Joseph F. & Lala Carr Steelman Papers

1802-2001
Manuscript Collection #774
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Creator(s)
Steelman, Lala Carr; Steelman, Joseph F.
Physical description
9.1 Cubic Feet, consisting of correspondence, pamphlets, reports, and othe printed materials
Preferred Citation
Joseph F. & Lala Carr Steelman Papers (#774), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Printed materials (1960-1990) received by Drs. Joseph and Lala Steelman related to the National Democratic Party and related organizations concerning social, environmental, and political issues (1969-1990). The collection also includes family files on Steelman and Edmisten families, plus large collection of familial correspondence. Records pertaining to the Steelmans' time at East Carolina are located in University Archives.

Biographical/historical information

Dr. Joseph Flake Steelman was a longtime faculty member of the History Department at East Carolina University where he was instrumental in creating the Master's Degree Program in History and the East Carolina Manuscript Collection. Born in Moravian Falls, North Carolina, to Joseph Sankey Steelman (1887-1983) and Gertrude née Edmisten (1982-1965), he was the eldest of three, his two brothers being Hoke Hayes Steelman and John Britt Steelman. His father was a farmer and his mother a schoolteacher. He completed his undergraduate education in history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1943. He then was recruited into the United States Army Specialized Training Program for foreign language skills. After his honorable discharge from the US Army in 1946, Steelman returned to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to complete a doctorate in history. He then went on to teach at Cortland State College, now SUNY at Cortland, in New York. In 1959, he came to what was then East Carolina College as a professor of history; he retired in 1985 as Professor Emeritus of History. Dr. Joseph Steelman passed away on January 21, 2015 at the age of 92.

Dr. Lala Carr Steelman was born in 1926 in Milledgeville, Georgia, to Iverson Curry Carr and Ruth A. Hardie Carr. She attended Georgia State College for Women (now Georgia College) and received her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1955 she became an assistant professor of history at East Carolina College (now East Carolina University) where she taught for the next thirty years before retiring as a Professor Emeritus of History. After a short illness, Dr. Lala Carr Steelman passed away on May 13, 1998.

Joseph Flake Steelman married Lala Carr on August 30, 1947. They had two children, both named for their parents. A daughter, Lala Carr Steelman II, and a son Joseph Flake Steelman Jr. known as Joey. Joey was killed in an electrical accident in New Bern, North Carolina, in 1969.

Scope and arrangement

The Joseph F. & Lala Carr Steelman Papers span the years 1802 to 1996, documenting the personal, professional, and wartime experiences of Drs. Joseph Flake Steelman and Lala Carr Steelman, along with materials reflecting their family's genealogy and public interests.

The collection is arranged in four series:

Series 1: Political and Social Organizations, 1976–1990: This series contains letters, newsletters, and pamphlets related primarily to the Democratic Party of North Carolina and national Democratic Party fundraising activities. Additional materials include correspondence and printed matter from environmental, social, and political advocacy organizations reflecting the Steelmans' civic engagement with issues such as conservation, nuclear disarmament, and political campaigns. The files preserve the donors' original arrangement in chronological groupings.

Series 2: Steelman Family Records, 1802–1996: This series includes genealogical notes, estate documents, academic records, professional files, résumés, and employment contracts for members of the Steelman family. Materials document multiple generations, including Joseph F. Steelman's military service, university appointments, and family legal matters. Items range from 19th-century genealogy to late 20th-century professional correspondence.

Series 3: World War II Correspondence, 1939–1946: This extensive series consists of wartime letters written by Joseph F. Steelman to his parents and brothers, and letters he received from family members and friends while serving in the U.S. military during World War II. The correspondence traces his training and postings at various locations in the United States and Europe, offering insight into his daily life, family ties, and reflections on wartime service. Folders are arranged chronologically by location and recipient.

Series 4: General Correspondence, 1947–2001: This final series contains assorted personal correspondence from the postwar period, including letters, postcards, and photographs exchanged with family, friends, and fellow servicemen. Materials are arranged chronologically.

The Oversized Material includes several maps of German towns, including one of Höchstädt, Germany, that Steelman annotated and has a letter dated July 14, 1945 on the reverse.

Administrative information
Custodial History

November 3, 1998 (processed), 1.5 cubic foot; Personal files (1960-1990) pertaining to social, political, environmental and historical organizations supported by Joseph and Lala Steelman, including correspondence, minutes, reports, etc. Donor: Dr. Joseph F. Steelman.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Dr. Joseph F. Steelman

Processing information

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Processing completed 3/14/2017 by Leah Powell Turner.

