Biographical/historical information

The Order of First Families of North Carolina (OFFNC) is an organization that was established in 1992. The Order was created primarily for the protection and preservation of records pertaining to the Proprietary Period of North Carolina history, which concluded in 1729 with the establishment of the Royal Colony of North Carolina. The other primary purpose is to perpetuate the memory of early settlers of that part of the Proprietary Colony of Carolina by establishing and publishing the lineage of descendants of those first Colonial families.

Membership is extended by invitation only and by sponsorship by another member. Prospective members would need to provide documentation of their lineal descent from an ancestor who was a colonist in the Province of Carolina on or before July 12, 1729; the date which King George II purchased the interests of seven of the eight Lords Proprietors.

Sources:

The Order of First Families of North Carolina website, www.offnc.org

Scope and arrangement

The records consist of correspondence, financial papers, legal papers, forms, meeting minutes, newsletters, photographs and papers regarding the Order's events and programs. The records also contain the Order's charter and history. The general correspondence centers on the organization's events and programs and the organization's efforts to obtain an honorary grant of arms, badge and/or crest. The bulk of the correspondence, however, are letters to applicants granting their entry into the order. The financial papers outline the Order's income and expenses. The forms center on blank applications and instructions on applying to the Order. The photographs are a mixture of labeled and unlabeled images of board meetings and social events at various locations including Old Rose Plantation in Nashville, North Carolina.

Administrative information

Custodial History

April 25, 2018, 2 cubic feet; This collection contains a scrapbook and files (1992-2014) documenting the organization Order of First Families of North Carolina from its founding in 1992. Gift of Elizabeth H. Sparrow.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Elizabeth H. Sparrow

Processing information

Processed by Nanette Hardison March 2020

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

Corporate Names

Order of First Families of North Carolina

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