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Mr. and Mrs. Roger E. Kammerer, Sr., Collection, 1812-1970, undated

(Manuscript Collection #318)

Descriptive Summary Click here to collapse or expand the contents in this section of the finding aid

Title: Mr. and Mrs. Roger E. Kammerer, Sr., Collection
Creators: Kammerer, Mr. Roger E. (Sr.)
Kammerer, Mrs. Roger E. (Sr.)
Repository: ECU Manuscript Collection
Languages: English
Abstract: Correspondence, photographs, postcards and printed material documenting North Carolina history. Locations include Fayetteville, Elizabeth City, High Point, Wilmington, Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Belhaven, Edenton, Pitt County, Camp Lejeune, Reidsville, Rocky Mount, St. Pauls Washington and New Bern. Subjects include the Askew Family of Hertford County, Greensboro College, Fayetteville flood of 1908, the Confederate Ram Albemarle and the tobacco industry.
Extent: 0.25 Cubic feet, 2 archival boxes.

Administrative Information Click here to collapse or expand the contents in this section of the finding aid

Accessions Information

December 1, 1976, 2 items; Music book (1812-1821) and an Ashe County, N. C. land survey. Donor: Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

July 1, 1977 (Addition 1), 1 vol.; Recipe book (1897). Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

October 10, 1977 (Addition 2), 1 item; Poster containing 6 photographs of Fayetteville, N.C. flood scene (1908). Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

August 30, 1978 (Addition 3), 35 items; Correspondence and miscellaneous papers of Askew family of Hertford County, N. C. Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

September 30, 1981 (Addition 4), 4 items; Correspondence (1847,1849, 1913,1914). Originals in the posession of Mr R. T. Smith, Prim Ghor, Iowa. Donor: Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

April 14, 1986 (Addition 5), 1 item; Photograph (1931) of Pitt County, N.C. school bus and drivers. Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

October 2, 1987 (Addition 6), 3 items; Genealogical and biographical information on on the builder of the Confederate ram ALBEMARLE . Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

October 12, 1989 (Addition 7), 1 volume; Oak Ridge Institute and Business College class accounting journal (1882). Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

February 5, 1992 (Addition 8), 2 items; Copy of the Union Herald (Raleigh, Oct. 4, 1917) and a Picture post card of the Elizabeth City High School band (1948). Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

October 28, 1992 (Addition 9), 7 items; Picture post cards of North Carolina scenes. Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

February 16, 1994 (Addition 10), 1 item; Picture post card of Hotel Cape Fear, Wilmington, NC. Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

February 20, 1997 (Addition 11), 15 items; Picture post cards of North Carolina scenes, including High Point, Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Belhaven, Edenton, and New Bern. Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

March 4, 1997 (Addition 12), 50 items; Picture post cards, primarily of North Carolina scenes, and a Coxville School group portrait. Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

November 3, 1999 (Addition 13), 52 items; Eastern North Carolina photographs, picture post cards reflecting North Carolina scenes, and an 1872 commencement address at Greensboro College. Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

March 4, 2004 (Addition 14), 13 items; Postcards (1920s-1950s) of scenes in Elizabeth City, Camp Lejeune, Reidsville, Rocky Mount, St. Pauls, and Washington, NC and one of the interior of a tobacco warehouse. 11 color & 2 black & white. See preliminary inventory attached. Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

October 26, 2004 (Addition 15), 5 items, 0.002 cubic feet; Postcards (1912 - 1948, undated) of North Carolina and Southern scenes, including A. C. Monk Tobacco Company, Farmville, Wayne County Court House, Goldsboro, Wachovia Loan & trust Co., Salisbury, A Cotton Field Near Raleigh, NC and an alligator accompanying group of African American minstrels playing homemade string instruments entitled The Blackville Serenade. 4 color & 1 black & white. Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

September 19, 2005 (Addition 16), 5 items, 0.002 cubic feet; Postcards (1921 - 1940, undated) of North Carolina scenes, including the Red Bridge at Brunswick Town State Historic Site, Bird's Eye View of the Business Section of Edenton, the U.S. Courthouse and Washington Public School in Washington, and the road leading to Pembroke Jones' 'Airlie' estate near Wilmington. Color. See Box 2, folder e (all of these items have been digitized). Donor: Mr. Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions

Copyright Notice

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

Preferred Citation

Mr. and Mrs. Roger E. Kammerer, Sr., Collection (#318), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

Acquisition Information

  • Gift of Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.

