Search Collection Guides

Collection consists of a two volumes titled "Journal of a Cruise from Norfolk, Virginia to the Pacific Ocean in the United States Frigate United States, Isaac Hull, Esq'r, Commander" kept by Philadelphian midshipman Lawrence Penington from 4 December 1823, through 22 April 1827. United States was one of six frigates authorized to be constructed by the Naval Act of 1794 and it served as the flagship for Commodore Hull who was head of the American naval squadron on the Pacific Coast of South America. Penington documents navigation statistics, weather reports and daily ship life, along with the larger issues of interaction between the American naval squadron and British, Spanish, Chilean, Colombian and Peruvian naval and military counterparts.

This collection contains papers belonging to Robert L. Ramey who served in World War II, had a career as a tobacconist, and was active in local government and community activities in Greenville, North Carolina. Papers include correspondence (1938, 1960s, 1990s, 2013), deeds (1950s), photographs, certificates, an oral history on CD done in 2015, clippings, paper items related to World War II, and 2 panoramic photographs of Scottish Rite members in New Bern (1958, 1965).

Collection (1936, 1941-1942) consisting of a photograph album of the S.S. ZamZam, an Egyptian-owned ship, its crew and passengers, including 120 American missionaries (from 21 different denominations), tobacco buyers and other passengers traveling from New York to Alexandria, Egypt, via Capetown, South Africa, who survived sinking by the German raider Tamesis 17 April 1941, including newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, periodicals, correspondence, and photocopies of an autobiographical account.

Records (1892-1903, undated) including correspondence, accounts, expense lists, repairing the engines, and miscellaneous.

Papers (1794-1972) consisting of correspondence, diaries, letters, financial papers, legal papers, manuscripts, publications, speeches, notes, etc.

Yukon gold rush diary (1898 - 1899) (Photocopy [117 p.]) and typescript copy with introduction by Frank Moss [January 1998, 44 p.] and copies of photographic prints of Yukon gold rush [15 p.] Original diary withdrawn 5/9/2002, in possession of the donors.

Records (1903-1998, undated [Bulk: 1987-1998) of the Robeson House Preservation Association, reflecting their to preserve the historic Robeson – Whichard - Taylor house in Pitt County, North Carolina, including correspondence, reports, photographs, drawings, grant applications, etc.

Diary and military records of Carter Berkeley Simpson (1915-1944). Includes a typescript of a diary and a facsimile of the diary. The facsimile includes photographs, military records, receipts of letters, correspondence, and a description of daily routine activities during Simpson's service and as a prisoner of war.

Papers (ca. 1890s-2003) of Nina Belle Redditt (1923-2005) and family of Greenville, Pitt County, N.C. Nina Belle Redditt, who served as a DKC officer in the U.S. Navy for 31 years, was the daughter of George Edward Harris, Sr., and Isabella "Belle" Augusta Hearne Harris. Included are scattered correspondence (1905-1907, 1930s-1950s, 1975), photographs and photocopies of photographs (1890s-1978), clippings (1950s-2003), and genealogical notes related to the Harris, Hearne and Moore families of Pitt County and the Redditt family of Beaufort County, N.C. Also included are two books: Old Southern Songs of the Period of the Confederacy, and Southern Sidelights by Rev. William E. Cox. Additional material relates to Nina Belle Redditt's Navy career and includes a photograph album (1947-1955) of service in Malta, Bainbridge, Maryland, and the Portrex war exercise in Puerto Rico; and photographs (1953) and documents (1956, 1963) related to the Korean War Military Armistice Agreement and the United Nations Command's involvement.

Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867 near Millville, Indiana and his brother Orville was born in 1871. The boys owned a bicycle shop before using their experience, tools, and equipment to experiment with flight. The collection is circa 1920 and includes a pamphlet titled Essais de Wilbur Wright, Le Mans - 1908: La Conquete de l'Air / Wilbur Wright's Trial: The Conquest of the Air. The strength of this collection is the introduction and postcards detailing Wilbur Wright and his 1908 experimental and demonstration flights in Le Mans, France.

Collection contains World War II maps previously belonging to CPL Kirby Singleton of the 71st Armored Field Artillery Battalion. Included are maps of the movements of the 71st Armored F.A.B. and Battery "B" of the 387th AA (AW) Battalion for July 28, 1944, through May 9, 1945; map showing the advance of the 5th Armored "Victory Division" from the Rhine River to the Elbe River March 31 through April 23, 1945; and a portion of the 5th Armored Division map (undated) showing movements in France, Luxembourg, and Germany.

March 9, 1861, issue of the Weekly National Intelligencer, a Washington, D.C., newspaper.

John L. Wooten's daily physician log from 1962.

Papers (1843-1942; bulk 1843-1891) of Kinston, NC, attorney John Franklin Wooten and members of the Wooten, Harper and Moseley families of Lenoir Co., NC, and the Christian family of Virginia including correspondence, deeds, plats, financial records and miscellany.

Diaries, journals and letters (1897-1906, 1986-1988) of Mormon missionaries in Eastern North Carolina (1897-1906), including William A. Adams, 1900-1902, James Godfrey, 1899-1901, William M. Hansen, 1897-1898, William R. Hobbs, 1901-1903, Lewis Johnson, 1903-1905, William A. Petty, 1905-1906, and James Taylor, 1900-1902, along with Memoirs, Notes, clippings, anecdotes and other materials compiled by Joel Grant Handcock, for use in the book Strengthened by the Storm.