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Preliminary Inventory of the Robert H. Woody papers, 1927-1985

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Descriptive Summary

Title

Robert H. Woody papers, 1927-1985.

Creator

Woody, Robert H. (Robert Hilliard), 1903-

Extent

6 Linear Feet,
6,000 Items

Repository

University Archives, Duke University

Abstract

Contains the personal and professional papers of Robert Hilliard Woody, a professor of history at Duke University from 1929 to 1970. Types of materials include correspondence, manuscripts, short writings, vitae, certificates, diplomas, committee reports, printed material, photographs, 8 mm films, and VHS tapes. Major subjects include Robert H. Woody, the Civil War, the South, South Carolina, North Carolina, reconstruction, republicans, southern newspapers, biographies, mountain culture, folklore, history instruction, Duke University, the Duke University history department, and the George Washington Flowers Collection of Southern Americana. Major correspondents appearing in the collection include: William Preston Few, Francis B. Simkins, William K. Boyd, William T. Laprade, Francis Warrenton Dawson, Stanly Godbold, Jr., Arthur Hollis Edens, Paul M. Gross, Stanley Godbold, the Southern Historical Association, and the Historical Society of North Carolina. Some materials are restricted. Materials range in date from 1927 to 1985.

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.

In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits students to inspect their education records and limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records.

In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is required for use.

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], Robert H. Woody papers, University Archives, Duke University.

Provenance

Gift; 1964; 64-66

Gift; 1966; 66-120

Gift; 1967; 67-91

Gift; 1969;69-176

Transfer; 1973; 74-15

Gift; 1973; 74-35

Gift; 1983; 83-36

Processing Information

Processed by Emily J. Glenn

Completed March 17, 2003

This collection is partially processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Encoded by Emily J. Glenn, March 18, 2003

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

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Biographical Note

Robert Hilliard Woody was born in 1903 in the Little Cataloochee Creek community of Haywood County in western North Carolina. Woody attended grammar schools in Kentucky and graduated from high school in London, Kentucky in 1923. That fall, he entered Emory University and studied history under Professor Francis Butler Simkins. Woody received his B.Ph. degree from Emory in 1927, then earned an M.A. (1928) and a Ph.D. (1930) from Duke University. Woody's dissertation was part of a collaborative work with mentor Francis Butler Simkins. Their book, South Carolina During Reconstruction (1932), earned the John H. Dunning Prize of the American Historical Association in 1931.

In 1929, Woody began teaching history as a full professor at Duke University. For the first seven years of his teaching career, he taught modern European history. In 1932, he began to teach United States history. Some of his courses were about American colonial history, the United States from 1850-1900, historiography of the South, and the Old South. Woody directed thirty-two doctoral dissertations and at least fifty-eight master's theses. In 1937, Woody reduced his teaching load to part-time so that he could act as the director of the George Washington Flowers Collection of Southern Americana in the Duke University Library. Woody retired from the Department of History in 1970.

Woody took an active approach to documenting history on a personal and professional level. He recorded activities of his vacations, his thoughts on teaching, the Duke University academic climate (including the Gross-Edens Affair), and historical society meetings. Woody corresponded with Duke University colleagues and mentors in the history field: Arthur Hollis Edens, Paul M. Gross, William Preston Few, Francis B. Simkins, William K. Boyd, and William T. Laprade.

Woody published over 220 articles on the Civil War period, southern newspapers, the South, reconstruction, and North Carolina communities. Some article titles are: "The Labor and Immigration Problem of South Carolina During Reconstruction," "Christopher Gadsden and the Stamp Act," "The Army of Northern Virginia," and "Franklin J. Moses, Jr., Scalawag Governor of South Carolina." The culture of Western North Carolina mountain residents were described in his article "Catalochee Reunion." He also wrote significant biographies about William Preston Few, Francis Warrington Dawson, and Civil War statesmen.

Woody was a member of the American Historical Association, the Southern Historical Association, the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, the South Carolina Historical Association, the Historical Society of North Carolina, and Phi Beta Kappa. Some of his books include: South Carolina During Reconstruction (1932), Republican Newspapers of South Carolina (1936), and The Papers and Addresses of William Preston Few (1951). He was also a contributor to the Dictionary of American Biography and Dictionary of American History. In 1942, he was selected to review Jule B. Warren's History of North Carolina, a textbook for use in public schools that was found to be riddled with errors.