Copyright notice

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

Key terms
Corporate Names
Democratic Party (U.S.)
North Carolina Literary and Historical Association
North Carolina. Division of Archives and History
Places
North Carolina--History
Container list
Box 1 Folder a Democratic Party of North Carolina (1988) Packet. 10 items. 18 p
Box 1 Folder b Democratic Party fund raising letters and pamphlets (1980-1985); also fund raising correspondence from political, environmental, and social organizations; Part I as originally organized by donor. 60 items. 128 p
Box 1 Folder c Democratic Party fund raising letters and pamphlets (1980-1985); also fund raising correspondence from political, environmental, and social organizations; Part Il as originally organized by donor. 55 items. 116 p
Box 1 Folder d Democratic Party fund raising letters and pamphlets (1980-1990); also fund raising correspondence from political, environmental, and social organizations. 59 items. 136 p
Box 1 Folder e Democratic Party fund raising letters and pamphlets (1976-1989); also fund raising correspondence from political, environmental, and social organizations; Part I as originally organized by donor. 57 items. 125 p
Box 1 Folder f Democratic Party fund raising letters and pamphlets (1976-1986); also fund raising correspondence from political, environmental, and social organizations; Part II as originally organized by donor. 68 items. 153 p
Box 1 Folder g Democratic Party fund raising letters and pamphlets (1982-1986); also fund raising correspondence from political, environmental, and social organizations; Part I as originally organized by donor. 64 items. 121 p
Box 1 Folder h Democratic Party fund raising letters and pamphlets (1982); also fund raising correspondence from political, environmental, and social organizations; Part II as originally organized by donor. 54 items. 126 p
Box 2 Folder a Genealogy Information on Edmisten and McNeil Families, 1802–1923
Box 2 Folder b Academic and Professional records of Gertrude Steelman, 1915–1933
Box 2 Folder c Estate Records of Joseph Sankey Steelman, 1972–1974
Box 2 Folder d Documents relating to court case Steelman v. City of New Bern, 1969–1974
Box 2 Folder e Memorialization of Joseph F. Steelman Jr. records, 1969–1972
Box 2 Folder f Academic records and report cards of Joseph F. Steelman, 1930–1943
Box 2 Folder g Military Records of Joseph F . Steelman, 1942–1945
Box 2 Folder h Academic Awards for Drs. Steelman, 1942–1974
Box 2 Folder i Academic job inquiries of Joseph F. Steelman, 1952–1953
Box 2 Folder j Résumé and CV and UNC Chapel Hill 1943 Alumni roster of Joseph F. Steelman, 1961–1963
Box 2 Folder k Résumé and CV of Joseph F. Steelman, 1970–1983
Box 2 Folder l Academic and Profession records of Lala Carr Steelman, 1968–1996
Box 2 Folder m Teaching contracts and Salary Records for Drs. Steelman, 1953–1990
Box 2 Folder n Teaching contracts and Salary Records for Drs. Steelman, 1953–1990
Box 3 Folder a Correspondence assorted family members, 1939–1946
Box 3 Folder b Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents, 1941 to May 1943
Box 3 Folder c Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, July 1943 to, August 1943
Box 3 Folder d Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Kessler Field, Biloxi, Mississippi, 6 August 1943 to 1, October 1943
Box 3 Folder e Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi, 15 October 1943 to , December 1943
Box 3 Folder f Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 4 December 1943 to 2, April 1944
Box 3 Folder g Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 1 May 1944 to 1, September 1944
Box 3 Folder h Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia, , includes 2 postcards, 22 September 1944 to 2, January 1945
Box 3 Folder i Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from sea and 'somewhere in' France, includes postcard, 28 January 1945 to 2, March 1945
Box 3 Folder j Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from 'somewhere in' Germany, includes two postcards, 25 March 1945 to , May 1945
Box 3 Folder k Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from 'somewhere in' Austria, 7 May 1945 to 2, May 1945
Box 3 Folder l Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Kremsmünster, Austria, 31 May 1945 to 1, June 1945
Box 3 Folder m Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Höchstädt, Germany, 12 June 1945 to , July 1945
Box 4 Folder a Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Augsburg, Germany, 19 July 1945 to 2, September 1945
Box 4 Folder b Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Liverpool, England, 29 September 1945 to 1, December 1945
