Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies
Federation Bulletin
December 2009
Volume 29, no. 4
The Federation of North
Carolina Historical Societies
is a non-profit organization
whose mission is to promote
the pursuit of local history
in North Carolina through
existing and future local
and regional historical
organizations, societies, and
commissions; to foster
cooperation between such
organizations, societies,
and commissions and the
Office of Archives and
History to the mutual benefit
of all; and to promote and
support history education
through sponsorship of the
National History Day
program and other appro¬
priate activities.
The Federation Bulletin is
published quarterly. Submis¬
sions for the Bulletin should
be sent to the address at the
bottom of this page and should
be received by February 1,
May 1, August 1, and
November 1.
Duplin County Historical Society and Gates
County Historical Society Win Newsome Awards
The Duplin County Historical Society
and the Gates County Historical
Society won the 2009 Newsome Awards,
which are presented each year by the
Federation to recognize noteworthy
accomplishments in the preservation
and promotion of local history. The
Coinjock Ruritan Club won an honorable
mention award as well. The awards
were presented during the joint annual
meeting of the Federation and the N.C.
Literary and Historical Association.
In 2008 and 2009 the Duplin County
Historical Society led a remarkable
effort to honor the nineteen men from
Duplin County, North Carolina, who
died in Southeast Asia and from combat-
related causes during the Vietnam
War. Prior to the society’s efforts,
there was little public awareness of
these men, and the men and their
Inside this issue:
families had never received official
county recognition of their sacrifices.
Federation News
2
Using information and images gathered
through extensive research, the society
Member News
7
published a book detailing the men’s
lives and the stories of their military
Grant Opportunities
10
service. The historical society also held
a moving public ceremony attended by
History Help
12
hundreds of people to honor the men
and their families, and installed a
Calendar of Events
19
granite monument on the courthouse
square. The society now plans to conduct
Exhibits
27
similar projects to honor Duplin County'
residents who died in other wars.
Workshops and
29
Conferences
Since late 2007, when the Navy
announced it was considering placing
New Publications
31
an Outlying Landing Field in Gates
County, the Gates County Historical
Society has researched historical
places that would be impacted by the
proposed landing field. The society has
documented 27 cemeteries, helped
more than 40 families apply to have
their farms recognized as Century
Farms, and documented historic
structures in the affected area.
In 2009, the society also compiled infor¬
mation for an upcoming book; developed
a calendar featuring historic pictures
of Gates County townships; repaired
windows in the 1840s county courthouse;
held several local history programs;
and began offering guided tours of the
courthouse. In addition, the society
continues to raise money to repair the
west wing of the courthouse, raising
$15,000 since 2000 through the weekly
sale of homemade bread.
In 2009 the Currituck County Historical
Society contacted the Coinjock Ruritan
Club to ask for its help celebrating the
150th anniversary of the Albemarle
and Chesapeake Canal. 'The Ruritan
Club responded by appointing a
committee to plan the celebration;
collecting old pictures of the canal and
printing posters; inviting community
members; and handling the set up,
clean up, and other details of the
event. More than 200 people attended
the celebration.
The Federation congratulates these
three organizations for them significant
work preserving local history.
Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies, 4610 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4610, (919) 807-7280
Web page: www.fnchs.org Editor’s email: Laura.Ketcham@ncdcr.gov
