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This collection documents the case of Joan Little, an African-American woman from Eastern North Carolina who was tried for the capital offense of first-degree murder when she killed a jailer who had sexually assaulted her. She was aquitted of this charge, and her story became a flash point for women's rights, prisoner's rights, and the issue of racism in the criminal justice system. The collection contains of materials used by Southern Poverty Law Center counsel and documentary filmmaker Morris Dees, including exhibits for the defense and official court documents. Also included is original poetry written by Little while incarcerated, print media clippings, and an original screenplay, "Free Joann Little."

Journal of an unidentified young woman traveling with her father to the West Indies in 1885. The author described her voyage; entertainment and social engagements in the West Indies (where she and her family were guests of the Governor, Sir Henry Norman); her observations of the people of the West Indies; and her return voyage to Plymouth.

Trade catalogs of jewelry prepared for individual local retail stores.

"Stewardess" aboard the ship; resident of Grimsby[?], England Collection comprises a manuscript journal and log book (59 pgs+ blanks) authored by Thompson while on a voyage between England and Jamaica from March 25 to April 28, 1935. However, the journal actually closes with a description of her train trip home on April 29. Includes Thompson's 33 black-and-white photographs, 2 telegrams she received from a Captain Greenhill, her certificate of discharge, and an Irish sweepstakes ticket for the Derby syndicate (dated June 5) that she purchased during the voyage. In addition, Thompson copied into the journal a 3-pg informational article on bananas, written by H.C. Bower, and kept a record of the ship's log for the trip. The S.S. Tetela was a cargo and occasional passenger ship that belonged to the banana-importing firm Elders & Fyffes, a wholly owned subsidiary of the United Fruit Company.

The United States Army, also referred to as the Northern, Union, or Federal army, fought against the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. This collection was assembled by Rubenstein Library out of miscellaneous and disparate archival and manuscript collections, including: U.S. Army units and regimental records, inventories, and orders; as assorted letters and correspondence from various Army soldiers and officers; maps, letterheads, and blank forms, all created or produced during the Civil War era. Many materials relate to troop movements; inventories of supplies, equipment, troops, and food; enlistment, pay, and service histories of various members of the U.S. Army; activities of particular regiments; action or battles against the Confederacy; examples of personal letters to and from soldiers' family members; reports and summaries of war conditions in Southern territories (poverty and hunger in Southern towns, destruction and seizure of property, and the difficult circumstances facing newly-freed Black populations); and other assorted bureaucratic and administrative Army records.

Collection comprises a handwritten copy of the Gazette (11 pgs, handstitched), plus an envelope. The Gazette contained a personal and detailed account of the marriage of Charlotte Elizabeth Octavia Collinson (1817-1850) to Charles Stansfield Rawson (1812-1863). The writer of the account was unidentified, but was probably one of Collinson's sisters. There are sections on the bridesmaids, ceremony, cake, wedding breakfast, and other celebrations, as well as desciptions of various family members. Rawson lived at Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, and married Charlotte at Boldon Church on Feb. 18, 1840. Later, two of their sons went to Queensland, where they made a fortune in ranching and pioneered the settlement of Mckay. The envelope, postmarked 1895, is illustrated and addressed to E. Rawson, Imperial Hotel, Brisbane, Queensland.

Holograph, with signature page missing. Writer's references to Waterhouse and Jenner signal his involvement in the promotion of vaccination. Writer also communicates his surprise at Frank's decision to take up a post at the University of Vilna.

Roy C. Trimiar was an African-American U.S. Army veteran, who served as a private in the Q.M. Det. SC-CASC, Colored, and the Ser. Det. SC-4th, Colored, 1942-1943. He was born in Homer, Georgia and lived much of his life in Cooleemee, North Carolina. He was married to Lola Wood Trimiar (1909-1996). Collection primarily includes letters from Trimiar to his wife in Cooleemee and Mocksville, NC (89 items). The letters begin with their courtship (1939) in Cooleemee, but mainly date from Trimiar's service in the U.S. Army Colored Troops stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.

This black-and-white silent film clip is from the April 20, 1956 dedication of the Trent Room History of Medicine Collections at Duke University. The ceremony was held at Duke's Medical Library in the new Trent Room. Speakers include Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans, Duke President A. Hollis Edens, Dean Wilburt C. Davison, John Fulton, and James T. Cleland. Attendees at the ceremony also included the Trent daughters. The recording is about two minutes long. The medical artifacts and books also briefly shown in the film are from the History of Medicine Collection assembled by Duke surgeon and faculty member Dr. Josiah Charles Trent (d.1948). Those collections are now in the Rubenstein Library at Duke University. Acquired as part of the History of Medicine Collections at Duke University.

Collection comprises a copy of the "Triumphant Whig Song," featuring verses about 8 states and their unwavering support for "Tyler and Tippecanoe." The song is followed by the statement "Samuel Hunt's Ballad," which may denote the tune for the song. The page is also signed by Samuel L. Hay.