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Inventory of the Trinity College Historical Society Collection, [1492?] - 1981

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Descriptive Summary

Title
Trinity College Historical Society Collection, [1492?] - 1981.
Creator
Trinity College Historical Society
Extent
20.0 Linear Feet,
3500 Items
Repository
University Archives, Duke University
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.
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.
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], Trinity College Historical Society Collection, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
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 Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library at Duke University.
Processing Information
Processed by Linda Daniel
Completed September 2003
Encoded by Linda Daniel, September 2003
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Historical Note

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.

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Collection Overview

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.
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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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Related Material

Artifacts Collection.
University Archives, Duke University.

John Spencer Bassett Collection.
University Archives, Duke University.

William Kenneth Boyd Papers.
University Archives, Duke University.

Ninety Nineteen (9019) Records.
University Archives, Duke University.

Richard L. Watson, Jr., Papers.
University Archives, Duke University.

List of Series in Collection
Historical Notes, 1890-1967
Correspondence and Meeting Announcements, [1926]-1981
Administrative Files, 1892-1978
Publications, 1897-1979
Speeches, 1904-[1980]
Artifacts, [1492?]-1918
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Detailed Description of the Collection

Historical Notes, 1890-1967

Includes historical notes about Trinity College, 1890-1901, and the Trinity College Historical Society, 1891-1967, (notes are not complete for all years). Includes transcribed notes from the Trinity Chronicle, rosters, lists of donations, records, reviews of activities, stationary, and clippings.
Box 1
   Folder 1
Trinity College history, 1890-1901
   Folder 2-3
Trinity College Historical Society, 1891-1925
   Folder 4
Trinity College Historical Society's list of donations, 1904-1915
   Folder 5
Record of books put into the Trinity College library by the Trinity College Historical Society, 1909-1919
   Folder 6
Review of Trinity College Historical Society activities, 1932-1967
   Folder 7
Membership rosters, 1937-1940
   Folder 8
Clippings 1940-1952
   Folder 9
Stationary samples, undated

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.
Box 2
   Folder 10
Correspondence, [1926]
   Folder 11
Meeting Announcements and minutes, 1932-1940
   Folder 12-13
Correspondence and Reports, 1940-1941
   Folder 14
Correspondence, 1948-1949
   Folder 15
Correspondence, 1950-1953
   Folder 16
Correspondence, 1951-1953
   Folder 17
Correspondence, 1954-1956
   Folder 18
Correspondence and meeting announcements, 1955-1959
   Folder 19
Meeting announcements, 1955-1980
   Folder 20
Correspondence, 1957-1958
   Folder 21
Correspondence and meeting announcements, 1961-1962
   Folder 22
Meeting announcements, 1962-1966
   Folder 23
Correspondence and meeting announcements, 1963-1964
   Folder 24
Correspondence and meeting announcements, 1964-1969
Box 3
   Folder 25
Correspondence and meeting announcements, 1964-1969
   Folder 26
Meeting announcements, 1967-1971
   Folder 27
Meeting announcements, 1967-1977
   Folder 28
Correspondence, 1968-1970
   Folder 29
Correspondence, 1972-1973
   Folder 30
Correspondence, 1972-1979
   Folder 31
Meeting announcements, 1972-1974
   Folder 32
Meeting announcements, 1977-1978
   Folder 33
Correspondence, 1978-1981
   Folder 34
Correspondence and meeting announcements, 1979-1980
   Folder 35
Meeting announcements, 1979-1981

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. Records are not available for all years.

Minutes of meetings
Oversize  4
   Folder 36
1892-1901
   Folder 37
1911
   Folder 38
1911-1912
   Folder 39
1934-1940, 1947
Oversize  5
   Folder 40
1939-1967
Oversize  6
   Folder 41
Minutes and reports, 1955
   Folder 42
1967-1978

Officers' Reports
Box 7
   Folder 43
President's Notes, 1946-1958.Includes 2 copies of Nannie May Tilley's book, The Trinity College Historical Society. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1941.
   Folder 44
Secretary's File, 1964-1965
   Folder 45
Treasurers' Reports, 1965-[1980]
   Folder 46
Secretary's File, 1966-1967
   Folder 47
Secretary's File, 1968-1969
   Folder 48
Secretary's File, 1970-1971
   Folder 49
Program questionnaires (representative samples), 1971
   Folder 50
Secretary's File, 1971-1972
   Folder 51
Preliminary Questions, undated

Publications, 1897-1979

The Trinity College Historical Society sought to encourage scholarship and writing on Southern history by publishing the best student and faculty papers in its Historical Papers of the Trinity College Historical Society. These papers were published from 1897-1956, with no publications from 1901-1904. Not all issues of the Historical Papers are contained in this collection. A complete set may be found in University Archives. The Society also published a newsletter of its activities from 1978-1979.

