J. Parker Chesson, Jr. Baseball Reference Collection

1910-2025
Manuscript Collection #1505
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Creator(s)
Chesson, J. Parker, Jr.
Physical description
2 Cubic Feet
Preferred Citation
J. Parker Chesson, Jr. Baseball Reference Collection (#1505), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
This collection is open for research. Original audiovisual media and digital files are unavailable for use. Please contact Special Collections for access copies.

The J. Parker Chesson, Jr. Baseball Reference Collection contains research materials assembled by baseball historian J. Parker Chesson, Jr., documenting the history of baseball in the Albemarle League, a semi-pro baseball league that operated in northeastern North Carolina from the 1930-1950s. The collection includes unpublished research and writings, reference files on individual players, historical photographs, newspaper clippings, and oral history interviews with former players, coaches, and others connected with regional baseball. Subjects represented include amateur, high school, collegiate, military, semiprofessional, and minor league baseball, with particular emphasis on the Albemarle League and baseball in Elizabeth City, Hertford, Edenton, Windsor, Williamston, and surrounding communities.

Biographical/historical information

Dr. J. Parker Chesson, Jr. is a North Carolina educator and higher education administrator. A native of Hertford, North Carolina, he earned a bachelor's degree from East Carolina University before receiving a doctorate from North Carolina State University in 1974.

In 1975, Chesson became the fifth president of the College of The Albemarle in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, serving in that position until 1992. During his seventeen-year tenure, he oversaw the continued growth and development of the college as it expanded educational and workforce training opportunities throughout the Albemarle region.

Following his presidency at the College of The Albemarle, Chesson joined the North Carolina Community College System, where he served as Executive Vice President and Vice President for Planning and Research. In this capacity, he participated in statewide planning initiatives and chaired committees addressing community college development and workforce education. In 1996, Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. appointed Chesson chairman of the North Carolina Employment Security Commission, where he directed the state's employment services and workforce development programs. In addition to his career in higher education administration, Chesson had a longstanding interest in the history of baseball in northeastern North Carolina, particularly the Albemarle League, and conducted extensive research documenting the region's teams, players, and communities.

The Albemarle League was a semiprofessional baseball league that operated intermittently in northeastern North Carolina from 1932 through the mid-1950s. The league included teams from communities throughout the Albemarle region, with membership varying over time. Participating towns included Ahoskie, Colerain, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Hertford, Plymouth, Williamston, Windsor, and other communities in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.

The league provided organized competition for local players as well as former collegiate, military, minor league, and professional players. Games and league standings were regularly reported in regional newspapers, which serve as the principal documentary source for its history. During its years of operation, the league included several players who later competed in professional baseball, including Gaylord Perry and Jim Perry.

Following World War II, participation in semiprofessional baseball declined as organized minor league baseball expanded and recreational patterns changed. By the mid-1950s, the Albemarle League had ceased operation.

Scope and arrangement

The J. Parker Chesson, Jr. Baseball Reference Collection consists of research materials assembled during Chesson's study of baseball history in the Albemarle region of North Carolina. The collection documents the development of baseball in northeastern North Carolina through unpublished manuscripts, research notes, chronologies, player reference files, photographs, newspaper clippings, and recorded interviews.

Research materials include drafts of unpublished writings on regional baseball history, timelines and chronologies of the Albemarle League, player biographies, and topical studies concerning the history of baseball in the region. The photograph series contains images of baseball teams, players, coaches, ballparks, and related events dating from the early twentieth century through the late twentieth century, including photographs documenting high school, collegiate, military, and semiprofessional baseball. The newspaper clipping series consists primarily of newspaper articles documenting baseball activity in the Albemarle region between 1905 and 1957, many accompanied by inventories prepared by Chesson to facilitate research. The interview series contains audio recordings and notes from oral history interviews conducted between 1998 and 2001 with former players, coaches, sports figures, and local historians whose recollections document the history of baseball in eastern North Carolina.

Researchers should note that this is a reference collection compiled by J. Parker Chesson, Jr. Many photographs, newspaper clippings, and other research materials were reproduced from newspapers, archives, libraries, museums, and private collections during the preparation of Chesson's research. These materials were assembled for reference purposes and do not necessarily constitute original archival records. Copyright and reproduction rights may reside with the original creators or holding repositories.

The collection is arranged into four series:

Series 1. Research and Writings

Series 2. Photographs

Series 3. Newspaper Clippings

Series 4. Interviews

Administrative information
Custodial History

March 16, 2026, 4.5 cubic feet; Research material on the Albemarle League, a semi-pro baseball league that operated in northeastern North Carolina from the 1930-1950s. Teams represented towns such as Elizabeth City, Edenton, Windsor, Hertford, Williamston and others. Donation includes cassette tapes, photographs, clippings, research notes, correspondence, and brochures. Gift of J. Parker Chesson, Jr.

Source of acquisition

Gift of J. Parker Chesson, Jr.