Woody married Louise Wills in 1929. Their children are Dorothy Jean and Stephen Boyd. In 1983, Woody moved from Durham, N.C. to San Diego, California. He died in San Diego in 1985.

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Collection Overview

Contains the personal and professional papers of Robert Hilliard Woody, a teacher and historian at Duke University from 1929 to 1970. Materials include correspondence with individuals and professional organizations, films, clippings, and writings (including original Civil War correspondence) pertaining to Woody's research, and manuscript materials for biographies of Civil War statesmen and Duke University President William Preston Few. Major correspondents include colleagues at Duke University: Arthur Hollis Edens, Paul M. Gross, William Preston Few, Francis B. Simkins, William K. Boyd, and William T. Laprade. Correspondence is ordered alphabetically. Films are 8mm format. Some materials are restricted

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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

Duke University. President. William Preston Few records, 1910-1940.
University Archives, Duke University.

Duke University. President. Arthur H. Edens records, 1949-1960.
University Archives, Duke University.

Paul M. Gross papers.
University Archives, Duke University.

	List of Series in Collection
		Container List:

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Preliminary Description of the Collection

Container List:

Box 1
Folder 1

Recollections, 1985

Folder 2

Dinner honoring Professor Woody, November 9, 1973. Festschrift announced.

Folder 3

Abbott, W.W.

Folder 4

Adams, Randolph G.

Folder 5

Akerman, Hugh

Folder 6

Alden, John

Folder 7

American Association of University Professors

Folder 8

American Historical Review

Folder 9

Archives Committee, Raleigh, N.C.

Folder 10

Askew, W.C.

Folder 11

Association of American Universities

Folder 12

Awards

Folder 13

Baker, Maury

Folder 14

Baldwin, (Dean) Alice

Folder 15

Barnwell, R.W., Sr.

Folder 16

Barnwell, R.W., Jr.

Folder 17

Barry, R.S.

Folder 18

Basler, Roy P.

Folder 19

Beale, Howard K.

Folder 20

Beers, Burton F.

Folder 21

Bell, Albert Atwood, Jr.

Folder 22

Bennett, Floyd S.

Folder 23

Bennett, William L.

Folder 24

Block, Robert Hoyt

Folder 25

Bornet, Vaughan

Folder 26

Bowles, Robert C.

Folder 27

Branscomb, H.

Folder 28

Braverman, Howard

Folder 29

Brice, Ashbel

Folder 30

Briceland, Alan

Folder 31

Brousard, James H.

Folder 32

Bryan, J.C.

Folder 33

Buchanan, Carol Phipps

Folder 34

Burrows, Edward F.

Folder 35

Candler, Frances G.

Folder 36

Cannon, Carl F., Jr.

Folder 37

Cappon, Lester J.

Folder 38

Carolina Charter Corporation

Folder 39

Carroll, Eber Malcolm

Folder 40

Chaffin, Nora C.

Folder 41

Chambers, M.B.C.

Folder 42

Civil War History,(James I. Robertson, Editor)

Folder 43

Clark, Thomas D.

Folder 44

Cockrell, Monroe F.

Folder 45

Coleman, J. Winston

Folder 46

Colvin, Thomas Bethel

Folder 47

Committees

Folder 48

Commonwealth--Studies Center

Folder 49

Committee on Publications

Folder 50

Daughters of the Confederacy

Folder 51

Confederate Centennial Commission, 1959-1961

Folder 52

Copper, Mildred Jo

Folder 53

Cotterill, R.S.

Folder 54

Corbitt, David Leroy

Folder 55

Coulter, E.M.

Folder 56

Crisp, James

Folder 57

Crittenden, C.C.--Sir Walter Award, 1954

Folder 58

Crittenden, C.C.--Writings for North Carolina Historical Review

Folder 59

Crittenden, C.C.

Folder 60

Cunningham, H.H.

Folder 61

Cunningham, Noble E., Jr.

Folder 62

Curry, R.W.

Folder 63

Curtiss, John S.

Folder 64

Daniel, Harrison Cunningham

Folder 65

Davis, Lambert

Folder 66

Dawson, Francis Warrington

Folder 67

Dean, Gordon

Folder 68

DesChamps, Margaret

Folder 69

Dean of Graduate School, Marcus E. Hobbs

Folder 70

Delaney, Norman

Folder 71

Director of Graduate Studies

Folder 72

Dorris, J.T.

