Scope and arrangement

The collection contains several distinct groups of unrelated papers, the principal group being the records and correspondence of a local klavern of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Northampton and Bertie counties, N.C.

The Klan material, which is available to researchers only by consent of the donor, covers the period 1924-1927, and consists of correspondence between klansmen and others, membership applications and lists, receipts for dues and other fees, official bulletins, bylaws, a ritual, quarterly reports on funds and membership, invoices for equipment, a cash book and other items.

Of particular interest are letters to the "Klavern" expressing appreciation for financial aid (1925), mention of a "Junior Ku Klux Klan," and an emphatic "non-violence" statement (1927) by the N.C. "Imperial Representative." Several items relate to a dispute over the N.C. Grand Dragon's use of funds, which led to the ouster of the "Klan" in Asheville, N.C.

The Oliver H. Allen papers (1868-1903) consist of personal correspondence written to Allen, primarily during the period that he was a student at Trinity College [Duke University]. Allen, who was a superior court judge, was brother of N.C. Supreme Court Justice William H. Allen. Correspondence of note includes a letter (1903) from N.C. Supreme Court Justice Henry G. Connor commenting on an article on crime and punishment written by Oliver Allen. Connor gives his own views on the subject and on the use of vindictiveness in punishing criminals. Also in this section is a letter (1876) to William H. Allen from Congressman Alfred M. Waddell mentioning the Hayes-Tilden election of that year.

Making up a third distinct group are the business correspondence and financial papers (1869-1909) of Bethel merchant Guilford Andrews. This material, which is concerned solely with retail merchandising, consists of accounts, invoices, receipts, bills of lading, and related financial records.

Several items of miscellaneous correspondence are not related to any of the above groups and therefore must be treated separately. Of particular interest is a letter (1856) from William H. Macomb, a naval lieutenant, to Rear Admiral Andrew H. Foote, commander and captain of the USS Portsmouth, in which Macomb discusses ship alterations and personnel policy prior to a cruise to the Far East. A second letter of note (1865) is from James R. Gilmore in which he records his feelings upon hearing the news of the fall of Richmond. Gilmore, who was also an author under the pen name of "Edmund Kirke," had been an unsuccessful mediator sent by Lincoln to Jefferson Davis to discuss ending the Civil War.

Miscellaneous material includes genealogies of the Lewis family of Eastern Virginia and the Hatcher family of Kentucky, items pertaining to Dr. H. O. Hyatt of Wilmington and William H. Shaw of Halifax County, lecture admittance cards for the University of Pennsylvania (1837-1856), and a variety of other cards.

Administrative information

Custodial History

January 24, 1969, 69 items; Genealogical histories of Hatcher and Lewis families and local klavern records of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (1924-1927). Records include correspondence, financial records, quarterly reports, bulletins, lists, receipts, and miscellaneous.

February 4, 1969, ca. 100 items; Correspondence, accounts, receipts, legal papers, and miscellaneous material related to Guilford Andrews, Oliver H. Allen, and H. O. Hyatt. Loaned for copying by Mr. William C. Hatcher, Kinston, N.C.

June 21, 1989, (unprocessed addition 1), 2 cu. ft.; Records (1949-1968) for Kinston, N.C. operations of Kinston Tobacco Company, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company and L. B. Jenkins Tobacco Company. Donor: Mr. William C. Hatcher.

October 21, 1996, (unprocessed addition 2), 1 item; Letter (1941) from M.Z. Moore, Sr. describing movie he had made on tobacco. Donor: Mr. William C. Hatcher.

November 6, 2007, (unprocessed addition 3), 189 items, 2.00 cubic feet; Collection (1885-1985, n.d.) pertaining primarily to the Dunnington family of Farmville, Danville, & Richmond, Virginia, including India W. Dunnington, J. W. Dunnington, Kathryn C. Dunnington, and their involvement in the tobacco industry in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky & Tennessee, including Dibrell Brothers, Inc., Dibrell-Dunnington Company, Inc., Dunlop Storage, Inc., Dunnington-Beach Tobacco Company, Inc., Dunnington & Company, Dunnington Tobacco Company; also King Tobacco Company, Williamston, NC; and Kinston Tobacco Company, L. B. Jenkins Tobacco Company & Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Kinston, North Carolina; including correspondence, contracts & agreements, curing formulas, financial, tax, property & equipment, employee, & insurance records; also manuscript volumes & museum objects. See preliminary inventory attached. Donor: Mrs. Alice B. Hatcher.

Source of acquisition

Loaned by Mr. William C. Hatcher

Gift of Mr. William C. Hatcher

Gift of Mrs. Alice B. Hatcher

Processing information

Processed by D. Lennon

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Key terms

Personal Names

Allen, Oliver H., 1850-1925
Andrews, Guilford, 1839-1913
Connor, Henry G. (Henry Groves), 1852-1924
Waddell, Alfred M. (Alfred Moore), 1834-1912

Family Names

Hatcher family
Lewis family

Corporate Names

Ku Klux Klan (1915- )--North Carolina

Places

Bertie County (N.C.)--Race relations
Bethel (Pitt County, N.C.)--Commerce
Northampton County (N.C.)--Race relations
Richmond (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

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