| Title: | Ralph Hardee Rives Collection |
| Creator: | Rives, Ralph Hardee |
| Repository: | ECU Manuscript Collection |
| Languages: | English |
| Abstract: | Collection (1852-2012) includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, printed materials, and other items compiled by retired East Carolina University English professor Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives relating primarily to the Hardee - Rives and related families of North Carolina and the United Kingdom, the history of Eastern North Carolina (especially Halifax County and the town of Enfield), the United Methodist Church in Eastern North Carolina, state and local and national politics, and his charitable and philanthropic interests. The earliest original documents cover the period from 1852 through the Civil War and World War I. |
| Extent: | 12.598 Cubic feet, xerox copies, including correspondence, a deed, a certificate, an obituary, minutes, notebooks, a report card, invitations, church rolls, photographs, clippings, programs, speeches, reports, etc. |
October 18, 1967, Collection of Ralph Hardee Rives, consisting of correspondence (1862-1954), a deed, a church certificate, an obituary, church minutes, notebooks, a report card, invitations, church rolls, and pictures. Loaned for copying, May 1967, by Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives, Department of English, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.
January 13, 1970, (unprocessed addition 1), 5 items; correspondence, photographs, and programs. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives
January 20, 1970, (unprocessed addition 2), 130 items; Files for East Carolina Playhouse (1960-1962) and N. C. District Debate Contest (1961-1963) and miscellaneous. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives
February 18, 1970, (unprocessed addition 3), ca. 450 items; correspondence, clippings, reports, speeches, programs, articles, and miscellaneous. Correspondence is RESTRICTED during the lifetime of the donor. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
April 24, 1970, (unprocessed addition 4), 5 items; teacher's report form; cotton market report; The Methodist Protestant May 16, 1928; Our Church Record, June 23, September 29, 1898. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
September 18, 1970, (unprocessed addition 5), 32 items. 1 vol.; Record of Board of Trustees of N. C. Annual Conference of Methodist Protestant Church (1893-1938), correspondence, speech, leaflet, miscellaneous. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
October 14, 1971, (unprocessed addition 6), 13 items; Correspondence, scrapbook, miscellaneous. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
March 23, 1972, (unprocessed addition 7), ca. 150 items; correspondence (1971-1972) of English Speaking Union. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
March 10, 1976, (unprocessed addition 8), ca. 100 items; Correspondence (1964-1973), clippings, etc. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives
April 27, 1977, (unprocessed addition 9), 1 cu. ft.; papers (1952-1977) including correspondence, clippings, photographs, and miscellaneous materials. included are files of the Greenville, N.C. chapter of the English Speaking Union (1976-1977) and the Coastal Plains Development Assoc. (1974-1976). Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
October 22, 1979, (unprocessed addition 10), 9 items; a map, The Pointer (1904), and the progress (1906). Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
April 7, 1982, (unprocessed addition 11), 120 items; records (1978-1982) of the N.C. Victorian Society and personal correspondence (1956-1982). Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
April 16, 1985, (unprocessed addition 12), 20 items; scrapbook (1903-1935) of Katie Pitt Davenport Hardee and correspondence (1952-1985), primarily pertaining to E.C.U., Dr. Louise Greer, and Dr. Dora J. Ashe. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
April 30, 1986, (unprocessed addition 13), (restricted), 160 items; correspondence, programs, clippings, newsletters, etc., primarily pertaining the inauguration of Richard M. Nixon (1969), and the Jeffrey MacDonald case. Jeffrey MacDonald material is RESTRICTED during the lifetime of the donor. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
December 29, 1987, (unprocessed addition 14), ca. 100 items; papers (1960-1986), including correspondence, clippings, photographs, and a manuscript Halifax county, N.C. history. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
