Carolina comments

              Historic Sites Commemorate 140th Anniversary of
Awards Highlight Annual Meeting of “ Lit & Hist”
On Friday, November 12, members of the North Carolina Literary and Historical
Association ( NCLHA), the Carolina Charter Corporation, and the Federation of North
Carolina Historical Societies ( FNCHS) convened in Raleigh for their annual meetings.
The day’s events commenced in the morning at the North Carolina Museum of History
with a workshop sponsored by the FNCHS entitled “ Volunteer Management 101.”
Leading that seminar was Rebecca Dotterer of the Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington.
Afterwards Jo Ann Williford and Laura Ketcham of the Office of Archives and History
led a board meeting of the FNCHS.
The remainder of the day’s events took place at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel. Barbara
Rowe, chair of the FNCHS, welcomed about sixty people to the afternoon session of the
gathering, dedicated to the “ Civil War and Reconstruction in North Carolina.” The first
order of business for the afternoon was the presentation of the 2010 Student Publication
Awards, presided over by John Batchelor of Greensboro. In the high school division, first
place went to Providence Senior High School of Charlotte for Roars and Whispers; second
place to Myers Park High School of Charlotte for Pegasus; third place to Northern Vance
High School of Henderson for Crinkum- Crankum; and honorable mention to Enloe High
School of Raleigh for Stone Soup. Among middle schools, the first place winner was Illu-sions
from Martin Middle School of Raleigh; second place winner was Cougar Voice from
Wake Forest- Rolesville Middle School of Wake Forest; and the third place winner was
Paw Print from Randleman Middle School of Randleman. Students, teachers, and parents
from Martin and Randleman middle schools were present to receive their awards.
Four speakers shared their takes on events of the 1860s. Suzy Barile of Cary addressed
“ A True Civil War Romance: Eleanor Swain and Smith Atkins,” recalling the relationship
between the daughter of University of North Carolina president David L. Swain and a
soldier who was part of the Union army occupying the college town after the war.
Joanna Catherine Scott of Chapel Hill took her experience of writing a novel about the
era as a launching point for an appeal for education and prison reform. Two historians
closed out the afternoon. Gerald J. Prokopowicz of East Carolina University ( ECU)
discussed “ Where the War Was Won: The Western Campaigns of 1862,” and Mark
Bradley of the U. S. Army Center for Military History in Alexandria, Virginia, took as his
topic “ Conquerors Turned Conciliators: The U. S. Army and Reconstruction in North
Carolina
Comments
Published Quarterly by the North Carolina Office of Archives and History
Carolina, 1865- 1877.” The speakers were followed by a brief business meeting of the
NCLHA, presided over by association president Joe A. Mobley of Raleigh.
On behalf of the Historical Society of North Carolina, Mobley presented the R. D. W.
Connor Award in recognition of the best article to appear in the North Carolina Historical
Review ( NCHR) in the preceding year. The winner was Jerry Gershenhorn of North
Carolina Central University ( NCCU) for “ A Courageous Voice for Black Freedom: Louis
Austin and the Carolina Times in Depression- Era North Carolina,” that appeared in the
January 2010 issue of the NCHR. The winner of the 2010 Hugh T. Lefler Award for the
best paper written by an undergraduate student was Elinor Landess, a former student at
Davidson College, for “ Forgetting History: The Restoration and Romanticization of a
Southern Mill Village,” about Glencoe in Alamance County. She was unable to attend.
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For the Record
Welcome to the first online edition of Carolina Com-ments.
We hope that you will continue to follow the
news from the Office of Archives and History in this
new format.
The budget news for state agencies remains grim.
Governor Perdue asked agencies to identify budget cuts
of 5, 10, and 15 percent as she prepares to submit her
biennial budget ( 2011– 2013) to the new General Assem-bly.
The budget deficit has been estimated to be as high as
$ 3.7 billion, more than 20 percent of the 2010– 2011 state
budget.
The new General Assembly also will be a historic one.
Republicans control both houses of the legislature for the first time since the 1890s.
A coalition of Republicans and Populists, known as fusion, held majorities in the
General Assemblies of 1895 and 1897. The governor and the General Assembly will
face very difficult choices as they craft a balanced budget for the 2011– 2013
biennium.
On December 6, 2010, Secretary Linda Carlisle; Dr. Jerry C. Cashion, chairman
of the North Carolina Historical Commission; Harry Harrison, chairman of the Afri-can
American Heritage Commission; and Jill Dinwiddie, executive director of the
North Carolina Council on Women unveiled four new plaques in the State Capitol.
The plaques commemorate the 13th Amendment ( abolition of slavery); 14th
Amendment ( equal protection of the law); 15th Amendment ( voting rights for freed-men);
and 19th Amendment ( voting rights for women). The date December 6 was
chosen intentionally. It marked the 150th anniversary of the 13th Amendment’s tak-ing
effect. The plaques represent a first step in recognizing groups of citizens ( African
Americans, American Indians, and women) who traditionally have not been
represented in the Capitol’s statuary and plaques.
The sesquicentennial of the Civil War is upon us. The Office of Archives and
History has planned hundreds of events throughout the next four years to commem-orate
the crucible of 1861- 1865. The first of three symposiums will be held at the
North Carolina Museum of History on May 20, 2011, the 150th anniversary of
North Carolina’s secession from the Union. The theme of the symposium will be
“ Memory.” David Blight of Yale University will present the keynote lecture. To
keep up with all of the Civil War activities in Archives and History and to register
for the symposium, visit www. nccivilwar150. com.
Jeffrey J. Crow
The American Association of Univer-sity
Women ( AAUW) Award for Juvenile
Literature, presented annually since 1953,
went to John Bemis of Hillsborough, a
former elementary schoolteacher, for The
Nine Pound Hammer, based on the legend
of John Henry and portions of which are
set in eastern North Carolina. AAUW
member Kay White of Chapel Hill
presented the award.
Jeffrey J. Crow of Cary presented the
American Association for State and Local
History Award of Merit to Catherine
Bishir, Markus Wust, and Joe Ryan of the
Digital Scholarship and Publishing Center
of North Carolina State University Librar-ies
for the Web site, “ North Carolina
Architects and Builders: A Biographical
Dictionary.” Wust was present to receive
the award.
President Mobley welcomed guests,
around eighty total, to the social hour,
dinner, and evening presentations. Histo-rian
and author Orville Vernon Burton,
who recently took up a teaching post at
Clemson University, delivered the eighth annual Keats and Elizabeth Sparrow Keynote
Address. In his talk, entitled “ The Age of Lincoln: Then and Now,” Burton discussed the
sixteenth president in terms of his legacy and how he has been remembered over the
years.
Following tradition, the evening program culminated with the North Carolina Book
Awards for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, among other presentations. Barbara Rowe led
off with the announcement of the Albert Ray Newsome Award, bestowed annually by
the FNCHS to the historical organizations in North Carolina judged to have conducted
the most comprehensive and outstanding
programs in local or community histori-cal
activity during the previous year. The
winner was the Gaston County Museum,
in Dallas, North Carolina, for its exhibit
Helping the Children: The North Carolina
Orthopedic Hospital. Accepting were
Stephanie Haiar and Jeff Pruett of the
museum.
