MenuInventory of the Trinity College Historical Society Collection, [1492?] - 1981
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.
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
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University.
- Language
- English.
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.
Administrative Information
A majority of collections are stored off site and must be requested at least 24 business hours in advance for retrieval. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
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.
Contents of the Collection
Browse List of Series
Collapse All
Expand AllIncludes 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.
Includes general correspondence about the business of the Trinity College Historical Society and announcements and publicity for upcoming meetings.
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.
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.
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.
NOTE: University Archives staff needs to format for use copies of Laprade sound recording tape before use.
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.
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.
Subject Headings
- Bassett, John Spencer, 1867-1928.
- Boyd, William Kenneth, 1879-1938.
- Collectors and collecting - United States.
- Duke University--History.
- North Carolina--History.
- Southern States--Civilization.
- Southern States--History--Sources.
- Trinity College (Durham, N.C.)
- Trinity College Historical Society.
- Weeks, Stephen Beauregard, 1865-1918.
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. )
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Trinity College Historical Society Collection, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, 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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript 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.