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imi Library of The University of North Carolina COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA ENDOWED BY JOHN SPRUNT HILL of the Class of 1889 ^^^<^,-.-A^. V rnk^^V>^(ri'/^.v-p liiiiiiiiiiiii^^^ ^^H 00033953268 This book must not be taken from the Library building. }9Kh^''3- ri^:^-k^'^im^M^i%:Ai:'m^^mc£:^^^ REPORT HISTORICAL COMMISSION GOVERNOR CHARLES B. AYCOCK, 1903-1905. "The roots of the present lie deep in the past, and nothing in the past is dead to the man who would learn HOW THE PRESENT CAME TO BE WHAT IT IS." — Sttibbs. RALEIGH: E. M. UzzELL & Co., State Printers and Binders. 1904. Digitized by the Internet Arciiive in 2009 witii funding from Ensuring Democracy tiirough Digital Access (NC-LSTA) http://www.archive.org/details/biennialreportof190305nort REPORT HISTORICAL COMMISSION GOVERNOR CHARLES B. AYCOCK. To His E.veeUeucij, Govekxok Chaules B. Aycock. For the information of yonr Excellency, of the General A.ssembly, and of the public, ^\e beg to submit a brief report of the work of the Historical Commission for the past two years and of the work outlined for the future. The people of ]S[orth Carolina are realizing more and more every day that it is not safe to trust the future to the control of a people who are ignorant of their past ; and that no peo- ])le who are indifferent to their past need hope to make their future great. But even when this lesson is fully realized it will be valueless tmless steps are taken at the same time to preserve the material from which that past is to be made intelligible to the ]U'esent and to the future. To accomplish tliis work the General Assembly of 1003, at the instance of the State Literary and Historical Association, created a com-mission of five members to be appointed by the Governor to collect, edit and publish valuable documents elucidating the history of the State. The sum of five hundred ($500) dol-lars annually is appropriated by the act to cover the expenses of collecting and transcribing such documents, wdiich are then to be issued by the State printer as public printing. On the 20th of ISTovember, 1903, a meeting was held in Warsaw ^ and the commission was organized for work by the election O cr 4 REPORT OF HISTORICAL COMMISSION. of W. J. Peele as chairman and R. D. W, Connor as secre-tary. ^ Such work as the commission is to do if it be properly done will require great care and time. As yet, therefore, but little more than a good beginning has been made.. The commission has now in press its initial volume, which gives a review of the "Historical and Literary Activities in ISTorth Carolina" during the period from 1900 to 1905. The record produced here is one in which the State has good right to feel a pride and will appeal forcibly to the patriotism of all good citizens. It will be the policy of the commission to issue such a volume at the close of every five-year period, giv-ing in each a summary and review of the historical and lit-erary life of the period covered. The present volume, in addi-tion to review of the historical and literary activities of the past five years, contains the report of the committee of the State Literary and Historical Association appointed to reply to the statements of Judge Christian of Virginia, regarding ISTorth Carolina's part in the War Between the States. This committee was assisted in its efforts by the Historical Com-mission which defrayed the expenses of two men to visit Appomatox battlefield to obtain necessary data for the report of the committee. Material for this v(ilume was compiled and edited for the commission by AV. J. Peele and Clarence LI. Poe, secretary of the State Literary and Historical Asso-ciation. Under the direction of Col. Fred A. Olds of Raleigh, the commission has had made and ]fiaced in the Hall- of Llis-tory in the State Museum, handsome photographs of DeBry's rare and valuable engravings illustrative of early Indian life in N^orth Carolina. These pictures are the most nearly per-fect illustrations of Indian life before the white man colo-nized the continent in existence, and can be utilized to great advantage by students of our early history. Arrangements have also been perfected for reprinting the narratives of REPORT OF HISTORICAL COMMISSION. 5 Barlowe, Lane and Hariot of the early discoveries and set-tlements on the ^STorth Carolina coast, and these reprints will be illustrated with the DeBrv pictures. The value of these narratives in elucidating that period of our history is of course apparent to all, but on account of the extreme rare-ness and excessive price of such copies as are in existence, they are now practically inaccessible to all but a favored few. To multiply copies of these interesting works in inex-pensive but attractive editions, we believe will stimulate a wide interest in the history of the first English settlements in America. In addition to this work the commission will soon issue a reprint of the ''Proceedings and Debates of the Constitutional Convention of 1788," together with the "Jour-nals of the Constitutional Convention of 1789." Original copies of these valuable debates and journals are so extremely rare and costly that it is the desire of the commission to issue a large edition of reprints in order to afford our people an opportunity of becoming familiar with this brilliant chapter in our history. The editorial work has been done for the commission by Prof. E. P. Moses of Raleigh. The manu-script is now ready for the printer. Finally, under the super-vision of Dr. Dillard of Edenton, the commission has had copied and prepared for publication the parish records of St. Paul's church of Edenton, in which is found much valua-ble information of the early Albemarle settlements. The reprinting of rare and valuable historical works is of great importance, but it is not the most important work for the commission to do. The real work lies in collecting, tran-scribing and editing original sources. The importance of this work is equalled only by the almost insuperable difficul-ties in the way. Many hundreds of invaluable historical documents and records have been lost or destroyed through the indifference of the State and the ignorance and careless-ness of their possessors. These are hopelessly gone, but 6 REPORT OF HISTORICAL COMMISSIOTnT. many others remain which should be preserved. Stuffed away in dark corners and dusty archives, in pigeon-holes, vaults, desks and cellars, all over IsTorth Carolina, are many documents, records, private and public letters, and other man-uscripts, which as matters now stand are of absolutely no value to their possessors or to the public ; but if properly col-lected, edited and published they will be of incalculable value in throwing light on our history. It is the duty of the Historical Commission to do this work. All patriotic citizens should aid in it. Those who pos-sess such documents, or know of their whereabouts, will ren-der a service to the State by placing them, or copies of them, in possession of the commission. All originals or certified copies of valuable documents, church and court records, manuscripts, letters, maps, old newspapers and portraits, or of any other material of historical value, should be placed at the disposal of the commission for the benefit of the public and a safe repository provided for their preservation. All material which cannot be parted with ])ermaueutly, if loaned to the commission, will be returned after copies have been made ; and provision will be made for copying such documents as their owners are unwilling to part with at all. All ex-penses connected with such work wall be met by the commis-sion. The material after being carefully edited will be pub-lished and due acknowledgment wall be made to all wdio aid in this work. Those Avho have such material should not store it away as the miser does his gold. The history of our State can never be fully and accurately written until this work is done. But it is a w^ork that cannot be accomplished unless the commission meets with the earnest support of ]3atriotic citizens who have the documents, or information of the documents, which are desired. It is a work which cannot be accomplished wdthin a year, nor within two years, but is rather the work of a generation, and it is REPORT OF HISTORICAL CO:MMISSIO:Sf. 7 earnestly to be hoped tliat no cessation will be permitted until it is all done and thoronglil_y done, i^eed one urge upon intelligent men the necessity for such work ? So long as we neglect it we need not be surprised nor complain if the "scorner shall sneer at and the witling defame us." Respectfully submitted, W. J. Peele^ Chairman. R. D. W. Connor, Secretary. j. d, hufham, f. a. sondley, Richard Dillard, Commission. THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL COMMISSION CREATION AND ORGANIZATION. DUTIES AND POWERS. PLANS AND PURPOSES. PREPARED BY THE SECRETARY. COMMISSIONERS : J. Bryan Grimes, Chairman, Raleigh. W. J. Peele, Raleigh. Thomas W. Blount, Roper. M. C. S. Noble. Chapel Hill. D. H. Hill, Raleigh. R. D. W. CONNOR, Secretary, Raleigh. A PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT THE PRIDE TO RECORD THEIR HISTORY, WILL NOT LONG HAVE THE VIRTUE TO MAKE HISTORY THAT IS WORTH RECORDING. 1907. No Man is fit to be Enteusted with Conteol op the Present Who is Ignorant of the Past; and no People who are Indiffer-ent TO their Past need hope to make their Future Great. PREFATORY NOTE. By the publication of this bulletin we hope to accomplish three objects : 1. To explain the organization, plans and purposes of the North Carolina Historical Commission. 2. To interest you in our work. 3. To secure your co-operation. Many of the States of the Union have created similar agen-cies for the preservation and publication of their historical soui'ces, all of which are diligently at work performing their functions. Our State cannot afford to lag behind in this impor-tant work. We wish, therefore, to receive the hearty co-operation of all the people of the State who have an interest and a pride in their splendid history. We cannot compel this very desirable object; we can only appeal to their intelligence and patriotism. We therefore call your attention especially to the section of this bulletin relating to the collection and publication of our historical sources. This section is directed as a personal appeal to all persons who possess such documents. If you have any such documents which you are willing to give or lend to the Commission the Secretary will go, upon notice, to examine and receive them, or to have copies made. If you know of the exist-ence of such documents elsewhere, give us the information and lend us your aid in securing them. If there is any spot of his-toric interest and importance in your neighborhood that should be properly marked, we will be glad to co-operate with you in having it done. In any way in which the Commission can be of service to encourage and stimulate interest in our history—local. State or JSTational—among our people, we stand ready to do so. We appeal to our people to aid us in our work, confident that J^orth Carolina needs only to set forth her records in such form as to be accessible to students of history to convince the world that we have a history as interesting, as worthy and as inspiring as an•y^ of our sister States. x t^ /-. r^i J. Beyan Grimes, Chairman, W. J. Peele. Thomas W. Blount, M. C. S. Noble, D. H. Hill, Commissioners. CHAPTER 767, PUBLIC LAWS OF 1903.* AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AN HISTORICAL COMMISSION. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact : Section 1. That an Historical Commission be and the same is hereby established, whose duty it shall be to have collected from the files of old newspapers, fr'om court records, church records and else-where valuable documents pertaining to the history of the State. Sec. 2. That the Commission shall consist of not more than five per-sons, of whom three shall constitute a quorum. They shall be ap-pointed by the Governor and shall hold office for a term of two years from the date of their appointment. They shall serve without salary, mileage or per diem. Sec. 3. That the Commission shall be authorized to expend a sum not exceeding five himdred dollars annually in the collection and transcription of documents. Sec. 4. That the documents collected and approved shall be pub-lished by the State Printers as public printing, and shall be distrib-uted by the State Librarian, under the direction of the Commission. Sec. 5. That this act shall be in force from and after its ratifica-tion. In the General Assembly read three times, and ratified this 9th day of March, 1903. * Brought forward in the Revisal of 1905 as chapter 96. CHAPTER 714 OF PUBLIC LAWS OF 1907. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 96 OF THE REVISAL OF 1905, RELATING TO THE STATE HISTORICAL COMMISSION. