Romeo Guest papers, 1925-1987 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Guest, Romeo Holland
Abstract:
Greensboro, North Carolina developer and construction company executive; originator of the concept and name for Research Triangle Park. The Romeo Guest Papers span the dates 1925-1987 with the bulk of the collection dated 1950-1986 and consists of correspondence, business records, clippings and printed material, and plans documenting the development of Research Triangle Park from conceptualization and groundbreaking through periods of growth and success in the 1970s and 1980s. The collection is organized into series for Appointment Books, a Condensed File of key events, Chronological Files, Corporate Files, Manuscript Material, People, Pinelands Company Files, Printed Material, and Audiocassettes. The Appointment Books Series houses Guest's annual schedules for the bulk of his professional life, consisting chiefly of notes on appointments but also containing ideas and thoughts as they occured to him. The Condensed File Series contains files on important events in the development of the "Research Triangle" and individuals instrumental in the bringing that vision to fruition. These people include Guest, business investor Karl Robbins, William Newell, Gordon Gray, and NC governor Luther Hodges. More detailed files on events and people described in the Condensed File can be found in the Chronological Files Series. These document the coordination efforts between the three major research universities in the area, private corporate interests, and the North Carolina state government. The Corporate Files Series contains files related to Guest's construction company, C.M. Guest and Sons, including some files on Research Triangle projects as well as other construction works in North and South Carolina. A series for Manuscript Material houses drafts and notes of Guest's unpublished history of the inception of Research Triangle Park. The People Series houses additional files on people of interest to Guest, including some involved in the success of the Research Triangle as well as research work on Guest and the Research Triangle. The Pinelands Company Files Series contains files documenting the work of the company created to acquire and develop land for Research Triangle Park. A series of additional Printed Material includes newspaper clippings documenting the construction of Research Triangle and the success of companies there as well as publicity for the then-new Research Triangle. The Audiocassettes Series, containing recorded oral histories and interviews with important figures associated with the development of the Research Triangle, completes the collection.
Extent:
21.4 Linear Feet
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.00486

Background

Scope and content:

The Romeo Guest Papers span the dates 1925-1987 with the bulk of the collection dated 1950-1986 and consists of correspondence, business records, clippings and printed material, and plans documenting the development of Research Triangle Park from conceptualization and groundbreaking through periods of growth and success in the 1970s and 1980s. The collection is organized into series for Appointment Books, a Condensed File of key events, Chronological Files, Corporate Files, Manuscript Material, People, Pinelands Company Files, Printed Material, and Audiocassettes. The Appointment Books Series houses Guest's annual schedules for the bulk of his professional life, consisting chiefly of notes on appointments but also containing ideas and thoughts as they occured to him. The Condensed File Series contains files on important events in the development of the "Research Triangle" and individuals instrumental in the bringing that vision to fruition. These people include Guest, business investor Karl Robbins, William Newell, Gordon Gray, and NC governor Luther Hodges. More detailed files on events and people described in the Condensed File can be found in the Chronological Files Series. These document the coordination efforts between the three major research universities in the area, private corporate interests, and the North Carolina state government. The Corporate Files Series contains files related to Guest's construction company, C.M. Guest and Sons, including some files on Research Triangle projects as well as other construction works in North and South Carolina. A series for Manuscript Material houses drafts and notes of Guest's unpublished history of the inception of Research Triangle Park. The People Series houses additional files on people of interest to Guest, including some involved in the success of the Research Triangle as well as research work on Guest and the Research Triangle. The Pinelands Company Files Series contains files documenting the work of the company created to acquire and develop land for Research Triangle Park. A series of additional Printed Material includes newspaper clippings documenting the construction of Research Triangle and the success of companies there as well as publicity for the then-new Research Triangle. The Audiocassettes Series, containing recorded oral histories and interviews with important figures associated with the development of the Research Triangle, completes the collection.

Biographical / historical:
Chronology List
Date Event
1906
Romeo Holland Guest born in Anderson, SC
1925
Graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy
1928
Became partner in C.M. Guest and Sons construction company
1929
Graduated from M.I.T.
1937
Moved to Greensboro to oversee company operations there
1954
Used the term "Research Triangle" for the first time
1957
Becomes director of C.M. Guest and Sons
1963
Changed name of company to Romeo Guest Associates
1973
Sold Romeo Guest Associates to Durham-based Nello Teer construction company
1976
Retired from Romeo Guest Associates
1987
Died in West End, NC

The term "Research Triangle" was first used by builder Romeo H. Guest in 1954 while making notes for a meeting to win support for a research park in central North Carolina. Hoping to take advantage of the southern migration of the industrial and manufacturing sectors from the Northeast, Guest and colleagues approached then Lt. Governor Luther Hodges about government support for the idea. In 1955, Gov. Hodges worked build partnerships for a Research Triangle park, enlisting the support of the three major universities in the area, Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as support of government and business leaders. To fund the project, Hodges secured the backing of real estate investor Karl Robbins. 1957, the Pinelands Company was created to buy land to create a contiguous parcel of 5,000 acres in Durham, and Wake Counties. Despite waning support from Robbins, in 1959 ground was broken for the Research Triangle Institute, the first major research insitution in Research Triangle Park. Chemstrand Corp. became the first corporation to develop space in Research Triangle Park soon after. As of 2007, Research Triangle Park has expanded to almost 7,000 acres of total area encompassing 157 research and development facilities.

Acquisition information:
The Romeo Guest Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 1965, 1983, and 1987.
Processing information:

Processed by Christian Ferney and Paula Jeannet, April 2008

Encoded by Christian Ferney and Paula Jeannet, April 2008

Accessions 65-12, 3-30-83, and 87-109 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Romeo Guest Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University