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John Bemis receives the AAUW Award for
Juvenile Literature. Making the presentation is
AAUW member Kay White of Chapel Hill. All
images courtesy of the Office of Archives and
History unless otherwise indicated.
Joseph Bathanti ( left) is presented the
Roanoke- Chowan Award by Michael
Chitwood, a previous winner of the award.
Michael Chitwood of Chapel Hill presented the Roanoke- Chowan Award for Poetry
to Joseph Bathanti of Appalachian State University for Restoring Sacred Art ( Star Cloud
Press, 2010). Chitwood, a former winner of the award, praised the work in which
Bathanti shares rich ethnic associations, religious themes, and an amazing memory of par-ticular
things. Pam Sessoms of the Historical Book Club of Greensboro presented the Sir
Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction to Susan Kelly of Greensboro for her novel, By Accident
( Pegasus Books, 2010), the story of a grieving mother struggling with the loss of her son.
James Clark of Raleigh announced the winner of the seventh annual Ragan Old
North State Award for the year’s best work of nonfiction, regardless of topic, by a North
Carolina writer. Recognized with the award for 2010 were the authors of Thomas Day:
Master Craftsman and Free Man of Color ( University of North Carolina Press, 2010), Patricia
Phillips Marshall of Raleigh and Jo Ramsay Leimenstoll of Greensboro. Judges admired
the book for its masterful treatment of the subject and for the high production values by
the publisher. Present to receive the award were Leimenstoll and Jackson Marshall, on
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James Clark ( left) presents the Ragan Old North State Award to Jo Leimenstoll and Jackson
Marshall, husband of the late Patricia Phillips Marshall.
Susan Kelly ( right) receives from Pam Sessoms
the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction.
behalf of his wife, who died on September 4. More about the awards may be found at
www. ah. dcr. state. nc. us/ affiliates/ lit- hist/ awards/ awards. htm.
The R. Hunt Parker Memorial Award, bestowed annually by the NCLHA for signifi-cant
lifetime contributions to the literary heritage of North Carolina, went to Michael
McFee, professor of creative writing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
and author of several volumes of poetry as well as anthologies of North Carolina writers.
Monika Fleming of Tarboro made the presentation, and Michael Chitwood accepted on
behalf of McFee, who could not be present. Margaret Bauer of Greenville presented the
second Hardee- Rives Dramatic Arts Award to Bland Simpson who, like McFee, teaches
creative writing at Chapel Hill. The announcement took note of Simpson’s long tenure in
the Red Clay Ramblers and his collaborative work on stage productions.
In the final ceremony of the evening, Jerry C. Cashion, in his capacity as chairman of
the North Carolina Historical Commission, presented the Christopher Crittenden Memo-rial
Award to Carole and George Troxler, both retired professors of history at Elon Uni-versity.
In doing so, he noted their service to the Office of Archives and History and other
historical organizations over a long period. He drew upon his personal acquaintance with
both parties extending back almost fifty years. The award, presented annually since 1970,
recognizes lifetime contributions to the preservation of North Carolina history and honors
Crittenden, the director of the Department of Archives and History from 1935 to 1968.
Alamance Battleground Research Project Concludes Extensive Work
Friday, December 3, 2010, witnessed the conclusion of a fourteen- month archaeologi-cal
and historical investigation at Alamance Battleground State Historic Site. The project
began as a seemingly innocuous conversation in the summer of 2009 between John J.
Mintz, archaeologist with the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology and Marty
Matthews, curator of research with the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites and
Properties. Initial discussion concerned the placement of interpretive signage at the site,
but quickly turned into a multi- year, multi- disciplinary research endeavor, the Alamance
Battleground Research Project ( ABRP). The project focused on assembling never before
collected archaeological information and reexamining the extant historical record with the
overall goal of developing a better understanding of the events that took place on May 16,
1771, just south of the small, backcountry village of Alamance.
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Left: Margaret Bauer presents the second annual Hardee- Rives Award to Bland Simpson. Right:
Jerry Cashion ( left) presents the Crittenden Memorial Award to Carole and George Troxler.
The battleground is the site of the climactic event in the War of the Regulation. The
battle occurred when a group of disgruntled farmers, known as Regulators, clashed with
members of the North Carolina colonial militia under command of royal governor
William Tryon. Tryon’s forces sustained about seventy casualties in their rout of the well-trained,
but poorly organized farmers. Although the number of Regulator casualties is not
known, seven were hanged as a result of the insurrection.
In the 1940s, Mrs. G. A. Kernodle of the Daughters of the American Revolution
began a movement to have Alamance Battleground officially recognized. In 1952 the
Alamance County commissioners deeded the approximately forty- acre tract to the North
Carolina Department of Conservation and Development to be developed as a historic site.
In 1955 the responsibility for the site was transferred to the Department of Archives and
History. However it was not until May 16, 1961, that the site was officially dedicated and
opened to the public.
As the ABRP advanced, both Mintz and Matthews realized it needed a historian
whose expertise resided in eighteenth- century military history. Fortunately Research
Historian Josh Howard was conscripted and readily agreed to participate and serve as co-director
of the project. Howard is a co- author with Larry Babits of the award- winning
book Long, Obstinate, and Bloody, the Battle at Guilford Courthouse. Drawing on his expertise
in military history, he was instrumental in researching and writing an exhaustive interpre-tation
and history of the battle at Alamance and in helping to shape the archaeological field
methodology.
As the preliminary research design began to take shape, Matthews contacted Alamance
site manager Bryan Dalton and asked him to share not only his more than twenty- five
years of experience working at the site, but also his experience as an eighteenth- century
reenactor, thereby adding a living history aspect to the project. Dalton and his staff along
with Dr. Ted Henson, president of the Alamance Friends Group, were instrumental in
providing logistical support for the project. Rounding out the project was Martha Battle
Jackson, curator of technology with the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites
and Properties. She insured that all of the field notes were properly recorded and
maintained.
One of the primary goals of the ABRP is the development of an interpretive pedes-trian
trail replete with informative waysides and signage that will be developed in
conjunction with a series of new exhibits utilizing the newly acquired archaeological
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Field supervisor Fritz Farrow ( right) instructs Boy Scout volunteer Zane Goins during an
archaeological survey at Alamance Battleground.
and historical data. By developing these features as complementary to one another, it is
hoped that the site can be viewed and interpreted in a more interactive fashion. Additional
goals include using research to refine and update the existing history of the battle, and
using the newly acquired archaeological data to confirm, and in some instances to clarify,
the historical record.
Numerous scholarly works detailing this pivotal battle have been produced over the
years. However, none have utilized a multidisciplinary approach employing battlefield
archaeological methodologies, enhanced cartographic technique ( photogrammetry and
geographic information systems), and geophysical techniques ( e. g., metal detectors, mag-netometers,
and ground penetrating radar). This project drew heavily upon the expertise
of the Old North State Detectorists ( a non- profit organization of metal detector hobbyists)
who donated approximately 650 hours over a period of six weekends.
