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Papers (1862-1914) concern the life of Benjamin Holt Ticknor (1842-1914) of Boston, Massachusetts, after he enlisted in the 45th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, Co. G, in 1862 during the Civil War. Included are thirteen letters written to his father during the war with nine (November 1863-March 1864) of them written from Fort Totten in New Bern, N.C. Several documents relate to a court martial and trial he participated in; other documents relate to his postwar involvement in the Loyal Legion and genealogy research. Also included are photographs of his funeral procession. Transferred (not purchased) from Denning House Antiquarian Books & Manuscripts.

Photographs and negatives of African American minstrel show performers (most, if not all, are members of Silas Green from New Orleans show) both on and off stage. These negatives and photographs were made from the originals (1932-1942, undated) in 1998 and the whereabouts of the originals are unknown. Charles Morton starred as Little Charlie Morton Jr. with the Silas Green from New Orleans tent travelling show and posters listed him as Silas Green's youngest star.

Partial casualty report (7/6/1863) for the 5th North Carolina Infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg 1 - 3 July 1863, missing pages 1 - 4, but recording the wounded of part of Company G, all of companies H, and K, and including a complete recapitulation of the regiment's losses: killed (39), wounded (235), and missing (55), signed by 2d Lt. Edward S. Smedes who was later killed in action at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.

This collection (1942-1999) contains papers related to the World War II service of Lt. Commander Godfrey Cheshire, Jr., in the Pacific Theatre aboard the USS Harold C. Thomas (DE-21) for which he was the commander for a year. Included are photocopies of the ship's logs for the USS Harold C. Thomas, correspondence (1990-1992) with the Destroyer Escort Commanding Officers Association about reunions, Cheshire's military records (1942-1945, 1947), photocopies of clippings and articles about the Thomas and other DEs, photocopies of certificates, photographs, and DVDs containing oral history interviews of Cheshire by family members.

Letterbooks (1864-1866, 1868) including correspondence, letterbooks of handwritten copies of letters, one speech, one cash book, one invoice book, one monthly statement book, one order book, two poems.

Letters (20 November 1862 – 20 January 1863) from two brothers -- Alfred Howard Kinsley of Co. H, of the 45th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Militia) and Thomas Kinsley, serving in Co. A, -- from Camp Amory on the Trent River, North Carolina, to Edward Wilkinson Kinsley, a Boston merchant, Abolitionist, Government agent and military recruiter, who was probably their relative, and primarily concerning their service in Brig. Gen. John G. Foster's Expedition to Goldsboro, NC, including the First Battle of Kinston and the Battle of Whitehall, NC, 13 – 14, 16 December 1862. Autograph letters signed.

Papers (1941-1987) of member of U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1941, including correspondence, a partial diary, a thesis, articles, military orders, citations, clippings, certificates, and photographs relating to his World War II service aboard the USS CUSHING, USS HUTCHINS, and USS NEWCOMB; also including materials relating to his civilian business career, 1954-1987.

Papers (Nov. 1952) of Defense Department, Research and Development Board member, Dr. Paul R. Beall taking part in exercise aboard USS Coral Sea (CVB 43), including ship's booklets, rosters, schematic drawing, schedule, and photographs.

Papers (1870-1950, undated) of clerk of Pitt County Superior Court and his sons, consisting of correspondence, land records, legal records, pamphlets, reports, essay, poems, receipts, speeches, ledger books, and miscellaneous.

The collection includes papers and publications produced or related to the administration of John Decatur Messick. Materials include biographical records, correspondence, articles, newspaper clippings, administrative records, and other miscellaneous items.

This collection contains the records (1872-2014, undated) for the Cumberland Lodge No. 5, Knights of Pythias, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Types of material included are correspondence, financial records, rosters, visitors' registers, by-laws, deeds, records of proceedings and printed material. Membership information often gives a member's age, dates when each class or rank was attained, date of death and what dues were collected. In some cases indication is also given as to when membership was withdrawn, suspended or reinstated.

Papers of William Styron (1930-2007, undated) documenting the life and literary career of the noted Newport News, Virginia-born American novelist and essayist, including correspondence; manuscripts, photographic prints, proofs of published materials, printed material, loose manuscript items transferred from the Stuart Wright Book Collection and oversized materials, by or about William Styron, Malcom Cowley, James Jones, Eugene Genovese, and others.

Collection (1871-1970, undated) including correspondence, photographs, postcards, and printed material relating to the Stancill Family.

Papers of James Dickey (1950-1994) documenting the life and literary career of the noted Atlanta, Georgia-born American poet, novelist and essayist, including correspondence, manuscripts, photographic prints, proofs of published works, reviews of published materials, printed material, loose manuscript items transferred from the Stuart Wright Book Collection and oversized materials, by or about James Dickey, Louis Untermeyer, and others.