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact: Section 1. Tbat chapter ninety-six of the Revisal of one thousand nine hundred and Ave be amended by striking out all after the word "quorum," in section one, line three, and inserting in lieu thereof the following : They shall be appointed by the Governor on the first day of April, one thousand nine hundred and seven, who shall designate one member to serve for a term of two years, two members to serve for a term of four years, and two members to serve for a term of six years from the date of their appointments, and their successors shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve for a term of six years and until their successors are appointed and qualified : Provided, that in case of a vacancy in any of the above terms the person appointed ' to fill such vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term. They shall seiwe without salary, but shall be allowed their actual expenses when attending to their oflicial duties, to be paid out of any funds hereinafter appropriated for the maintenance of said Commis-sion : Provided, such expenses shall not be allowed for more than four meetings annually or for more than four days at each meeting. Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Commission to have collected from the files of old newspapers, court records, church records, pri-vate collections, and elsewhere, historical data pertaining to the his-tory of North Carolina and the territory included therein from the earliest times; to have such material properly edited, published by the State Printer as other State printing, and distributed under the direction of the Commission ; to care for the proper marking and pres-ervation of battle-fields, houses and other places celebrated in the history of the State ; to diffuse knowledge in reference to the history and resources of North Carolina; to encourage the study of North Carolina history in the schools of the State, and to stimulate and encourage historical investigation and research among the people of the State ; to make a biennial report of its receipts and disbursements, its work and needs, to the Governor, to be by him transmitted to the General Assembly; and said Commission is especially charged with the duty of co-operating with the Commission appointed by the Gov-ernor to make an exhibit at the Jamestown Exposition in making at said exposition an historical exhibit illustrating the history of North Carolina from the earliest times. Sec. 3. Said Commission shall have power to adopt a seal for use and official business ; to adopt rules for its own government not incon-sistent with the provisions of this act; to fix a reasonable price for 6 its publications and to devote the revenue arising from such sales to extending the worlc of the Commission ; to employ a secretai-y ; to con-trol the expenditure of such funds as may be appropriated for its maintenance : Provided, that at least one copy of its publications sliall be furnished free of charge to any public-school library or public library in North Carolina, State officers and members of the General Assembly making application for the same through its constituted authorities. Sec. 4. Said Commission shall have an office or offices set aside for its use by the Board of Trustees of the State Library in the State Library building: Provided, that until such office or offices become available said Commission may rent an office or offices, the rent to be paid out of its maintenance fund. Sec. 5. Any State, comity, town or other public official in custody of public documents is hereby authorized and empowered in his dis-cretion to turn over to said Commission for preservation any official books, records, documents, original papers, newspaper files, printed books or portraits not in current use in his office, and said Commis-sion shall provide for their permanent preservation ; and when so sur-rendered, copies therefrom shall be made and certified under the seal of the Commission upon application of any person, which certification shall have the same force and effect as if made by the officer originally in charge of them, and the Commission shall charge for such copies the same fees as said officer is by law allowed to charge, to be col-lected in advance. Sec. 6. For carrying out the purposes and objects of this act the sum of five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as shall be needed over and above all of the funds derived from the sale of the publica-tions of the Commission and all of the fees collected imder section five of this act, is hereby annually appropriated out of funds in the hands of the State Treasurer not otherwise appropriated, and upon order of the Commission the State Auditor is hereby empowered and directed to draw his warrant for this sum upon the State Treasurer. Sec 7. This act shall be in force fi*om and after its ratification. In the General Assembly read three times, and ratified this the 8th day of March, A. D. 1907. THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL COMMISSION. CREATION AND ORGANIZATION. The North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, at the annual meeting, January 23, 1903, adopted a resolution re-questing the Legislature to pass an act creating an Historical Commission, charged with the duty of having collected, edited and published the historical sources of the State. The Legisla-ture accordingly passed an act (chapter 767 of the Public Laws of 1903) creating a commission of five members, appointed by the Governor, to serve for a term of two years, without salary, per diem or mileage. The act declared it their duty "to have collected from the files of old newspapers, from court records, church records and elsewhere valuable documents pertaining to the history of the State," to have such documents published by the State Printer as public printing, and "distributed by the State Librarian, under the direction of the Commission." The Commission was "authorized to expend a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars annually in the collection and transcription of documents." Under this act the Governor appointed "W. J. Peele, of Ea-leigh; J. D. Hufham, of Henderson; F. A. Sondley, of Ashe-ville; Richard Dillard, of Edenton, and R. D. W. Connor, of Wilmington. At a meeting of the Commission, ISTovember 20, 1903, at Warsaw, iT. C, Mr. Peele was elected Chairman and Mr. Connor Secretary. Owing to the fact that the members lived in widely separated parts of the State and that the law expressly forbade the payment of expenses incurred in attending to their duties, it was extremely difficult to secure a quorum at meetings, as shown by the fact that o^ly one meeting was held during the two years of the first term. Efficient work under such circumstances was impossible; and, realizing the necessity of having members who were nearer to each other, the Governor, in^ 1905, appointed the following: W. J. Peele, of Raleigh; J^ Bryan Grimes, of Raleigh; Thomas W. Blount, of Roper; C. L. Raper, of Chapel Hill, and R. D. W. Connor, of Raleigh. The Commission held its first meeting June 8, 1905, in the office of the Secretary of State, at Kaleigh, and re-elected Mr, Peele Chairman and Mr. Connor Secretary. Though better work was accomplished than before, it soon became apparent that if the work expected of the Commission was to be done properly a dif-ferent and more effective organization was necessary. The Leg-islature of 1907, therefore, amended the act of 1903 (chapter 714 of the Public Laws of 1907), increasing the duties and en-larging the powers of the Commission. The members are now appointed for terms of two, four and six years, their successors to serve for six years. They receive no salary or per diem, but are allowed "actual expenses when attending to their official duties." The appropriation was increased to $5,000 and the Commission was authorized to employ a salaried Secretary. The members of the present Commission are J. Bryan Grimes, W. J. Peele, Thomas W. Blount, M. C. S. Noble and D. H. Hill. At a meeting of the Commission held in the office of the Secretary of State, at Raleigh, May 20, 1907—the first meeting since the creation of the Commission in 1903 at which all members were present—Mr. Grimes was elected Chairman and Mr. Connor was re-elected Secretary. An office was set apart in the State Capitol for the Secretary and he was authorized to purchase such equipment as was necessary for the work of the Commis-sion. DUTIES AND POWERS. The duties of the Commission are best stated in section 2 of the act of 1907 : Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Commission to have collected from the files of old newspapers, court records, church records, pri-vate collections and elsewhere historical data pertaining to the his-tory of North Carolina and the territory included therein from the earliest times ; to have such material properly edited, published by the State Printer as other State printing, and distributed under the direction of the Commission ; to care for the proper marking and pi'eservation of battle-fields, houses and other places celebrated in the history of the State ; to diffuse knowledge in reference to the history and resources of North Carolina ; to encourage the study of North Carolina histoiy in the schools of the State, and to stimulate and encourage historical investigation and research among the people of the State ; to make a bieimial report of its receipts and disbursements, its work and needs, to the Governor, to be by him transmitted to the General Assembly ; {?nd said Commission is especially charged with 9 the dutj' of co-oi>ei'ating with the Commission appointed by the Gov-ernor to make an exhibit at the Jamestown Exposition in malting at said exposition an historical exhibit illustrating the history of North Cai'olina from the earliest times. It will tkus be seen that the Historical Commission is expected to do for the entire history of the State what Colonel William L. Saunders and Chief Justice Walter Clark, by their monu-mental labors in the editing and publication of ''The Colonial Eecords" and "The State Kecords" of North Carolina, did for the period prior to 1790. The great value of their work has been recognized by students of American history throughout the United States, and because of these volumes the Colonial and Revolutionary history of ISTorth Carolina is beginning to receive the recognition to which it is entitled. Before the publication of these records it was fashionable among a certain class of ''historians" to ignore the first century and a half of ISTorth Carolina history, or to mention it only to sneer. Such an atti-tude now would condemn any author to deserved oblivion. But it must be remembered that these volumes relate only to the period prior to 1790. It is, therefore, peculiarly the duty of the Historical Commission to continue this work for subsequent periods, though the Commission is not limited to any particular periods in its work. The powers of the Commission are outlined in the act, in sec-tion 3, as follows : Sec. 3. Said Commission shall have power to adopt a seal for use and official business ; to adopt rules for its own government not incon-sistent with the provisions of this act ; to fix a reasonable price for its publications and to devote the revenue arising from such sales to extending the work of the Commission ; to employ a secretary ; to control the expenditure of such funds as may be appropriated for its maintenance : Provided, that at least one copy of its publications shall be furnished free of charge to any public-school library or public library in North Carolina, State officers and members of the General Assembly making application for the same through its properly con-stituted authorities. TO COLLECT AND PUBLISH HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. The most important duty imposed upon the Historical Com-mission is the duty of having collected, edited and published "historical data pertaining to the history of jSTorth Carolina and 10 the territory included therein from the earliest times." These documents are to be found in the files of old newspapers, court and church records, public and private letters of prominent men, diaries and journals, and manuscripts of all kinds which have historical value. The importance of this work is equaled only by the almost insuperable difficulties in the way. Many hun-dreds of invaluable historical documents and records have been lost or destroyed in I^Torth Carolina, or carried away from the State to the archives and libraries of other States,* through the indifference of the State and the ignorance and carelessness of their owners. Most of these are, of course, lost forever, but many others remain, which can yet be preserved. Stuffed aAvay in dark corners, in desks and in cellars, all over I^orth Carolina, and in other States are innumerable manuscripts, which in the present situation are absolutely of no use to anybody, but if col-lected, properly edited and published or otherwise made accessi-ble to students, would be of incalculable value to students of our history. History cannot be written from tradition. Documentary evi-dence is the foundation of accurate history writing. The col-lection of such evidence as to the history of IS^orth Carolina and her eminent men is the duty of the ISTorth Carolina Historical Commission. The Commission, therefore, appeals to all pa-triotic citizens who love the State and her magnificent history to aid in this work. Do you own letters or other documents .of historical value? Let the Commission have them and make, them accessible to students. Do you know of the whereabouts of other such documents ? Lend the Commission your assistance in procuring them. If the owners of such documents do not wish to part with them permanently, let them be placed with the Commission as a loan, or let the Commission have copies made. Originals or certified copies of valuable documents, church and court records, letters, maps, newspapers, portraits and pamphlets should be placed at the disposal of the Conimis- * The catalogue of the manuscript collections of the State Historical Society of Wis-consin shows that that Society has in its library at Madison a large collection of manu-scripts relating to North Carolina, among them being 18 volumes of King's Mountain Mss.; 3 volumes of Mecklenburg Declaration Mss ; 3 volumes of Mecklenburg Declaration Miscellanies: 1 volume of North Carolina Mss.; 10 volumes of Rudolp-Ney (Peter S. Ney) Mss. ; 7 volumes of Tennessee Mss., before Tennessee was separated from North Carolina; and hundreds of other Mss.. relating to North Carolina in various collections. These Mss. were collected in North Carolina and other Southern States by Dr. Lyman C. Draper, author of "King's Mountain and its Heroes." The State of Wisconsin has erected a magnificent building for the preservation of these treasures. 