Alpheus W. Drinkwater Collection
original photographs date from 1875-1967. Material digitized in 2001 -2003
Manuscript Collection #805- Creator(s)
- Drinkwater, Alpheus W., 1875-1962
- Physical description
- 0.25 Cubic Feet
- Preferred Citation
- Alpheus W. Drinkwater Collection (#805), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
- Repository
- ECU Manuscript Collection
- Access
- No restrictions
Collection does not contain original photographs
Collection, ca. 1908-1997, of photographic prints made from cyanotype, sepia tone, and black & white photographs. Original photographs were owned by Alpheus W. Drinkwater (1875-1962), a telegrapher and correspondent for The Associate Press in Manteo, NC, who was famed for relaying the news of the Wright Brothers's first flight at Kitty Hawk, NC, on December 17, 1903.
Biographical/historical information
Alpheus W. Drinkwater (1858–1944) was a telegrapher and maritime radio operator known for his work along the North Carolina coast. He played a crucial role in relaying the historic news of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903, transmitting the telegram that informed the world of their achievement. Drinkwater also served with the U.S. Weather Bureau and the Life-Saving Service, becoming a key figure in early coastal communications. In 1909, he transmitted the first wireless distress signal from the Cape Hatteras Weather Bureau Station during the wreck of the SS Bohemia.
Scope and arrangement
The Alpheus W. Drinkwater Collection consists of photographic prints, a ballad, and digital scans documenting the life and legacy of Alpheus W. Drinkwater, as well as historical aviation and maritime events along the North Carolina coast. The materials, spanning the early 1900s to the early 21st century, provide valuable insight into the Outer Banks' history, including the Wright Brothers' aviation experiments, shipwrecks, and cultural heritage.
The collection includes photographic prints made from cyanotype and sepia-tone originals depicting the Wright Brothers' glider flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, around 1911, featuring British aviator Alexander Ogilvie, as well as prints made from sepia-tone and black-and-white originals of Alpheus Drinkwater. Additional photographs depict Drinkwater, Drinkwater family homes on Roanoke Island, and schooners wrecked in Ocracoke Inlet in the early 1900s. A photograph of Andy Griffith as a young man alongside other cast members of The Lost Colony production is also included. The original photographs were retained by the donor, with prints created by ECU staff in 2001.
Also present is "Ballad to Drinkwater," an undated tribute by Dick Jordan, along with digital scans of selected images from the collection. This collection offers a unique perspective on early aviation, maritime history, and cultural heritage in North Carolina, particularly through the experiences of Alpheus Drinkwater and his connections to key historical events.
Administrative information
Custodial History
Source of acquisition
Gift of Mrs. John L. (Marguerite) Booth and sons John Lee Booth, Jr., and Robert Allen Booth
Gift of Lorraine Robinson
Processing information
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.
Metadata Rights Declaration
Key terms
Personal Names
Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881--Homes and hauntsDrinkwater, Alpheus W., 1875-1962
Griffith, Andy, 1926-2012
Ogilvie, Alexander, 1870-1939
Wright, Orville, 1871-1948
Wright, Wilbur, 1867-1912
Topical
Gliders (Aeronautics)--North Carolina--Kill Devil HillsGliders (Aeronautics)--North Carolina--Kitty Hawk
Gliding and soaring--North Carolina--Kill Devil Hills
Gliding and soaring--North Carolina--Kitty Hawk
Reporters and reporting--North Carolina--Kitty Hawk