an open forum where students could post jobs, apartments, or school supplies.

Thanks again to our partners at Southwestern Community College for making this collection available online. You can find issues of The Cornerstone, as well as Pen & Ink and the rest of this amazing collection, online now at DigitalNC here. Interested in learning more about Southwestern Community College? You can find their partner page online at DigitalNC here, or visit their website here.

New Issues of The Perquimans Weekly Now Available!

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Thanks to our partners at both the Pettigrew Memorial Library and Perquimans County Library, over 100 more issues of the Perquimans Weekly are now on DigitalNC. The newest batch includes papers published from 2021-2023. The papers will extend DigitalNC’s collection of The Perquimans Weekly an additional three years, stretching all the way back to the paper’s debut issue in 1934 and joining a collection of over four thousand issues!

The front page of The Perquimans Weekly from December, 2023.

This astonishing temporal range allows for some truly amazing comparisons between the newspapers of today and those of centuries’ past.

Newer editions of The Perquimans Weekly also display many modern-day advancements in newspaper organization. While newspapers of century past arranged many articles closely together in defined and rigid columns, contemporary issues of The Perquimans provide margins between columns and articles, which are easier for the average readers’ eyes to follow. Articles are no longer rigidly slotted together, but are stacked and layered artfully with an eye for the overall composition of each page. The sections of each issue, too, are more defined and arranged. This century’s journalists have provided Perquiman County readers with signposted guardrails such as “Opinion,” “Sport,” and “Religion.” Gone are the days where letters to the editor had to fight for space with front page columns. Now is the time of reason, art, and effectively displayed journalism!

Interested instead in reading the paper’s previous pages from the twentieth century? Read each issue of The Perquimans online at DigitalNC here, or find their website online here.

The Boonville Herald Arrives Online

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Thanks to a North Carolina Community partner, a new newspaper title is now on DigitalNC, the Boonville Herald. One issue of the paper, from 1911 was sent to us for digitization.

An etching of a jester above a blurb advertising a year of the Herald for 50 cents.
The Foole in question

This issue was the third published by The Boonville Herald, and its pages reflect the paper’s desire to serve the community of Boonville and its surrounding area. Stories featured in the daily news section involve personal updates from citizens of Boonville, as well as global news from the far-flung metropolises of London and New York. Updates on New York being attacked by locusts are nestled between updates on Mr. Graham Holcomb’s sawmill and the singing at Mrs. Wile’s. Though only a brief four pages, the paper’s balance between local and global focus reflects a desire to expand its readership by serving as many interested readers as possible. A highlight of the issue is the jester on the last page, advertising a year-long subscription to the Herald for only 50 cents!

To view more newspapers from across small North Carolina towns like Boonville, visit our North Carolina Newspapers page.

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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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