11 sion. All expense connected with such work will be met by the Commission. Attention is here called particularly to the fol-lowing section of the act of 1907 : Sec. 5. Any State, county, town or other public official iu custody of public documents is hereby authorized and empowered in his discre-tion to turn over to said Commission for preservation any official books, records, documents, original papers, newspaper flies, printed books or portraits not in current use in his office, aijd said Commis-sion shall provide for their permanent preservation ; and when so sur-rendered, copies therefrom shall be made and certified under the seal of the Commission upon application of any person, which certification shall have the same force and effect as if made by the officer origi-nally iu charge of them, and the Commission shall charge for such copies the same fees as said officer is by law allowed to charge, to be collected in advance. Though "public documents" only are mentioned in this sec-tion, the same care will be taken of valuable private papers that may be given or loaned to the Commission. It should be borne in mind that such gifts or loans are not made to the members of the Commission as individuals, but as trustees for the State, and that they will be preserved in the State archives by the State for the benefit of students of our history. All such material, after being carefully edited, will be published by the Commission or otherwise made accessible, and due acknowledgment will be made to all who aid in the work. Those who have such material should not hoard it as the miser does his gold ! It is perhaps not too emphatic a statement to say that there is in the whole State of Worth Carolina not a single private house suitable for the care and preservation of valuable histori-cal documents. They can never be safe from ignorance, negli-gence or fire so long as they remain in private hands, nor can they be accessible to students. But, placed in the keeping of the State, they will not only be made available for students, but will also be certain of preservation. The office of the North Carolina Historical Commission is in the State Capitol, a struc-ture of solid granite, with not enough wooden material in it to make a respectable bonfire, and is accordingly absolutely fire-proof. All documents placed in the hands of the Commission will not only be safe from fire, but will be filed and cared for according to the best of modern methods. If placed with the 12 Commission as loans, they will always be subject to recall by the owners ; if placed with the Commission as gifts, certified copies under the seal of the Commission can be had upon application. Already the Commission has been practically assured of several such collections of great value.* It is not too much to expect that those men whose papers are thus made accessible to students will in the course of a few years enjoy enhanced reputations as the direct result of this course. Many a man who served his country well and faithfully, who hoped for recognition by posterity and whose memory deserves to live, has been forgotten and the influence of his life lost to posterity because his family have hoarded his papers and letters, which alone would furnish the data from which the historian or biographer could write the story of his career. Thus many a man's ambition to live in history has been frustrated by those whose chief care should have been to preserve his memory. The history of North Carolina and the biographies of our distinguished men can never be written until such work has been properly done. It should not be a matter for pride that no biography of a ISTorth Carolinian has yet found its way into the American Statesmen series, or the American Men of Energy series ; nor should we find pride in the fact that no volume on North Carolina has yet been published in the American Com-monwealths series. These omissions cannot be charged to the prejudice of publishers and historians against North Carolina; they are due to the fact that North Carolinians have, until re-cent years, failed to collect and preserve their historical sources. Nor can the North Carolina Historical Commission complete this work unless those who possess such material will give their hearty co-operation. It is a work that cannot be accomplished in a year, nor in two years, but is rather the work of a genera-tion. It is earnestly to be hoped that no cessation will be per-mitted until it is done, and thoroughly done. Need one urge upon intelligent people the importance and necessity of such work? *Dr. J. G. de R. Hamilton, Associate Professor of History in the University of North Carolina, is now editing for the Commission the letters of Governor Jonathan Worth, placed at his disposal by Governor Worth's children. These will be published by the Commission and will be the most valuable addition to our historical literature since the completion of the State Records by Judg-e Clark. A large part of Governor Worth's letters and,papers was destroyed by the burning of his house in Randolph county! For-tunately, quite a collection was saved ! 13 The Commission earnestly appeals, therefore, to all patriotic citizens to lend their aid and give to the Commission the benefit of such information as they may have, or such suggestions as they may desire to make. Any communication addressed to the Secretary will receive prompt attention.* TO ERECT MEMORIAL TABLETS. "It shall be the duty of the Commission * * * to care for the proper marking and presei'vation of battle-fields, houses and other places celebrated in the history of the State." A visitor traveling through ISTorth Carolina will look in vain for any statue or monument, stone, bronze or marble tablet, with a very few striking exceptions, commemorating the services of eminent sons of the State, or marking the sites of historic events. It is surely a striking commentary on the development of civic pride and spirit among our people that in all the two hundred and fifty years of our history the State has found but one son to whom she has been willing to pay the tribute of a statue! In the rotunda of the State Capitol are eight niches, designed to hold the busts of eight eminent servants of the State. These niches were completed nearly three-quarters of a century ago, yet they are as empty to-day as on the day the Capitol was finished. Is it possible that no son of JSTorth Carolina, in all these years, has rendered such service to the State as to merit from the State the tribute of such a bust? The North Carolina Historical Commission, at least, will not admit it, and one of the objects to which its attention will be directed will be to fill these eight niches with handsome marble busts and to place on the walls of the Capitol memorial tablets commemorating the services of our forefathers. The Commission further desires to •The history of the records of the meeting at Charlotte in May, 1775, which has given rise to the great controversy over the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is surely a warning sufficiently pointed to sustain the appeal the Historical Commission makes for the proper care and preservation of valuable private collections. The story, as told by Tompkins in his History of Mecklenburg County, runs somewhat as follows: "The official papers [of the 20th of May meeting] were burned in the fire which destroyed John McKnitt Alexander's house, in 1800." "A copy of the original was sent before the burning of the house to the historian Williamson, in New York, and it, together with the other sources of his history, were [sic] destroyed by a fire in that city." "The papers from which [Francis Xavier] Martin compiled his history [of North Carolina] were sent to France and have disappeared." "The data for Garden's anecdotes [containing a copy] has [sic] been lost." "No copy of the Cape Fear Mercury of June, 1775, [which contained an account of the proceedings at Charlotte] has ever come to light, except the copy which Governor Martin sent to London, and which Mr. Stevenson, of Virginia, borrowed and did not return." 14 co-operate with any local or State organization or with any per-son in setting up on historic sites in any part of North Carolina suitable commemorative stones, with suitable ceremonies. TO ENCOURAGE THE STUDY OF NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY IN THE SCHOOLS. The law also charges the Historical Commission "to encour-age the study of IS'orth Carolina history in the schools of the State." Surely it would be difficult to find a more important or a more inspiring work than to teach the children of ISTorth Caro-lina to know their State and to develop in them a desire to serve the State, based upon knowledge of her Past and Present, and an intelligent forecast of her Future. It is perhaps not going too far to say that such knowledge is absolutely essential to intelligent public service. 'No man is fit to be entrusted with control of the Present who is ignorant of the Past ; and no peo-ple who are indifferent to their Past need hope to make their Future great. The proper study of history will keep us in mind of the continuous development of civilization and warn us of the danger of living in the Present without regard to the Past. The Present is born of the Past and is the parent of the Future. No people can long endure who continually neglect the lessons of the Past. We have been accustomed to boast in ISTorth Caro-lina that we have made history and other people have written it. It marks a distinct advance in our intellectual life that this boast is now heard less frequently than formerly. A people who have not the pride to record their history will not long have the virtue to make history that is worth recording. We are begin-ning to see the importance of writing our history. More work of this sort is now being done in the State than at any former period. This work will make it possible to teach the history of North Carolina to our children. The history of North Carolina will soon be taught in every school in the State. Text-books should be used, but pupils, especially in the high schools, should be led to extend their studies beyond the narrow covers of the text-book. The North Carolina Historical Commission desires to co-operate with the teachers of the State in this work, furnishing such material as will enable them to do it intelligently. To meet this need the 15 Commission will issue leaflets giving contemporary accounts of important events, and reprints of important historical docu-ments, such as may be used in the class-room. These leaflets will he distributed among the schools of the State, to those teachers who apply to the Secretary of the Commission for them. It is hoped that they will develop interest in the history of the State and stimulate students to continue their investigations into larger fields. TO ENCOURAGE HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION. The Historical Commission is to seek to stimulate and encour-age historical research and investigation among the people of the State. The only practical method by which this can be done is through local and county associations and patriotic societies. Such organizations can do much to stimulate interest in the his-tory of the State, in the care and preservation of local archives, in the collection of documents illustrating social, industrial and educational conditions, in the preservation of church and family records, in the marking of historic sites and the celebration of anniversaries of historic events, and by general co-operation with the work of the Historical Commission. How much such work is needed was revealed by an investiga-tion made by Mr. Clarence H. Poe, Secretary of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, in 1904. Mr. Poe sent to every comity superintendent of public schools in the State a postal card, with return card attached, asking these ques-tions : 1. Has the history of your county ever been written? 