Viewing entries tagged "newspapers"

Issues of the Carolina Jeffersonian are now online

A black-and-white photo of a nearly empty street in Smithfield. The image is blurry, so only the large buildings on either side are clear.
A view of Smithfield, where issues of the Carolina Jeffersonian were scheduled to be dropped by plane (April 10, 1925).

Thanks to our partner, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and funding from the Library Services and Technology Act, we’ve added issues of the Carolina Jeffersonian newspaper from Raleigh, N.C. This batch of the weekly newspaper includes issues from 1924-25.

Before you start paging through this paper, it’s important to know that the Jeffersonian is most likely named in honor of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America—and the reasoning will be obvious once you see any one of these issues. The editors of this paper are extremely sympathetic toward the Ku Klux Klan, frequently covering news (and sometimes just praise) of the hate group.

The issues could have good use for genealogists however. Beginning in the December 4, 1924 edition, the paper begins a list (alphabetical by county) of former Confederate soldiers receiving pensions. It also frequently uses the names and photographs of Klan speakers and connected public figures.

You can see all issues of the Carolina Jeffersonian here. You can also browse our entire collection of digital newspapers by location, type, and date in our North Carolina Newspapers collection. To see more materials from UNC Chapel Hill, you can visit their partner page and their website.


The 2000-2010 Issues of The Carolina Times Now Available!

The next decade of The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.) is now available online at Digital NC, thanks to our partner UNC Chapel Hill.

One of the biggest moments of the decade? President Obama’s historic election win in 2008. Click here to revisit this incredible moment in United States’ history.

Image of President Obama
Image of 99-year-old citizen who voted for President Obama during the historic election.

These volumes also offer commentary on a myriad of issues affecting the Black community, both in Durham and nationwide. Prominent topics range from civil rights, societal and political inequality, and police brutality. This newspaper is a rich resource for any researcher and historian.

Scan of newspaper article titled "Congress pushes to crack old civil rights crimes with bill names for Emmett Till"

While the paper reports on national news, it also zooms in on local culture, celebrating joy in the Durham community. Below are selected images from parades, graduations, and other community-wide events.

To explore The Carolina Times further, click here! And to search through other North Carolina newspapers, click here.


Community Connections, LGBTQ+ Publication from the 1980s-2000s, Encouraged and Mobilized Community

Front page of October 1996 Community Connections newspaper with black and white photo of smiling African American man behind microphone and smiling crowds with campaign signs

Issues of CLOSER and it’s successor, Community Connections, have been shared online thanks to Buncombe County Public Libraries and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The issues date from 1987-2002.

CLOSER is the acronymn for Community Liaison Organization for Support, Education and Reform. According to a newspaper article from April 2020 published in the Mountain Xpress, this organization’s mission was “to serve as a liaison organization between the gay/lesbian community and the larger population, to provide mutual support, education and information regarding problems and concerns of the gay/lesbian community, to work for reform of social prejudices and discrimination practices and attitudes, and to foster for individuals and the community a sense of gay/lesbian identity.”

The paper, particularly in the earlier issues, includes very heartfelt reflections over the accomplishments of those involved in CLOSER. There are always announcements about events, and even lists of birthdays for that month. Coverage of the community members grappling with and documenting discrimination and hate speech is unfortunately a thread. However the paper shows local efforts to mobilize and provide mutual support. Through the 90s and early 2000s, the paper covers even more statewide and national news of impact to those in the community.

Many issues were scanned by the Pack Library in Asheville, which houses the organization’s archives. Some additional issues from the early 90s were added from the collections at UNC-Chapel Hill. You can view other newspapers on our newspaper landing page. Additional materials from the Pack Library can be found on our site as well as in their own digital collections.


Three Kittrell College Yearbooks from the 1960s and More Now Available on DigitalNC!

Thanks to our partner, Granville County Public Library, batches containing a May 1947 issue of Oxford High School’s student newspaper; several years of yearbooks from Middleburg High School and Kittrell College; two W. H. Smith account books; and one photograph of Middleburg High School’s women’s 1937 basketball team!

While we have several Kittrell College bulletins available on DigitalNC, this batch brings us our first yearbook issues for the college which are from 1960, 1968, and 1969. In addition, the yearbooks in this batch from Middleburg High School fill in previous gaps on DigitalNC with issues from 1938, 1939, 1947, 1948 and 1949.

To learn more about the Granville County Public Library, visit their website here.

To explore more yearbooks from across North Carolina, visit our North Carolina Yearbook collection.

To view more materials from Granville County, visit our Granville County page here.


Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center Shares Labor Organizing Materials

The North Carolina Digital Heritage Center is pleased to announce that materials from our new partner Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center are now available for viewing. Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center is located in Raleigh, NC but there work goes far beyond Raleigh. The digitized materials reflects the organizing efforts of national, local and sub-local chapters of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America labor union. These materials are meant to be used for educational and training purposes. You can view the materials at DigitalNC!

Beige colored cover page of the International Worker Justice Campaign Bulletin with two black and white images of a speaker standing behind a podium and a group of speakers sitting at a table. for the Mental Health Workers Bill of Rights Campaign.
Cover of International Worker Justice Campaign Bulletin, August 2008.

Materials in the collection include information about labor organizing through photographs, newsletters, bulletins, guides and selected literature. There are also Executive Orders from the State of North Carolina that were a result of the organizing efforts for example Executive Order No. 105. This act of legislation is a win for the labor union as they fight for the right to fair practices in the workplace. Inside The International Worker Justice Campaign Bulletin you will find mention of this legislation being passed and announcements about the Mental Health Workers Bill of Rights Campaign.

