Papers (1917-1941) of Frank M. Wooten Sr. (1875-1941), a leading Greenville attorney, Superior Court judge, and member of the N.C. General Assembly, and Greenville mayor, consisting of correspondence during first World War, letters, political campaign, pamphlets concerning tobacco, cultivation, agricultural alcohol, clipping, financial papers, etc.
Frank M. Wooten Sr. (1875-1941) was a leading Greenville attorney, Superior Court judge, member of the N.C. General Assembly, and one of the leading Democratic party representatives in Pitt County. He was also mayor of Greenville for the 1905-1907 and 1911-1912 terms.
This collection includes the correspondence (1917-1919) of Frank M. Wooten, while serving as the Government Appeals agent for the Draft Board of Pitt County during the First World War.
Albeit much of this correspondence relates to appeals of individual registrants desiring reclassification, there are several letters of conspicuous interest. One in particular pertains to a farmer in Pitt County who hoarded sixty-seven barrels of molasses to make illegal whiskey, thus depriving the government of vital food materials. There are several other letters concerning similar violations of the food administration in Eastern North Carolina and the necessity of strong action. Other letters relate to deserters from the army hiding in Eastern North Carolina during World War I; the functions of both the Alien Property League and the American Protection League; the opposition of J. J. Laughinghouse, the chairman of the Pitt County Draft Board, to Wooten's allegedly re-classifying of registrants who should have been deferred; and the dissolution of the Selective Service System.
In a second grouping are many letters anent the political campaigns in North Carolina between 1918 and 1940. In this correspondence is discussed who would support which candidates and why. Of particular interest is the campaign of 1930 for U.S. senator and the political split of the Democratic party of North Carolina. The split between the Furnifold M. Simmons and Josiah Bailey factions of the Democratic party is discussed. Also of note is correspondence between Wooten and F. M. Simmons expressing support for Dr. Ralph McDonald for governor in 1936. Coupled with the campaign letters are those concerning political appointments both federal and state which Wooten supported for one reason or another. Of particular significance are letters concerning Judge Isaac M. Meekin's relationshipwith the Alien Property Custodian (1921-1922) and articles pertaining thereto which were published in the (Raleigh) News and Observer in 1925.
Other correspondence concerns the need for cheaper electrical power for Eastern North Carolina to keep pace with national industrial growth (1925-1938); the forming of the League of Towns of Eastern North Carolina (1930); the need of relief for farmers across the nation and particularly those in Eastern North Carolina during the 1930s; the forming of the Pitt County A.B.C. Board in 1935 and the administration of alcoholic beverage controls (1935-1940); and the use of denatured alcohol as fuel for cars. The alcohol-fuel question is discussed in correspondence with Henry Ford, Senator Lee Overman and the U.S. prohibition commissioner.
Information provided in miscellaneous papers and pamphlets concerns tobacco cultivation; agricultural alcohol; industrial alcohol; public power in Eastern North Carolina; campaign literature of Angus Wilton McLean and Josiah W. Bailey; Bailey's 1932 address to the Senate for farmer justice; the incorporation of a Pitt County Colored Fair (1924); a biographical sketch of former Governor Thomas J. Jarvis; and Josephus Daniel's 1936 address to the 27th Annual Commencement of East Carolina Teachers College [East Carolina University].
Also included is interesting data pertaining to the League of Town's and the Pitt County A.B.C. Board. Clippings included information on the following: electrical power in Eastern North Carolina, politics, Pitt County A.B.C. Board, the military draft in 1918, and a variety of miscellaneous topics.
Gift of Frank M. Wooten Jr.
Gift of Dr. William I. Wooten III
Gift of Dr. Erin Wooten
Processed by S. Grollinger, October 1971
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.