Folder 73

Drozdowski, Gene

Folder 74

Duke University Council

Folder 75

Duke University Council on Research

Folder 76

Duke University Library, ca. 1953

Folder 77

Duke University Press

Folder 78

Duke University Undergraduate Faculty Council, 1954-1961

Folder 79

Duncan, Bingham

Folder 80

Durden, Robert F.

Folder 81

Easterby, J.H.

Folder 82

Edens, Arthur Hollis

Folder 83

Emory University newsletter

Folder 84

England, J. Merton

Folder 85

Erwin, Clyde A.

Folder 86

Faculty Council

Folder 87

Farish, Hunter D.

Folder 88

Fellowship in history

Folder 89

Few, Benjamin F.

Folder 90

Few, Ellie

Folder 91

Few, William Preston, biography and correspondence

Folder 92

Few, William Preston, biography notes

Folder 93

Few, William Preston, biography, draft 1

Folder 94

Few, William Preston, biography, draft 2

Folder 95

Few, William Preston, biography, draft 3

Folder 96

Fields, J.E., Dr.

Folder 97

Flanders, Ralph B.

Folder 98

Flowers, R.L.

Folder 99

Flowers, W.W.

Folder 100

Flowers collection, 1952

Folder 101

Flowers collection, 1958

Folder 102

Flowers collection

Folder 103

Flowers collection committee

Folder 104

Folmsbee, Stanley J.

Folder 105

Forest History Foundation

Folder 106

Fries, Adelaide L.

Folder 107

Ganyard, Robert Loyal

Folder 108

Garber, Paul N.

Folder 109

Garrison, Curtis W.

Box 2
Folder 110

Geary, James J.

Folder 111

Graduate Office, 1941-1949

Folder 112

Graduate office, 1950-

Folder 113

Goff, Richard

The contents of the folder "Goff, Richard" are RESTRICTED.

Folder 114

Gray, Joe D.

Folder 115

Green, E.L.

Folder 116

Green, Fletcher

Folder 117

Gregorie, A.K.

Folder 118

Grimball, Berkeley

Folder 119

Gross, Paul M.

Folder 120

Hall, Arthur

Folder 121

Hallowell, John H.

Folder 122

Hamilton, Tom

Folder 123

Hamilton, W.B.

Folder 124

Harwell, R.B.

Folder 125

Hayes Memorial

Folder 126

Hay, T.R.

Folder 127

Heartman, Martha E.

Folder 128

Henry, R.S.

Folder 129

Hilty, Hiram

Folder 130

Historical Society of North Carolina

Folder 131

Historical Society of North Carolina, committee

Folder 132

Historical Society of North Carolina, program

Folder 133

History Department, regulations and minutes

Folder 134

Hobbs, Marcus

Folder 135

Holley, I.B.

Folder 136

Holton, Holland

Folder 137

Honeycutt, Ava L., Jr.

Folder 138

Hoole, W.S.

Folder 139

Huff, A.V., Jr.

Folder 140

Indiana Magazine of History

Folder 141

Ingram, Bern

Folder 142

Inman, Anne

Folder 143

James A. Rogers Library, Francis Marion College, Florence, S.C.

Folder 144

Johnson, Ludwell H.

Folder 145

Jones, Houston Gwynne

Folder 146

Jordan, Weymouth T.

Folder 147

Jordan, William H.

Folder 148

Journal of Southern History

Folder 148

Journal of Southern History, Detweiler

Folder 150

Journal of Southern History, J.M. England

Folder 151

King, Doris

Folder 152

King, Willard L.

Folder 153

Kirwan, A.D.

Folder 154

Lanning, John Tate

Folder 155

Lefler, Hugh T.

Folder 156

Lemple, Leland L.

Folder 157

Lerner, Eugene M.

Folder 158

Logan, S. Frank

Folder 159

Luthin, Reinhard H.

Folder 160

Luvaas, Jay

Folder 161

McAnear, Beverly

Folder 162

McCaim, James R.

Folder 163

McCain, Paul M.

Folder 164

McCloy, S.T.

Folder 165

McLaurin, Jean

Folder 166

McLendau, Jonathan C.

Folder 167

McMillan, James B.

Folder 168

McMurtrie, Douglas C.

Folder 169

McMurtry, R. Gerald

Folder 170

Marby, W.A.

Folder 171

Maryland Historical Society

Folder 172

Manarin, Louis

Folder 173

Mann, Harold D.

Folder 174

Matchette, Robert Berry

Folder 175

Matthews, Don G.

Folder 176

Matthews, A.J.

