Durham County (N.C.) papers, 1868-1996

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Summary

Creator:
Durham County (N.C.)
Abstract:
Durham County is located in the northeast central North Carolina; it was established in 1881 from lands in Wake and Orange counties. The city of Durham was incorporated in 1866 and then again in 1869. Collection was assembled by library staff, and is arranged in rough chronological order beginning in 1868. Within the chronology, decades are broken down by subject. Formats include correspondence, deeds, leaflets, articles, events programs, booklets, maps, pamphlets, and some photographs. Subjects include: activism, performing arts, business, churches, clubs, courts, education, libraries, historic sites and landmarks, parades, city and county politics, public works, publications, real estate, senior citizens, utilities, Watts Hospital, women's clubs and women's history, preservation of Eno River lands, and the YMCA/YWCA. Materials relating to African Americans in Durham County are found throughout.
Extent:
12.5 Linear Feet (25 flat boxes)
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.10026

Background

Scope and content:

Collection was assembled by library staff beginning around 1937, and consists of a wide variety of manuscript and print materials, arranged in subject folders in rough chronological order by decades. The earliest date of 1868 belongs to a registry of all eligible male voters in Durham precinct (then part of Orange County). Subjects across the collection include: African Americans, activism, the arts, business, churches, clubs, courts, education, landmarks, parades, politics, public works, publications, race relations, real estate, segregation, senior citizens, utility companies, Watts Hospital, women's history, and YMCA/YWCA. Formats include correspondence, deeds and indentures, leaflets, articles, events programs, booklets, pamphlets, serial publications, receipts, and some photographs.

Early records spanning the 19th century to the 1920s illustrate the growth and nature of the political system; the expansion of business and real estate affairs, especially in the city of Durham, N.C.; the development of public health, utilities, and schools; and the rising participation of women in cultural and political affairs. Later 20th century materials reflect the same variety of materials: subjects of interest include the arts, environmental activism, local politics, race relations, education, workers' rights campaigns, and African American political mobility. Business materials include the African American-owned N.C. Mutual Life Insurance Company.

The collection as a whole has been given baseline processing; a few portions are unprocessed.

Biographical / historical:

Durham County is located in northeast central North Carolina's Piedmont region. The county was formed in 1881 out of lands formerly in Wake and Orange counties. Its county seat, Durham, named after Dr. Bartlett Durham, began as a railroad depot in the 1850s and was incorporated in 1866 and then again in 1869.

Acquisition information:
The Durham County (N.C.) records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library in the form of numerous gifts, purchases, and transfers starting in 1937 to 2021.
Processing information:

Processed by: Rubenstein Library staff.

Finding aid created and updated by Molly Bragg and Carrie Mills, 2011 and 2013.

Accession 2021-0149 processed and described by Paula Jeannet, February 2022.

Arrangement:

Folders represent general subjects or specific items and are arranged by decades in roughly chronological order.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Durham County (N.C.) papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1pp6n