June 21, 1989, (unprocessed addition 15), ca. 200 items; files on George Eastman, J. E. O'hara, the Rupert Brooke Centenary Celebration, the Albert Schweitzer concerts at UNC-Wilmington, and miscellaneous topics. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
May 15, 2002, (unprocessed addition 16),Collection (1923-2002, undated material, bulk: 1989-2002) of correspondence; biographical, genealogical and historical writings; newspaper clippings, photographic prints, printed materials, speeches and other items compiled by retired East Carolina University English professor, relating primarily to the Hardee - Rives and related families, the history of Eastern North Carolina, and the United Methodist Church in Eastern North Carolina. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
May 30, 2003, (unprocessed addition 17), 149 items; Collection (1959-2003; bulk: 1995-2003) of correspondence; newspaper clippings, printed materials, and other items compiled by retired East Carolina University English professor, relating primarily to the Hardee - Rives and related families of North Carolina and the United Kingdom, Collection (1959-2003; bulk: 1995-2003) of correspondence; newspaper clippings, printed materials, and other items compiled by retired East Carolina University English professor, relating primarily to the Hardee - Rives and related families of North Carolina and the United Kingdom, the history of Eastern North Carolina, and the United Methodist Church in Eastern North Carolina, and Rives' charitable and philanthropic interests.the history of Eastern North Carolina, and the United Methodist Church in Eastern North Carolina, and Rives' charitable and philanthropic interests. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
May 30, 2003, (unprocessed addition 18), 1,384 items; Collection (1910-1996; bulk 1961-1996, undated) of correspondence, newspaper clippings, printed materials, and other items compiled by retired East Carolina University English professor, relating primarily to the Halifax County, NC, Halifax County Historical Association, Historical Halifax Restoration Association, Enfield, NC, Tarboro, NC, genealogy, local and state politics, etc. See Preliminary Inventory. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
September 4, 2002, (unprocessed addition 19), 1 box, 282 items, 282 p., 0.25 cubic feet; Collection (1969-1980, undated [Bulk: 1969-1971]) of color slides illustrating Pitt County, Eastern North Carolina & Virginia scenes including people, buildings, cemeteries, churches, courthouses, gardens, homes, roadside markers, rivers, schools & universities, etc. 2 x 2 See Preliminary Inventory. Recd. 9/4/2002. Donor: Ralph Hardee Rives.
October 19, 2004, (unprocessed addition 20), 1 item, 0.01 cubic feet; Diploma (5/21/1920) of Katie Pitt Davenport from Creswell High School, Creswell, North Carolina; with biographical notes on verso. Recd. 10/19/2003. Katie Pitt Davenport, a student at East Carolina University, ca. 1920-1924, married Z. Ashley Hardee, of Enfield, NC in 1925, and was Ralph Hardee Rives' stepmother, 1930-1935. Donor: Suellyn Lathrop, University Archivist, ECU.
June 23, 2006, (unprocessed addtion 21), 4 boxes and 1 oversized folder, 805 items, 1307 p., ca. 1.69 cubic feet; Collection (1908, 1938-2006, n.d.) of clippings and correspondence, especially with Prof. Lorraine Robinson and relating to the establishment of the Ralph Hardee Rives endowed professorship in the English Department at East Carolina University; ephemera, speeches and writings, printed materials; and architectural drawings related to Ralph Hardee Rives, of Enfield, Halifax County, North Carolina. See preliminary inventory. Recd. 6/23/2006. Note: Financial value: Donor estimates $75.00. Extraordinary costs: ECU staff estimates $0.00. RESTRICTION to 7/6/2036: No access to Correspondence with Lorraine Robinson, 1991-2006, without written permission of the donor for 30 years from the date of this donation receipt. See #24.38.d - #24.38.e. Donor: Ralph Hardee Rives.
September 19, 2006, (unprocessed addition 22), 3 boxes and 1 oversized folder, 298 items, 883 p., 0.969 cubic feet; Collection (1890-2006, n.d.) of correspondence, clippings, ephemera, speeches and writings, printed & oversized materials related to Ralph Hardee Rives, of Enfield, Halifax County, North Carolina and his family; Panacea Springs, Littleton, NC; the William Richard Davie 250th Anniversary celebration; and the Parkview Hospital, Rocky Mount, NC 90th Anniversary celebration, etc. See preliminary inventory. Recd. 9/19/2006. Donor: Ralph Hardee Rives.
