Photo from the McRae Public Library Scrapbook, page 13

The latest batch of items from the Rockingham County Public Library contains several scrapbooks that document the history of several branch libraries in the county. A highlight from this group is the General Publicity scrapbook, which documents a history of activism for libraries in both Rockingham County and around the state– especially through bookmobiles.

The first bookmobile in Rockingham County, General Publicity, page 14

The first bookmobile came to North Carolina in 1936 to serve the largely rural population that had little access to library services within their communities. At the time, the North Carolina Library Association (NCLA) and the Citizens’ Library Movement estimated that more than 1 million people in NC had no access to libraries. NCLA combated this problem by purchasing the state’s first book truck. The truck traveled around to rural counties in the state, demonstrating how small, local libraries could better serve their populations. This idea quickly caught on in Rockingham County and a community member donated a bookmobile to the county in 1937 (pictured above).

The second bookmobile in Rockingham County, General Publicity Scrapbook, page 15

The new bookmobile was widely successful, making 106 stops weekly around the county. It ran as the soul “locomotive library” for more than a decade before it was replaced by another, more unusual edition in 1949. The second book truck (pictured at left) featured machine-powered shelves that extended several feet behind the truck, which allowed space for more than 1200 volumes of books. This was more than double the amount of the previous truck.

The popularity of the bookmobile grew so rapidly that the county added a second bookmobile to the fleet in 1953. The newest model was a refurbished delivery truck that was as large as a “room on wheels.” The new, larger bookmobile (pictured below) allowed for the library to better serve rural patrons, no matter the weather, which had been a problem for the previous model. The older bookmobile went on to serve the McRae Libraries in Rockingham County, which served the African American community (featured photo at the top of the page), providing access to a previously under-served population in the county. The McRae Library scrapbook also offers a look into the vibrant history of library services for the Black community in Rockingham County. If you are interested in learning more about the Rockingham County Bookmobile, check out this unique film from 1939. It demonstrates the first bookmobile in action!

The third bookmobile in Rockingham County, General Publicity scrapbook, page 16

In addition to the scrapbooks containing information about the bookmobiles, this batch also includes several informational booklets about various textile mills in the county, various memorabilia items, and historical information about the area from the early nineteenth century.

You can see several of the other highlights from this batch below:

• Chronology of the Land of Eden (Saura Town)
• Brief Facts About Fieldcrest Mills
• “Hit the Enemy Where it Hurts” War Bond Advertisement 

To learn more about the Rockingham County Public Library and its branches, please the website. To see more items from the library on DigitalNC, please visit their contributor page.

The Oxford Orphan Asylum in 1911, from Hays Scrapbook Vol. 98: Oxford Orphanage.

New scrapbooks contributed by Granville County Public Library have been digitized and are now on DigitalNC. Five of these scrapbooks are from the Francis B. Hays Collection, joining the 92 previously digitized scrapbooks made by Hays about Oxford and Granville County, North Carolina. The scrapbooks are focused on topics such as pharmacies in Granville County, the bar and lawyers, medicine and sexuality, mayor and board elections, and the Oxford Orphan Asylum. We have also digitized three new scrapbooks by Johnnie and Floyd Parker, which include cards, newspaper clippings, obituaries, weddings, graduations, World War II news, postcards, diary entries, and photographs. The 1968 scrapbook focuses on UNC basketball in particular, including the Parkers’ trip to Los Angeles for the championship game. Johnnie Parker consistently wrote down scores and updated brackets for basketball games. Following are the links to the newly digitized scrapbooks.

The Parkers’ photograph of the UNC vs UCLA championship game, 1968.

• Hays Scrapbook Vol. 94: Druggists
• Hays Scrapbook Vol. 95: Oxford Bar
• Hays Scrapbook Vol. 96: Medicine and Sexuality
• Hays Scrapbook Vol. 97: Oxford Mayor and Board
• Hays Scrapbook Vol. 98: Oxford Orphanage
• Parker Scrapbook [1941-1944]
• Parker Scrapbook [1956-1967]
• Parker Scrapbook [February 1968-December 1968]

The contributor page of Granville County Public Library has more materials from them, including scrapbooks, photographs, yearbooks, and newspapers. There is an exhibit page dedicated to the Francis B. Hays Collection, where you can browse by topics like Oxford and Granville County church histories, families, marriages, obituaries, schools, and businesses. You can learn more about the Granville County Public Library through their website.

Ticket to 1968 National Collegiate Basketball Championships, from Parker Scrapbook.

Illustrations of local plant and animal life in Ocracoke.

Ocracoke Lighthouse and plane, 1952.

Park Service plans for project in Outer Banks, July 1952.

Nine scrapbooks from Ocracoke, North Carolina have been digitized and added to DigitalNC. From the Ocracoke Preservation Society, these scrapbooks range from the 1940s to 1980s and include photographs, newspaper clippings, brochures, booklets, drawings, letters, maps, short stories, and histories about Ocracoke. The newspaper articles are often about local people and families, events, and news such as park projects and ferries opening. The brochures and booklets are typically informational, about nature, animals, boats, and lighthouses on the Outer Banks and Ocracoke Island . The 1955-1981 scrapbook in particular features information about lighthouses and lighthouse keepers and ships and sailors. The 1956-1980 scrapbook is full of photographs from Ocracoke, including buildings, houses, ships, and the lighthouse. All of the scrapbooks are listed below:

Ocracoke, 1952.

