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The Edward Baxter Billingsley Collection (1817-1819, 1938–1999, undated) consists of historical research materials, drafts, and a typescript copy (643 pages) of One Destroyer and World War II: A History of the U. S. S. Emmons (DD457-DM22), by Edward Baxter Billingsley, that he later published as The Emmons Saga: A History of the U. S. S. Emmons (DD457 – DM22). Also included are photographic prints, photocopied naval documents, and microfilm reels concerning his research, and correspondence (1817-1819) related to his dissertation on Chilean and Peruvian wars of Independence.

Papers and artifacts, primarily notebooks, account books, journals, instruments, and devices of three generations of Alfred F. Hammond's, all physicians in eastern North Carolina.

Memoir "Precious Memories. . .in My Life" by Wilson Crabtree (2006) about life experienced by the Crabtree and Oakley families in Rougemont, North Carolina, in Durham, Person, and Orange counties during the first half of the 20th Century. Family history and scanned photographs for the two families are given as well as documenting life in small diversified farms with tobacco as the cash crop. Accompanying the memoir is Mr. Crabtree's obituary.

Papers (1908 – 1986, undated [bulk: 1964 – 1986]) of John Porter East, including biographical, genealogical, and historical materials relating to his life (b. 5 May 1931 – 29 June 1986) ; his marriage to Priscilla Sherk East and their children; his service as an officer in the U. S. Marine Corps; his battle against poliomyelitis and the paralysis it caused; his graduate studies in political science and as a professor of Political Science at East Carolina University, 1964 – 1980, including his teaching files for each of his classes, his academic and professional publications, speeches, interviews; and also his conservative Republican political beliefs and affiliations and political career, including his several unsuccessful attempts to win political office in North Carolina, 1966 – 1976, culminating in his successful campaign for and election to the United States Senate in 1980; but the bulk of the collection focuses on his service in the Senate, where he was aligned with Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) and a member of Helms' political organization, the Congressional Club; including his mailing lists, correspondence and constituent cases and projects files; his office and staff files, including files of this administrative assistants, press secretaries and legislative assistants; his political patronage and nomination files, committee and legislative activities; his voting records, newsletters, voluminous clipping files, press and public relations files, including publications, audio and video of interviews, speeches, and political events; his frequent bouts of ill health due to poliomyelitis, hyperthyroidism, urinary tract blockages, and depression, and their side effects which may have contributed to his death by suicide; also including photographic prints and negatives, microfilm of committee records, correspondence, case and general files, voter registration files; and also oversized materials, 1981 – 1986, undated.

Papers (1898-1903, 1953-1984, undated) including photographs, clippings, biographical sketch, and photocopy of pages from "A Documentary History of The Negro People in the United States" concerning Alex L. Manly (1866-1944), African-American newspaper editor of The Daily Record in Wilmington, North Carolina, during the Wilmington massacre of 1898. Additional materials include typed transcriptions of nine letters (November 19, 1953-November 9, 1955) written by Caroline "Carrie" Sadgwar Manly (widow of Alex L. Manly) to her sons Milo A. Manly and Lewin R. Manly. The transcriptions were done by Milo A. Manly (1903-1991) and given by him to the donor, Professor Charles Hardy III. Also included is a photocopy of the transcription of an interview done with Milo A. Manly by the donor on September 11, 1984. The original interview is held at Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky.

Oral history interview with prominent African American businessman and political leader of Greenville, North Carolina, named Denison D. "D.D." Garrett, Sr. He discusses his background, education, business pursuits, and political involvement including race relations in Greenville and Pitt County, especially during the Civil Rights era.

Papers (1783–1930, [bulk 1862–1930]) consisting of correspondence, diaries, photographs, photograph albums, literary manuscripts, newspapers and newspaper clipping, a book of poetry, genealogical notes, etc., documenting the life of Commodore George L. Dyer, whose naval career spanned the years 1870 to 1908, and his family. He served in various stations, with particular emphasis on the West Indies, the Asiatic Station, Cuba, Madrid (as naval attache), and Guam (as governor).

Collection (1863-1865) related to the American Civil War and Andrew Giddings of Company E, 3rd North Carolina infantry. Includes Oath of Allegiance to the United States signed by Andrew Giddings on November 6, 1865 [Following the American Civil War, Confederate officials, veterans and prisoners of war were obliged to sign an "oath of allegiance" to regain their civil rights under the U. S. Constitution.]. The collection also includes a note concerning the capture of Washington Rose, a member of Company C, 6th Louisiana Regiment at the Battle of the Wilderness. Most significantly, the collection contains Andrew Giddings' leather-bound diary and ledger of income and expenses, which includes eyewitness accounts of the engagements in which he participated, including Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Sharpsburg, Malvern Hill, 2nd Winchester, Chancellorsville, and Wilderness. It also includes descriptions of his capture and imprisonment in a Union prisoner of war camp. The collection also includes an envelope that held the diary with "Granddad Giddings Diary" written on it.

Records (1874-1876) consisting of minutes and bylaws of Hearts Ease Grange.

Papers (1943-1951) including correspondence, war diaries, photographs, and an issue of The World War II Times.

Collection (ca. 1899-2011, undated) documenting the history of Pepsi-Cola in New Bern, N.C.; the involvement of the Minges family in the soft drink business, 1923-1992, in Greenville, Tarboro, and Rocky Mount, N.C.; and the Minges Bottling Group, Inc., of Ayden, N.C. Materials include clippings, correspondence, contracts and financial records, advertising materials, photographic prints and compact discs, printing plates, printed materials, trademark registration certificates, video recordings, ephemera,etc. Digital files document the history of the Minges family of Catawba and Pitt Counties, North Carolina, and the history of the Minges Bottling Group.

Collection contains mainly material related to the African American Navy Band members who served at the Great Lakes Naval Base during World War II (1942-1945). This material includes programs and related material from the February 28-March 2, 2003, salute to these African American band members that was held in Chicago, Illinois, and from former band member Carl Foster's participation in a symposium sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of History in 2003. Other material includes programs (1987) for concerts by the North Carolina Jazz Ensemble and a 1945 USO Hawaii booklet. A second focus of this collection is on the lives of Alex Albright's family members including uncles on his mother's side and their involvement with the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and World War II service and death.

Collection (1736-1922) of Lenoir County (NC) land records, financial records, distillery records, etc.

Photographs, ephemera (identification cards), correspondence, printed materials and forms, U.S. Navy uniform parts, and museum objects pertaining to U.S. Naval Reserve Radioman 3rd Class Jim Will Spry's training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Chicago, IL and service aboard the destroyer escort USS CATES (DE-763) in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during and after World War II.

Congressional files (1966-1992), of businessman and Democratic mayor of Farmville, NC, 1949-1953; state representative, 1955-1959; state senator, 1965; and U. S. Congressman from the 1st District of NC, 1966-1989, including correspondence, reports, legislative bills, memorandums, clippings, etc. 378 boxes. 126.0 cubic feet.