Papers (1861 - 2025, undated) documenting the archaeological excavations of the Confederate defensive fortifications, river obstructions and fish trap on the River Neuse below Kinston, NC, and the Confederate ironclad ram CSS Neuse, relating to Capt. Joseph H. Price, commander of the CSS Neuse, and relating to Lenoir County, N.C., history in general including correspondence, notes, photographic prints and negatives (black and white), and publications.
William H. Rowland earned bachelor's degree in science education from East Carolina University. He lived in Kinston, NC with his wife and two children, Will and Candace.
Rowland was a Technical Engineer at DuPont Laboratories. He took part in research and development during his employment and helped with the textile components of the first man-made aorta and other medical devices.
Rowland was local historian and researcher. He played a key role in the identification, recovery, documentation, and preservation of the CSS Neuse. The CSS Neuse was a Confederate ironclad that was discovered in the Neuse River in Kinston, NC. He has written and collaborated with other authors on several books, his most famous book being Through the Eyes of Soldiers: The Battle of Wyse For, Kinston, North Carolina.
The bulk of this collection are materials related to the CSS Neuse and the Civil War. Materials within this collection are primarily news clippings, correspondence, research notes, typed and transcribed letters, and photographs. The majority of these materials are photocopied, not original copies. There are 32 oversized folders that consist of maps, newspapers, and posters. Most of the maps were hand drawn by Rowland.
December 3, 2020 (addition 8), 4.5 cubic feet; This addition includes Rowland's recently completed (but not published) work entitled "CSS Neuse: The Ram and River Birth to Berth" which is a Documentary of CSS Neuse Recovery from Articles that Appeared in the Kinston Free Press October 28, 1961-March 10, 1965 with Addendum. Included with the work are typescripts of the newspaper clippings, photographs used with the clippings, negatives made by George Denmark, Jr. while working at the Free Press, additional photographs made by Rowland, additional archival material all found in 5 notebooks, 24 laminated pages (11" x 17"), 6 flash drives, 81 CDs and DVDs, and large rolled meticulous conceptual model drawings of the Reconstruction of the CSS Ram Neuse based on Rowland's measurements (updated in 2017) and drawings by William E. Geoghegan of the Smithsonian Institution in 1966. Donor: William H. Rowland.
October 9, 2024 (addition 9), 3.913 gigabytes; Materials include two thumb drives, one labeled The Ram & The River Birth to Berth 2024 By William H. Rowland, and one labeled William H. Rowland Movies. William H. Rowland is a local historian and researcher from Kinston who played a key role in the identification, recovery, documentation, and preservation of the CSS Neuse. Also included was a slip of paper with a printed link to the Reece Gardner Show which features a TV interview with Bill Rowland- 30 minutes (Honors/Movies) TV link: https://vimeo.com/352081112. Donor: William H. Rowland.
June 20, 2025 (addition 10), 0.10 cubic feet; Addition includes clippings, scans, and biographical material documenting important events and awards received by William Rowland (1952-2025). Also includes his research related to the possibility of a mass burial site for Union Civil War soldiers in the vicinity of Wyse Fork Battlefield near Kinston, and to the search for what happened to the boiler from the CSS Ram Neuse. A CD contains documentation related to the proposed National Register of Historic Places designation for Wyse Fork Civil War Battlefield. Donors: William H. Rowland and James "Jim" Westmoreland.
Gift of William H. Rowland
Gift of James "Jim" Westmoreland
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Processed by Ashlyn Racine, December 2023
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
These are a digital items. Original audiovisual media and digital files are unavailable for use. Please contact Special Collections for access copies.
These are digital files. Access to original audiovisual and digital media is restricted. Please contact Special Collections at specialcollections@ecu.libanswers.com to request access copies.
Includes digtial files. Original audiovisual media and digital files are unavailable for use. Please contact Special Collections for access copies.
This is a digital file. Access to original audiovisual and digital media is restricted. Please contact Special Collections at specialcollections@ecu.libanswers.com to request access copies.