Sim A. DeLapp papers, 1862-1976

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Summary

Creator:
DeLapp, Simeon Alexander
Extent:
10 Linear Feet
circa 13,100 Items
Language:
English.
Collection ID:
RL.00302

Background

Scope and content:

The collection chiefly documents DeLapp's long-term involvement with the North Carolina Republican Party at the state and local level. While correspondence comprises the bulk of the collection, there are also some legal and financial papers, writings and speeches, printed material, and clippings. Being Chair of the North Carolina Republican Party (1942-1950) and legal counsel to the party (1950-1964), provided DeLapp access to state party leaders, which is reflected by the correspondents that include J. E. Broyhill, Wilmer D. Mizell, William E. Cobb, and Jesse Helms.

Included is information concerning political appointments, canvassing and registering voters, political campaigns, and political speeches (some made by DeLapp). DeLapp's efforts to promote Republican presidential candidates is highlighted in 1952 when he served as North Carolina State Chairman of Dwight D. Eisenhower's campaign. The earliest corespondence primarily relates to Delapp's father, Alexander T. Lapp, who was sheriff of Davidson County, N.C., from 1906-1912 and 1916-1918. Also represented are DeLapp's responsibilities with the Evangelical and Reformed Church (later the United Church of Christ); information about the DeLapp family and DeLapp's published work, People, Politics, Religion; and concern about the Duke University administration during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Biographical / historical:
Chronology
Date Event
1897, Dec. 21
Born Davidson County, N.C.
1918
A.B. Trinity College (now Duke University)
1921
LL.B. Trinity College
1921-1926
Practiced law in Lexington, N.C.
1922-1934
Member, Lexington Board of School Commissioners
1926-1946
Member, McCrary and DeLapp law firm
1927, July
Married Rose Sexton of Denton, N.C.
1928-1930
Davidson County attorney
1942-1950
Chair, North Carolina State Republican Party
1946-1950
Davison County attorney
1946-1952
Practiced law independently in Lexington, N.C.
1950-1964
Legal counsel for the North Carolina Republican Party
1951-1952
North Carolina State Chairman of Dwight D. Eisenhower's campaign for the presidency
1952-1976
Partner, Lexington law firm that maintained a general and trial practice under various names: DeLapp and Ward, 1952-1966; DeLapp, Ward, and Hedrick, 1966-1972; DeLapp and Hedrick, 1972-1974; DeLapp, Hedrick and Harp, 1974-1975; DeLapp, Hedrick, Harp, and Smith, 1975-1976.
1965-1970
Trustee, Davidson County Community College
1967-1974
Davidson County attorney
1976, Aug. 9
Died, Winston-Salem, N.C.
1983
Named posthumously to the North Carolina GOP Hall of fame

Member of the American, North Carolina, and Davidson County Bar Associations and the Lexington Rotary Club. Member and Elder in the First Evangelical and Reformed Church (later United Church of Christ) in Lexington. Member of the Kiwanis Club.

Acquisition information:
The David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library acquired the Sim A. DeLapp Papers (1862-1976) in three installments 1978, 1980, and 1983 by purchase and gift. The donation was made by Mrs. DeLapp in 1983.
Processing information:

Processed by Janie Morris

Completed May 15, 1992

Encoded by Alvin Pollock, Electronic Text Unit, UC Berkeley Library

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in the DeLapp Papers have not been transferred to Duke University. For further information, see the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Special Collections Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Sim A. DeLapp Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.