Historical Papers of the Trinity College Historical Society
Box 8
   Folder 52
Series I. 1897
   Folder 53
Series IV. 1900
   Folder 54
Series VIII. 1908-1909
   Folder 55
Series X. 1914
   Folder 56
Series XI. 1915
   Folder 57
Series XIII. 1919
   Folder 58
Series XIV. 1922
   Folder 59
Series XV. 1925
   Folder 60
Series XVI. 1926
   Folder 61
Series XVII. 1927
   Folder 62
Series XX. 1936
   Folder 63
Series XXI. 1937
   Folder 64
Series XXII. 1938
   Folder 65
Series XXIII. 1940
   Folder 66
Series XXIX. 1951
   Folder 67
Series XXX. 1953
   Folder 68
Series XXXII. 1956

Newsletters of the Trinity College Historical Society
   Folder 69
Sept. 27, 1978-April 4, 1979

Speeches, 1904-[1980]

The meetings of the Trinity College Historical Society included speeches given by experts on all aspects of Southern and American history and life. Students were also encouraged to present research papers. Included are notes, original manuscripts, and copies of these speeches and papers.
Box 9
   Folder 70
Bassett, John Spencer. "What our Society May Do for N.C. History." Oct. 13, 1904
   Folder 71
Baldwin, Alice M. "Material for the Recent History of Women's Activities in the South." Feb. 6, 1941
   Folder 72
Boyd, Julian. "A Century and a Half of Historical Societies in America." April 9, 1941
   Folder 73
Colley, Frank. "Legal History." Feb. 6, 1941
   Folder 74
Hamilton, W.B. "The Especial Responsibility of Duke University." Feb. 6, 1941
   Folder 75
Carroll, E.M. "History and Historians in the Present Crisis." Oct. 21, 1941
   Folder 76
Brewster, Lawrence F. "An Historical Excursion into the Antebellum Past." May 11, 1942
   Folder 77
Quynn, Dorothy and William Quynn. "Barbara Frietschie." Oct. 12, 1942
   Folder 78
Patton, James W. "Republican Party in N.C., 1876-1895." Jan. 15, 1943
   Folder 79
Woodfin, Dr. Maude H. "The Biography of the Historiography of William Byrd of Westover." Feb. 26, 1943
   Folder 80
Hammond, Dr. Geo. P. "The Southwest Today." May 11, 1944
   Folder 81
Curtiss, John S. "The Recent Revival of the Teaching of Marxism in the USSR." Jan. 14, 1946
   Folder 82
Reid, R.J. "My Experience as a Collector." March 11, 1947
   Folder 83
Carter, Clarence E. "Territorial Papers of the United States: An Interpretation." April 16, 1947
   Folder 84
Colton, Joel. "The Popular Front in France." Dec. 1, 1947
   Folder 85
Curtiss, John S. "The Russian Church and the Famine of 1921." Oct. 20, 1948
   Folder 86
Laprade, Dr. W.T. "Problems in Writing the History of Political Parties." Feb. 15, 1950
   Folder 87
Speeches. May 15, 1951
   Folder 88
Crittenden, Christopher. "Preserving Tar Heel Archives and Historical Manuscripts." Oct. 25, 1951
   Folder 89
Durden, Robert Franklin. "The Prostate State Revisited: James S. Pike and South Carolina Reconstruction." Feb. 1952
   Folder 90
Bailey, Dr. Thomas A. "The Revolution in American Foreign Policy." Feb. 20, 1952
   Folder 91
Still, Bayrd. "The City in American History." April 18, 1952
   Folder 92
Hollyday, Frederick. "Albrecht von Stosch: A Political Biography of the Bismarckian Period." May 9, 1952
   Folder 93
Watson, Richard L. "Bishop Cannon." Oct. 20, 1952
   Folder 94
Notes on speeches given at dinner in honor Prof. William T. Laprade. April 24, 1953
   Folder 95
Laprade, Dr. W. T. "Academic Freedom and Tenure in American Colleges and Universities." 7" Sound recording tape. Oct. 22, 1953.
NOTE: University Archives staff needs to format for use copies of Laprade sound recording tape before use.
   Folder 96
"On Anglo-American Law on the Frontier." Dec. 10, 1953
   Folder 97
Eichelberger, Gen. Robert L. "The Military Situation in the Far East since WWII." Dec. 8, 1954
   Folder 98
Beers, Burton F. "Robert Lansing." March 22, 1955
   Folder 99
Johnson, Allen S. "Why George Grenville Taxed America." March 22, 1955
   Folder 100
Cappon, Lester, J. "Channing and Hart: Partners in Bibliography." Nov. 8, 1955
   Folder 101
Ropp, Theodore. "Politics and Military Conscription in the British Commonwealth." Oct. 5, 1959
   Folder 102
Farr, Dr. David. "Canada: The Elements of Survival." Nov. 3, 1960
   Folder 103
Mackesy, Piers. "Lord George Germain and the War for America. " Jan. 12, 1962
   Folder 104
Saywell, Dr. John T. "Canada at the Crossroads. " Feb. 23, 1965
   Folder 105
Parker, Harold T. "Graduate Education in History." Oct. 26, 1966
   Folder 106
Watson, Richard L. "F.M. Simmons: Local Politician and U.S. Senator." Feb. 21, 1967
   Folder 107
Scheiner, Irwin. "The Ambivalence of Responsibility." [1979-1980?]
   Folder 108
Scheiner, Irwin. "Samurai and Headmen." [1979-1980?]
   Folder 109
[Graduate Student?] Reports, undated
   Folder 110
Holley J.B. "Ideas and Weapons." Notes and newspaper clipping, undated
   Folder 111
Ropp, [Theodore]. "The History of Naval Strategy," undated