The systematic archaeological field investigation utilized a standard 100 x 100 foot
square study area. Forty- one study areas were examined, thus totaling over 400,000 square
feet. Each study area was further divided into twenty- five, four- foot wide lanes, which
allowed the project staff to undertake a pedestrian sweep of each, excavating and recording
subsurface anomalies. At the conclusion of each field day, the locations were mapped using
Geographic Position Systems ( GPS) coordinates and transferred onto a topographic map.
This resulting map will allow the project staff to denote the locations of all recovered battle-related
artifacts, helping to define and illuminate how the battle was fought across the site.
The investigation resulted in the recovery of over 120 battle- related artifacts, of which
approximately 115 were formally classified as ordnance. The vast majority of the recovered
ordnance originated from small arms, including musket and rifle balls, as well as buck and
swan shot. Several pieces of iron “ grapeshot” were also identified in the artifact assem-blage.
The recovery of the grapeshot was very fortunate, as its location will assist in deter-mining
where Governor Tryon’s artillery was deployed. All of the information will be
used in conjunction with the historical data to develop a more precise timeline of the bat-tle
and to define both general and specific artifact patterns. Artifact patterns represent phys-ical
evidence of human behavior, as it relates to past activities, in this case, irrefutable
physical evidence of the Battle at Alamance. The patterns can then be compared and con-trasted
with the historical documentation to gain a better understanding of the battle and
the individuals who participated in it. For example, the specific location of the recovered
ordnance can be used to assist in determining the direction( s) of the small arms and artil-lery
firing and the positions and movements of both the units and, in certain instances, the
individuals who participated in the engagement.
Though ordnance- related artifacts comprised the majority of the collection, several
other items were recovered that merit discussion. Of significant interest was the identifica-tion
of the “ top jaw” of a hammer to a flintlock musket. Interestingly, located beside and
adjacent to the top jaw was a screwdriver- like tool used for removing and replacing the
exhausted flint of the weapon. The recovery of these two artifacts in close association
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Close- up of a musket,
showing the type of top jaw
recently found at Alamance
Battleground.
suggests that the individual who owned the firearm was, at some point during the battle,
attempting to replace the flint, but was unsuccessful and dropped both the top jaw and the
tool. When viewed from a behavioral perspective, the artifacts suggest that the owner of
this particular musket either was shot or fled from the battle with his inoperable weapon.
This type of information can only be obtained through the controlled recovery of artifacts
and it illustrates the importance of combining archaeologically derived information with
the extant historical record to maximize interpretative potential.
In addition, artifacts associated with two other wars were recovered during the project.
The first was a Continental army button with the letters “ USA” on it. This is the type and
style of button that was issued to the Maryland and Delaware Continental Regiments in
the fall of 1780. The recovery and subsequent identification of this button were extremely
important, as it provided archaeological support to a documentary claim that suggested a
skirmish took place at the site in 1781, between Capt. Robert Kirkwood’s Delaware Con-tinental
company and a detachment of General Cornwallis’s army.
Kirkwood wrote in his journal that he and his comrades
“ came up with the enemy at Allamance” on March 4,
1781, and marched to “ the Regulation ground and
attack’d the advanc’d picquet” on the following
night. A Confederate officer’s button, which had the
North Carolina state seal impressed upon it, was
also found. It is believed to have belonged to an
officer with the North Carolina Junior Reserves
who camped on the battlefield in 1865. Both arti-facts
attest to the rich military history of the site.
The ABRP spanned approximately fourteen
months, and the archaeological work was
completed over six non- consecutive weekends.
More than two hundred volunteers from across the
state and from a variety of backgrounds participated
and shared their enthusiasm to help illuminate an
event that occurred some 239 years ago.
Mini- Conference Highlights QAR Project
In December Secretary Linda Carlisle, Dr. Jeffrey Crow, and Department of Cultural
Resources staff hosted a mini- conference focusing on efforts to complete full recovery of
all remains from the Queen Anne’s Revenge ( QAR) site by 2013 and to open a major
exhibit in 2018, the 300th anniversary of the ship’s sinking. The conference took place at
ECU’s West Research Campus where the QAR conservation lab is housed. A large con-tingent
of ECU administration and faculty, including Vice Chancellor Deirdre Mageean,
attended. State representative Edith Warren, a staff member from Congressman G. K.
Butterfield’s office, and QAR partners Mike Daniel and John Masters were also on hand to
hear speakers discuss work on the project from its inception to the present and plans for
the future.
The occasion culminated in a media event featuring artifacts and the conservation lab.
Sarah Watkins- Kenney, chief conservator, explained “ the majority of artifacts are brought
up from the seafloor encased in thick mineral concretions” that require slow, careful work
to free them for study and display. Since 2004 when the QAR lab opened, ECU graduate
students have been assisting to identify, catalogue, and preserved the ship’s remains. “ It is
very appropriate that Blackbeard���s recovery is part of pirate nation,” Deirdre Mageean,
vice chancellor for graduate studies, told the Daily Reflector at the ceremony. “ ECU takes
seriously its mission of service, education and outreach, and this partnership exemplifies
that mission.”
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Revolutionary war button recently
found at Alamance Battleground.
On display was a portion of the hundreds of artifacts that are being transferred to the
North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort in preparation for the opening of a major
QAR exhibition in June 2011. Among the artifacts is an ornate bronze sword part, called
a quillon block, embellished with decorative scroll work. Other items include a reale
weight, a coin weight used to verify the value of silver coins, and glass panes from the
window of the captain’s cabin. The message of the day was that through our strong part-nership
with ECU, DCR is on track to bring historic artifacts to the surface and through
the conservation process. This will insure that the shipwreck’s physical remains will be
saved and studied and the story of Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge will be told for the
educational and economic benefit of all North Carolina’s citizens.
Omar ibn Said Featured in Two DCR Activities in Fayetteville
From November 4 to December 5, 2010, the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical
Complex in Fayetteville hosted the special exhibit, The Life of Omar ibn Said. The exhibit
featured the original manuscript of Said’s 1831 autobiography, written in Arabic. Said is
perhaps best known for this autobiogra-phy,
the only known example written by
an enslaved person in a native language.
Omar ibn Said, a West African Mus-lim,
was captured, brought to America,
and sold into slavery in Charleston, South
Carolina in 1807. He escaped from harsh
working conditions and made his way to
Fayetteville in 1810 where he was jailed
and advertised as a fugitive slave. Said
amazed his jailors and local citizens by
writing in Arabic on the walls of his cell.
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Secretary Carlisle speaks to the media. Artifacts from the QAR appear on the tables.
Ambrotype of Omar ibn Said, courtesy of the
North Carolina Collection, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
James Owen, brother of future governor John Owen, purchased Said and took him to his
Bladen County plantation.