Folder 177

Matthews, Roy, Jr.

Folder 178

Mayflower award

Folder 179

Methodist College, Fayetteville

Folder 180

Miscellaneous writings

Folder 181

Miscellaneous writings

Folder 182

Mississippi Valley Historical Association

Folder 183

Mitchell, Norma Taylor

Folder 184

Moore, A.B.

Folder 185

Morse, Thomas W.

Folder 186

Murray, Paul

Folder 187

Nelson, E.W.

Folder 188

Nettels, Curtis P.

Folder 189

Nevins, Allan

Folder 190

Nichols, Roy

Folder 191

Noggle, Burl

Folder 192

North Carolina Historical Review

Folder 193

North Carolina Literary and Historical Association

Folder 194

University of North Carolina Press

Folder 195

O'Donnell, James

The contents of the folder "O'Donnell, James" are RESTRICTED.

Folder 196

Oliver, George B.

The contents of the folder "Oliver, George B." are RESTRICTED.

Folder 197

Parker, Harold T.

Folder 198

Patton, James W.

Folder 199

Pearce, H.J.

Folder 200

Phi Beta Kappa

Folder 201

Pegg, C.H., summer session

The contents of the folder "Pegg, C.H., summer session" are RESTRICTED.

Folder 202

James K. Polk commission

Folder 203

Posey, W.B.

Folder 204

Potter, David M.

Folder 205

Powell, Ben

Folder 206

Prior, Granville T.

Folder 207

Publications committee

Folder 208

Reid, Robert H.

Folder 209

Research Council, Duke University

Folder 210

Rice, Carew

Folder 211

Richards, Jane

Folder 212

Rivers, Robert Hayne

Folder 213

Robertson, William Glenn

Folder 214

Robert, Joseph Clark

Folder 215

Robinson, William M., Jr.

Folder 216

Ropp, Ted

Folder 217

Russell, Mattie

Folder 218

Scheffel, Kenneth

Folder 219

Schuyler, Robert Livingston

Folder 220

Seale, William, Jr.

Folder 221

Simkins, Francis B.

Folder 222

Sisk, Glenn N.

Folder 223

Smith, Clarence M.

Folder 224

Smith, Culver H.

Folder 225

Smith, H. Shelton

Folder 226

Snider, David Kelley

Folder 227

Southern Historical Association

Folder 228

Southern Historical Association, council

Folder 229

Southern Historical Association, program

Folder 230

Southern Historical Association, nominating committee

Folder 231

Southern Historical Association, Ramsdell award, 1955-1965, 1958-1959

Folder 232

Sowle, Patrick

Folder 233

Stark, John D.

Box 3
Folder 234

Stephens, George M.

Folder 235

Stephenson, Wendell H.

Folder 236

Stevens, Harry R.

Folder 237

Stone, Marjorie S.

Folder 238

Stroupe, Henry S.

Folder 239

Students, miscellaneous

Folder 240

Summer session

Folder 241

Summers, Festus P.

Folder 242

Sutor, Jack

Folder 243

Tally, David K.

Folder 244

Talmadge, John E.

Folder 245

Tarlton, William S.

Folder 246

Taylor, Rosser H.

Folder 247

Taylor, Rosser H.

Folder 248

TePaske, John J.

Folder 249

Thomas, Robert N.

Folder 250

Todd, Richard C.

Folder 251

Todd, Richard C. and Confederate Finance

Folder 252

Trent, Mark P., Jr.

Folder 253

Trinity College Historical Society

Folder 254

U.S. Quarterly Book List

Folder 255

Van Dusen, Albert E.

Folder 256

Van Hook, J.O.

Folder 257

Veith, Paul F.

Folder 258

Wade, John D., Georgia Review

Folder 259

Wallace, Lillian Parker

Folder 260

Wannamaker, W.H.

Folder 261

Wallace, Wesley H.

Folder 262

Watson, Richard

Folder 263

Weaver, Herbert

Folder 264

Webb, John M.

Folder 265

Weissfield, Jerry C.

Folder 266

Whitener, D.J.

Folder 267

Wilburn, H.C.

Folder 268

Wilkerson, M.M.

Folder 269

Williams, Gary

Folder 270

Williams, T. Harry

Folder 271

William and Mary Quarterly

Folder 272

Ziring, Stanley

Folder 273

Zuher, R.L.