Processing information

Processed by Patrick Cash, July 2026

Copyright notice

This material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to taking precautions against infringement of copyright and respecting the publication rights of reproduced materials. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Any materials used should be fully credited with their source according to the example given in the Preferred Citation note. Requests for assistance with citations and images of publication quality should be directed to specialcollections@ecu.libanswers.com. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state law. The user assumes full responsibility for using such information and is advised that the disclosure of such information about identifiable living individuals without their consent may have legal ramifications.

Metadata Rights Declaration

This record is made available under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Creative Commons license.

Container list
Box 1 Folder a Population Trends in the Albemarle Region, 1900-2010, undated
Box 1 Folder b Outline for "Those Were the Days: Baseball in the First Half of the Century in the Albemarle Region." unpublished, undated
Box 1 Folder c Writing, "A Gaylord Perry Story", undated
Box 1 Folder d Writing, "A Look Back - The 1947 Albemarle League Playoffs", undated
Box 1 Folder e Writing, "A Special Doubleheader - July 4, 1911", undated
Box 1 Folder f Albemarle League - Chronology, Revised January 1, 1999
Box 1 Folder g Timeline of Baseball in the Albemarle Region, Revised January 9, 2000
Box 1 Folder h Writing, "Baseball and Cooperstown: Early History", MArch 11, 1999
Box 1 Folder i Player Research - Moe Bauer, undated
Box 1 Folder j Player Research - Jimmy Brown, undated
Box 1 Folder k Player Research - Alex Cosmidis, undated
Box 1 Folder l Player Research - Hank Foiles, undated
Box 1 Folder m Player Research - Bobby Harrell, undated
Box 1 Folder n Player Research - John Lanning, undated
Box 1 Folder o Player Research - Jack Meyer, undated
Box 1 Folder p Player Research - Johnny Peacock, undated
Box 1 Folder q Player Research - Gaylord Perry, undated
Box 1 Folder r Player Research - Jim Perry, undated
Box 1 Folder s Player Research - George Pratt, undated
Box 1 Folder t Player Research - Tommy Umphlett, undated
Box 1 Folder u Player Research - Jake Wade, undated
Box 1 Folder v Player Research - Elder White, undated
Box 1 Folder w Player Research - Burgess Whitehead, undated
Box 1 Folder x Player Research - Sterling Wingo, undated
1505-s2-i1 Elizabeth City Baseball Team, 1934
1505-s2-i2 Hank Utley (left) and Norman Morton, circa 1948
1505-s2-i3 Johnny Lanning, undated
1505-s2-i4 Jimmy Brown, undated
1505-s2-i5 Johnny Peacock, undated
1505-s2-i6 Jake Wade, undated
1505-s2-i7 Hertford High School Baseball team, 1915
1505-s2-i8 Windsor Rebels Baseball team, 1948
1505-s2-i9 Art Hoch (center) and Leroy Sires (right), 1950
1505-s2-i10 Perquimans County High School Ballpark, circa 1957
1505-s2-i11 Edenton Colonials, 1948
1505-s2-i12 Syd Thrift, Moe Bauer, and Parker Chesson, January 15, 1999
1505-s2-i13 Leroy Sires (left) and Bill Bergeron, September 26, 1998
1505-s2-i14 Hertford Baseball team, 1931
1505-s2-i15 Hertford Indians Baseball team, 1954
1505-s2-i16 Edgar Bundy, circa 1911
1505-s2-i17 Duke University Baseball players, circa 1949
1505-s2-i18 Player from the 1945 Tuskegee Army Air Force Baseball team, undated
1505-s2-i19 Newbold Bright, captain of the Roanoke Collegiate Institute (Elizabeth City, North Carolina) Baseball team, circa 1928
1505-s2-i20 Elizabeth City State Normal School Baseball team, 1925
1505-s2-i21 Trap Team (Bertie County), circa 1940s
1505-s2-i22 Windsor Baseball player, circa 1945
1505-s2-i23 Elizabeth City baseball team, 1934
1505-s2-i24 Unidentified baseball team with trophy, undated
1505-s2-i25 Windsor baseball team, undated
1505-s2-i26 Unidentified baseball player, undated
1505-s2-i27 Hertford High School baseball team, 1915
1505-s2-i28 Four members of the Tuskegee Army Airforce baseball team, 1945
1505-s2-i29 Perguimans baseball team celebrating their district championship victory, 1959
1505-s2-i30 Unidentified baseball player, undated
1505-s2-i31 Unidentified baseball player, undated
1505-s2-i32 Photograph of the Albemarle League Schedule, undated
1505-s2-i33 Two undidentified baseball players and one unidentified male with trophies, undated
1505-s2-i34 Ahoskie baseball team, 1934
1505-s2-i35 Edenton baseball team, 1934
1505-s2-i36 Wayne Hefren, undated
1505-s2-i37 Elizabeth City Senators baseball team, 1946
1505-s2-i38 Unidentified group of men, undated
1505-s2-i39 Moe Bauer, undated
1505-s2-i40 Windsor baseball team, undated
