Web Site Search

Ask us now

Inventory of the Evans Family Papers, 1926-1989

[top]

Descriptive Summary

Title
Evans Family Papers, 1926-1989
Creator
Evans Family
Extent
18 Linear Feet
5609 Items
Repository
Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
Language
English.
[top]

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
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 Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Evans Family Papers, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Evans Family papers were a gift to Duke University in 1986 and 1989.
Processing Information
Processed by: Marion Hirsch
Completed February 2, 1998
Encoded by Michael Shumate
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
            

[top]

Biographical Note

Papers of the Evans Family, active in Durham, N.C. civic leadership, local and national religious leadership, and national journalism.

[top]

Collection Overview

Collection contains correspondence, scrapbooks, albums, clippings, addresses, writings, and other materials that concern the personal lives and careers of the Evans family, particularly Emanuel J. and Sara Evans, their sons, Eli and Robert, and Emanuel's brother, Monroe. The family owned and operated United Department Stores, and for twelve years, 1951 to 1963, Emanuel Evans was mayor of Durham, NC. He was also very active in his synagogue, was a president of VISTAS, and participated actively in the University of North Carolina's Alumni Association. There are two scrapbooks on Emanuel Evans's mayoral terms and a similar volume and other materials devoted to Mrs. Evans's activities as leader of Hadassah including items pertaining to Israel. Mr. Evans's mayoral correspondence is divided into a general file and a subject file. In pictures and personal correspondence, the Nachamson family is often represented. One early clipping from a Fayetteville, N.C. newspaper, tells of Mr. Evans's sister being refused teaching positions because of her Jewish faith. Eli Evans is a correspondent and writer, led the establishment of the National Jewish Archives of Broadcasting, and was on the staff of the Carnegie Foundation that helped launch "Sesame Street." He was president of the UNC student body and a number of items in the collection concern his presidency. Also included is an address of Eli Evans presented during the conference on Southern-Jewish history in 1976, Eli Evans's vita, his unpublished diary of the Kissinger shuttle, and a large number of his writings, many concerning U.S. politics, minorities, and Jews in the South. There is a reprint of a chapter from his book, The Provincials, and reports from the Charles H. Revson Foundation, of which he is president. Also included are materials concerning Eli's brother Robert, a correspondent with CBS, who continued on as a television executive. Their uncle, Monroe Evans, was mayor of Fayetteville, NC, and his service is documented in several of the collection's scrapbooks. One entire scrapbook is devoted to the writings of Mildred and Madeline Evans, Monroe's wife and daughter.
[top]

Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
  • Evans, Emanuel J.
  • Evans, Sara Nachamson, 1905-1986.
  • Evans, Robert.
  • Evans, Eli N.
  • Evans, Monroe.
  • Nachamson family.
  • Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America.
  • University of North Carolina.--Alumni.
  • Charles H. Revson Foundation.
  • Antisemitism.
  • Jews in the Southern States.
  • Department stores.
  • Department stores--North Carolina.
  • Display of merchandise.
  • United States--Politics and government.
  • Durham (N.C.)--History.
  • Durham (N.C.)--Politics and government.
  • Israel.
  • Photographs
List of Series in Collection
Evans Family Series
E. J. Evans, Mayor's Office Series
Eli N. Evans Series:
Scrapbook Series
[top]

