Roger D. Sharpe Papers

1956-2020
Manuscript Collection #1256
Creator(s)
Sharpe, Roger Dean, Dr.
Physical description
7.0 Cubic Feet, 18 archival boxes, consisting of correspondence, scholarly addresses, editorials, and manuscripts
Preferred Citation
Roger D. Sharpe Papers (#1256), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
Access to audiovisual and digital media is restricted. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Correspondence (1965-2015) with state and national public figures including Maya Angelou, Will Campbell, Bill Moyers, John Ehle, and Rosemary Harris; Governors James B. Hunt and Michael Dukakis; Congressman James McClure Clark and Elspeth Clark, the Rev. Dr. William Finlator, the Rev. Dr. Donald W. Shriver, feminist Hebrew scholar Phyllis Trible; North Carolina legislators J. McNeill Smith of Greensboro and Willis Whichard of Durham; Civil Rights leader Dr. Anna Arnold Hedgeman, et al. Scholarly addresses delivered before national assemblies and editorials written for N.C. newspapers including the Winston-Salem Journal, the Charlotte Observer, the Greensboro Record, and the Raleigh News and Observer. Early draft of manuscript Ceremony of Innocence, published by Mercer University Press, 2005.


Biographical/historical information

Dr. Roger Dean Sharpe, born August 29, 1947, in Harmony (Iredell County), North Carolina, is the son of Henry Woodrow Sharpe, Sr., and Hattie Bell Shore Sharpe. He was educated at East Carolina University, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, the University of Oxford, and Union Theological Seminary in New York City, New York. He is a North Carolina educator and former state senator, historian, author, and national public policy advocate for civil rights and education.


Administrative information
Custodial History

June 26, 2015, (unprocessed), 4.0 cu. ft.; Correspondence (1965-2015) with state and national public figures including Maya Angelou, Will Campbell, Bill Moyers, John Ehle, and Rosemary Harris; Governors James B. Hunt and Michael Dukakis; Congressman James McClure Clark and Elspeth Clark, the Rev. Dr. William Finlator, the Rev. Dr. Donald W. Shriver, feminist Hebrew scholar Phyllis Trible; North Carolina legislators J. McNeill Smith of Greensboro and Willis Whichard of Durham; Civil Rights leader Dr. Anna Arnold Hedgeman, et al. Scholarly addresses delivered before national assemblies and editorials written for N.C. newspapers including the Winston-Salem Journal, the Charlotte Observer, the Greensboro Record, and the Raleigh News and Observer. Early draft of manuscript Ceremony of Innocence, published by Mercer University Press, 2005. Gift of Dr. Roger D. Sharpe.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Dr. Roger D. Sharpe

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law. Donor retains copyright to the publication Ceremony of Innocence and the documentary The Boy Who Heard President Abraham Lincoln Give the Gettysburg Address, although he permits fair use quoting.


Key terms
Personal Names
Sharpe, Roger Dean
Topical
Education--United States
Educators--North Carolina
Historians--North Carolina
Politicians--North Carolina