Processing Information

  • Processed by Elizabeth Betz, April 29, 2004

  • Processed by Amy Leuchtmann, 2008

  • Processed by Dale Sauter, 2008

  • Encoded by Apex Data Services


Biographical / Historical Note Click here to collapse or expand the contents in this section of the finding aid

Roger E. Kammerer, Jr., is a freelance artist and local historian living in Greenville, N.C. He was born in 1956 in Nebraska, but spent most of his early life in Swansboro, N.C. Under the mentorship of noted N.C. historian, Tucker Reed Littleton, Kammerer obtained a love for North Carolina history. After receiving a scholarship, Kammerer enrolled in the School of Art at East Carolina University in Greenville in 1974. To date, he has designed numerous book covers, has worked on television commercials and produced artwork for homes and businesses. Kammerer is also known for his oil portraits, historical paintings and numerous mural projects.

In 1984, Kammerer was among the charter members who organized the Pitt County Family Researchers, Inc., a local genealogical group. Currently, he is president of the group, and editor of its quarterly journal. In 2004 the Pitt County Genealogical Quarterly received the award from the North Carolina Genealogical Society for the best genealogical publication of the year. Since 1985 Kammerer has also written a column on Pitt County and Greenville history for the Greenville Times. He is a lifetime member of the Pitt County Historical Society, and in recent years has served on the board of the Village of Yesteryear, a complex of twenty-one historic buildings and extensive collection of farm life artifacts. In addition, Kammerer has led several walking tours of the historic downtown area of Greenville, and has authored, or co-authored, twenty-one books and booklets on local history and genealogy. The collection of materials this finding aid represents was donated in honor of Kammerer's parents.

Description Click here to collapse or expand the contents in this section of the finding aid

Correspondence includes thirty-four letters written between 1863 and 1948 to Lillian Askew from family members and acquaintances. Subjects discussed in the letters include family and general topics of interest. The remaining correspondence consists of two letters written in 1847 and 1849 to Samuel Haines, one of which describes poor social conditions in Trenton, N.J. Also included are two letters written in 1913 and 1914 to C.Y. (Chris) Smith. Both letters are from friend Berend Behrends who was serving in the military in The Philippines and Manila. (See container list for further details)

Photographs include many images of various people, including portraits. Surnames of the individuals include Cotton, Hardee, Smith, Jordan, Vinerette, Joyner, Stancil and Tucker. Also included are images of the 1927 Elm City High School graduating class, a Coxville School group photograph, the 1908 flood in Fayetteville and a Pitt County, N.C. school bus and drivers. (See container list for further details)

Legal Documents consist of two land deeds. The first one is for 1480 acres in Hertford County, N.C. for fifteen cents an acre to Daniel Valentine dated February 20, 1871. The other land deed is for twenty-five acres in Ashe County, N.C. to John Dick dated August 20, 1839. Also included is a document related to Hertford County, N.C. land involving William A. Holloman, administrator of R.H. Shield and Daniel Valentine. (See container list for further details)

Printed Materials consist of a Greensboro College commencement address from 1872. The collection also contains some historical and genealogical information about Peter Evans Smith and indications that he was the possible builder of the Confederate ram Albemarle. Also included is a recipe book from 1897, a handwritten music book from 1812, an accounting journal from the Oakridge Institute of Business College, Oakridge N.C. 1882, an October 4, 1917 edition of The Union Herald and an undated edition of Brunswick Evening Banner. (See container list for further details)

Oversized Materials consist of a few items from the collection that were moved to oversized drawers due to their large size. This change in location is noted in the container list. (See container list for further details)

Postcards represent various places in North Carolina. Locations documented include Fayetteville, Elizabeth City, High Point, Wilmington, Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Belhaven, Edenton, Pitt County, Camp Lejeune, Reidsville, Rocky Mount, St. Pauls Washington and New Bern. A small percentage of the postcards document various scenes of the South, possibly North Carolina. (See container list for further details)

Related Collections Click here to collapse or expand the contents in this section of the finding aid

Subject Headings Click here to collapse or expand the contents in this section of the finding aid

Container List Click here to collapse or expand the contents in this section of the finding aid