Detailed Desription of Collection

Evans Family Series

Box 1
Addresses and Writings, 1946-1977, undated   (3 folders)
Alumni Annual Giving
Biographical information, 1953-1976, undated
Business correspondence, 1937-1954, undated
Civic Honor Award of the Durham Chamber of Commerce, Evans, E. J.
Clippings, 1926-1951
Box 2
Clippings, 1952-1977, undated   (5 folders)
Committee of One Hundred (Chamber of Commerce)
Congratulations
Correspondence, 1954-1958.   (2 folders)
Box 3
Correspondence, 1959-1976   (7 folders)
Box 4
Correspondence, 1977, undated
Evans, E. J. "Father of the Year," 1965
Evans, Sara, Obituaries, 1986
Durham Federation of Jewish Charities
Hadassah, 1954-1977, undated   (4 folders)
Box 5
Judaic Studies Program, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1972-1977, undated
Miscellany, 1929-1976, undated
Pictures:
E. J. Evans, 1917-1973, undated
E. J. Evans as Mayor of Durham, 1951-1959
E. J. Evans as Mayor of Durham, 1960-1966, undated
Sara N. Evans, 1928-1972, undated
Robert M. and Eli N. Evans, 1950-1974, undated
Evans Family, 1940-1976, undated
Nachamson family, 1901-1970, undated
Box 6
Pictures:
Miscellany, 1934-1953
Miscellany, 1953-1977, undated
Preferred Stock Certificates (4 vols.)
Box 7
President of the Student Body at the University of North Carolina, Evans, Eli N.
Printed material, 1928-1977, undated
Printed material, 1977
Synagogue Center/Percival Goodman
Suspense file, 1949-1962
United Fund
United Jewish Appeal, 1957-1966
University of North Carolina
Box 8
Vistas, Inc.: President's file, 1960-1971, undated   (2 folders)
Watts Hospital
Watts Hospital Bond Speakers

E. J. Evans, Mayor's Office Series

Box 9
Airport, 1952-1961
Appointment for committees, etc.
Annual Report
Aull, Jr., George H. (City Manager, Durham, N.C.)
Centennial
Change and improvements, 1953-1961
Complaints and suggestions from individuals
"Congratulations for Mayor," 1951, Mar-1961   (3 folders)
Box 10
Correspondence (general), 1951-1953   (7 folders)
Box 11
Correspondence (general), 1954-1963, undated   (7 folders)
Box 12
Correspondence (personal) 1951-1963   (5 folders)
"Fluoride"
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Lerner, Connie: Miss North Carolina, 1971
Long Range Planning Committee (Chamber of Commerce)
Box 13
Mayor's campaigns, 1951-1963 ( 2 folders)
N.C. League of Municipalities, 1951-1961, undated
Office of Emergency Planning (Civil Defense Advisory Council)
Radio/Television Stations
Special Invitations To and From the Mayor, 1958-1950
Speech material
"Thank You" letters
U.S. Conference of Mayors

Eli N. Evans Series:

Box 14
Addresses and Writings of Eli N. Evans:
Diary of the Kissinger Shuttle, 1975
Addresses and writings of others
Biography
Charles H. Revson Foundation, 1978-1986
Pictures
The Provincials: A Personal History of Jews in the South by Eli N. Evans

Scrapbook Series

Box 15
Evans Family, Pictures, ca. 1922-1947
Eli N. Evans, Pictures, High School and UNC
Box 16
Evans Family, "Special Events," 1928-1977
Sara N. Evans, "This is My Life," 1954-1962
Box 17
E. J. Evans, 1936-1976
Robert M. Evans, 1920-1977
Sara N. Evans, "Eight Sisters in Israel, November - December 1968"
Box 18
Eli N. Evans, Student Body President, UNC, 1957-1958
E. J. Evans, "Retiring Mayor, Durham, NC," 1963
Evans Family, "Publicity," 1928-1955
Box 19
Evans Family, Pictures, 1948-1976
Monroe E. Evans, "Mayoral September 1966-March 1967"
Box 20
Monroe E. Evans, "Mayoral July 1965-September 1966"
Monroe E. Evans, "Mayoral March 1965-June 1965"
Box 21
Monroe E. Evans, "March 1967-April 1969"
Box 22
Monroe E. Evans, 1921-1959
Box 23
Monroe E. Evans, 1969
Monroe E. Evans, "United Service Fund, 1957-1972"
Madeline and Mildred Evans, "Writings," 1958-1963