Said actively practiced the Islamic faith. The Owen family presented him with an Eng-lish
copy of the Qu’ran to assist him in learning the language. They hoped Said might
convert to Christianity and to that end, James Owen, with the help of North Carolina
chief justice John Louis Taylor and Francis Scott Key, procured a Bible in Arabic for
Omar in 1819.
Said joined the Owens’ Fayetteville church, First Presbyterian, in 1820 and attended
services with them regularly. He became the subject of newspaper and magazine stories,
particularly after the Owen family moved to Wilmington in 1835. People were fascinated
with Said and his Arabic writing, and he was often asked to translate texts such as the
Lord’s Prayer or the Twenty- third Psalm.
Said’s early life remains a mystery, and his refusal to return to Africa as a Christian mis-sionary
and the inclusion of references to the Qu’ran in his writings have led to debate
regarding his religious beliefs. The life of Omar ibn Said continues to intrigue those who
learn of him, as scholars acknowledge that he was likely the most educated slave in North
Carolina and one of the best documented practicing Muslim slaves in America.
Museum staff members were excited about displaying the original manuscript ( below)
of Said’s autobiography. The work was found in a trunk in Virginia in the 1990s and was
sold at auction. It has since been on display at a variety of institutions. Derrick Beard,
owner of the manuscript, sees it as the first plea for religious co- existence written by a
Muslim in America. Also included in the exhibit, on loan from Beard, were two early
translations of the manuscript.
The public��s reception was positive toward the exhibit. Attendance increased notice-ably
during the month- long installation, and numerous visitors shared comments that
expressed gratitude toward the museum for hosting the exhibit. Comments included
everything from a simple “ good exhibit!” to thanks for providing a thought- provoking,
interesting exhibit that focused on a little known figure in North Carolina history. In sum,
it was a fantastic experience for both the museum and the citizens of Fayetteville.
In conjunction with the museum exhibit, a North Carolina Highway Historical
Marker honoring Said was unveiled on Murchison Road in Fayetteville on Friday
November 6. The marker, placed in front of the mosque that bears Said’s name, was ded-icated
in an impressive ceremony that featured an actor, Ahmad Kenya, who portrays
Omar ibn Said in a one- man play. Kenya was in costume and opened the event in
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character. State senator Larry Shaw and Derrick Beard were among those in attendance.
For more information on the Highway Historical Markers visit www. ncmarkers. com.
Fifteenth Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration
The 15th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration took place on Saturday,
November 20, 2010, and drew 12,306 visitors. This lively festival, the museum’s largest
annual event, broke all attendance records. The American Indian Heritage Education Day
on Friday, November 19, brought in more than 2,000 schoolchildren.
The celebration offered a firsthand opportunity to learn about the contributions of the
state’s American Indians, past and present. The event showcased musicians, artists, story-tellers,
dancers, and others from North Carolina’s eight state- recognized tribes. The day’s
activities included performances, craft demonstrations and workshops, hands- on activities,
food, and more.
Scores of American Indian dancers filled the plaza outside the museum at noon. The
brilliant colors of their traditional regalia transformed the space as they moved to the
rhythm of drum groups nearby. With beadwork glistening in the sunlight and ribbons
flowing, their dance steps represented centuries of American Indian heritage and culture.
Throughout the day, visitors could watch a dugout canoe take shape or talk with arti-sans
at work, such as nationally known potter Senora Lynch, a member of the
Haliwa- Saponi tribe. Other highlights included Native American flute recording artists
Jonathan C. Ward and Arnold Richardson, who led a flute and instrument workshop.
A presentation by the Warriors of Anikituhwah of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
brought to life the Cherokee War dance and the Eagle Tail dance.
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Ahmad Kenya, portraying Omar ibn Said, greets research historian Ansley Wegner at the Said
marker dedication November 6.
News from the N. C. Museum of History
The American Indian Heritage Celebration was supported by the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians; Food Lion; Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel; IBM; Lumbee tribe;
N. C. Commission of Indian Affairs; N. C. Museum of History Associates; and United Arts
Council of Raleigh and Wake County, with funds from the United Arts campaign, the
North Carolina Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a
great nation deserves great art. Additional funding is provided by the Haliwa- Saponi tribe;
Thomas, Judy & Tucker, P. A.; UNC American Indian Center; Native American
Resource Center at UNC- Pembroke; Eastern Band of Cherokee Tribal Gaming
Commission; Arrowhead Graphics; and Lumbee Guaranty Bank.
American Association of Museums Announces Re- Accreditation of
N. C. Museum of History
The American Association of Museums ( AAM), based in Washington, D. C.,
announced that the N. C. Museum of History in Raleigh has been awarded re- accredita-tion.
Accredited status from the AAM is the highest national recognition achievable by an
American museum. This honor recognizes high standards in individual museums and
ensures that museums continue to uphold their public trust.
During a fall 2010 meeting of the Accreditation Commission, an autonomous body of
museum professionals appointed by the AAM Board, three museums were awarded
accreditation, and 34 earned re- accreditation. Of the nation’s estimated 17,500 museums,
777 are currently accredited.
“ We are very excited to be one of only 4 percent of museums in the entire country
that is accredited by the American Association of Museums,” says Ken Howard, director,
N. C. Museum of History. “ The museum staff worked very hard to make sure that our
museum met all the detailed requirements for re- accreditation.” The Museum of History
has been accredited by the American Association of Museums since 1972.
To earn accreditation, a museum must conduct a year of self- study prior to a site visit
by a two- person team of peers. The Accreditation Commission considers the self- study
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On a beautiful fall day, crowds filled the plaza outside the N. C. Museum of History during the 15th
Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration on November 20. With 12,306 visitors, this lively
festival broke all attendance records.
and site visit report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation. While
the time to complete the process varies by museum, it generally takes three years.
“ Accreditation is an entirely self- motivated process and is no small task,” said Ford W.
Bell, AAM president. “ Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement. But put simply, it
means the citizens of the communities served by these museums have in their midst one of
America’s finest museums.”
N. C. Sports Hall of Fame Inducts Michael Jordan
Former University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball All- American Michael
Jordan was inducted into the N. C. Sports Hall of Fame during a halftime ceremony at the
Toronto Raptors- Charlotte Bobcats game on December 14 at the Time Warner Cable
Arena in Charlotte, N. C.
Jordan was elected by the N. C. Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors in 1993 to
enter the Hall at its annual May induction banquet. But after leading the Chicago Bulls to
three consecutive NBA titles, he had retired from pro basketball and was playing
minor- league baseball in Birmingham at the time. Jordan subsequently returned to the
Bulls and sparked them to three additional NBA championships.
“ North Carolinians have long taken pride in Michael Jordan’s outstanding athletic
career and have wanted to pay proper tribute to him,” says Nat Walker, president of the
N. C. Sports Hall of Fame. “ That time is now here and we’re delighted that Michael is
joining the other 273 inductees who have helped shape the remarkable sports heritage that
North Carolina has enjoyed.”