2. Are there any organizations for the study of local and State history in your county? There were ninety-seven superintendents in the State. Thirty-two of them did not feel enough interest in the matter to reply. Of the sixty-five who replied, seven answered the first question affirmatively; fifty-eight in the negative. To the second ques-tion one replied in the affirmative ; sixty-four in the negative. There is not a county in North Carolina that does not have a history well worth recording. There is not a county in North Carolina in which there are not documents of historical impor- 16 tance and interest. There is not a county in North Carolina in which these documents are not being destroyed by the dozens annually for want of some efficient county historical association to preserve them. The Historical Commission will gladly co-operate with any persons who desire to form such associations or to develop those already in existence. WHAT THE COMMISSION HAS DONE. Though considerably handicapped by inadequate powei'S and funds under the act of 1903. the Commii--sion was not altogether idle, as the following results show : The Commission has printed the fcjilowing: Report of the North Carolina Historical Commission to Governor Charles B. Aycock, 1903-1905. Advanced Sheets of Literary and Historical Activities in North Carolina, 1900-1905, Part I. relating to the Work of the State Literary and Historical Association. Compiled and edited by W. J. Peele and Clarence H. Foe. Advanced Sheets of Literary and Historical Activities in North Carolina. 1900-1905, Part II, relating to the Reports of Historical Organizations in North Carolina. Compiled and edited by W. J. Peele and Clarence H. Poe. Five Points in the Record of North Carolina in the Gi'eat War of 1SG1-1865. The Report of the Committee appointed by the State Lite-rary and Historical Association, 1904, to reply to the Charges of Judge George L. Christian, of Virginia. A State Library Building and Department of Archives and Records. An address delivered by R.' D. W. Connor before the State Literary and Historical Association at Raleigh, November 15, 190G. Reprinted from "The North Carolina Booklet.'' Some Notes on Colonial North Carolina, 1700-1750, by J. Bryaii Grimes. Reprinted from "The North Carolina Booklet." The Beginnings of English-America : Sir Walter Raleigh's Efforts to Plant an English Colony on Roanoke Island, 1584-1587. By R. D. W. Connor. Prepared for distribution at the Jamestown Expo-sition. The Commission has the following in press: Literary and Historical Activities in North Carolina, 1900-1905. Compiled and edited by W. J. Peele and Clarence H. Poe. Documentary History of Public Education in North Carolina, 1800-1840. Compiled and edited by Charles L. Coon. The Commission has had copied for publication : Records of St. Paul's Vestry, Edenton, N. C, from January 3, 1714-1715, to October 15, 1776. Copied under the direction of Dr. Richard Dillard. The Private Letter-books of Governor Jonathan Worth. Compiled and etlited by Dr. J. G. de R. Hamilton. The Official Letters from the ExecutiAe Letter-liooks of: 18 Governor Richard Dobbs Spaight, 1792-1795. Governor Samuel Ashe, 1795-1799. Governor William Richardson Davie, 1799. Governor Benjamin Williams, 1800-1802. Governor David Stone, 1808-1810. The Commission has had placed in the Hall of History, under the direction of Colonel Fred A. Olds, Director, the following pictures illustrating the histo_ry of North Carolina : Three pictures of treaty with Tuscarora Indians. Ten pictures illustrating colonial Edenton. Three pictures illustrating colonial Wilmington. Two pictures illustrating colonial Bath. Two pictures of Hayes. Seven pictures illustrating War of the Regulators. One picture of General Robert F. Hoke. One picture of Andrew Johnson's birth-place. One picture of "The New Bern Gazette," containing the Mecklen-burg Resolves of May 31, 1775. One picture of Richard Cogdell's letter relating to the above copy of "The New Bern Gazette." Twenty-six pictures illustrating Indian life in North Carolina. Painted by John White in 1586 and photographed from the engrav-ings of Theodore DeBry, 1590. The Commission has had painted by Mr. Jacques Busbee pictures of the site of Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke Colonies as they appear to-day. These pictures are on exhibition- at the Jamestown Exposi-tion. The Commission appropriated one hundred dollars (.$100) to aid the History Committee of the North Carolina Conmiission of the Jamestown Exposition in making an historical exhibit at the James-town Exposition. 17 SeAen pictures of the site of Sir Walter Raleigli's Roauolie Colonies as they appear to-day, painted by Mr. Jacques Busbee. These pictures were exhibited at the Jamestown Exposition, and are now on exhibi-tion in the Hall of History. Respectfully submitted, J. Bkyan Grimes, Chairman. W. J. Peele, M. C. S. Noble, Thomas W. Blount, D. H. Hill. R. D. W. Connor, Raleigh, N. C, Secreary. December 1, 1908. 18 RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS. RECEIPTS. Annual appropriation, 1906-1907 $ 5,000.00 Annual appropriation, 1907-1908 5,000.00 Refunded by Smith-Premier Typewriter Company 10.25 .$ 10,010.25 1907. DISBURSEMENTS. Aug. 1. R. D. W. Connor, July salary $ 166.00 Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 2.00 3. W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 10.00 6. C. L. Coon, copying 175.00 Royal & Borden Furniture Company, office fur-niture 42.75 8. J. G. deR. Hamilton, copying 35.00 12. Miss Mary Hilliard Hinton, Jamestown appro-priation 40.00 Alfred Williams & Co., office supplies 4.10 21. Smith-Premier Typewriter Company, one type-writer 102.50 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, copying 98.78 22. Jacques Busbee, expenses to Jamestown 27.50 28. Thomas W. Blount, expenses attending meeting, 17.90 R. D. W. Connor, expenses attending meeting. . . 23.55 29. Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 4.00 W. .1. Peele, expenses attending meeting 12.00 31. William WeaA'er, wages July 27 to September 1, 11.07 R. D. W. Connor, August salary 166.66 Sept. 2. Weathers & Perry, picture frames 5.50 9. Wharton & Tyree, prints of John White pictures, 6.50 Alfred AVilllams & Co., office supplies 12.10 J. G. deR. Hamilton, copying .50.00 Fred A. Olds, placards and pictures 1.75 R. D. W. Connor, expenses to Washington City. . 33.70 20. Dobbin & Ferrall Company, carpet 39.63 Fred A. Olds, frames for pictures at Jamestown. 72.47 24. North Carolina Booklet 10.00 Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 12.00 Oct. 1. R. D. W. Connor, September salary 166.66 William Weaver, September wages 10.00 2. Southern Express Company, express charges... 1.35 7. Mrs. M. S. Calvert, copying 79..56 24. W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 10.00 Nov. 1. R. D. W. Connor, October salary 166.66 19 1907. Nov. 1. William Weaver, October wages $ 10.00 2. M. C. S. Noble, expenses attending meeting. ... 4.90 9. R. D. W. Connor, expenses to Charleston, etc . . . 56.90 J. G. deR. Hamilton, copying 50.00 14. W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 10.00 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, copying 49.86 19. Miss Mary Hilliard Hinton, Jamestown appro-priation 50.00 24. Historical Commission, bust of William A. Gra-ham 1,000.00 Historical Commission, office equipment 1,500.00 Alfred Williams & Co., office furniture 120.40 30. Historical Commission, appropriation for copy- • ing 365.33 R. D. W. Connor, November salary 166.66 William Weaver, November wages 10.00 J. G. deR. Hamilton, copying 102.80 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, copying 100.80 W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 10.00 T. H. Briggs & Sons, office supplies 2.00 Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 12.00 Dec. 20 1908. Mch. 24. A. R. Andrews, copying $ 7.50 30. Miss Mabel L. Webber, copying 32.60 April 1. J. M. Porter, copying 57.00 Alfred Williams & Co., office supplies 21.40 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, March salary 75.00 William Weaver, March wages 10.00 R. D. W. Connor, March salary 16G.G6 Miss Carrie Strong, copying 37.26 22. E. H. Baker, copying 28.44 23. Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 8.00 29. Historical Commission, express charges 1.10 Sherwood Brockwell, boxing two typewriters... 1.25 May ]. R. D. W. Connor, April salary 166.66 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, April salary ^ 75.00 William Weaver, April wages 10.00 7. Miss Carrie Strong, copying 45.00 16. R. D. W. Connor, expenses to Edenton, etc 40.00 28. Miss Mabel L. Webber, copying 20.00 Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 15.00 June ]. R. D. W. Connor, May salary 166.66 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, May salary 75.00 Miss Carrie Strong, copying 45.00 William Weaver, May wages 10.00 6. Alfred Williams & Co., office supplies 65.10 W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 25.00 July 1. R. D. W. Connor, June salary 166.66 Mrs. M. S. Calvert. June salary 75.00 William Weaver, June wages 10.00 2. Jacques Busbee, appropriation for Roanoke paintings 200.00 Miss Carrie Strong, copying 60.12 16. Alfred Williams & Co., office supplies 2.15 North Carolina Booklet 10.00 E. M. Uzzell & Co., printing 7.75 18. Miss Julia Royster, photographs 2.00 25. Commercial National Bank, B. F. Stevens & Brown 9.68 Aug. 1. R. D. W. Connor, .July salary 166.66 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, July salary 75.00 AVilliam Weaver, July wages 10.00 .Jacob Merritt, drayage 1.00 Miss Mabel L. Webber, copying .32.00 4. W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 25.00 10. Commercial National Bank, Art Metal Construc-tion Company 128.50 William A. McKoy. copying 3.00 21 An:-'. 17. William A. McKoy. eopyins; $ 1.00 IS. Cjipital City Telephone Company, telephone rent. lu.OO Miss Duncan C. Winston, copying : 11.80 !.'(). 1{. D. W. Connor, expenses to Ashl)oi'o 0.50 Sept. 1. .Mi-s. M. S. Calvert, August salary 7.1.00 R. I). W. Connor. Au.gust salary l()O.G(i William Wt\iver. August wages 10.00 Miss .Julia Hoyster, photograph 1.00 Southern E.vpress Company, express charges. . . . .lO.iO 1'. Alfred Williams iV: Co., othce supplies 7.40 ]!>. Virginia State Lihrary. copying 0.1.'.") News and Ohservei- rnhlishing Company, copy of Year Book 1.00 2S. II. I). W. Connor, expenses to Greenshoro 0.80 Oct. 1. :Mrs. ,^I. S. Calvert, Septemher salary 7.'i.00 K. I). W. Connor. Sei)teml)er salary KiO.OO William Weaver, September wages lO.OO Southern Express Comp.-my. express charges... 7.30 14. Miss Carrie Strong, copying 10.20 Wharton & Tyree, photographs 8..jO Commercial National P»ank. 13. F. Stevens iV: Brown 0.00 r.t. W. (J. Briggs, jiostmaster, i)ostage ^.j.OV) Connnercial National Bank. B. F. Stevens iV: Brown :!4.10 Nov. 4. -Afrs. M. S. Calvert, October salary 7.'i.lH) William Weaver, October wages 10.00 It. I). W. Connor, October salary l(;(].(i() Alfred Williams & Co.. otiice supplies 3.40 1 1 . Copyright fee 1.00 10. Connnercial National Bank. B. F. Stevens & Brown 22.10 .30. Mrs. M. S. Calvert. November salary 7."'>.00 William Weaver, November wages 10.00 11. I). W. Connor, November salary 10<).00 Miss Mabel L. Webber, copying 11.00 Alfred Williams & Co.. office supplies 20.4.1 Total disbursements .$ 10,000.00 .^^^^.^<^
Object Description
Description
Title | Biennial report of the North Carolina Historical Commission |
Other Title | Report of the Historical Commission |
Creator | North Carolina Historical Commission. |
Date | 1903; 1904; 1905 |
Subjects |
North Carolina Historical Commission--Periodicals North Carolina--History--Sources--Periodicals North Carolina--Antiquities--Periodicals Genealogy |
Place |
Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, United States North Carolina, United States |
Time Period |
(1900-1929) North Carolina's industrial revolution and World War One |
Description | Description based on: 2nd (1906/1908).; 1908/1910-1924/1926 report year ends Nov. 30; 1926/1928- ends June 30. |
Publisher | Raleigh :Edwards & Broughton,1904-1942. |
Agency-Current | North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources |
Rights | State Document see http://digital.ncdcr.gov/u?/p249901coll22,63754 |
Physical Characteristics | 19 v. ;23 cm. |
Collection | Health Sciences Library. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Type | text |
Language |
English |
Format |
Reports Periodicals |
Digital Characteristics-A | 2428 KB; 46 p. |
Series | Publications of the North Carolina Historical Commission.; Publications of the North Carolina Historical Commission. |
Digital Collection |
Ensuring Democracy through Digital Access, a North Carolina LSTA-funded grant project North Carolina Digital State Documents Collection |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Title Replaced By | North Carolina. State Department of Archives and History..Biennial report of the North Carolina State Department of Archives and History |
Audience | All |
Pres File Name-M | pubs_edp_biennialreporthistoricalcommission190305.pdf |
Pres Local File Path-M | \Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_edp\images_master\ |
Full Text | imi Library of The University of North Carolina COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA ENDOWED BY JOHN SPRUNT HILL of the Class of 1889 ^^^<^,-.-A^. V rnk^^V>^(ri'/^.v-p liiiiiiiiiiiii^^^ ^^H 00033953268 This book must not be taken from the Library building. }9Kh^''3- ri^:^-k^'^im^M^i%:Ai:'m^^mc£:^^^ REPORT HISTORICAL COMMISSION GOVERNOR CHARLES B. AYCOCK, 1903-1905. "The roots of the present lie deep in the past, and nothing in the past is dead to the man who would learn HOW THE PRESENT CAME TO BE WHAT IT IS." — Sttibbs. RALEIGH: E. M. UzzELL & Co., State Printers and Binders. 1904. Digitized by the Internet Arciiive in 2009 witii funding from Ensuring Democracy tiirough Digital Access (NC-LSTA) http://www.archive.org/details/biennialreportof190305nort REPORT HISTORICAL COMMISSION GOVERNOR CHARLES B. AYCOCK. To His E.veeUeucij, Govekxok Chaules B. Aycock. For the information of yonr Excellency, of the General A.ssembly, and of the public, ^\e beg to submit a brief report of the work of the Historical Commission for the past two years and of the work outlined for the future. The people of ]S[orth Carolina are realizing more and more every day that it is not safe to trust the future to the control of a people who are ignorant of their past ; and that no peo- ])le who are indifferent to their past need hope to make their future great. But even when this lesson is fully realized it will be valueless tmless steps are taken at the same time to preserve the material from which that past is to be made intelligible to the ]U'esent and to the future. To accomplish tliis work the General Assembly of 1003, at the instance of the State Literary and Historical Association, created a com-mission of five members to be appointed by the Governor to collect, edit and publish valuable documents elucidating the history of the State. The sum of five hundred ($500) dol-lars annually is appropriated by the act to cover the expenses of collecting and transcribing such documents, wdiich are then to be issued by the State printer as public printing. On the 20th of ISTovember, 1903, a meeting was held in Warsaw ^ and the commission was organized for work by the election O cr 4 REPORT OF HISTORICAL COMMISSION. of W. J. Peele as chairman and R. D. W, Connor as secre-tary. ^ Such work as the commission is to do if it be properly done will require great care and time. As yet, therefore, but little more than a good beginning has been made.. The commission has now in press its initial volume, which gives a review of the "Historical and Literary Activities in ISTorth Carolina" during the period from 1900 to 1905. The record produced here is one in which the State has good right to feel a pride and will appeal forcibly to the patriotism of all good citizens. It will be the policy of the commission to issue such a volume at the close of every five-year period, giv-ing in each a summary and review of the historical and lit-erary life of the period covered. The present volume, in addi-tion to review of the historical and literary activities of the past five years, contains the report of the committee of the State Literary and Historical Association appointed to reply to the statements of Judge Christian of Virginia, regarding ISTorth Carolina's part in the War Between the States. This committee was assisted in its efforts by the Historical Com-mission which defrayed the expenses of two men to visit Appomatox battlefield to obtain necessary data for the report of the committee. Material for this v(ilume was compiled and edited for the commission by AV. J. Peele and Clarence LI. Poe, secretary of the State Literary and Historical Asso-ciation. Under the direction of Col. Fred A. Olds of Raleigh, the commission has had made and ]fiaced in the Hall- of Llis-tory in the State Museum, handsome photographs of DeBry's rare and valuable engravings illustrative of early Indian life in N^orth Carolina. These pictures are the most nearly per-fect illustrations of Indian life before the white man colo-nized the continent in existence, and can be utilized to great advantage by students of our early history. Arrangements have also been perfected for reprinting the narratives of REPORT OF HISTORICAL COMMISSION. 5 Barlowe, Lane and Hariot of the early discoveries and set-tlements on the ^STorth Carolina coast, and these reprints will be illustrated with the DeBrv pictures. The value of these narratives in elucidating that period of our history is of course apparent to all, but on account of the extreme rare-ness and excessive price of such copies as are in existence, they are now practically inaccessible to all but a favored few. To multiply copies of these interesting works in inex-pensive but attractive editions, we believe will stimulate a wide interest in the history of the first English settlements in America. In addition to this work the commission will soon issue a reprint of the ''Proceedings and Debates of the Constitutional Convention of 1788," together with the "Jour-nals of the Constitutional Convention of 1789." Original copies of these valuable debates and journals are so extremely rare and costly that it is the desire of the commission to issue a large edition of reprints in order to afford our people an opportunity of becoming familiar with this brilliant chapter in our history. The editorial work has been done for the commission by Prof. E. P. Moses of Raleigh. The manu-script is now ready for the printer. Finally, under the super-vision of Dr. Dillard of Edenton, the commission has had copied and prepared for publication the parish records of St. Paul's church of Edenton, in which is found much valua-ble information of the early Albemarle settlements. The reprinting of rare and valuable historical works is of great importance, but it is not the most important work for the commission to do. The real work lies in collecting, tran-scribing and editing original sources. The importance of this work is equalled only by the almost insuperable difficul-ties in the way. Many hundreds of invaluable historical documents and records have been lost or destroyed through the indifference of the State and the ignorance and careless-ness of their possessors. These are hopelessly gone, but 6 REPORT OF HISTORICAL COMMISSIOTnT. many others remain which should be preserved. Stuffed away in dark corners and dusty archives, in pigeon-holes, vaults, desks and cellars, all over IsTorth Carolina, are many documents, records, private and public letters, and other man-uscripts, which as matters now stand are of absolutely no value to their possessors or to the public ; but if properly col-lected, edited and published they will be of incalculable value in throwing light on our history. It is the duty of the Historical Commission to do this work. All patriotic citizens should aid in it. Those who pos-sess such documents, or know of their whereabouts, will ren-der a service to the State by placing them, or copies of them, in possession of the commission. All originals or certified copies of valuable documents, church and court records, manuscripts, letters, maps, old newspapers and portraits, or of any other material of historical value, should be placed at the disposal of the commission for the benefit of the public and a safe repository provided for their preservation. All material which cannot be parted with ])ermaueutly, if loaned to the commission, will be returned after copies have been made ; and provision will be made for copying such documents as their owners are unwilling to part with at all. All ex-penses connected with such work wall be met by the commis-sion. The material after being carefully edited will be pub-lished and due acknowledgment wall be made to all wdio aid in this work. Those Avho have such material should not store it away as the miser does his gold. The history of our State can never be fully and accurately written until this work is done. But it is a w^ork that cannot be accomplished unless the commission meets with the earnest support of ]3atriotic citizens who have the documents, or information of the documents, which are desired. It is a work which cannot be accomplished wdthin a year, nor within two years, but is rather the work of a generation, and it is REPORT OF HISTORICAL CO:MMISSIO:Sf. 7 earnestly to be hoped tliat no cessation will be permitted until it is all done and thoronglil_y done, i^eed one urge upon intelligent men the necessity for such work ? So long as we neglect it we need not be surprised nor complain if the "scorner shall sneer at and the witling defame us." Respectfully submitted, W. J. Peele^ Chairman. R. D. W. Connor, Secretary. j. d, hufham, f. a. sondley, Richard Dillard, Commission. THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL COMMISSION CREATION AND ORGANIZATION. DUTIES AND POWERS. PLANS AND PURPOSES. PREPARED BY THE SECRETARY. COMMISSIONERS : J. Bryan Grimes, Chairman, Raleigh. W. J. Peele, Raleigh. Thomas W. Blount, Roper. M. C. S. Noble. Chapel Hill. D. H. Hill, Raleigh. R. D. W. CONNOR, Secretary, Raleigh. A PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT THE PRIDE TO RECORD THEIR HISTORY, WILL NOT LONG HAVE THE VIRTUE TO MAKE HISTORY THAT IS WORTH RECORDING. 1907. No Man is fit to be Enteusted with Conteol op the Present Who is Ignorant of the Past; and no People who are Indiffer-ent TO their Past need hope to make their Future Great. PREFATORY NOTE. By the publication of this bulletin we hope to accomplish three objects : 1. To explain the organization, plans and purposes of the North Carolina Historical Commission. 2. To interest you in our work. 3. To secure your co-operation. Many of the States of the Union have created similar agen-cies for the preservation and publication of their historical soui'ces, all of which are diligently at work performing their functions. Our State cannot afford to lag behind in this impor-tant work. We wish, therefore, to receive the hearty co-operation of all the people of the State who have an interest and a pride in their splendid history. We cannot compel this very desirable object; we can only appeal to their intelligence and patriotism. We therefore call your attention especially to the section of this bulletin relating to the collection and publication of our historical sources. This section is directed as a personal appeal to all persons who possess such documents. If you have any such documents which you are willing to give or lend to the Commission the Secretary will go, upon notice, to examine and receive them, or to have copies made. If you know of the exist-ence of such documents elsewhere, give us the information and lend us your aid in securing them. If there is any spot of his-toric interest and importance in your neighborhood that should be properly marked, we will be glad to co-operate with you in having it done. In any way in which the Commission can be of service to encourage and stimulate interest in our history—local. State or JSTational—among our people, we stand ready to do so. We appeal to our people to aid us in our work, confident that J^orth Carolina needs only to set forth her records in such form as to be accessible to students of history to convince the world that we have a history as interesting, as worthy and as inspiring as an•y^ of our sister States. x t^ /-. r^i J. Beyan Grimes, Chairman, W. J. Peele. Thomas W. Blount, M. C. S. Noble, D. H. Hill, Commissioners. CHAPTER 767, PUBLIC LAWS OF 1903.* AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AN HISTORICAL COMMISSION. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact : Section 1. That an Historical Commission be and the same is hereby established, whose duty it shall be to have collected from the files of old newspapers, fr'om court records, church records and else-where valuable documents pertaining to the history of the State. Sec. 2. That the Commission shall consist of not more than five per-sons, of whom three shall constitute a quorum. They shall be ap-pointed by the Governor and shall hold office for a term of two years from the date of their appointment. They shall serve without salary, mileage or per diem. Sec. 3. That the Commission shall be authorized to expend a sum not exceeding five himdred dollars annually in the collection and transcription of documents. Sec. 4. That the documents collected and approved shall be pub-lished by the State Printers as public printing, and shall be distrib-uted by the State Librarian, under the direction of the Commission. Sec. 5. That this act shall be in force from and after its ratifica-tion. In the General Assembly read three times, and ratified this 9th day of March, 1903. * Brought forward in the Revisal of 1905 as chapter 96. CHAPTER 714 OF PUBLIC LAWS OF 1907. AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 96 OF THE REVISAL OF 1905, RELATING TO THE STATE HISTORICAL COMMISSION. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact: Section 1. Tbat chapter ninety-six of the Revisal of one thousand nine hundred and Ave be amended by striking out all after the word "quorum," in section one, line three, and inserting in lieu thereof the following : They shall be appointed by the Governor on the first day of April, one thousand nine hundred and seven, who shall designate one member to serve for a term of two years, two members to serve for a term of four years, and two members to serve for a term of six years from the date of their appointments, and their successors shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve for a term of six years and until their successors are appointed and qualified : Provided, that in case of a vacancy in any of the above terms the person appointed ' to fill such vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term. They shall seiwe without salary, but shall be allowed their actual expenses when attending to their oflicial duties, to be paid out of any funds hereinafter appropriated for the maintenance of said Commis-sion : Provided, such expenses shall not be allowed for more than four meetings annually or for more than four days at each meeting. Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Commission to have collected from the files of old newspapers, court records, church records, pri-vate collections, and elsewhere, historical data pertaining to the his-tory of North Carolina and the territory included therein from the earliest times; to have such material properly edited, published by the State Printer as other State printing, and distributed under the direction of the Commission ; to care for the proper marking and pres-ervation of battle-fields, houses and other places celebrated in the history of the State ; to diffuse knowledge in reference to the history and resources of North Carolina; to encourage the study of North Carolina history in the schools of the State, and to stimulate and encourage historical investigation and research among the people of the State ; to make a biennial report of its receipts and disbursements, its work and needs, to the Governor, to be by him transmitted to the General Assembly; and said Commission is especially charged with the duty of co-operating with the Commission appointed by the Gov-ernor to make an exhibit at the Jamestown Exposition in making at said exposition an historical exhibit illustrating the history of North Carolina from the earliest times. Sec. 3. Said Commission shall have power to adopt a seal for use and official business ; to adopt rules for its own government not incon-sistent with the provisions of this act; to fix a reasonable price for 6 its publications and to devote the revenue arising from such sales to extending the worlc of the Commission ; to employ a secretai-y ; to con-trol the expenditure of such funds as may be appropriated for its maintenance : Provided, that at least one copy of its publications sliall be furnished free of charge to any public-school library or public library in North Carolina, State officers and members of the General Assembly making application for the same through its constituted authorities. Sec. 4. Said Commission shall have an office or offices set aside for its use by the Board of Trustees of the State Library in the State Library building: Provided, that until such office or offices become available said Commission may rent an office or offices, the rent to be paid out of its maintenance fund. Sec. 5. Any State, comity, town or other public official in custody of public documents is hereby authorized and empowered in his dis-cretion to turn over to said Commission for preservation any official books, records, documents, original papers, newspaper files, printed books or portraits not in current use in his office, and said Commis-sion shall provide for their permanent preservation ; and when so sur-rendered, copies therefrom shall be made and certified under the seal of the Commission upon application of any person, which certification shall have the same force and effect as if made by the officer originally in charge of them, and the Commission shall charge for such copies the same fees as said officer is by law allowed to charge, to be col-lected in advance. Sec. 6. For carrying out the purposes and objects of this act the sum of five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as shall be needed over and above all of the funds derived from the sale of the publica-tions of the Commission and all of the fees collected imder section five of this act, is hereby annually appropriated out of funds in the hands of the State Treasurer not otherwise appropriated, and upon order of the Commission the State Auditor is hereby empowered and directed to draw his warrant for this sum upon the State Treasurer. Sec 7. This act shall be in force fi*om and after its ratification. In the General Assembly read three times, and ratified this the 8th day of March, A. D. 1907. THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL COMMISSION. CREATION AND ORGANIZATION. The North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, at the annual meeting, January 23, 1903, adopted a resolution re-questing the Legislature to pass an act creating an Historical Commission, charged with the duty of having collected, edited and published the historical sources of the State. The Legisla-ture accordingly passed an act (chapter 767 of the Public Laws of 1903) creating a commission of five members, appointed by the Governor, to serve for a term of two years, without salary, per diem or mileage. The act declared it their duty "to have collected from the files of old newspapers, from court records, church records and elsewhere valuable documents pertaining to the history of the State," to have such documents published by the State Printer as public printing, and "distributed by the State Librarian, under the direction of the Commission." The Commission was "authorized to expend a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars annually in the collection and transcription of documents." Under this act the Governor appointed "W. J. Peele, of Ea-leigh; J. D. Hufham, of Henderson; F. A. Sondley, of Ashe-ville; Richard Dillard, of Edenton, and R. D. W. Connor, of Wilmington. At a meeting of the Commission, ISTovember 20, 1903, at Warsaw, iT. C, Mr. Peele was elected Chairman and Mr. Connor Secretary. Owing to the fact that the members lived in widely separated parts of the State and that the law expressly forbade the payment of expenses incurred in attending to their duties, it was extremely difficult to secure a quorum at meetings, as shown by the fact that o^ly one meeting was held during the two years of the first term. Efficient work under such circumstances was impossible; and, realizing the necessity of having members who were nearer to each other, the Governor, in^ 1905, appointed the following: W. J. Peele, of Raleigh; J^ Bryan Grimes, of Raleigh; Thomas W. Blount, of Roper; C. L. Raper, of Chapel Hill, and R. D. W. Connor, of Raleigh. The Commission held its first meeting June 8, 1905, in the office of the Secretary of State, at Kaleigh, and re-elected Mr, Peele Chairman and Mr. Connor Secretary. Though better work was accomplished than before, it soon became apparent that if the work expected of the Commission was to be done properly a dif-ferent and more effective organization was necessary. The Leg-islature of 1907, therefore, amended the act of 1903 (chapter 714 of the Public Laws of 1907), increasing the duties and en-larging the powers of the Commission. The members are now appointed for terms of two, four and six years, their successors to serve for six years. They receive no salary or per diem, but are allowed "actual expenses when attending to their official duties." The appropriation was increased to $5,000 and the Commission was authorized to employ a salaried Secretary. The members of the present Commission are J. Bryan Grimes, W. J. Peele, Thomas W. Blount, M. C. S. Noble and D. H. Hill. At a meeting of the Commission held in the office of the Secretary of State, at Raleigh, May 20, 1907—the first meeting since the creation of the Commission in 1903 at which all members were present—Mr. Grimes was elected Chairman and Mr. Connor was re-elected Secretary. An office was set apart in the State Capitol for the Secretary and he was authorized to purchase such equipment as was necessary for the work of the Commis-sion. DUTIES AND POWERS. The duties of the Commission are best stated in section 2 of the act of 1907 : Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Commission to have collected from the files of old newspapers, court records, church records, pri-vate collections and elsewhere historical data pertaining to the his-tory of North Carolina and the territory included therein from the earliest times ; to have such material properly edited, published by the State Printer as other State printing, and distributed under the direction of the Commission ; to care for the proper marking and pi'eservation of battle-fields, houses and other places celebrated in the history of the State ; to diffuse knowledge in reference to the history and resources of North Carolina ; to encourage the study of North Carolina histoiy in the schools of the State, and to stimulate and encourage historical investigation and research among the people of the State ; to make a bieimial report of its receipts and disbursements, its work and needs, to the Governor, to be by him transmitted to the General Assembly ; {?nd said Commission is especially charged with 9 the dutj' of co-oi>ei'ating with the Commission appointed by the Gov-ernor to make an exhibit at the Jamestown Exposition in malting at said exposition an historical exhibit illustrating the history of North Cai'olina from the earliest times. It will tkus be seen that the Historical Commission is expected to do for the entire history of the State what Colonel William L. Saunders and Chief Justice Walter Clark, by their monu-mental labors in the editing and publication of ''The Colonial Eecords" and "The State Kecords" of North Carolina, did for the period prior to 1790. The great value of their work has been recognized by students of American history throughout the United States, and because of these volumes the Colonial and Revolutionary history of ISTorth Carolina is beginning to receive the recognition to which it is entitled. Before the publication of these records it was fashionable among a certain class of ''historians" to ignore the first century and a half of ISTorth Carolina history, or to mention it only to sneer. Such an atti-tude now would condemn any author to deserved oblivion. But it must be remembered that these volumes relate only to the period prior to 1790. It is, therefore, peculiarly the duty of the Historical Commission to continue this work for subsequent periods, though the Commission is not limited to any particular periods in its work. The powers of the Commission are outlined in the act, in sec-tion 3, as follows : Sec. 3. Said Commission shall have power to adopt a seal for use and official business ; to adopt rules for its own government not incon-sistent with the provisions of this act ; to fix a reasonable price for its publications and to devote the revenue arising from such sales to extending the work of the Commission ; to employ a secretary ; to control the expenditure of such funds as may be appropriated for its maintenance : Provided, that at least one copy of its publications shall be furnished free of charge to any public-school library or public library in North Carolina, State officers and members of the General Assembly making application for the same through its properly con-stituted authorities. TO COLLECT AND PUBLISH HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. The most important duty imposed upon the Historical Com-mission is the duty of having collected, edited and published "historical data pertaining to the history of jSTorth Carolina and 10 the territory included therein from the earliest times." These documents are to be found in the files of old newspapers, court and