Folder 274

Racine thesis, correspondence, and unfoldered materials

Folder 275

Clippings

Folder 276

Correspondence and other unfoldered materials

Folder 277

South Carolina During Reconstruction

Folder 278

General biographical materials, Robert H. Woody

Folder 279

Correspondence, miscellaneous

Folder 280

Asheville paper, November, 1963

Folder 281

Civil War clippings

Folder 282

Civil War, soldier's letters (transcriptions)

Folder 283

Civil War memorabilia, printed items

Folder 284

Carpetbaggers ("Northerners in the South")

Folder 285

Hoor, E., transcripts of "Abolitionists in the South"

Folder 286

The Bookmark

Folder 287

Berrien, J.W.M. to Baber, ca. 1840

Folder 288

History and the Changing South

Folder 289

Jones, C.E., submarine torpedoes in the Civil War, clippings

Folder 290

Civil War Centennial Commission, 1958-1969

Folder 291

M. Bryant, University of Tennessee Press

Folder 292

Godbold, Stanley, Jr.

Folder 293

Godbold, Stanley, Jr.

Folder 294

Godbold, Stanley, Jr.

Folder 295

Parker-Daniel letters, 1980-1981

Folder 296

American Historical Association

Folder 297

Bryan, T. Conn

Folder 298

Department of Archives and History

Folder 299

Williams, Gary Lee

Box 4
Folder 300

Broussard, James H.

Folder 301

Buchanan, Carol Phipps

Folder 302

Correspondence, miscellaneous

Folder 303

Carolina Charter Corporation, Educational Advisory Board

Folder 304

Colton, Joel

Folder 305

Daniel, Harrison

Folder 306

Davis, Curtis Carroll

Folder 307

Delaney, Norman C.

Folder 308

Durden, Robert F.

Folder 309

Eaton, James N.

Folder 310

Edens, A. Hollis

Folder 311

Emory University

Folder 312

Encyclopedia of Southern History

Folder 313

Finnie, Gordon E.

Folder 314

Gadsden biography

Folder 315

Gadsden, Jeanne

Folder 316

Gadsden, Mary J.

Folder 317

Gadsden, Philip H.

Folder 318

Gadsden, Philip H. correpsondence

Folder 319

Graduate students

Folder 320

Greene, Jack

Folder 321

Huff, A.V.

Folder 322

King, Robert T., University of South Carolina Press

Folder 323

Francis Marion College, library collection

Folder 324

Laprade, William T.

Folder 325

Louisiana State University Press

Folder 326

McCloy, Shelby T.

Folder 327

McCarter, Linda

Folder 328

McLean, Ross H.

Folder 329

Manarin, Louis

Folder 330

Matthews, Antoinette Johnson

Folder 331

Matthews, John Michael

Folder 332

Mitchell, Norma

Folder 333

Moore, Marie D.

Folder 334

Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, sketches and drafts

Folder 335

Nolan, Louis C. (Buck)

Folder 336

North Carolina Department of Archives and History

Folder 337

Powell, Bill

Folder 338

Rachal, W.M.E.

Folder 339

Renberg, James

Folder 340

Sandburg, Carl

Folder 341

Sanders, Charles R., Jr.

Folder 342

Seale, William

Folder 343

Snider, David K.

Folder 344

South Carolina Historical Association

Folder 345

Spalt, Allen E.

Folder 346

Stayer, Samuel Nessly

Folder 347

Sydnor, Charles S., Jr. and Victor Sydnor

Folder 348

Sydnor, Betty

Folder 349

Davis, Jefferson, correspondence

Inclides typewritten copies of the Fourteenth Amendment and printed material (mostly editorial)

Folder 350

Hammond, James Henry

Folder 351

Historical letters, typewritten copies

Folder 352

Printed materials on publishing historical documents

Folder 353

Hart, Liddell, The Psychology of a Commander, and General R.E. Lee: His Latest Biography

Folder 354

Foreign military writers and Civil War

Folder 355

Southern literacy

Folder 356

Sevier, J. and Telfair, 1786, letter, typewritten copy

Box 5

Reel 1

Gardens Parade and Faculty Club Picnic, 1949

Reversal original, 8mm, si., col. (200 ft.)

Reel 2

Catalochee reunion, 1948

Reversal original, 8mm, si., col. (175 ft.)

Reel 3

Mountains, undated

Reversal original, 8mm, si., col. (175 ft)

Reel 4

History Department, Duke University, 1948

Reversal original, 8mm, si., col. (200 ft)

Reel 5

History Department II, undated