Inventory of the John Franklin Heitman Papers,
1863 - 1911
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Descriptive Summary
Title
John Franklin Heitman Papers,
1863 - 1911.
Creator
Heitman, J. F. (John F.)
Extent
2.6 Linear Feet,
1500 Items
Repository
University Archives, Duke University
Abstract
John Franklin Heitman (1840-1904) was
professor of Trinity College in Randolph County from 1883 to 1892, and Acting President of the
school from 1884-1887. He later served as Headmaster of Trinity High School from 1892 to 1895. He
also published several periodicals during his career. The John Franklin Heitman Papers contain
correspondence, bound volumes, printed material, and financial and legal documents. Topics include
college finance, the U.S. Government's sponsorship of education for Cherokee Indians, the Civil
War, publications such as the
North Carolina Education Journal and the
North Carolina Home Journal, Trinity College administrative
issues, and Trinity High School administrative issues. Major correspondents include Julian S. Carr
and John W. Alspaugh.
Language
English.
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Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
No restrictions.
Use Restrictions
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.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], John Franklin Heitman Papers, University Archives, Duke
University.
Provenance
The John Franklin Heitman Papers were received as a transfer and gift in 1967.
Processing Information
Processed by Valerie Gillispie
Completed August 10, 2004
Encoded by Valerie Gillispie, August 10, 2004
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Biographical Note
John Franklin Heitman was born on April 17, 1840 in Davidson County, North Carolina, the
son of Henry and Eve McRary Heitman. He entered Trinity College in Randolph County in 1861, but
left in 1862 to join the Confederate Army. He served as a captain in the Civil War. After the war,
following a short period of business and teaching, he retuned to Trinity and received an A.M.
degree in 1868. He then resumed teaching and became a clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, and held several parishes. In 1881, he left the clergy to enter business in Chapel Hill,
establishing the
North Carolina Educational Journal, which he called "the organ
of the North Carolina State Teachers Association."
During this time period, he met and married Emma Carr, sister of the Durham tobacco
manufacturer Julian S. Carr. In 1883, he was appointed a professor at Trinity College and moved,
along with the Education Journal, back to Randolph County. Much of his time over then next few
years was spent in dealing with the financial problems of the school. After Marquis Lafayette Wood
resigned from the presidency of Trinty in December 1884, Heitman served as an interim head of the
school in his capacity as chairman of the faculty. Along with the Committee of Management--his
brother-in-law Carr, J.W. Alspaugh, and James A. Gray--Heitman managed to keep the school
financially afloat and increase enrollment. In 1887, a new president, John Franklin Crowell, was
chosen to lead Trinity.
In 1892, Trinity College moved to Durham County, but Heitman stayed in Randolph County to
become Headmaster of Trinity High School. In 1895 he was replaced as headmaster by the Board of
Trustees of Trinity College. He then devoted his time to the
North Carolina Home Journal, and continuing a series of
articles on North Carolina history that he had begun in the
North Carolina Educational Journal.
Heitman died on June 15, 1904, and is buried in Trinity Cemetery, Trinity, North Carolina,
along with his wife. They had three children: Eva (Mrs. W. Bivens), Polly (Mrs. R.B. Terry), and
John.
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Collection Overview
The John Franklin Heitman Papers contain correspondence, bound volumes, printed material,
and financial and legal documents. Much of the material dates from the 1884-1887 period in which
Heitman served as Acting President of Trinity College. Topics include college finance, the U.S.
Government's sponsorship of education for Cherokee Indians, the Civil War, publications, Trinity
College administrative issues, and Trinity High School administrative issues. Major correspondents
include Julian S. Carr and John W. Alspaugh.
This collection is arranged into two series. The first,
Correspondence, dates from 1863 to 1894, with one letter from 1911.
It includes both personal and professional correspondence, and is arranged chronologically. The
second series,
Bound Volumes and Other Material, includes a Civil War diary, grade
books from Trinity High School, financial and legal documents related to Trinity College, and
publications edited by Heitman, as well as a sampling of other types of print materials. This
series is arranged alphabetically by topic.
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Subject Headings
These and related materials may be accessed under the following subject headings in the
Duke University Libraries online catalog.
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Alspaugh, John W.
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Carr, Julian Shakespeare.
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Cherokee Indians--Education.
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Diaries.
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Heitman, J. F. (John F.)
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Indians of North America--Education (Higher)--North
Carolina.