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Series 1:
Correspondence
  • Box 1#0318.1
    • Folder a#0318.1.a
      • Letter to Edward from his mother; 1 sheet, September 1, 1863  (item #1)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from J.H, Garret; 5 sheets, February 27, 1903  (item #2)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from J.E. Johanson; 1 sheet, November 30, 1903  (item #3)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from her sister Ronnie; 4 sheets, January 7, 1904  (item #4)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Ronnie P. Harrell, talking about taking a trip to St. Louis; 2 sheets, June 7,1904  (item #5)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from her mother; 3 sheets, July 30, 1904  (item #6)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from her mother; 3 sheets, August 9, 1904  (item #7)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from J.H. Garret; 7 sheets, January 30, 1905  (item #8)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Anna Mitchell; 3 sheets, March 7, 1905  (item #9)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Carrie; 2 sheets, June 6, 1905  (item #10)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Louise Dicks; 2 sheets, June 14, 1905  (item #11)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Carrie; 3 sheets, August 18, 1905  (item #12)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from her brother John, talks about the school he attended was burned and that it had been attempted before ; 3 sheets, March 26, 1905  (item #13)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Louise; 3 sheets, February 16, 1906  (item #14)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from her mother; 4 sheets, June 6, 1906  (item #15)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Bess; 1 sheet, June 17, 1906  (item #16)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Claire; 2 sheets, April 16, 1931  (item #17)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from a fellow family member wanting information about the family to make a genealogical book, with a questionnaire to fill out and return.; 2 sheets, August 26, 1936  (item #18)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Mrs. C.W. Beasley, talking about an apron for the Colerain Community Club House, with an apron message attached as to what to do.; 2 sheets, November 6, 1940  (item #19)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Mrs. H.E. Schaff; 2 sheets, September 1, 1942  (item #20)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Gilla McConnia, says how they are sorry that Lillian's mother has passed away and general conversation.; 2 sheets, June 9, 1938  (item #21)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Bess; 4 sheets, December 20, 1942  (item #22)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Mabel; 2 sheets, January 24, 1943  (item #23)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Cilla, just general conversation.; 2 sheets, March 7, 1943  (item #24)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Eddie; 3 sheets, November 18, 1943  (item #25)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Bess, just general conversation. An enclosed newspaper clipping with the letter.; 4 sheets, November 28, 1943  (item #26)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Bess, just general conversation.; 3 sheets, January 1, 1944  (item #27)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Mrs. H.E. Schaff, just general conversation.; 1 sheet, January 5, 1944  (item #28)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Ronnie, just general conversation.; 1 sheet, January 18, 1944  (item #29)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Josephine, just general conversation.; 1 sheet, January 15, 1944  (item #30)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Ronnie, just general conversation.; 6 sheets, October 18, 1948  (item #31)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from her sister Carrie; 2 sheets, undated  (item #32)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Louise, just general conversation.; 1 sheet, undated  (item #33)
      • Letter to Lillian Askew from Louise; 2 sheets, undated  (item #34)
      • Letter to Samuel Haines in New Concord, OH from Joseph N. Gervis regarding Haines' safety and location (photocopy).; 2 sheets, July 9, 1847  (item #35)
      • Letter to Samuel Haines in Muskingum County, OH from Andrew K. Kowan & Jos N Gervis in Mercer County, Trenton, NJ. Mentions family sickness and deaths, and also widespread disentery epidemic and unemployment in Trenton (photocopy).; 3 sheets, July 29, 1849  (item #36)
      • Letter to C.Y. Smith in Sheldon, IA from Berend Behrends in Corregidor, Philippines, thanks Smith for his kindness, mentions being kept in a quarantine station because he is soldier from United States, also asks about news at home (photocopy).; 2 sheets, July 3, 1913  (item #37)
      • Letter to Chris Smith in Sheldon, IA from Berend Behrends at Fort Mills, Manila, thanks Smith for his kindness, describes his weariness of military life, and mentions the presence of German battleships and going aboard the S.S. Gweiseman (photocopy).; 2 sheets, March 20, 1914  (item #38)