December 31, 1980, (unprocessed addition 23), 20 items, 29 p., 0.01 cubic feet; Correspondence & clippings, etc. (1949-1970, n.d.) relating to the early history of East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina and the students and faculty of the English Department. See preliminary inventory. Includes material relating to Prof. Gloria H. Blanton, Mamie J. Chandler, Dr. Lucile Charles, Mrs. C. D. Coston, Blanche M. Forbes, Mary H. Greene, Lois Gigsby, Emma L. Hooper, Alice Ann Horne, President Leo W. Jenkins, President J. D. Messick, Prof. M. N. Posey, Susie Williams Webb, Dean Ruth A. White, Mrs. Ruth Garner, and Edith Zinn. Recd. 12/31/1980. Donor: Ralph Hardee Rives.
August 16, 2007, (unprocessed addition 24), 2 boxes, 503 items, 928 p., 0.50 cubic feet; Correspondence & clippings, etc. (1962-2007 [Bulk: 2006-2007]) relating to the history of Enfield, Halifax County, North Carolina, Rives family history and genealogy. See preliminary inventory. Recd. 8/16/2007. Donor: Ralph Hardee Rives.
November 7, 2006, (unprocessed addition 25), 4 items, 7 p., 0.002 cubic feet; Letters received (2005-2006) by Prof. Lorraine Hale Robinson of the English Department at East Carolina University from Prof. (Emeritus) Ralph Hardee Rives, of Enfield, Halifax County, North Carolina formerly of the ECU English Department. Recd. 11/7/2006. Financial value: Donor estimates $25.00. Donor: Lorraine Hale Robinson.
November 21, 2006, (unprocessed addition 26), 7 items, 10 p., 0.003 cubic feet; Correspondence (2005-2006) between Prof. Lorraine Hale Robinson of the English Department at East Carolina University and Prof. (Emeritus) Ralph Hardee Rives, of Enfield, Halifax County, North Carolina formerly of the ECU English Department.Recd. 11/21/2006. Financial value: Donor estimates $25.00. Donor: Lorraine Hale Robinson.
August 16, 2007, (unprocessed addition 27), 3 boxes and 1 oversized folder, 234 items, 551 p., 1.00 cubic feet; Collection (1949, 2003-2006, n.d.) of correspondence, clippings, photographic prints, relating to the establishment of the Ralph Hardee Rives endowed professorship in the English Department at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. See preliminary inventory. Recd. 8/16/2007. RESTRICTION to 10/2/2037. No access without written permission of the donor for 30 years from the date of this donation receipt (10/2/2037). See also Ralph Hardee Rives Collection (Addition #21) #24.38.a-#24.41.os1. Donor: Ralph Hardee Rives.
September 2, 2009, (unprocessed addition 28), 1 box, 34 items, 75 p., 0.02 cubic feet; Correspondence (2006-2009) between Prof. Lorraine Hale Robinson of the English Department at East Carolina University and Prof. (Emeritus) Ralph Hardee Rives, of Enfield, Halifax County, North Carolina formerly of the ECU English Department and copies of her letters to Prof. Rives. Originals and photocopies. See preliminary inventory. Recd. 9/2/2009. See also related collections: Rives-Dalton Family Papers (#136); Blanche Hardee Rives Papers (#335); James Redding Rives, II Papers (#487); Gerda Nischan Papers (#1000); Mamie Ella Pittman Hardee Collection (#1083); John Gaston Rives, Jr. Family Papers (#1124). Donor: Lorraine Hale Robinson.
October 25, 2011, (unprocessed addition 29), 1 folder, 30 items, 0.02 cubic feet; Papers include correspondence (2009–2011) of which the majority is letters written to Prof. Lorraine Hale Robinson of the English Department at East Carolina University from Prof. (Emeritus) Ralph Hardee Rives, of Enfield, Halifax County, North Carolina, formerly of the ECU English Department. Also included are a clipping and a photograph. Donor: Lorraine Hale Robinson.