• Ocracoke Scrapbook 1942-1962
• Ocracoke Scrapbook 1952-1953
• Ocracoke Coastal Times Scrapbook 1952-1953
• Ocracoke Scrapbook 1955-1981
• Ocracoke Coastal Times Scrapbook 1956-1957
• Ocracoke Scrapbook 1956-1980
• Ocracoke Scrapbook 1958-1959
• Ocracoke Scrapbook 1958-1961
• Ocracoke Scrapbook 1961-1971

These materials were contributed by the Ocracoke Preservation Society, which works to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of Ocracoke Island. You can view more from the Ocracoke Preservation Society through their contributor page or on their website.

4th of July pony penning.

Coast Guard Station on Ocracoke Island.

The Wayne County Public Library has provided three more scrapbooks for digitization. These scrapbooks feature local baseball player Bobby Wilson throughout his time playing for the Baltimore Orioles (1948), Toronto Maple Leafs (1953-1954), and Indianapolis Indians (1952). Mr. Wilson was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, but he played baseball all over the country during his career.

“Bobbing Bobby” Wilson

A hit by Bobby Wilson drives a run in

Wayne County Public Library has provided a number of scrapbooks about Bobby Wilson in the past, as well as other baseball players and teams. For more information about Mr. Wilson and his career, see these previous blog posts, and for more information and to view the other materials from Wayne County Public Library, visit their contributor page.

Covers from the High Point Women’s Club Scrapbooks, 2008, 2006, and, 2007.

DigitalNC is happy to host five additional scrapbooks from High Point Woman’s Club, provided by the High Point Museum. These 5 join others ranging back to the early 1950’s. Over the years, the scrapbooks document the lives of many members and their activities with the club, ranging from advocacy for education and libraries to fun events, like card tournaments and fashion shows. It has been a pleasure to learn more about this active and dedicated group of women.

You can view the latest five scrapbooks in this series below:

• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [2004]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [2005]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [2007]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [2008]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [2009]

To learn more about the High Point Museum, please visit their contributor page or the website.

To learn more about the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and its connection to clubs in North Carolina, please visit the organization’s homepage.

Clipping from The Mount Airy News in the Surry Community College Scrapbook November 1980-July 1985.

21 scrapbooks from Surry Community College have been digitized and added to DigitalNC. Surry Community College is located in Dobson, North Carolina and serves Surry and Yadkin Counties. These are the first scrapbooks we have digitized from Surry Community College; they contain clippings about the college from various local and state newspapers, including events, activities, athletics, arts, funding, awards, students, teachers, and classes. One scrapbook was made by Louise Anderson, a visiting artist at Surry from 1982 to 1984 who participated in the storytelling festival. The scrapbooks date from 1964 to 2007, covering forty years of Surry’s history.

All of the scrapbooks from Surry Community College can be viewed here, plus we have digitized yearbooks for Surry in the past, which can be viewed here. You can see more from Surry Community College on their contributor page and learn more about them on their website.

Members of the Woman’s Club in High Point, NC hold a groundbreaking for their new building.

A new scrapbook from Randolph County Public Library has been digitized and added to DigitalNC. The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings from 1970 to 1978. The clippings are about Randolph County, including news articles and photographs about events, clubs, sports, arts, personality profiles, the woman’s club, a library opening, wedding announcements, anniversaries, and obituaries.

View more scrapbooks, as well as yearbooks and newspapers, from Randolph County Public Library on DigitalNC, and learn more about the library on their website.

Mrs. Lloyd Thayer and Mrs. J. Boone Peace working at the Evergreen Nursing Home, High Point Women’s Club Scrapbook [1979], page 99

You can view all of the newest High Point Museum scrapbooks at the links below:

• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [1979]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [1989]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [1994]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [1997]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [1998]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [1999]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [2000]
• High Point Woman’s Club Scrapbook [2001]

To learn more about the High Point Museum, please visit their contributor page or the website.

To learn more about the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and its connection to clubs in North Carolina, please visit the organization’s homepage.

Hazel Herndon joins the Red Cross.

From Hazel Herndon’s World War II journal.

Hazel Herndon, a young woman from Charlotte, North Carolina, joined the Red Cross in 1944 and was assigned overseas during World War II. Throughout her time abroad, Hazel kept a large and detailed scrapbook about her life. It contains diary entries about her work in the Red Cross, travels around Europe (including England, France, and Germany), and personal life, such as her friendships and marriage. The scrapbook is full of photographs, letters, pamphlets, postcards, maps, and many more items that paint a detailed picture of Hazel Herndon’s life working for the Red Cross during World War II.

This scrapbook was provided by Kings Mountain Historical Museum. You can view more from Kings Mountain Historical Museum at their DigitalNC homepage and learn more on their website.

A drawing from Hazel Herndon’s journal, labeled “Limey Liberty.” The journal is full of similar illustrations.