Series 2:
Photographs
  • Box 1#0318.1
    • Folder b#0318.1.b
      • Robert Wooten, Lt Lyman Cotton, Will H. Moore. (B&W); 1 sheet, undated  (item #1)
      • "Wash and Emma Hardee" (B&W). Also significant family genealogical information on back.; 1 sheet, undated  (item #2)
      • (B&W), "Capt. Tom Smith, possibly from the Civil War, born 8-7-1846, died Aug. 1918" ; 1 sheet, undated  (item #3)
      • "1927 Elm City High School Graduation Class" (B&W).; 1 sheet, 1927  (item #4)
      • Class photograph (B&W), "Mr. Jon(?) R. Jordan, March 30, 1915, Made by R.M. Filsmore(?), Rocky Mount, N.C." ; 1 sheet, March 30, 1915  (item #5)
      • Family Photo(B&W), on front : "Fannie Vinerette, Rhonda Vinerette, Birce (Dock) Vinerette, and Andrew Vinerette. On back: "Mrs. J.R. Jordan, R4, Elm City, N.C."; 1 sheet, undated  (item #6)
      • (B&W), on front: "Alderman, Raleigh, N.C." (photographer?) "Maneely, Artist, Over Williams' Book Store" (photographer?), on back: "Arron Joyner"; 1 sheet, undated  (item #7)
      • (B&W), on back: "Ora Smith", on front "S.P. Burgerl, Jacksonville, Fla(?)" (photographer); 1 sheet, undated  (item #8)
      • "Miss Emily Jones", (B&W); 1 sheet, undated  (item #9)
      • "Mr. & Mrs. Robert Stansil", (B&W) "Rev. Robert William Stancill (1854-1924), married Sallie Miriam G. Dixon, disciples minister", "Zeph F. Magill, Troy, N.Y." (photographer); 1 sheet, undated  (item #10)
      • "Mr. & Mrs. Marion Tucker", (B&W) Also significant family genealogical information on back. "Campbell, Norfolk, VA" (photographer); 1 sheet, undated  (item #11)
      • Woman standing by a Confederate statue and image of North Carolina Confederate memorial stone, (B&W) (two images attached); 1 sheet, July 17, 1938  (item #12)
      • Image of North Carolina Confederate memorial stone (B&W) (closeup of same image above); 1 sheet, July 17, 1938  (item #13)
      • Pitt County, N.C. School Bus and Drivers, (B&W) "T.G. & Stokes truck drivers made Feb. 1931"; 1 sheet, February 1931  (item #14)
      • Coxville School group photograph. (B&W); 1 sheet, undated  (item #15)
      • Fayetteville Flood of 1908 on a poster board. (B&W) (several separate images with handwritten labels of street locations) (MOVED TO OVERSIZED FOLDER / Series 5); 1908  (item #16)
Series 3:
Legal Documents
  • Box 1#0318.1
    • Folder c#0318.1.c
      • Land survey for John Dickson of twenty-five acres in Ashe County, NC; 1 sheet, August 20, 1839  (item #1)
      • Land Deed made to Daniel Valentine for 1480 acres. (moved to oversized folder); 2 sheets, February 20th 1871  (item #2)
      • Indenture of Hertford County, NC land, involving William A. Holloman, Administrator of R.H. Shield and Daniel Valentine; 2 sheets, January 1, 1873  (item #3)
Series 4:
Printed Materials
  • Box 1#0318.1
    • Folder d#0318.1.d
      Cookbook, "Hood's Practical Cook's Book For the Average Household", includes handwritten recipes inside; 351 sheets, 1897
    • Folder e#0318.1.e
      Oak Ridge Institute and Business College ledger, used by E.S. Maye(?) in Kinston, NC March through July 1882 (appears to be for business transactions in Kinston).; 36 sheets, 1882
    • Folder f#0318.1.f
      Music Book (Tenor) of Elizabeth L. Andrews, includes handwritten lyrics, music and poetry, some religious. Also includes a page with the birthdate of John Andrews and marriage date of Patsy Andrews.; 40 sheets, 1812-1821
    • Folder g#0318.1.g
      • Biography of Peter Evans Smith, born January 20, 1829 in Edgecombe County, NC (typewritten, uncredited); 2 sheets, undated  (item #1)
      • Biography of Peter Evans Smith by Lena H. Smith (typewritten); 2 sheets, undated  (item #2)
      • History of the Confederate Ram Albemarle by Burton H. Smith (typewritten), signed "Peter Gregory" at top.; 7 sheets, undated  (item #3)
    • Folder h#0318.1.h
      • Commencement address to Greensboro College by Mollie E. Boone (handwritten); 5 sheets, 1872  (item #1)
      • The Union Herald, Raleigh, N.C. Thursday Oct. 4 1917. (MOVED TO OVERSIZED FOLDER / Series 5)  (item #2)
      • Brunswick Evening Banner Newspaper, undated. (MOVED TO OVERSIZED FOLDER / Series 5)  (item #3)
Series 5:
Oversized Materials
  • Oversize Folder os1#0318.os1
    • Fayetteville Flood of 1908 on a poster board. (B&W) (several separate images with handwritten labels of street locations); 1 sheet, 1908  (item #1)
    • Land Deed made to Daniel Valentine for 1480 acres; 2 sheets, February 20, 1871  (item #2)
    • The Union Herald from Raleigh N.C.; 6 sheets, dated Thursday Oct. 4 1917  (item #3)
    • Brunswick Evening Banner Newspaper; 4 sheets, undated  (item #4)
Series 6:
North Carolina Postcards

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.

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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Special Collections Division, J.Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University. The materials described here are physically available in our reading room. To see what's been digitized in this collection, please click on the "View Digitized Objects" tab, or look for hyperlinks in the container list
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