September 11, 2012, (unprocessed addition 30), 2.70 cubic feet; Papers include correspondence and clippings for 1954 through 2011, photographs of Ralph H. Rives, his father Ralph C. Rives, and John Peter Wynn, speeches (and related material) made to the Halifax Day celebrations (2008, 2011) and the N.C. Bar Association’s Senior Lawyers Division 2010 meeting, material related to the Victorian Society in America (1984-2001) and printed material (1977-2011) such as brochures, programs, church bulletins and newsletters. The correspondence is with friends, professional colleagues, museums and historic sites, institutions of higher learning and conservative political groups and candidates. Donor: Ralph Hardee Rives.
September 13, 2012, (unprocessed addition 31), 14 items, 0.02 cubic feet; Papers include correspondence (2009–2012) written to Prof. Lorraine Hale Robinson of the English Department at East Carolina University by Prof. (Emeritus) Ralph Hardee Rives, of Enfield, Halifax County, North Carolina, formerly of the ECU English Department. Donor: Lorraine Hale Robinson.
Access to the correspondence in unprocessed addition #3 and to Jeffrey MacDonald material in unprocessed addition #13 is to be restricted during the lifetime of the donor. Material related to the establishment of the Ralph Hardee Rives endowed professorship in the English Department at East Carolina University found in unprocessed addition #21 is restricted until July 6, 2036, and in unprocessed addition #27 is restricted until October 2, 2037.
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
Ralph Hardee Rives Collection (#24), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Processed by D. Lennon
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Among the correspondence in this collection are three letters dealing with the Civil War years. A letter (1862) from William R. Cheek while stationed at Camp Arrington, Virginia, relates the strategy the commander of the Merrimack employed against Union ships near Old Point in April, 1862. Two other letters (1864, 1865) of interest are from Eliza M. Groner to Sergt. George W. Davis, a Confederate prisoner of war in Elmira, New York.
A letter (1918) from Pvt. George Wynne, a member of the American Expeditionary Force in France, tells of such Allied activities as breaking the Kaiser's Hindenburg Line and liberating French civilians from the Germans. The letter also relates that the Americans are in good spirits and confident of victory.
A letter (1923) from Margaret Hardee describes the reaction in Pinehurst, N.C., to President Harding's death. Also included is a letter (1954) from George Wills describing the conditions in Maryland during Hurricane Hazel and the peaceful transition that the people of Baltimore were making in enforcing desegregation in the public schools as a result of the 1954 Supreme Court desegregation decision.
Of particular interest is an extensive sketch book (1857) containing sermons by Dr. William Henry Wills and lists of members of the Bethesda Church Sunday School. Dr. Wills (1809-1889), a native of Tarboro, was a founder and principal contributor to Bethesda Church, which was built in 1853. He was one of North Carolina's most distinguished nineteenth century clergymen and educators.
Other items include minutes of the organizational meetings (1856) of the Bethesda Church Sunday School and a list of the Sunday School members; a report card (1860) of Lucy Cary Wills from Elba Female Seminary; two party invitations (1860, 1865); a deed (1852), conveying the Bethesda Church property; Bethesda Church Roll (1890); a Certificate of the Brotherhood of the N.C. Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church (1905); notes concerning the location of the Elba Female Seminary, written by Lula Hunter Skillman (1966); an obituary (undated) from The Henderson Gold Leaf on the death of the Reverend J.H. Page; pictures of the Reverend William Henry Wills; and miscellaneous items.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Reading Room's card catalog. This system is no longer maintained, but it is left in place to help on-site researchers locate particular topics in the collection.
Images below are listed alphabetically by subject. This list reflects only those portions of the collection for which negatives have been prepared.
EDUCATION--COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES--East Carolina University-Distance Education
Below is material taken from a preliminary inventory and represents content from the collection that is unprocessed.
Online access to this finding aid is supported with funds created through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). These funds come through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services which is administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. This grant is part of the North Carolina ECHO, Exploring Cultural Heritage Online, Digitization Grant Program.