Jordan was presented with a N. C. Sports Hall of Fame ring and plaque. The halftime
ceremony featured a video tribute to Jordan, who is the Bobcats’ majority owner. Memo-rabilia
representing Jordan’s basketball career will be on view in the near future at the
N. C. Sports Hall of Fame, which is located at the N. C. Museum of History.
“ This is obviously a tremendous honor and I am proud to be an inductee of the North
Carolina Sports Hall of Fame,” said Jordan. “ When I think about all the great athletes
from North Carolina that inspired me to become the best I could be, it’s humbling to
know that now I stand with them as members of a very special fraternity.”
For more information about the Museum of History, call 919- 807- 7900 or access
www. ncmuseumofhistory. org or Facebook ® .
The exhibit White Lightnin’: Whiskey and Revenuers was unveiled last fall at the
Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City. The exhibit provides an overview of the
illegal alcohol trade in North Carolina and features a still that was confiscated as evidence.
The still was loaned to the museum by a local alcohol enforcement agency. After viewing
the exhibit, guests often ask, “ Any free samples?” Visitors can’t miss a related item in the
museum lobby: a 1957 Chevy. The shiny black auto represents the types of vehicles that
whiskey runners used to transport their “ products.” For obvious reasons, they depended
on fast cars with large trunks.
The museum’s main exhibit, Our Story, continues to receive updates as clothing and
other fragile artifacts are exchanged with other objects in the collection.
The exhibit Out of the Blue: Coast Guard Aviation remains a major draw as new U. S.
Coast Guard families move into the area to support the large Coast Guard base nearby.
The exhibit features more than 120 artifacts dating from the Coast Guard’s inception to
the present. A few fun attractions for children include a whimsical helicopter where chil-dren
can “ rescue” a teddy bear, kid- sized Coast Guard uniforms to try on, and a Coast
Guard life raft.
The newly remodeled Discovery Room is an area devoted to families with small chil-dren.
The room centers on a new theme: Discover a New World. Visitors can experience
V O L U M E 5 9 , N U M B E R 1 , J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 1 1 3
News from the Museum of the Albemarle
what life was like for American Indians who lived in the Albemarle region during the time
of first contact and exploration. An Algonquian hut and an Elizabethan boat were built for
the area. Children can try on period clothes and participate in other hands- on activities.
Civil War Living History Day will take place Saturday, February 12. The event com-memorates
the Battle of Elizabeth City in 1862. Civilian and military Civil War
re- enactors will be on the grounds with encampments and displays that will be used for
demonstrations, presentations and hands- on activities. In addition, Dr. Bob Smith, profes-sor
of history at Mid- Atlantic Christian University, will present the lecture “ William
Francis Lynch Before the Battle of Elizabeth City.” Lynch served as commander of nine
Confederate gunboats that faced Union forces during skirmishes at Roanoke Island.
Many more events, ranging from Preschooler Time to a Dulcimer Workshop, fill
the activity calendar. For more information about the Museum of the Albemarle,
call 252- 335- 1453, access www. museumofthealbemarle. com or e- mail
moa@ ncdcr. gov.
The N. C. Maritime Museums recently opened two new exhibits: Ships Ashore at the
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum on Hatteras Island and Shades of Maritime Life at the
N. C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Ships Ashore highlights accounts of North Carolina
shipwrecks and the integral role they played in Outer Banks culture. Ships Ashore, devel-oped
by the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway, features stories of scavenging and
includes items recovered from beaches. These artifacts range from a complete silver tea
service to a bag of Doritos.
1 4 C A R O L I N A C O M M E N T S
White Lightnin’: Whiskey and
Revenuers provides an overview of
the illegal alcohol trade in North
Carolina.
Filled with bright colors and plenty
of activities, the newly remodeled
Discovery Room centers on the
theme Discover a New World.
News from the N. C. Maritime Museums
Shades of Maritime Life, which runs through February 13, features paintings by
Morehead City artist Martha Bringhurst- Bruno. Her maritime scenes provide a glimpse of
coastal heritage and wildlife. “ This show looks at 30 years of living on the North Carolina
coast— watching it change from a small, fishing- oriented community to a major tourist
destination,” said Bringhurst- Bruno. “ It is my close- up view, my personal documentary of
what I have experienced over the decades.”
Work continues on renovations for the future home of the N. C. Maritime Museum at
Southport. The staff has been moving exhibits and artifacts to the museum’s new location
at nearby Fort Johnston. The buildings, once used for soldiers’ barracks, will house the
museum’s main exhibit hall, classroom, library, offices, and kitchen.
For more information about the N. C. Maritime Museums, call 252- 728- 7317, access
www. ncmaritime. org or e- mail maritime@ ncdcr. gov.
The month of October brought a major change to the historic landscape at Historic
Bath. A contract was obtained to repaint three major historic structures. Two of the
homes were repainted in the same color schemes as before, but the oldest home changed
dramatically. Following the 1989 fire, a chromo- chronology study was conducted at the
Palmer- Marsh House. The analysis determined that the entire exterior of the house was
originally painted Spanish brown. Spanish brown or red ochre is part of a large family of
natural earth pigments whose color is produced from anhydrous ferric oxide ( iron oxide or
rust) or the mineral hematite. When the iron oxide was mixed with linseed oil, it created a
very stable and inexpensive paint. Spanish brown was the most ubiquitous color used
throughout the colonies during the eighteenth century. A number of steps were taken to
ensure community support of and education about the decision to change the traditionally
V O L U M E 5 9 , N U M B E R 1 , J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 1 1 5
The exhibit Shades of Maritime Life at the
N. C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort
features paintings by Morehead City artist
Martha Bringhurst- Bruno. Image courtesy
of Martha Bringhurst- Bruno.
News from Historic Bath
painted white home. Now the home, a National Historic Landmark, reflects a more
authentic visual picture.
Bennett Place received a generous donation of photographs in December from
Ernest H. Robl, who was a college student at UNC- Chapel Hill in 1965. Mr. Robl was
granted a press pass to photograph the visit of Vice- President Hubert H. Humphrey to
Bennett Place during the centennial commemoration of the Civil War.
1 6 C A R O L I N A C O M M E N T S
News from Bennett Place
The newly painted Palmer- Marsh House.
Vice- President Hubert H. Humprey visits Bennett Place during the centennial commemoration of
the Civil War .
On October 30, the dedication of Colonial Brunswick Town’s new Stamp Act
resistance wayside was held. The exhibit, located at the Russellborough Ruins, was spon-sored
by the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of North Carolina. The dedication
featured the Honorable Henry Alexander ( Hank) Philips of the Society and members of
Dry’s Militia Company.
The Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum hosted the alumni of Palmer Memorial
Institute on October 29. Alumni representing graduating classes from 1944 to 1970 visited
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News from Brunswick Town / Fort Anderson
Hank Philips ( left), historic interpreter III Jim Mckee, and site manager Brenda Bryant ( with members
of Dry’s Militia Company in the background) following the dedication of Brunswick Town’s new
wayside exhibit panel on the Stamp Act resistance.