Box 4 Folder c Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Le Havre, France; Augsburg, Germany; Rome, Italy; and Mühldorf, Germany, includes 3 postcards, 17 December 1945 to 1, February 1946
Box 4 Folder d Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his parents from Straubing, Deggendorf, Elligen, and Roth, Germany; Le Havre, France; and New York Port, New York, 18 February 1946 to , April 1946
Box 4 Folder e Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from his parents, 1943
Box 4 Folder f Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from his parents, includes 4 postcards, 1944
Box 4 Folder g Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from his parents, 1945
Box 4 Folder h Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Hoke Steelman, from UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C., 1942–1943
Box 4 Folder i Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Hoke Steelman, from University of Indiana, Bloomington, Indiana, includes postcard, 5 February 1944 to , September 1944
Box 4 Folder j Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Hoke Steelman, from Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia, includes 4 postcards, 22 September 1944 to 2, January 1945
Box 4 Folder k Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Hoke Steelman, from France, includes 3 postcards, January 1945 to, March 1945
Box 4 Folder l Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Hoke Steelman, from Germany, 25 March 1945 to, May 1945
Box 4 Folder m Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Hoke Steelman, from Austria, 8 May 1945 to , June 1945
Box 4 Folder n Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Hoke Steelman, from New Munich, Ausburg, and Höchstädt, Germany, includes 6 postcards, 14 June 1945 to 1, September 1945
Box 4 Folder o Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Hoke Steelman, from New Munich, Ausburg, and Höchstädt, Germany, includes 6 postcards, 14 June 1945 to 1, December 1945
Box 4 Folder p Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Hoke Steelman, from Augsburg and Müldorf, Germany, 24 December 1945 to 1, January 1946
Box 5 Folder a Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from his brother, Hoke Steelman, includes postcard, 1941–1943
Box 5 Folder b Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from his brother, Hoke Steelman, includes 7 postcards, 1944
Box 5 Folder c Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from his brother, Hoke Steelman, includes 2 postcards, 1945
Box 5 Folder d Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Britt Steelman, includes postcard, 1942–1943
Box 5 Folder e Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Britt Steelman, 1944
Box 5 Folder f Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Britt Steelman, includes 8 postcards, 1945
Box 5 Folder g Letters from Joseph F. Steelman to his brother, Britt Steelman, includes postcard, 1946
Box 5 Folder h Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from his brother, Britt Steelman, includes postcard, 1943–1946
Box 5 Folder i Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from Ken Ahola, 1945–1946
Box 5 Folder j Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from Helen Bostick, 1943
Box 5 Folder k Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from Elisabeth (Beti) Griffiths, 1945–1946, 1983
Box 5 Folder l Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from Robert (Bob) Haas, 1944–1946
Box 5 Folder m Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from Norman Leach, includes photograph of Steelman and Leach, 1945–1946
Box 5 Folder n Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from Jeanne Ritzmann, 1944–1945
Box 5 Folder o Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from John Taylor, 1944–1946
Box 6 Folder a Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from Finnish friends, Dr. John Van Steenberg and Kyllikki, in English and Finnish, 1943–1946
Box 6 Folder b Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from Dorothy Webb, 1944–1946
Box 6 Folder c Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from Ken White, 1945
Box 6 Folder d Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from assorted friends, includes postcard, 1941–1946
Box 6 Folder e Letters to Joseph F. Steelman from assorted fellow service men, 1944–1946
Box 6 Folder f Assorted Correspondence, inludes postcard and photograph of Ken White and Candide Paquette, 1947
Box 6 Folder g Assorted Correspondence, includes 4 postcards, 1948
Box 6 Folder h Assorted Correspondence, 1949
Box 6 Folder i Assorted Correspondence, includes postcard, 1950
Box 6 Folder j Assorted Correspondence, includes 3 postcards, 1951
Box 6 Folder k Assorted Correspondence, includes 3 postcards, 1952
Box 6 Folder l Assorted Correspondence, includes postcard, 1953