Container list
Box 1 Lincoln Documentary correspondence, Roger Sharpe articles, Sermons preached on Lincoln's death, Itineraries and questions for itineraries, Compact discs, Significant papers for background research, Eyewitness Accounts, Original draft manuscript of "The Boy Who Heard President Abraham Lincoln Give The Gettysburg Address: The Story of Willie Curtin," and Licensing Agreement (2014) with UNC-TV and 2013 Certificate of Registration with Copyright Office re the documentary made from this manuscript, 1863-2014
Box 2 Sharpe's "Ceremony of Innocence" manuscripts part 1-2, Mercer University Press correspondence regarding contract, Publication, Press of Roger Sharpe's "Ceremony of Innocence," Photos, Newspaper articles regarding Lincoln, Magazines and Newspaper Materials on Lincoln, Pamphlets regarding President Lincoln & reprinted Photos, 1997-2013
Box 3 Materials and documents Pertaining to: Roger Sharpe's position as visiting professor at East Carolina University and his further involvement with the university, Roger Sharpe's matriculation at ECU and his Outstanding Alumni Award, Roger Sharpe's tenure as a State Senator (1976-1978), Research and proposals on education issues, 1977-2009
Box 4 Documents and Correspondence concerning Sharpe's thesis dissertation at Oxford University, academic papers, Documents pertaining to Sharpe's receipt of the Frank Knox Fellowship from Harvard University, Roger Sharpe's curriculum, 1979-2003
Box 5 Roger Sharpe's : Congressional Campaign County Coordinator meeting, Materials related to Campaign for Congress, Correspondence and articles relating to: ("advocacy of tobacco removal", "Gay rights"), 1977-2006
Box 6 Correspondence and documents pertaining to Union Theological Seminary, Roger Sharpe's Theological essays, Homilies, and Sermons, 1994-2010
Box 7 Roger Sharpe's: Thesis "Koionia and Homeward Bound," Correspondence with the Rev. Dr. Donald Shriver, Pamphlets and articles relating to theological study of Sharpe's, Collected research on Benjamin Sherwood Hedrick, articles on the 100th and 150th anniversary of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., articles and book excerpts
Box 8 Research on Justin Morrill Land Grant Act including General Lafayette's 1825 visit to Vermont where he happened to meet 15 yr old Justin Morrill, Copy of memorial addresses on the life and character of Justin S. Morrill Printed 1899, 1825-1899
Box 9 Correspondence on many topics, part 1-5, 1889-2012
Box 10 Correspondence of professional and personal nature, part 6-8, 1966-2013
Box 11 Correspondence and materials on: Sharpe's work with People for the American Way and work on constitutional liberties, correspondents Miriam Prichard, David Smiley, Jess Meghan (part 3-4), 1967-2002
Box 12 Sharpe's Correspondence with: Patricia Graham and his Harvard School of Education involvement, James B. Hunt Jr., Jess Meghan (part 1-2), Roger Walker, and Roger and Isabel Walker, 1981-2010
Box 14 Event programs and souvenirs, 1998-2014
Box 15 Research and articles on the Wilmington 10 and Sharpe's support of their release, Newspaper Clippings re Roger Sharpe, Includes: editorials, political news; Other articles pertaining to Sharpe's interests, Newspaper clippings and magazines articles, Event programs and souvenirs, 1978-1980
Box 16 Picture frames, Election posters, Piece of lumber from the 2009 Presidential inaugural stands, Award from Harvard University to Roger Dean Sharpe, Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, 2 1st Edition copies of Sharpe's book, Movies, campaign buttons, C-span bag, 1977-2012
Box 17 Folder a Correspondence 1960-1969
Box 17 Folder b Correspondence 1970-1979
Box 17 Folder c Correspondence 1980-1983
Box 17 Folder d Correspondence 1984-1987
Box 17 Folder e Correspondence 1988-1989
Box 17 Folder f Correspondence 1990
Box 17 Folder g Correspondence 1991
Box 17 Folder h Correspondence 1992-1999
Box 17 Folder i Writings by Roger Sharpe 2020
Box 17 Folder j Resume
Box 18 Folder a Correspondence 2008-2015
Box 18 Folder b Correspondence 2016-2017
Box 18 Folder c Correspondence undated
Box 18 Folder d Gather We Summer's Flowers Before the Second Coming by Roger Sharpe
Box 18 Folder e What Color is Vermilion? by Roger Sharpe
Box 18 Folder f Criminal Justice Commencement Ceremony Address Given at ECU by Sharpe on May 6, 2017.
Box 18 Folder g "The Vindication of Human Rights of the Wilmington Ten Dependents at the International Level" presented by Sharpe in 1984 at The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Chicago, Illinois.
Box 18 Folder h Writings by Sharpe including Homilies, Addresses, Commentary, and Poetry, 1986-2015, undated.
Box 18 Folder i Documents related to the Alexandria Police-Clergy Breakfast in 2016 at Virginia Theological Seminary.
Box 18 Folder j 4-H Club Awards and Ephemera related to Roger Sharpe's youth.
Box 18 Folder k Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Records for Roger Sharpe while attending Sandy Springs Baptist Church in Harmony, North Carolina, 1956-1963.
Box 18 Folder l Sharp's School Attendance Records for Harmony School, Iredell County, N.C. 1959-1961.
Box 18 Folder m Clippings, 1986 (?), 2007
Box 18 Folder n Historical Articles re Sandy Springs Community, Iredell Co., N.C. 1992.
Box 18 Folder o Programs, a Letter, and a Clipping concerning the Dedication of The Garden at Sandy Springs Baptist Church, Harmony, N.C. on May 23, 1992.
Box 18 Folder p Black and White Photographs of Sharpe in Harmony High School and with the 4-H Club, 1964-1965
Box 18 Folder q Black and White Photographs of Sharpe with North Carolina Government and National Political Figures (some photographs are autographed).
Box 18 Folder r Black and White Photographs of Sharpe with ECU Chancellor Jenkins and with Groups of People.
Box 18 Folder s Color Photographs of Sharpe with the 4-H Club, Political Figures, Family and Friends. 1966, 1977, 2010.
Box 18 Folder t Color Images (not on photographic paper) of Sharpe with Family and Friends.
Box 18 Folder u Certificates of Appreciation 1964-2016.
Box 18 Folder v Programs, Pamphlets, and Church Bulletins 1978-2015.
Box 18 Folder w Items Related to Research Interests.
Oversize Folder 1os Campaign posters, Book press tour signage