church records, public and private letters of prominent men, diaries and journals, and manuscripts of all kinds which have historical value. The importance of this work is equaled only by the almost insuperable difficulties in the way. Many hun-dreds of invaluable historical documents and records have been lost or destroyed in I^Torth Carolina, or carried away from the State to the archives and libraries of other States,* through the indifference of the State and the ignorance and carelessness of their owners. Most of these are, of course, lost forever, but many others remain, which can yet be preserved. Stuffed aAvay in dark corners, in desks and in cellars, all over I^orth Carolina, and in other States are innumerable manuscripts, which in the present situation are absolutely of no use to anybody, but if col-lected, properly edited and published or otherwise made accessi-ble to students, would be of incalculable value to students of our history. History cannot be written from tradition. Documentary evi-dence is the foundation of accurate history writing. The col-lection of such evidence as to the history of IS^orth Carolina and her eminent men is the duty of the ISTorth Carolina Historical Commission. The Commission, therefore, appeals to all pa-triotic citizens who love the State and her magnificent history to aid in this work. Do you own letters or other documents .of historical value? Let the Commission have them and make, them accessible to students. Do you know of the whereabouts of other such documents ? Lend the Commission your assistance in procuring them. If the owners of such documents do not wish to part with them permanently, let them be placed with the Commission as a loan, or let the Commission have copies made. Originals or certified copies of valuable documents, church and court records, letters, maps, newspapers, portraits and pamphlets should be placed at the disposal of the Conimis- * The catalogue of the manuscript collections of the State Historical Society of Wis-consin shows that that Society has in its library at Madison a large collection of manu-scripts relating to North Carolina, among them being 18 volumes of King's Mountain Mss.; 3 volumes of Mecklenburg Declaration Mss ; 3 volumes of Mecklenburg Declaration Miscellanies: 1 volume of North Carolina Mss.; 10 volumes of Rudolp-Ney (Peter S. Ney) Mss. ; 7 volumes of Tennessee Mss., before Tennessee was separated from North Carolina; and hundreds of other Mss.. relating to North Carolina in various collections. These Mss. were collected in North Carolina and other Southern States by Dr. Lyman C. Draper, author of "King's Mountain and its Heroes." The State of Wisconsin has erected a magnificent building for the preservation of these treasures. 11 sion. All expense connected with such work will be met by the Commission. Attention is here called particularly to the fol-lowing section of the act of 1907 : Sec. 5. Any State, county, town or other public official iu custody of public documents is hereby authorized and empowered in his discre-tion to turn over to said Commission for preservation any official books, records, documents, original papers, newspaper flies, printed books or portraits not in current use in his office, aijd said Commis-sion shall provide for their permanent preservation ; and when so sur-rendered, copies therefrom shall be made and certified under the seal of the Commission upon application of any person, which certification shall have the same force and effect as if made by the officer origi-nally iu charge of them, and the Commission shall charge for such copies the same fees as said officer is by law allowed to charge, to be collected in advance. Though "public documents" only are mentioned in this sec-tion, the same care will be taken of valuable private papers that may be given or loaned to the Commission. It should be borne in mind that such gifts or loans are not made to the members of the Commission as individuals, but as trustees for the State, and that they will be preserved in the State archives by the State for the benefit of students of our history. All such material, after being carefully edited, will be published by the Commission or otherwise made accessible, and due acknowledgment will be made to all who aid in the work. Those who have such material should not hoard it as the miser does his gold ! It is perhaps not too emphatic a statement to say that there is in the whole State of Worth Carolina not a single private house suitable for the care and preservation of valuable histori-cal documents. They can never be safe from ignorance, negli-gence or fire so long as they remain in private hands, nor can they be accessible to students. But, placed in the keeping of the State, they will not only be made available for students, but will also be certain of preservation. The office of the North Carolina Historical Commission is in the State Capitol, a struc-ture of solid granite, with not enough wooden material in it to make a respectable bonfire, and is accordingly absolutely fire-proof. All documents placed in the hands of the Commission will not only be safe from fire, but will be filed and cared for according to the best of modern methods. If placed with the 12 Commission as loans, they will always be subject to recall by the owners ; if placed with the Commission as gifts, certified copies under the seal of the Commission can be had upon application. Already the Commission has been practically assured of several such collections of great value.* It is not too much to expect that those men whose papers are thus made accessible to students will in the course of a few years enjoy enhanced reputations as the direct result of this course. Many a man who served his country well and faithfully, who hoped for recognition by posterity and whose memory deserves to live, has been forgotten and the influence of his life lost to posterity because his family have hoarded his papers and letters, which alone would furnish the data from which the historian or biographer could write the story of his career. Thus many a man's ambition to live in history has been frustrated by those whose chief care should have been to preserve his memory. The history of North Carolina and the biographies of our distinguished men can never be written until such work has been properly done. It should not be a matter for pride that no biography of a ISTorth Carolinian has yet found its way into the American Statesmen series, or the American Men of Energy series ; nor should we find pride in the fact that no volume on North Carolina has yet been published in the American Com-monwealths series. These omissions cannot be charged to the prejudice of publishers and historians against North Carolina; they are due to the fact that North Carolinians have, until re-cent years, failed to collect and preserve their historical sources. Nor can the North Carolina Historical Commission complete this work unless those who possess such material will give their hearty co-operation. It is a work that cannot be accomplished in a year, nor in two years, but is rather the work of a genera-tion. It is earnestly to be hoped that no cessation will be per-mitted until it is done, and thoroughly done. Need one urge upon intelligent people the importance and necessity of such work? *Dr. J. G. de R. Hamilton, Associate Professor of History in the University of North Carolina, is now editing for the Commission the letters of Governor Jonathan Worth, placed at his disposal by Governor Worth's children. These will be published by the Commission and will be the most valuable addition to our historical literature since the completion of the State Records by Judg-e Clark. A large part of Governor Worth's letters and,papers was destroyed by the burning of his house in Randolph county! For-tunately, quite a collection was saved ! 13 The Commission earnestly appeals, therefore, to all patriotic citizens to lend their aid and give to the Commission the benefit of such information as they may have, or such suggestions as they may desire to make. Any communication addressed to the Secretary will receive prompt attention.* TO ERECT MEMORIAL TABLETS. "It shall be the duty of the Commission * * * to care for the proper marking and presei'vation of battle-fields, houses and other places celebrated in the history of the State." A visitor traveling through ISTorth Carolina will look in vain for any statue or monument, stone, bronze or marble tablet, with a very few striking exceptions, commemorating the services of eminent sons of the State, or marking the sites of historic events. It is surely a striking commentary on the development of civic pride and spirit among our people that in all the two hundred and fifty years of our history the State has found but one son to whom she has been willing to pay the tribute of a statue! In the rotunda of the State Capitol are eight niches, designed to hold the busts of eight eminent servants of the State. These niches were completed nearly three-quarters of a century ago, yet they are as empty to-day as on the day the Capitol was finished. Is it possible that no son of JSTorth Carolina, in all these years, has rendered such service to the State as to merit from the State the tribute of such a bust? The North Carolina Historical Commission, at least, will not admit it, and one of the objects to which its attention will be directed will be to fill these eight niches with handsome marble busts and to place on the walls of the Capitol memorial tablets commemorating the services of our forefathers. The Commission further desires to •The history of the records of the meeting at Charlotte in May, 1775, which has given rise to the great controversy over the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is surely a warning sufficiently pointed to sustain the appeal the Historical Commission makes for the proper care and preservation of valuable private collections. The story, as told by Tompkins in his History of Mecklenburg County, runs somewhat as follows: "The official papers [of the 20th of May meeting] were burned in the fire which destroyed John McKnitt Alexander's house, in 1800." "A copy of the original was sent before the burning of the house to the historian Williamson, in New York, and it, together with the other sources of his history, were [sic] destroyed by a fire in that city." "The papers from which [Francis Xavier] Martin compiled his history [of North Carolina] were sent to France and have disappeared." "The data for Garden's anecdotes [containing a copy] has [sic] been lost." "No copy of the Cape Fear Mercury of June, 1775, [which contained an account of the proceedings at Charlotte] has ever come to light, except the copy which Governor Martin sent to London, and which Mr. Stevenson, of Virginia, borrowed and did not return." 14 co-operate with any local or State organization or with any per-son in setting up on historic sites in any part of North Carolina suitable commemorative stones, with suitable ceremonies. TO ENCOURAGE THE STUDY OF NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY IN THE SCHOOLS. The law also charges the Historical Commission "to encour-age the study of IS'orth Carolina history in the schools of the State." Surely it would be difficult to find a more important or a more inspiring work than to teach the children of ISTorth Caro-lina to know their State and to develop in them a desire to serve the State, based upon knowledge of her Past and Present, and an intelligent forecast of her Future. It is perhaps not going too far to say that such knowledge is absolutely essential to intelligent public service. 