The United Electrical, Radio and Machine workers of America Local 150: Public Service Workers of North Carolina is rallying for many issues. The Mental Health Workers Bill of Rights Campaign is an ongoing movement fighting for better wages, attendance polices, and safe staffing to name a few, and you check out the related materials on the NCDHC website. To learn about the other campaigns and organizing efforts visit the Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center website.


Art and Politics with Durham’s North Carolina Anvil

Headmast for Durham, N.C. paper "North Carolina Anvil"
Photo of modern dancer in black outfit wearing a large white mask.
Mummenschanz
February 6, 1981

This week we have issues of Durham’s North Carolina Anvil spanning from 1975-1983. Founded by UNC alum Robert Brown in 1966, the Anvil was a self-proclaimed “newspaper of politics and the arts” that included features on Brother Yusuf Salim, Elizabeth Cotton, as well as heavily covering 1979’s Greensboro Massacre. Former contributor, Barry Jacobs, described the paper’s mission as “Whatever injustices we saw, we tried to go after them,” adding that “The Anvil was combative to the point that it was difficult to survive financially.”

The Robert Brown papers are housed in Wilson Library as part of the Southern Historical Collection. The collection contains correspondence with politicians, activists, and even comedian Bill Hicks. The paper is now available via DigitalNC thanks to our partner Chapel Hill Historical Society.

Drawing of multiple faces next to each other, resembling mountains.
September 5, 1980

42 Newspapers from the North Carolina Collection

Headmast for Raleigh, N.C. paper "The Farmer and Mechanic" from October 16, 1877

Here we have new papers from the North Carolina Collection that have never been microfilmed! The North Carolina Collection originated in 1844 and is the largest traditional collection of library materials for any state. Learn more about the NCC here!

These additions include:


Fill-In Newspaper Issues from 37 Titles Dating from Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries Added To DigitalNC

Black and white newspaper with The Edenton Transcript masthead in serif text

We’ve just added newspaper issues from 37 titles, dating from 1819-1968, with the majority dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From a variety of cities, most of these additions are only 1-5 issues per title. Thanks to the State Archives of North Carolina and its preservation of newspapers, we’re pleased to include these fill-in issues. The State Archives provided them to us as part of their newspaper microfilming workflow.

Below is a list of titles, their cities of publication, and the years from which the issues date.

The State Archives has an exhibit of Early North Carolina Newspapers here. Their microfilming efforts are behind almost all of the digitized microfilmed papers available through DigitalNC. Search or browse all of our newspapers on the newspaper landing page.


6 Halloween Costume Ideas from the Archive

Scrapbook spread, Halloween themed

1. Dress up like a character from your favorite cult classic.

This is a perfect excuse to re-watch low budget movies from the ’80s!

Photo of child wearing Toxie halloween costume

Ocracoke School Halloween Carnival [1995]

2. Dress like your future self.

Pull out your cardigans, print button-downs, and homemade cookies!

Scrapbook clipping, Halloween costumes

Cedar Mountain Community Club Scrapbook [1985]

3. Embrace the classics and dress your baby like a pumpkin!

Newspaper clipping, Halloween costume, King Mountain Herald

The Kings Mountain Herald [2004]

 

Scrapbook page showing Halloween party, Cedar Mountain

Cedar Mountain Community Club Scrapbook [1992]

 

Newspaper clipping, The News-Journal, Halloween costume of baby in pumpkin

The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) [1984]

4. Dress like something unintentionally creepy.

On Halloween night, even something as simple as a Cabbage Patch costume can look unsettling!

Scrapbook clipping of Lib Shipman dressed in a Halloween costume

Cedar Mountain Community Club Scrapbook [1985]

Scrapbook clipping, Halloween party with people in costumes

Cedar Mountain Community Club Scrapbook [1982]

 

5. Relive your childhood and dress like a beloved childhood character.

Take inspiration from the Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, and Dora the Explorer costumes below!

Newspaper clipping from Albemarle High School Student Newspaper, Halloween costume

Albemarle High School Student Newspaper [1987]

 

Child wearing bird costume, Halloween

Ocracoke School Halloween Carnival [1995]

 

Newspaper clipping, Halloween costume, Dora

The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) [2002]

6. Match with your friends.

Pick a movie, character, or theme for everyone to follow!

Newspaper clipping, Brevard College Student Newspaper, Halloween costumes

Newspaper clipping, University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper, Halloween masks

University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper [2018]


Fun Festivities with The Wake Weekly

Headmast for Wake Forest, N.C. newspaper "The Wake Weekly"

Here we have issues of The Wake Weekly spanning a decade from 1968 to 1977. This paper focuses on small town life ten miles north of Raleigh where they take great pride in their celebrations. In addition to fireworks and parades, the town also heavily features (maybe to the horror of some) local clowns. So here’s a list of the top clowns in The Wake Weekly:

Clown with checkered pants and small top hat being interviewed for newspaper
Buppa The Clown
March 16, 1972
clown with star shirt and curly wig waving out of car window
Shriner Bob
October 2, 1975
group of children dressed as clowns
May Day Clowns
May 8, 1964
two clowns reading over a fence. one is wearing a hat and checkered shirt and the other wearing a hat and striped shirt.
Lively Clowns
November 9, 1972
two clowns riding motorbikes in a parade
Biker Clowns
July 7, 1977

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