Trinity College Historical Society collection, [1492?] - 1981

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Summary

Creator:
Trinity College Historical Society
Abstract:
In 1892, Dr. Stephen B. Weeks, a professor of history at Trinity College, organized the Trinity College Historical Society. The goals of the Society were to collect, arrange, and preserve written materials and artifacts illustrative of the history of North Carolina and the South, and to promote the study of Southern history through lectures and publications. The Society benefited from the strong leadership of two history professors, John Spencer Bassett and William Kenneth Boyd. They made wide appeals for donations of historical materials and maintained a museum to house these relics. The meetings of the Society, held several times each year, provided a forum at which students and faculty could read their research papers and discuss their ideas. The best of these papers were published, from 1897 to 1956, in the Historical Papers of the Trinity College Historical Society. The collection includes historical notes about Trinity College and the Society, correspondence, meeting announcements, administrative files, publications, speeches, and artifacts. Materials range in date from [1492?] to 1981. English.
Extent:
20 Linear Feet
3500 Items
Language:
English.
Collection ID:
UA.31.12.0002
University Archives Record Group:
31 -- Student/Campus Life
31 -- Student/Campus Life > 12 -- Student Organizations - Special Interest

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes a wide variety of material concerning the Trinity College Historical Society and ranges in date from [1492?] to 1981. The material includes historical notes, about Trinity College and the Trinity College Historical Society and includes transcribed notes, rosters, lists of donations, records, reviews of activities, stationary, and clippings. The correspondence and meeting announcements, [1926]-1981, includes general correspondence about the business of the Trinity College Historical Society and announcements and publicity for upcoming meetings. The administrative files, 1892-1978, includes minutes of the meetings held by the Trinity College Historical Society, and files kept by the presidents, secretaries, and treasurers of the Society. Publications, 1897-1979, include copies of the Historical Papers of the Trinity College Historical Society and newsletters published from 1978-1979. Speeches, 1904-[1980], include notes, original manuscripts, and copies of speeches and papers presented at the meetings of the Trinity College Historical Society. The artifacts, [1492?]-1918, include items collected from all aspects of American life. These relics range from coins and medals, to wooden shoe soles, to a piece of what was thought to be Christopher Columbus's flag.

In January 2007, Box 20 and folders 170 and 173 were transferred to the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Biographical / historical:

In 1892, Dr. Stephen B. Weeks, a professor of history at Trinity College, organized the Trinity College Historical Society. The goals of the Society were to collect, arrange, and preserve written materials and artifacts illustrative of the history of North Carolina and the South, and to promote the study of Southern history through lectures and publications. Active membership in the Society was open to anyone connected with Trinity College or to citizens of North Carolina, while corresponding membership included any persons in any part of the world who were promoters of the study of history. In its early years, the Society benefited from the strong leadership of two history professors, John Spencer Bassett and William Kenneth Boyd. They made wide appeals for donations of historical materials and maintained a museum to house these "relics." The meetings of the Society, held several times each year, provided a forum at which students and faculty could read their research papers and discuss their ideas. Speakers were also invited to give addresses on a wide variety of historical topics. The best of these papers were published, from 1897 to 1956, in the Historical Papers of the Trinity College Historical Society. The Trinity College Historical Society Collection contains material about the Society's activities until 1981. Although there is no documentation on the official end of the Society, the Richard L. Watson, Jr., Papers held by Duke University Archives contains meeting announcements and notes about the Trinity College Historical Society until 1986.

Acquisition information:
The Trinity College Historical Society Collection was received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1971 (A71-92), 1974 (A74-10), 1984 (A84-92), and 1992 (A92-34). Many items received by the Trinity College Historical Society are documented in the Society's minutes. However, some items listed in the minutes are no longer part of the collection. Manuscripts donated to the Society may be found in the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library at Duke University.
Processing information:

Processed by Linda Daniel

Completed September 2003

Encoded by Linda Daniel, September 2003

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

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

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], Trinity College Historical Society Collection, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.