Box 7 Folder a Correspondence, manuscripts, etc. compiled by two East Carolina University history professors relating to their family and friends, travels, and professional activities., 1948-1993
Box 7 Folder b Family Correspondence , 1954
Box 7 Folder C Family Correspondence, 1955
Box 7 Folder d Family Correspondence , 1956
Box 7 Folder e Family Correspondence, 1957
Box 7 Folder f Family Correspondence, 1958
Box 7 Folder g Family Correspondence, 1959
Box 7 Folder h Family Correspondence, 1960
Box 7 Folder i Family Correspondence, 1960
Box 8 Folder a Family Correspondence, 1961
Box 8 Folder b Family Correspondence, 1962
Box 8 Folder C Family Correspondence, 1963
Box 8 Folder d Family Correspondence, 1964
Box 8 Folder e Family Correspondence, 1965
Box 8 Folder f Family Correspondence, 1966
Box 8 Folder g Family Correspondence, 1966
Box 8 Folder h Family Correspondence, 1967
Box 8 Folder i Family Correspondence, 1968
Box 9 Folder a Family Correspondence, 1969
Box 9 Folder b Family Correspondence, 1969
Box 9 Folder c Family Correspondence, 1970
Box 9 Folder d Family Correspondence, 1970
Box 9 Folder e Family Correspondence, 1971
Box 9 Folder f Family Correspondence, 1971
Box 9 Folder g Family Correspondence, 1972
Box 9 Folder h Family Correspondence, 1972
Box 9 Folder i Family Correspondence, 1973
Box 9 Folder j Family Correspondence, 1973
Box 10 Folder a Family Correspondence, 1974
Box 10 Folder b Family Correspondence, 1975
Box 10 Folder c Family Correspondence, 1975
Box 10 Folder d Family Correspondence, 1976
Box 10 Folder e Family Correspondence, 1976
Box 10 Folder f Family Correspondence, 1977
Box 10 Folder g Family Correspondence, 1978
Box 10 Folder h Family Correspondence, 1978
Box 11 Folder a Family Correspondence, 1979
Box 11 Folder b Family Correspondence, 1979
Box 11 Folder c Family Correspondence, 1980
Box 11 Folder d Family Correspondence, 1980
Box 11 Folder e Family Correspondence, 1981
Box 11 Folder f Family Correspondence, 1982
Box 11 Folder g Family Correspondence , 1983
Box 11 Folder h Family Correspondence, 1984
Box 12 Folder a Family Correspondence, 1985
Box 12 Folder b Family Correspondence , 1986
Box 12 Folder c Family Correspondence, 1987
Box 12 Folder d Family Correspondence , 1988
Box 12 Folder e Family Correspondence , 1988
Box 12 Folder f Family Correspondence , 1989
Box 12 Folder g Family Correspondence , 1990
Box 13 Folder a Family Correspondence, 1991
Box 13 Folder b Family Correspondence , 1992
Box 13 Folder c Family Correspondence , 1993
Box 13 Folder d Family Correspondence, 1994
Box 13 Folder e Family Correspondence, 1995
Box 13 Folder f Family Correspondence, 1996
Box 13 Folder g Family Correspondence , 1997
Box 13 Folder h Family Correspondence, 1998
Box 13 Folder I Family Correspondence, 1999
Box 13 Folder j Family Correspondence, 2000-2001
Oversize Folder 1 Paivalehti newspaper (1944); Raleigh News and Observer article on Ovid Pierce (ca 1958); John F. Kennedy election poster [plastic] (1960); Greenville Daily Reflector page concerning History Dept. of ECC first volume of "East Carolina College Publications in History" (1964); Richmond Times-Dispatch article concerning publication of Essays in Southern Biography, Vol. II by ECC Dept. of History [tearsheet] (1966); East Carolinian article concerning Joseph F. Steelman winning Historical D.W. Conner Award [2 copies] (1966); Asheville Citizen-Times article Studies in the History of the South 1875-1922, published by ECC Dept. of History (1967); Elizabeth City State College Fine Arts Festival [program] including oversized Inaugural Edition of ECSC published The Compass (1969); The Chapel Hill Weekly article Memorial Tribute To John Snell Jr. by George B. Tindall (1972); ; McGovern-Shriver Campaign Committee produced The Truth About Vietnam Now by George McGovern [poster] (1972); Part I
Oversize Folder 2 North Carolina Dept. of Public Instruction published A Focus on People, Culture, and Change [booklet, with fold out sheets] (ca. 1976); Greensboro Record editorial article concerning the Spanish-American War [copy] (1975); National Historical Publications and Records Commission newsletter Annotation (1975); State Capitol/Visitor Services Section of Division of Archives and History published The Capitol of North Carolina [pamphlet] (1982); Greenville Daily Reflector article Fascinating Insights Into Earlier N.C. History by Jerry Raynor, concerning ECU Dept. of History's fifth volume of publication (1981); Raleigh News and Observer article Finding the future in studying the past by Elaine Westarp (1986); Part 2.
Oversize Folder 2 Several maps of German towns during WWII, a casualty map of the 5th Army, and an annotated map of Höchstädt, Germany with a handwritten letter to Steelman's parents, 1943–1945, 1943-1945