Artifacts, [1492?]-1918

The Trinity College Historical Society issued wide appeals for donations of artifacts from all aspects of American life. In 1897, a museum was created to house some of these artifacts. 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 Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library at Duke University.
Oversize  10
   Folder 112
Wooden shoe soles, 1865
   Folder 113
Lock and key from Rose of Sharon Church, 1906
   Folder 114
Piece of cable used by Confederates to protect Plymouth, N.C., 1863
Oversize  11
   Folder 115
Piece of coat of velvet, undated
   Folder 116
Ballast, piece of old saucer, thought to belong to Amadas and Barlowe, [1584?]
   Folder 117
Parts of scale used to weigh gold and silver, Cape Fear settlements, ca. 18th century
   Folder 118
Glasses found near battlefield of Averasboro, North Carolina, [1865]
   Folder 119
Piece of jet from Whitley, England, undated
   Folder 120
Lamp burner used in eastern North Carolina, ca. 19th century
Oversize  12
   Folder 121
Small pair of shoes, undated
   Folder 122
Wooden tatting shuttle, undated
   Folder 123
Carved bowl of smoking pipe, undated
   Folder 124
Brass compass, undated
   Folder 125
Silver goblet, undated
Oversize  13
   Folder 126
Metal container, undated
   Folder 127
World's Fair Souvenir, Columbian Exposition medal, 1893
   Folder 128
Unidentified coin, 1827
   Folder 129
World's Fair souvenir, Christopher Columbus, 1893
   Folder 130
Virginia coin, 1773
   Folder 131
American 5 cent coin, 1883
   Folder 132
British shilling, William IV, 1835
   Folder 133
British coin, George III, undated
   Folder 134
Medal in honor of Rev. H.G. Leigh, founder of Randolph Macon College, undated
   Folder 135
Austrian coin, 1897
   Folder 136
Greek coin, 5 lepta, 1869
   Folder 137
American Indian head penny, 1895
   Folder 138
Mexican coin, 1893
   Folder 139
Belgium 10 centimes coin, 1864
   Folder 140
Imitation of ancient roman coin, undated
   Folder 141
French 50 centimes coin, 1887
   Folder 142
Nova Scotia token, 1843
   Folder 143
Puerto Rico 20 centimes coin, 1895
   Folder 144
Souvenir medal of H.W. Grady, [1895]
   Folder 145
French 10 centimes coin, 1879
   Folder 146
Prussian coin, 1867
   Folder 147
German 2 pfennig coin, 1876
   Folder 148
Chinese coin, undated
   Folder 149
3 Korean coins, undated
   Folder 150
[Brazilian] coin, 1868
   Folder 151
3 Chinese coins, undated
   Folder 152
Japanese coin, undated
   Folder 153
3 Congo coins, 1887, 1888, 1888
   Folder 154
Spanish coin, 1788
   Folder 155
Mexican 25 centavos coin, 1870
   Folder 156
Korean coins, 1894, 1896, 1897
Oversize  14
   Folder 157
Fragment thought to be from the flag of Christopher Columbus, retrieved by Trinity College student at the Columbian Exposition of 1892, [1492?]
   Folder 158
Gavel from Lookout Mountain, undated
   Folder 159
2 pieces of pine, containing bullets, taken from the Bentonville Battlefield, [1865]
   Folder 160
Japanese ink brush used by Fung Hui So, class of 1926, when writing to his father in China, undated
   Folder 161
Spoon mold, used to make pewter spoons for slaves, undated
Oversize  15
   Folder 162
Piece of wood, undated
   Folder 163
Korean money bag, belonged to Rev. J.R. Moose, undated
   Folder 164
Piece of pine with bullet from Hatcher's Run battlefield, [1864-1865]
   Folder 165