News from the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum
Palmer Memorial Institute alumni tour the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum in Sedalia on
October 29.
the site. The class of 1960 turned out in large numbers to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Although much of their former campus was currently undergoing renovation and restora-tion,
the alumni appreciated the stewardship of N. C. Historic Sites in preserving the
school’s history, its founder, and the hundreds of students who called this former private
boardingschool for African Americans “ home.” Alumni made their way through campus
reading wayside exhibits and reminiscing about their own experiences in dormitories and
other site structures. Their visit ended with a meeting in Kimball Hall, the former dining
hall.
Kimball Hall, built in 1927, received significant restoration during 2010. The original
hardwood floors, eight foot tall windows, and crown molding complement the new
state- of- the- art audiovisual enhancements and catering kitchen that are now part of the
building. Alumni were pleased with the progress of the current site improvements and lis-tened
as division director Keith Hardison outlined future plans for the site. Mr. Hardison
also used this opportunity to thank the alumni for their generous donation in excess of
$ 50,000 toward the completion of the Kimball Hall project.
The Town of Edenton was denied a Coastal Area Management Act ( CAMA) permit
for placement of the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse over water on October 4 and filed
an application for a hearing at the November 17 Coastal Resources Commission in Beau-fort.
At the November 17 hearing, the Town of Edenton was granted a variance of the
earlier CAMA decision, and permission was granted to place the lighthouse over the
water. Once funding for the move is obtained, the Department of Cultural Resources will
proceed with restoration of the only surviving square screw pile lighthouse in the United
States. The site now sells U. S. Lighthouse Society Lighthouse Passports, with a custom
made stamp of the Roanoke River Lighthouse to use with the passports.
For the first time, visitors can view the interior of the North Carolina Transportation
Museum’s largest building, the historic Back Shop. Bearing the oversized warning to “ Be
Careful” on its exterior, the brick building is one of the most identifiable structures on the
museum campus, stretching two football fields in length and about three stories in height.
1 8 C A R O L I N A C O M M E N T S
News from Historic Edenton
News from the N. C. Transportation Museum
Visitors enjoy the North Carolina Transportation Museum Back Shop.
An early unveiling for a crowd of local business and community leaders occurred on
September 9, and, beginning in October, the public was able to enjoy an access area, open
on the south end of the building next to the Bob Julian Roundhouse. The 12 ft. by 70 ft.
interior deck provides great views of the building’s interior. With windows along each
side of the building and steel support beams visible, visitors can see the scope of the
massive structure. The building also provides room for displays of several larger vehicles,
including a U. S. Army “ Deuce and a Half,” fire trucks from the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s,
and, in the distance, the Piedmont Airlines DC- 3, currently under renovation. The Back
Shop was constructed in 1904 and 1905 at a cost of $ 483,000 and used for complete over-haul
of Southern Railway locomotives. Steam engines would enter at one end of the
building, work would commence, and the engine would roll out the other end ready for
service.
On December 6, 2010, four new plaques were added to the interior of the State
Capitol Historic Site. The plaques represent the ongoing work of community citizens and
Department of Cultural Resources staff to ensure that the monuments and commemora-tions
in and around “ The People’s House” present a more inclusive perspective on North
Carolina history. Although the North Carolina Historical Commission has imposed a
moratorium on adding new monuments and statues to the Capitol and grounds, the Com-mission
has allowed an exception for the four plaques and an additional three monuments,
which will be installed at some point in the future. Each plaque commemorates the passing
of a constitutional amendment related to American civil rights. The amendments repre-sented
are the 13th ( abolishing slavery), the 14th ( granting rights to all citizens), the 15th
( voting rights), and the 19th ( voting rights for women).
The unveiling ceremony was held in the Capitol Rotunda and west wing. Remarks
were given by Secretary of Cultural Resources Linda Carlisle, Deputy Secretary Jeff
Crow, Historical Commission Chair Jerry Cashion, African American Heritage Commis-sion
Chair Harry Harrison, and N. C. Council of Women Executive Director Jill
Dinwiddie. Gov. Bev Perdue was also in attendance. The unveiling of the four plaques
was followed by a reception in the Rotunda.
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News from the State Capitol
( left to right), African American Heritage Commission Chair Harry Harrison, Historical Commission
Chair Jerry Cashion, Secretary of Cultural Resources Linda Carlisle, and N. C. Council of Women
Executive Director Jill Dinwiddie unveil plaques commemorating ratification of the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Nineteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.
Capitol staff and volunteers will be using the plaques during tours and educational pro-grams
to discuss state government, human rights, and how the four amendments influ-enced
the work at the Capitol.
From September 30 through October 2, 2010, Donna Kelly, Bill Owens, and Susan
Trimble staffed a booth at the Association for the Study of African American Life and
History conference held at the Raleigh Convention Center. Over $ 600 was generated in
receipts. LeRae Umfleet made a presentation at the conference and signed copies of her
recent publication, A Day of Blood: The 1898 Wilmington Race Riot, which is available at
http:// nc- historical- publications. stores. yahoo. net/ wilmington1898. html.
On November 12, 2010, the Carolina Charter Corporation met at the Sheraton Hotel
in downtown Raleigh. It was a milestone for the group, which met for the fiftieth time,
its roots being in the commemoration of the Carolina Charter tercentenary anniversary in
1963. The luncheon speakers were Josh Howard of the Office of Archives and History
and Larry Babits of East Carolina University, co- authors of Long, Obstinate, and Bloody: The
Battle of Guilford Courthouse.
The 2011 Historical Publications catalog is now available for viewing. Send an
e- mail to historical. publications@ ncdcr. gov or call the Publications office at
919- 733- 7442, ext. 0 to request a hard copy.
Tyrrell County: A Brief History, by Alan Watson, is now available for sale.
2 0 C A R O L I N A C O M M E N T S
Josh Howard ( left) and Larry
Babits spoke at the 50th annual
Carolina Charter Corporation
meeting in Raleigh on
November 12, 2010.
News from Historical Publications
During the months of November and December 2010, the Historical Publications
Shop conducted a holiday sale. More than one hundred titles were discounted between 10
percent and 75 percent. Receipts were markedly increased during the period as a result.
The North Carolina State Historical Records Advisory Board ( SHRAB) was notified
in December 2010 that it was awarded a $ 30,000 grant by the National Historical Publica-tions
and Records Commission to develop and implement a statewide twelve- month edu-cational
program, “ Managing Electronic Records.” The highlight of this program
will be a two- day conference, “ Accessing and Preserving Electronic Records and Digital
Materials: An Emerging Issues Forum” in the fall of 2011. Staff of the North Carolina
State Archives will administer the grant and help to develop conference content.
Conference registration will be announced in the summer of 2011.
Whether you’re new to digital collections or a longtime user, visit North Carolina
Digital Collections. Staff at the North Carolina State Archives and State Library of North
Carolina has designed the Web site together with the goal of combining the physical col-lections
and resources of the two repositories and giving users a more streamlined experi-ence
when searching for digital images, publications, or other documents.