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The N.C. home journal [serial].
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The North Carolina educational journal
[serial].
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Trinity College (Randolph County, N.C.)
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Trinity College (Randolph County, N.C.)--Administration.
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Trinity College (Randolph County, N.C.)--Faculty.
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Trinity High School (N.C.)
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United States--History--Civil War,
1861-1865.
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Related Material
Kilgo (John C.) Records and Papers, 1888-1970 (bulk 1894-1920)
Duke University Archives
Trinity College (Randolph County, N.C.) Collection, 1836-1990
Duke University Archives
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Detailed Description of the Collection
Correspondence,
1863-1911
The bulk of the correspondence dates from 1883 to 1887, when Heitman was Acting
President of Trinity College, Randolph County. Issues include fund-raising and support of the
college. Major correspondents include Julian S. Carr and J. W. Alspaugh, members of the committee
of management that helped Heitman run the college from 1884 to 1887. As Trinity was one of the
schools that contracted with the U.S. Government to educate Cherokee Indian youths, this series
also contains correspondence between Heitman and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of
the Treasury. Other correspondence is from applicants for positions and applicants for admissions
to Trinity, correspondence regarding room and board, and letters from parents and prospective
students.
Other correspondence includes letters written during Heitman's Civil War days;
correspondence concerning advertising, printing, and publicizing the
North Carolina Educational Journal, as well as
correspondence from subscribers, authors, and publishers; correspondence regarding Trinity High
School, and a few family letters. Heitman's correspondence ends in 1894, but the collection
contains one letter from 1911, from Heitman's wife to one of his daughters.
The correspondence is arranged chronologically.
Box 1
Folder 1
1863-1865
Folder 2
1874, 1880-September 1883
Folder 3
October 1883-December 1883
Folder 4
January 1884
Folder 5
February 1884
Folder 6
March 1884
Folder 7
April 1884
Folder 8
May 1884
Folder 9
June 1884-July 1884
Folder 10
August 1884-September 1884
Folder 11
October 1884-December 1884
Folder 12
January 1885-February 1885
Folder 13
March 1885-April 1885
Folder 14
May 1885
Folder 15
June 1885
Folder 16
July 1885
Folder 17
August 1885
Folder 18
September 1885
Box 2
Folder 18A
October 1885
Folder 19
November 1885-December 1885,
undated
Folder 20
January 1886
Folder 21
February 1886
Folder 22
March 1886
Folder 23
April 1886
Folder 24
May 1886
Folder 25
June 1886
Folder 26
July 1886
Folder 27
August 1886
Folder 28
September 1886
Folder 29
October 1886
Folder 30
November 1886-December 1886, no
date
Folder 31
January 1887-March 1887
Folder 32
April 1887-May 1887
Folder 33
June 1887
Folder 34
July 1887-1888
Folder 35
1889-1892
Folder 36
1893
Folder 37
1894
Folder 38
1911, undated
Bound Volumes and Other Material,
1863-1898
The Bound Volumes and Other Material series contains items related to the Civil War,
Trinity College (Randolph County), Trinity High School (Randolph County), and Heitman's publishing
career. The Civil War diary concerns the Seige of Petersburg, retreat to Appomattox, and his
imprisonment on Johnson's Island. A transcription is available. Other materials include financial
and legal documents, printed material, and grade record books. Materials are arranged
alphabetically.
Box 3
Folder 39
Bills,
1880-1894, undated
Folder 40
The Carolina Wesleyan, Volume 1, No. 1,
January 1, 1892
Contains an autobiography by Heitman.
Civil War
Folder 41
Diary,
1864-1865
Folder 42
Transcript of Diary,
1864-1865
Folder 43
North Carolina Home Journal, Volume 1, Nos. 1 and 9,
1897-1898
Folder 44
Printed Material,
circa 1880-1894
Includes ads, tickets, notices, and other materials used by Heitman in his
publishing and administrative career.
Folder 45
Printed Material,
circa 1884-1894
Contains commencement programs and other announcements from Southern high schools
and colleges.
Trinity College, Randolph County
Folder 46
Account Book,
1884
Folder 47
Financial Records, Claims,
1882-1886, undated
Folder 48
Legal Papers,
1882-1886
Trinity High School, Randolph County
Folder 49
Class Record Book,
1894-1895
Folder 50
Class Record Book, possibly for Trinity High School,
circa 1898