1505-s2-i41 Zeke Bella and Bob Del Greco, undated
1505-s2-i42 Hertford Indians baseball team, Albemarle League, 1959
1505-s2-i43 Duke University baseball team, 1949
1505-s2-i44 Trinity College baseball team, 1910
1505-s2-i45 Chowan Bee baseball team, 1949
1505-s2-i46 Como Eagles ballpark, Hertford County, North Carolina, 1955
1505-s2-i47 Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Vincent J. Murphy throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Newark Eagles baseball team, undated
1505-s2-i48 James Adam, captain of the Elizabeth City State Normal School baseball team, 1925
1505-s2-i49 Andrew "Salt" Williams of the Tuskegee Army Airforce baseball team, 1947
1505-s2-i50 Pratt Fearing, ca. 1905
1505-s2-i51 Duke University Alumni Baseball Game, September 26, 1998
1505-s2-i52 Leroy Sires, Bill Bergeron, and Parker Chesson at the Duke University Alumni baseball game, September 26, 1998
1505-s2-i53 Leroy Sires and Bill Bergeron at the Duke University Alumni baseball game, September 26, 1998
1505-s2-i54 Group of players at the Duke University Alumni baseball game, September 26, 1998
1505-s2-i55 Ed Ellis, 1948
1505-s2-i56 Jack Andrews, 1948
1505-s2-i57 John Durkin, 1948
1505-s2-i58 Streeter Tugwell, undated
1505-s2-i59 Andrew "Zero" Holliday, 1948
1505-s2-i60 Elizabeth City baseball team, 1903
1505-s2-i61 Hertford High School baseball team, undated
1505-s2-i62 Elizabeth City baseball team, ca. 1910
1505-s2-i63 Elizabeth City Senators baseball team, 1946
1505-s2-i64 Colerain baseball team, 1947
1505-s2-i65 Lagray "Poss" Askew and Earl Dempsey, 1939
1505-s2-i66 Fred Castelloe and Ken Salinger, 1945
1505-s2-i67 A. Wayne Hefren, undated
1505-s2-i68 Williamston Martins baseball team, 1939
1505-s2-i69 Elizabeth City Jaybirds baseball team, 1936
1505-s2-i70 Williamston baseball team, 1934
Box 2 Folder d Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1905-1916
Box 2 Folder e Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1917-1922
Box 2 Folder f Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1925
Box 2 Folder g Newspaper Clippings, 1926
Box 2 Folder h Newspaper Clippings, 1927-1929
Box 2 Folder i Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1930
Box 2 Folder j Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1931
Box 2 Folder k Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1932
Box 3 Folder a Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1933-1934
Box 3 Folder b Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1936
Box 3 Folder c Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1937, 1939
Box 3 Folder d Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1945
Box 3 Folder e Newspaper Clippings, 1946
Box 3 Folder f Newspaper Clippings, 1947
Box 3 Folder g Newspaper Clippings, 1948
Box 3 Folder h Newspaper Clippings, 1949
Box 4 Folder a Newspaper Clippings, 1950
Box 4 Folder b Newspaper Clippings with Inventory, 1954
Box 4 Folder c Clippings from the Daily Advance, 1940-1957
Box 5 Folder a Moe Bauer Interview (Tape 1 of 2), February 6, 1998
Box 5 Folder b Moe Bauer Interview (Tape 2 of 2), February 6, 1998
Box 5 Folder c Fred Fearing Interview (Tape 1 of 2), March 2, 1998
Box 5 Folder d Fred Fearing Interview (Tape 2 of 2), March 2, 1998
Box 5 Folder e Bill Fowler Interview (Tape 1 of 2), March 3, 1998
Box 5 Folder f Bill Fowler Interview (Tape 2 of 2), March 3, 1998
Box 5 Folder g Bill Fowler Interview - Summary Notes, March 3, 1998
Box 5 Folder h Vinnie Dilorenzo Interviews, June 1 and June 10, 1998
Box 5 Folder i Bill Herman Interview, June 5, 1998
Box 5 Folder j Bill Herman Interview, June 5, 1998
Box 5 Folder k Bill Wilhelm Interview, June 9, 1998
Box 5 Folder l Wally Taylor Interview, June 18, 1998
Box 5 Folder m Bill Bergeron Interview, September 26, 1998
Box 5 Folder n Leroy Sires Interview, September 26, 1998
Box 5 Folder o Henry Stokes Interview, December 18, 1998
Box 5 Folder p Charles "Punk" Spruill Interview, December 19, 1998
Box 5 Folder q Art Hoch Interview, February 18, 1999
Box 5 Folder r Sterling Wingo Interview, April 20, 1999
Box 5 Folder s Awood Holland Interview, August 21, 1999
Box 5 Folder t Hank Utley Interview, February 3, 2000
Box 5 Folder u Ray White Interview, January 22, 2000
Box 5 Folder w Streeter Tugwell Interview, February 11, 2000
Box 5 Folder x Streeter Tugwell Interview, March 15, 2000
Box 5 Folder y Charles T. Skinner, Jr Interview, September 12, 2000
Box 5 Folder z Joe Cherry Interview, September 13, 2000
Box 5 Folder za Charles Wales Interview, January 9, 2001
Box 5 Folder zb Marguerite McCall Interview of Fred Fearing (Tape 1 of 2), February 12, 1985
Box 5 Folder zc Marguerite McCall interview of Fred Fearing (Tape 2 of 2), February 12, 1985