'No man is fit to be entrusted with control of the Present who is ignorant of the Past ; and no peo-ple who are indifferent to their Past need hope to make their Future great. The proper study of history will keep us in mind of the continuous development of civilization and warn us of the danger of living in the Present without regard to the Past. The Present is born of the Past and is the parent of the Future. No people can long endure who continually neglect the lessons of the Past. We have been accustomed to boast in ISTorth Caro-lina that we have made history and other people have written it. It marks a distinct advance in our intellectual life that this boast is now heard less frequently than formerly. A people who have not the pride to record their history will not long have the virtue to make history that is worth recording. We are begin-ning to see the importance of writing our history. More work of this sort is now being done in the State than at any former period. This work will make it possible to teach the history of North Carolina to our children. The history of North Carolina will soon be taught in every school in the State. Text-books should be used, but pupils, especially in the high schools, should be led to extend their studies beyond the narrow covers of the text-book. The North Carolina Historical Commission desires to co-operate with the teachers of the State in this work, furnishing such material as will enable them to do it intelligently. To meet this need the 15 Commission will issue leaflets giving contemporary accounts of important events, and reprints of important historical docu-ments, such as may be used in the class-room. These leaflets will he distributed among the schools of the State, to those teachers who apply to the Secretary of the Commission for them. It is hoped that they will develop interest in the history of the State and stimulate students to continue their investigations into larger fields. TO ENCOURAGE HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION. The Historical Commission is to seek to stimulate and encour-age historical research and investigation among the people of the State. The only practical method by which this can be done is through local and county associations and patriotic societies. Such organizations can do much to stimulate interest in the his-tory of the State, in the care and preservation of local archives, in the collection of documents illustrating social, industrial and educational conditions, in the preservation of church and family records, in the marking of historic sites and the celebration of anniversaries of historic events, and by general co-operation with the work of the Historical Commission. How much such work is needed was revealed by an investiga-tion made by Mr. Clarence H. Poe, Secretary of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, in 1904. Mr. Poe sent to every comity superintendent of public schools in the State a postal card, with return card attached, asking these ques-tions : 1. Has the history of your county ever been written? 2. Are there any organizations for the study of local and State history in your county? There were ninety-seven superintendents in the State. Thirty-two of them did not feel enough interest in the matter to reply. Of the sixty-five who replied, seven answered the first question affirmatively; fifty-eight in the negative. To the second ques-tion one replied in the affirmative ; sixty-four in the negative. There is not a county in North Carolina that does not have a history well worth recording. There is not a county in North Carolina in which there are not documents of historical impor- 16 tance and interest. There is not a county in North Carolina in which these documents are not being destroyed by the dozens annually for want of some efficient county historical association to preserve them. The Historical Commission will gladly co-operate with any persons who desire to form such associations or to develop those already in existence. WHAT THE COMMISSION HAS DONE. Though considerably handicapped by inadequate powei'S and funds under the act of 1903. the Commii--sion was not altogether idle, as the following results show : The Commission has printed the fcjilowing: Report of the North Carolina Historical Commission to Governor Charles B. Aycock, 1903-1905. Advanced Sheets of Literary and Historical Activities in North Carolina, 1900-1905, Part I. relating to the Work of the State Literary and Historical Association. Compiled and edited by W. J. Peele and Clarence H. Foe. Advanced Sheets of Literary and Historical Activities in North Carolina. 1900-1905, Part II, relating to the Reports of Historical Organizations in North Carolina. Compiled and edited by W. J. Peele and Clarence H. Poe. Five Points in the Record of North Carolina in the Gi'eat War of 1SG1-1865. The Report of the Committee appointed by the State Lite-rary and Historical Association, 1904, to reply to the Charges of Judge George L. Christian, of Virginia. A State Library Building and Department of Archives and Records. An address delivered by R.' D. W. Connor before the State Literary and Historical Association at Raleigh, November 15, 190G. Reprinted from "The North Carolina Booklet.'' Some Notes on Colonial North Carolina, 1700-1750, by J. Bryaii Grimes. Reprinted from "The North Carolina Booklet." The Beginnings of English-America : Sir Walter Raleigh's Efforts to Plant an English Colony on Roanoke Island, 1584-1587. By R. D. W. Connor. Prepared for distribution at the Jamestown Expo-sition. The Commission has the following in press: Literary and Historical Activities in North Carolina, 1900-1905. Compiled and edited by W. J. Peele and Clarence H. Poe. Documentary History of Public Education in North Carolina, 1800-1840. Compiled and edited by Charles L. Coon. The Commission has had copied for publication : Records of St. Paul's Vestry, Edenton, N. C, from January 3, 1714-1715, to October 15, 1776. Copied under the direction of Dr. Richard Dillard. The Private Letter-books of Governor Jonathan Worth. Compiled and etlited by Dr. J. G. de R. Hamilton. The Official Letters from the ExecutiAe Letter-liooks of: 18 Governor Richard Dobbs Spaight, 1792-1795. Governor Samuel Ashe, 1795-1799. Governor William Richardson Davie, 1799. Governor Benjamin Williams, 1800-1802. Governor David Stone, 1808-1810. The Commission has had placed in the Hall of History, under the direction of Colonel Fred A. Olds, Director, the following pictures illustrating the histo_ry of North Carolina : Three pictures of treaty with Tuscarora Indians. Ten pictures illustrating colonial Edenton. Three pictures illustrating colonial Wilmington. Two pictures illustrating colonial Bath. Two pictures of Hayes. Seven pictures illustrating War of the Regulators. One picture of General Robert F. Hoke. One picture of Andrew Johnson's birth-place. One picture of "The New Bern Gazette," containing the Mecklen-burg Resolves of May 31, 1775. One picture of Richard Cogdell's letter relating to the above copy of "The New Bern Gazette." Twenty-six pictures illustrating Indian life in North Carolina. Painted by John White in 1586 and photographed from the engrav-ings of Theodore DeBry, 1590. The Commission has had painted by Mr. Jacques Busbee pictures of the site of Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke Colonies as they appear to-day. These pictures are on exhibition- at the Jamestown Exposi-tion. The Commission appropriated one hundred dollars (.$100) to aid the History Committee of the North Carolina Conmiission of the Jamestown Exposition in making an historical exhibit at the James-town Exposition. 17 SeAen pictures of the site of Sir Walter Raleigli's Roauolie Colonies as they appear to-day, painted by Mr. Jacques Busbee. These pictures were exhibited at the Jamestown Exposition, and are now on exhibi-tion in the Hall of History. Respectfully submitted, J. Bkyan Grimes, Chairman. W. J. Peele, M. C. S. Noble, Thomas W. Blount, D. H. Hill. R. D. W. Connor, Raleigh, N. C, Secreary. December 1, 1908. 18 RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS. RECEIPTS. Annual appropriation, 1906-1907 $ 5,000.00 Annual appropriation, 1907-1908 5,000.00 Refunded by Smith-Premier Typewriter Company 10.25 .$ 10,010.25 1907. DISBURSEMENTS. Aug. 1. R. D. W. Connor, July salary $ 166.00 Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 2.00 3. W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 10.00 6. C. L. Coon, copying 175.00 Royal & Borden Furniture Company, office fur-niture 42.75 8. J. G. deR. Hamilton, copying 35.00 12. Miss Mary Hilliard Hinton, Jamestown appro-priation 40.00 Alfred Williams & Co., office supplies 4.10 21. Smith-Premier Typewriter Company, one type-writer 102.50 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, copying 98.78 22. Jacques Busbee, expenses to Jamestown 27.50 28. Thomas W. Blount, expenses attending meeting, 17.90 R. D. W. Connor, expenses attending meeting. . . 23.55 29. Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 4.00 W. .1. Peele, expenses attending meeting 12.00 31. William WeaA'er, wages July 27 to September 1, 11.07 R. D. W. Connor, August salary 166.66 Sept. 2. Weathers & Perry, picture frames 5.50 9. Wharton & Tyree, prints of John White pictures, 6.50 Alfred AVilllams & Co., office supplies 12.10 J. G. deR. Hamilton, copying .50.00 Fred A. Olds, placards and pictures 1.75 R. D. W. Connor, expenses to Washington City. . 33.70 20. Dobbin & Ferrall Company, carpet 39.63 Fred A. Olds, frames for pictures at Jamestown. 72.47 24. North Carolina Booklet 10.00 Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 12.00 Oct. 1. R. D. W. Connor, September salary 166.66 William Weaver, September wages 10.00 2. Southern Express Company, express charges... 1.35 7. Mrs. M. S. Calvert, copying 79..56 24. W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 10.00 Nov. 1. R. D. W. Connor, October salary 166.66 19 1907. Nov. 1. William Weaver, October wages $ 10.00 2. M. C. S. Noble, expenses attending meeting. ... 4.90 9. R. D. W. Connor, expenses to Charleston, etc . . . 56.90 J. G. deR. Hamilton, copying 50.00 14. W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 10.00 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, copying 49.86 19. Miss Mary Hilliard Hinton, Jamestown appro-priation 50.00 24. Historical Commission, bust of William A. Gra-ham 1,000.00 Historical Commission, office equipment 1,500.00 Alfred Williams & Co., office furniture 120.40 30. Historical Commission, appropriation for copy- • ing 365.33 R. D. W. Connor, November salary 166.66 William Weaver, November wages 10.00 J. G. deR. Hamilton, copying 102.80 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, copying 100.80 W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 10.00 T. H. Briggs & Sons, office supplies 2.00 Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 12.00 Dec. 20 1908. Mch. 24. A. R. Andrews, copying $ 7.50 30. Miss Mabel L. Webber, copying 32.60 April 1. J. M. Porter, copying 57.00 Alfred Williams & Co., office supplies 21.40 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, March salary 75.00 William Weaver, March wages 10.00 R. D. W. Connor, March salary 16G.G6 Miss Carrie Strong, copying 37.26 22. E. H. Baker, copying 28.44 23. Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 8.00 29. Historical Commission, express charges 1.10 Sherwood Brockwell, boxing two typewriters... 1.25 May ]. R. D. W. Connor, April salary 166.66 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, April salary ^ 75.00 William Weaver, April wages 10.00 7. Miss Carrie Strong, copying 45.00 16. R. D. W. Connor, expenses to Edenton, etc 40.00 28. Miss Mabel L. Webber, copying 20.00 Capital City Telephone Company, telephone rent, 15.00 June ]. R. D. W. Connor, May salary 166.66 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, May salary 75.00 Miss Carrie Strong, copying 45.00 William Weaver, May wages 10.00 6. Alfred Williams & Co., office supplies 65.10 W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 25.00 July 1. R. D. W. Connor, June salary 166.66 Mrs. M. S. Calvert. June salary 75.00 William Weaver, June wages 10.00 2. Jacques Busbee, appropriation for Roanoke paintings 200.00 Miss Carrie Strong, copying 60.12 16. Alfred Williams & Co., office supplies 2.15 North Carolina Booklet 10.00 E. M. Uzzell & Co., printing 7.75 18. Miss Julia Royster, photographs 2.00 25. Commercial National Bank, B. F. Stevens & Brown 9.68 Aug. 1. R. D. W. Connor, .July salary 166.66 Mrs. M. S. Calvert, July salary 75.00 AVilliam Weaver, July wages 10.00 .Jacob Merritt, drayage 1.00 Miss Mabel L. Webber, copying .32.00 4. W. G. Briggs, postmaster, postage 25.00 10. Commercial National Bank, Art Metal Construc-tion Company 128.50 William A. McKoy. copying 3.00 21 An:-'. 17. William A. McKoy. eopyins; $ 1.00 IS. Cjipital City Telephone Company, telephone rent. lu.OO Miss Duncan C. Winston, copying : 11.80 !.'(). 1{. D. W. Connor, expenses to Ashl)oi'o 0.50 Sept. 1. .Mi-s. M. S. Calvert, August salary 7.1.00 R. I). W. Connor. Au.gust salary l()O.G(i William Wt\iver. August wages 10.00 Miss .Julia Hoyster, photograph 1.00 Southern E.vpress Company, express charges. . . . .lO.iO 1'. Alfred Williams iV: Co., othce supplies 7.40 ]!>. Virginia State Lihrary. copying 0.1.'.") News and Ohservei- rnhlishing Company, copy of Year Book 1.00 2S. II. I). W. Connor, expenses to Greenshoro 0.80 Oct. 1. :Mrs. ,^I. S. Calvert, Septemher salary 7.'i.00 K. I). W. Connor. Sei)teml)er salary KiO.OO William Weaver, September wages lO.OO Southern Express Comp.-my. express charges... 7.30 14. Miss Carrie Strong, copying 10.20 Wharton & Tyree, photographs 8..jO Commercial National P»ank. 13. F. Stevens iV: Brown 0.00 r.t. W. (J. Briggs, jiostmaster, i)ostage ^.j.OV) Connnercial National Bank. B. F. Stevens iV: Brown :!4.10 Nov. 4. -Afrs. M. S. Calvert, October salary 7.'i.lH) William Weaver, October wages 10.00 It. I). W. Connor, October salary l(;(].(i() Alfred Williams & Co.. otiice supplies 3.40 1 1 . Copyright fee 1.00 10. Connnercial National Bank. B. F. Stevens & Brown 22.10 .30. Mrs. M. S. Calvert. November salary 7."'>.00 William Weaver, November wages 10.00 11. I). W. Connor, November salary 10<).00 Miss Mabel L. Webber, copying 11.00 Alfred Williams & Co.. office supplies 20.4.1 Total disbursements .$ 10,000.00 .^^^^.^<^ |