Search Collection Guides

The Phoenix Historical Society: African American History of Edgecombe County was founded in 2001 to recover, record, and promote the unique history of Edgecombe County (North Carolina) as experienced by members of its African American community. This collection contains the society's official records, brochures, event programs, and publications related to research, community events and sponsored projects.

Papers (1782-1956, undated) related to the John Gideon Taylor family of Pitt County, North Carolina, including correspondence, legal papers, estate papers, financial papers, post cards, photographs, newspapers, advertising ephemera, genealogy information, Bible records, and miscellany.

Records (1826-1990) of Chocowinity, NC Episcopal Church including Register of baptisms, confirmations and communicants, 1844-1917 (incomplete); Register of church services, 6/1/1952 - 4/9/1967; Women's Auxiliary self-study survey notebook, ca. 1955; Vestry minute book, 11/1/1989 - 10/2/1990; and Cemetery plan of 1826 (copy), 1956 and other files.

Papers (1786--1873) consisting of land records, tax paid, bankruptcy, etc.

Papers (ca. 1890-2008, undated) of Vice Admiral Robert Lee Ghormley, a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1906, including correspondence, orders, diaries, memoirs, photographic prints and negatives, certificates and commissions, legal papers, printed forms, ephemera, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, maps, museum objects, broadsides and posters and publications related to his education, family and personal life, in Tacoma, Washington, Moscow, Idaho, and Washington, D.C.; his naval career; his life in retirement, 1946-1958; and also including genealogical and historical essays compiled by his son, Commander Robert Lee Ghormley, Jr. (U.S. Navy ret.). Vice Admiral Ghormley served in China, Nicaragua, World War I, and in Haiti. Between the world wars he had several appointments and also served as commander of the destroyer USS Sands and the battleship USS Nevada. During World War II, he saw service as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Special Naval Observer in Europe, August 1940-April 1942; as Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force, and the battle for Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands, April-October 1942; as Commander of the Fourteenth Naval District and the Hawaiian Sea Frontier, 1943-1944; and as Commander of United States Naval Forces in Europe, 1944-1945.

Manuscript (1880s-1890s) including manuscripts, consisting of photocopies, etc. 1 letter and 9 chapters.

This collection consists of three diaries (1915-1917) written by John Ambrose Chalk documenting daily weather, agricultural activities, and interesting social events in Chowan County, North Carolina. He and his family were living on Mulberry Hill Farm while he managed the farm for Mr. Henry Wood of Edenton, N.C. Also included are transcriptions of the diaries provided by the donor along with family information, and indices to places mentioned and interesting events.

Papers (1846-1937) including correspondence, financial records, legal papers, newspaper clippings, published speeches, announcements, and government documents.

Papers (1767-1976) of three generations of Beaufort County, NC, lawyers named William B. Rodman, including correspondence, letterpress books, speeches, financial records, legal files, farm records, clippings, printed material, newspapers, photographs, genealogical material and miscellaneous. Originally from New York, the Rodmans married into the prominent Blount family in Beaufort County, NC. The Rodmans also held local and state government offices and were judges.

The collection contains papers related to Dr. Mabe's personal medical practice, personal papers, product advertisements, and journal.

This collection contains material (1818-1976) belonging to Emily Louise Loftin (May 10, 1898-December 20, 1985) of Carteret County, North Carolina. She was an educator, librarian, and historian. Included are correspondence, land records, legal records, receipts, wills, and estate records related to the Laughinghouse and Pugh families of Pitt County, N.C., the related Bright and Loftin families of Lenoir County, N.C., and the Pipkin family of Wayne County, N.C. This material was transferred from the Emily Loftin Collection at the History Museum of Carteret County, N.C. Material related to Carteret County remains at the History Museum of Carteret County.

This collection includes letters mailed to Thomas Milton Carr, Jr. from May through December 1864 while he was serving in Company B of 2nd North Carolina Junior Reserves. Correspondents were mainly family members living in Martindale in Mecklenburg County, N.C., and nearby counties. Topics are news related to the Civil War, events of daily life and the effect of the war on them, and information related to friends and family members serving in the Confederate Army.

This collection consists of digital audio recordings of the weekly radio program What's Happening on Ocracoke?, hosted by Peter Vankevich and broadcast on WOVV 90.1 FM in Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. The recordings document local news, civic issues, and community events and include interviews and discussions with local officials, organization representatives, and community members. Topics addressed include town governance, public services, cultural activities, and issues affecting daily life on Ocracoke Island.

Correspondence (1868-1869), written from Japan by fellow U.S. naval officers Samuel P. Carter and Earl English.

Papers of physician Verne S. Caviness consisting of a typescript, carbon copies of typescripts, illustrations for journal articles, and a typed letter; all related to Dr. Caviness' publication of two journal articles.