Minnie balls and bullets from "The Crater," Petersburg, Va., [1864]
   Folder 166
Paper knife from Green Hill, Louisburg, [N.C.], undated
   Folder 167
Woodsmen of the World badge, Pee Dee Camp No. 227, Cheraw, S.C., undated
   Folder 168
[Fraternity badge?], undated
   Folder 169
Durham Athletic Association badge, undated
   Folder 170
Badge worn at Red-Shirt Banquet in Laurinburg, [N.C.], 1899 (transferred to NC Museum of History)
   Folder 171
Delegate's badge to the National Democratic Convention, 1892
   Folder 172
Confederate Monument unveiling badge, Raleigh, N.C., May 10, 1895
   Folder 173
D.L. Russell for Governor, campaign badge, [1897] (transferred to NC Museum of History)
   Folder 174
Knights of Honor badge, 25th annual session, Washington, D.C., June 14, 1898
Oversize  16
   Folder 175
Horse bit used by the U.S. Calvary, undated
   Folder 176
Spectacles in metal case, undated
   Folder 177
Mold for ball and bullet, undated
   Folder 178
Unidentified ivory receptacle, undated
Oversize  17
   Folder 179
Stirrup, undated
   Folder 180
Bullet mold, undated
   Folder 181
Bullet mold, undated
   Folder 182
Gun shell, undated
   Folder 183
Fish tooth, undated
   Folder 184
Covered buttons from the clothing of Louis XVI, undated
   Folder 185
Buttons from the uniform of an officer in the home guard, worn during the Civil War, undated
Oversize  18
   Folder 186
Confederate pocketbook carried by Col. G.W. Flowers during the Civil War, undated
   Folder 187
[Jug handle], undated
   Folder 188
Powder from the Maine, undated
   Folder 189
Seal of Roanoke Colony Memorial Association, 1894
   Folder 190
Ear trumpet, undated
Oversize  19
White beaver hat worn by grandfather of Dr. J.C. Brown at the opening ceremonies of Brown's Schoolhouse in Randolph County, 1838
Oversize  20
A shirt worn in the "Red Shirt" campaign 1898 (transferred to NC Museum of History)
Oversize  21
   Folder 191
Scrimshaw, undated
   Folder 192
Pewter wig sprayer, undated
   Folder 193
2 spoon molds, undated
   Folder 194
Lamp wick trimmer, undated
   Folder 195
Candle holder, undated
Oversize  22
   Folder 196
Minnie balls, undated
   Folder 197
Carved wooden pipe bowl, undated
   Folder 198
Powder horn, undated
   Folder 199
Powder horn, undated
   Folder 200
Metal container, undated
   Folder 201
Samples of homespun dresses worn by women of Granville County, [1861-1865]
   Folder 202
Letter from B.F. Stevens Brown to the Trinity College Historical Society describing cheque enclosed to replace one lost on the S.S. Titanic, May 14, 1912
   Folder 203
Election ballot for twenty-eighth election district, county of New York, Nov. 4, 1913
   Folder 204
Photostat of four documents belonging to the Trinity College Historical Society, 1851-1852
   Folder 205
Editorial about Gov. Samuel W. McCall of Massachusetts, Albemarle Enterprise, June 13, 1918
   Folder 206
Knife, 1831
   Folder 207
Pair of Brazilian shoes, undated
   Folder 208
Bullet mold, undated
   Folder 209
Seal used on old North Carolina land grant, undated
Oversize  23
Two quivers, quiver caps, and arrows from the Fiji Islands, undated
Oversize  24
Bow from the Fiji Islands, undated
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Bibliography


Tilley, Nannie May. The Trinity College Historical Society, 1892-1941. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1941