William T. Gannaway papers, 1853-1906

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Summary

Creator:
Gannaway, William T.
Abstract:
William T. Gannaway was a white educator, college administrator, and farmer. From 1857 to 1892, he taught at Trinity College in Randolph County, North Carolina, and served as president pro tempore of the college from 1863 to 1865. The collection largely consists of grade books and account books containing the expenses and financial transactions for the Gannaway family and the college. Some of the account books contain the expenses for Cherokee Industrial School and the names, payments, and services of Black people who worked for Gannaway and Trinity College after the Civil War. Also includes a small amount of correspondence and notes.
Extent:
2.4 Linear Feet
Language:
Material in English
Research Center:
Duke University Archives
Collection ID:
UA.29.02.0152
University Archives Record Group:
29 -- Papers of Faculty, Staff, and Associates
29 -- Papers of Faculty, Staff, and Associates > 02 -- Individuals

Background

Scope and content:

The collection largely consists of grade books and account books for Gannaway's personal accounts and Trinity College. The grade books contain student grades and courses taught by Gannaway at Trinity College. The account books include records relating to salary, farm labor, housekeeping, college supplies and advertisements, student board, clothing, food, and services.

A few account books, such as Day Book, 1853-1877; Account Book, 1875-1877; Account Book, 1878-1885; and Account Book, 1886-1906, contain the names, payments, and services of Black people who worked for Gannaway and Trinity College post-Civil War. Some of them had been formerly enslaved.

Account Book, 1883-1884, includes financial records for Cherokee Industrial School, a federal Indian boarding school at Trinity College made up of male students from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

This collection also contains an 1864 report to the Trustees, memoranda, receipts, notes, and a small amount of correspondence, including a letter from E. F. Finch in 1888 that concerns the financial affairs of Charles Heitman and their effects on Trinity College.

Biographical / historical:

William Trigg Gannaway was a white educator, college administrator, and farmer. He was born in Wythe County, Virginia, on June 10, 1825. He graduated from Emory and Henry College in 1847. That same year Gannaway opened a high school at Floyd Court House, Virginia. He then became head of a high school in Germanton, North Carolina. He married Mary Bethel in 1855, and they had four children, Ida, Florence, Edgar, and Mary. In 1857, Gannaway was appointed Professor of Latin and History at Trinity College in Randolph County, North Carolina. During his time at Trinity, Gannaway also taught arithmetic, algebra, English grammar, reading, and acted as treasurer of the college. From 1863 to 1865, he served as president pro tempore during Braxton Craven's resignation. Gannaway stayed at Trinity College until the school moved to Durham in 1892, and he retired from teaching that same year. After retiring, he kept his home and farm in Randolph County. Gannaway died June 5, 1910.

Acquisition information:
Unknown.
Processing information:

Processed by Archives Staff, February 2007

Encoded by Sherrie Bowser, April 2007

Container information and collection-level notes updated by Tracy M. Jackson, February 2020.

Biography note, collection-level and file-level scope and content notes updated by April Blevins, May 2025

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.

Terms of access:

Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], William T. Gannaway Papers, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1dd7s