The Web site has all of the content from the Library’s Digital Repository and a lot of
the content available from the Archives Online Projects, with more to come. You will see
popular collections like North Carolina Family Records and State Government Publica-tions,
as well as collections like Raleigh History and the Archives’ Treasures, which are
new additions to this interface. Plus, you can keyword search across all of the digital col-lections
from one location or choose which collections you’d like to search using the
Advanced Search page. Enjoy some of the state’s finest collections and images by browsing
this site: http:// digital. ncdcr. gov/ cdm4/ index. php.
October was an exciting month for the North Carolina African American Heritage
Commission. The commission received a phenomenal response at the 95th annual confer-ence
of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History ( ASALH) in
Raleigh and featured prominently in the Rich Heritage luncheon on October 2. The
Commission was well represented with Departmental Secretary Linda Carlisle, Commis-sion
Chair Harry Harrison, and Commissioner Freddie Parker serving as eloquent and
enthusiastic panelists, along with International Civil Rights Center and Museum Director,
Bamidele Demerson. Commission Vice- Chair E. B. Palmer offered compelling
and enlightening remarks, while commissioners Frankie Day, Bernard George,
Dr. Reginald Hildebrand, and Annie McCoy connected with over 200 luncheon atten-dees.
Deputy Secretary Dr. Crow was also in attendance, along with Heritage intern and
NCCU history major, Kiara Bennerman and UNC- CH School of Government student
and commission research assistant Kate Mulvaney. Acting director Michelle Lanier and
consultant Jamilla Hawkins served as moderators.
The energizing music of Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens’ Jonkonnu Perform-ers
kicked off the gathering and was followed by the Helping Hand Mission Marching
Band of Raleigh— a true embodiment of how the future of heritage emerges from the
past. According to ASALH leadership, not in recent memory has any conference luncheon
included such revelry.
On the heels of ASALH, the commission hosted six community engagement meetings
across the state, in New Bern, Spring Lake, Winston- Salem, Asheville, and Charlotte,
V O L U M E 5 9 , N U M B E R 1 , J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 1 2 1
News from Archives and Records
News from the African American Heritage Commission
along with one at a booth at the State Fair. The two- fold purposes were to raise awareness
about the commission and to listen to each community’s values and visions for promoting
the future of African American heritage in North Carolina. Over two hundred partici-pants,
representing thirty- four counties, offered thoughtful and often passionate feedback
in support of the commission’s developing work.
Diane Smith joined the staff of Bennett Place State Historic Site as the historical
interpreter I on October 15.
Bentonville Battleground assistant site manager Derrick Brown successfully defended
his thesis, “‘ Foster Must Build Forts:’ The Failure of Union Offensive Strategy in Eastern
North Carolina, 1862– 1863” on November 30, 2010. He received his Master of Arts in
History from the University of North Carolina Wilmington on December 10, 2010.
At Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach, former site assistant Jessica Sutton was
promoted to maintenance mechanic.
Stephanie Davis has joined the N. C. Maritime Museums as an artist/ illustrator for
exhibits. She is based at the N. C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort.
Bill Owens, of the Historical Publications Section, was appointed to the World War I
Committee effective November 4, 2010. Fourteen employees within the Office of
Archives and History graduated from the DCR Leadership Development Program on
September 15, 2010.
2 2 C A R O L I N A C O M M E N T S
Graduates of the 2010 DCR Leadership Development Program are joined by Secretary Linda
Carlisle ( left) and Deputy Secretary Jeffrey Crow ( right). They include ( left to right) Parker Backstrom,
Sharon Robinson, Heidi Bleazy, Bill Owens, Fran Tracy- Walls, Marian Inabinette, Brian Moffitt,
Leisa Greathouse, Donna Kelly, Eve Neville, Jennifer Davison, Michael Ausbon, Andrea Lawson,
Rachel Dickens, Steve Case, Laura Ketcham, John Mintz, and Allison Besch.
Staff Notes
Eloise Taylor Jackson, librarian for the North Carolina Museum of History for more
than 25 years, died on Monday, December 6, 2010, at Rex Hospital in Raleigh at the age
of 89. She was predeceased by her husband of 31 years, William E. ( Bill) Jackson, the
former “ Voice of the Wolfpack.” Eloise was born in 1921 in Auburn, Ala., and grew up
in Greensboro, the daughter of W. Raymond Taylor and Bertie Y. Taylor. She graduated
from Woman’s College ( now UNC- Greensboro) in 1942. Eloise retired from the
museum in 1999. She was a devoted member of Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh
for more than 50 years. She also served for many years on the N. C. Governor’s Council
on Aging. She is survived by her three daughters, Catherine J. Morris and husband
Ed Morris of Raleigh; Elaine J. Bowen and husband Cliff Bowen of Raleigh; and Jean J.
Lancaster and husband Mark Gilbert of Hudson, N. C., and by her three grandsons,
Dylan T. Morris of Raleigh, Jarrett L. Lancaster of New York City, and J. Greyson
Lancaster of Greensboro.
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Obituary
Rare 1792 Washington Letter
by Boyd Cathey
The North Carolina State Archives contains numerous treasures, many of which, due
to their rarity, historical significance, and value, have been placed in the Archives vault for
safe- keeping. But not every significant document is in the vault, and many historically
important items remain where they were originally filed in the Archives stacks.
Such was the case until recently when a rare letter from President George Washington
to Gov. Alexander Martin, dated September 29, 1792, came to the attention of archivist
Mark Valsame while arranging the governors’ papers. The letter is significant because it
served as a cover document for a presidential proclamation, dated September 15, 1792,
sent to the governors of the then- fifteen states, asking each of the states to support the
federal government in its efforts to suppress what became known as the “ Whiskey
Rebellion,” the attempt by some backwoods farmers in Pennsylvania and a few other
states to openly refuse the payment of higher taxes on whiskey and spirituous liquors.
In his communication, President Washington asks for North Carolina’s support of the
federal response to “ certain irregular and refractory proceedings which have taken place in
particular parts of some of the States contravening the Laws therein mentioned.” Wash-ington
then requests that Governor Martin use “ the weight and influence of the Executive
of North Carolina . . . cheerfully exerted, in every proper way, to further the object of
this measure, and to promote on every occasion, a due obedience to the constitutional
laws of the Union.”
Governor Martin thereupon submitted the president’s proclamation to the General
Assembly session of November 1792– January 1793, with his own endorsement, to which
the General Assembly added its concurrence. President Washington personally led troops
into western Pennsylvania to put down the “ Whiskey Rebellion” in 1794.
The original letter has now been placed in the Archives vault collection.
Hoard of North Carolina Proclamation Money Donated
to Historic Williamsburg
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has acquired a large collection of colonial
paper currency issued by North Carolina prior to the American Revolution. Comprised of
more than 6,600 notes in varying denominations issued between 1748 and 1771, the stash
of cash was worth about 7,176 pounds sterling in 1775. If legal tender today, the currency
would have purchasing power of more than $ 750,000.
