Papers (1941-1961) consisting of correspondence, newspapers clippings, certificates and program leaflets.
Sallie Spruill Baker Everett (b.1888-), daughter of La Fayette John and Pattie Norman Baker, was born in Palmyra, N.C. She attended Louisburg Junior College and Meredith College, 1905-1909. On February 25, 1914 she married Benjamin Bryan Everett and became a partner with her husband in extensive farming and merchant business at "Woodstock" in Palmyra.
Mrs. Everett was involved in women's garden, library, and other civic clubs; and, while her husband served in the N.C. General Assembly, she was president of the Sir Walter Cabinet for legislators' wives. Mrs. Everett was active in the 1940's and 1950's in the Associated Women of the N.C. Farm Bureau, serving as chairman 1942-1952, and was recipient of the Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award in 1947 and the Progressive Farmer's Woman of the Year Award in 1946.
Governor J. Melville Broughton appointed Mrs. Everett Vice-Chairman of the N.C. Democratic Executive Committee to succeed Mrs. P. P. McCain in 1942 and she served in this capacity, 1942-1948 and 1950; she was manager of the women's campaign for William B. Umstead (1952); and she was a member of the N.C. delegation to the Democratic National Convention (1952-1960) and Democratic National Committee Woman from N.C. (1952-1960).
The collection consists mostly of incoming correspondence to Mrs. Everett, Associated Women of N.C. Farm Bureau conference programs, certificates of merit, and newspaper clippings related to Mrs. Everett's political and agricultural activities.
The letters of the 1940's relate primarily to congratulations on honors, letters of appreciation for leadership, support, and entertainment given to R. Gregg Cherry, J. Melville Broughton, and other N.C. politicians. Letters and clippings also deal with Democratic Woman's Day in 1946 suggested by Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt.
The main emphasis of the early 1950 material relates to the 1952 governor's race and Mrs. Everett's election as National Committee Woman (1952). Numerous letters concern the 1952 national campaign of Adlai Stevenson and John Sparkman; plans for Democratic party meetings, such asJefferson-Jackson Day Dinners; efforts of Democratic women, especially Katie Louchheim, Director of Woman's Activities for the Democratic National Committee; suggestions of National Democratic Committee Chairman Paul Butler; Hurricane Diane; a White House Conference on Education; and the ideas of Commissioner of N.C. State Board of Public Welfare, Ellen Winston.
Mrs. Everett's encouragement to women to become involved in politics continued, and at the 1956 National Democratic Convention Mrs. Everett was very prominent, serving on the Credentials and Platform Committees and nominating Governor Luther Hodges as favorite son from N.C. Telegrams from Mr. Everett and letters from Averell Harriman supporters, Albert Gore and John F. Kennedy show the Democratic problem of nominating a Vice-President. Later in the 1956 campaign, efforts by women's groups show Mrs. Everett's leadership and the problem that arose over misunderstanding Stevenson's stand on the H-bomb and draft issues.
In addition to congratulations for 1956 party work, correspondence in the late 1950's concerns rural postal service in Palmyra; Averell Harriman and Kentucky Governor Albert Chandler visiting North Carolina Young Democrats; letters from Elizabeth Ives, sister of Adali Stevenson; Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner of 1957 and 1958; inability of Dean Acheson to come to N.C.; congratulations from Florida Governor LeRoy Collins on the vitality and organization of the N.C. Democratic Party; and Chester Bowles' views on problems of American foreign policy.
The remainder of the correspondence consists of telegrams and letters pertaining to the 1960 Democratic National Convention, the views of Mr. Everett on Terry Sanford's leadership, and the split in the N.C. delegation over Lyndon B. Johnson or John Kennedy receiving the presidential nomination. Also many letters of appreciation to Mrs. Everett for her years of service to the party were received in 1960 when she retired from leadership. Newspaper clippings giving Mrs. Everett's views on federal aid to education, the Suez Crisis of 1957 and an executive committee meeting in San Francisco, California in 1957 are included.
Gift of Mrs. B. B. Everett
Processed by P. Watson, May 1971
Encoded by Apex Data Services
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