“ As the only known hoard of pre- Revolutionary War colonial paper money, the
Cornell Hoard is truly exciting,” said Erik Goldstein, Colonial Williamsburg’s curator of
mechanical arts and numismatics. “ Not only is the sight of such a huge pile of cash
stunning, but it has much to offer students of early American coins and currency.”
Known as the “ Cornell Hoard,” the money was collected originally by Samuel
Cornell, a native New Yorker who moved to New Bern, N. C., in 1754 and became a
wealthy merchant. By the 1760s he had amassed a considerable fortune. Among his hold-ings
were two plantations, one on the Neuse River and the other, formerly the property
of Gov. Arthur Dobbs, was on the Trent River. He lived with his family in a spacious
townhouse in New Bern. To serve his mercantile operations Cornell owned several
2 4 C A R O L I N A C O M M E N T S
FLASH POINTS
warehouses, a retail store, and at least three sailing vessels. He also owned a rum distillery
that was well situated with brick buildings and copper stills.
In 1769 and 1770, as one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the North
Carolina colony, Cornell loaned substantial amounts of money to the government, under-writing
the construction of a new governor’s house in his hometown of New Bern. That
residence became known as Tryon Palace. Gov. William Tryon referred to Cornell’s
generosity in a 1770 letter to the Earl of Hillsborough. Tryon stated that Cornell was
“ about forty years of age, of a very genteel and public spirit” and “ a merchant of the first
credit and fortune in the province.” As such a fine and generous citizen, Cornell was
recommended to fill a vacant slot on the Governor’s Council.
Later an ardent Loyalist, Cornell seized another opportunity in 1771 to lend cash to
North Carolina. He provided “ large sums of money” to finance a military expedition to
put down the Regulator rebellion. In addition to his loan, Cornell also sold to the colony
£ 483 in supplies for the troops. An active participant in the Battle of Alamance, the
engagement that culminated the expedition, Cornell was wounded in the thigh.
By 1775 Cornell feared that he would be asked to subsidize revolutionary activities and
requested permission from Gov. Josiah Martin to move to New York. Hoping to keep his
real and personal property in North Carolina from being confiscated by the government,
Cornell sailed to New Bern in 1777. With the cooperation of Gov. Richard Caswell, he
was allowed into town under a flag of truce long enough to collect some of his goods and
servants and to register deeds of gift transferring his North Carolina property to three of
V O L U M E 5 9 , N U M B E R 1 , J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 1 2 5
Courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Va.
his daughters. His will, probated in 1781, specifically mentioned the proclamation money
of North Carolina.
The North Carolina government confiscated Cornell’s property despite his efforts
and sold it shortly thereafter. In 1787 Elizabeth Cornell Bayard sued Spyers Singleton to
recover the Cornell homeplace on lot 10 in New Bern. The case, known as Bayard v.
Singleton, set the American precedent for judicial review, and is considered a milestone in
legal history.
Cornell’s bundles of proclamation money apparently remained in the family until 1913
when they were offered, along with papers relating to the litigation over the confiscated
property, to the New York Public Library. The papers were published that year as “ Papers
Relating to Samuel Cornell, North Carolina Loyalist.” In the 1970s the library sold the
currency in its entirety to a dealer, who put half of the collection up for sale. The other
half, representing about 40 percent of Cornell’s original stockpile and the last remaining
intact portion, is now part of the Colonial Williamsburg numismatic collection thanks to
an anonymous donor.
An exhibit entitled Dollars, Farthings & Fables; Money & Medals from the Colonial
Williamsburg Collection featuring portions of the Cornell Hoard, opened November 25,
2010, at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. It will remain open through
December 2012.
www. history. org/ history. museums/ dewitt_ gallery_ current. cfm.
The “ Lifeblood of Government” Makes for an Interesting
Archaeological Find
by Susan Myers and Fritz Farrow
Out of ink? In today���s workplace you’ll reach for a new retractable pen or change a
printer cartridge. In over a century seemingly little more than the containers have
changed, as evidenced by a recent find on Union Square.
When preparing soil for ornamental plantings in the four corners surrounding the
Capitol, North Carolina Executive Mansion grounds supervisor Gerald Adams and his
landscaping crew tilled carefully, aware that terracotta drainage pipes could be in the area.
Their caution was rewarded with the discovery of a single pottery bottle in excellent con-dition.
Capitol State Historic Sites ( SHS) staff notified the Office of State Archaeology
( OSA), requesting information as to the bottle’s source, purpose, and content.
Made of salt- glazed stoneware, the “ vitreous stone bottle” stands nine inches with a
diameter of three inches and a capacity of approximately twenty- four ounces. Originally
the bottle likely had a paper label; fortunately, it also was impressed with both the bottle
maker’s name and that of the content’s provider, instantly providing names to pursue.
The maker’s marks read:
VITREOUS STONE BOTTLE
J. BOURNE & SON,
PATENTEES
DENBY AND CODNOR PARK POTTERIES
NEAR DERBY.
—————————————
P. & J. ARNOLD
LONDON
2 6 C A R O L I N A C O M M E N T S
The researchers learned that J. Bourne & Son operated a pottery business near Derby
in England. The 1806 discovery of a large clay deposit between Alfreton and Derby in
Derbyshire provided the materials for William Bourne, who set up the pottery in 1809,
giving the job of its running to his son Joseph. They were known for their salt- glazed bot-tles,
used extensively during the 19th century for medicines, inks, polishes, and even gin-ger
beer. Ceramics such as Bourne’s were mass- produced for the American market to store
bulk ink for refilling smaller inkstands and wells. Bourne took over the Codnor Park pot-tery
in 1833 and operated as Denby & Codnor Park Potteries until 1861, suggesting the
bottle predates that year. According to a bottle history Web site, the presence of Codnor
in the label narrows the bottle’s manufacture date to between 1852 and 1861
( www. sodasandbeers. com).
What’s more, similar bottles were found on the SS Republic, a 19th- century side wheel
steamer that foundered during a hurricane on October 25, 1865, off the southeastern coast
of the United States. En route from New York to New Orleans, the Republic carried
passengers and a commercial and monetary cargo.
While the bottle’s filling date remains uncertain, its contents is without doubt. P. & J.
Arnold was a leader in the business of making ink during the 19th century. Based in Lon-don,
the company dates its origin to 1724, becoming P. & J. Arnold in 1814 after a couple
of name changes. Pichard and John Arnold continually expanded the business— in its
heyday producing more than 30 varieties of ink ( Carvahlo); towards its end in the 1970s,
it produced typewriter ribbons and other products.
Though P. & J. Arnold ceased production in the early 20th century, Denby continues
( www. denby. co. uk). Its focus on functional office wares shifted to the production of
table wares for the home.
No artifacts were found with the bottle, and it’s impossible to tell if it was deliberately
placed. One thought is that it may have simply been discarded, its contents divided among
individual wells and drafted into documents and signatures. It’s interesting to speculate
on the documents drafted, for as Dobson and Gerth assert in their discussion of the SS
Republic, “ ink was the lifeblood of government, business, education, and daily life.”
Now, a Winter Star camellia stands sentry over the bottle’s discovery spot.
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