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Private journals/ships' logs (October 1860 - July 1878) of Benjamin Thompson, master of the brigs Progressive Age and T. A. Darrell, and the ships Sportsman, and Harrisburg (v. 1, 1860-1865), commander of the ship Columbia (v. 2, 1865-1870), master of the ship Peruvian (v. 3, 1870-1872), and captain of the clipper ship Great Admiral (v. 4, 1874-1878), illustrating his career aboard sailing ships trading between England, the east and west coasts of America, Southeast Asia (Singapore, Manila, and Hong Kong), and Tokyo, Japan, including highly detailed and dramatic accounts of shipboard life and commercial operations.

This collection contains a memoir (ca. 1872) about life in New Bern, N.C., from 1822 to 1872. It includes biographical and informational data concerning politicians, lawyers and other important New Bern figures, as well as descriptions of life in New Bern and historical incidents of the period. An appendix contains transcripts of letters from prominent people.

Oral history interview with William B. Martin, Professor Emeritus from the College of Education at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, relating to his experiences (1941-1945) in the U.S. Navy during World War II, including his participation in the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944.

Papers (1918-2005) relating to Greenville and Enfield, North Carolina boy scout leader including his World War I Diary recounting his service in the 14th Company, 4th Training Battalion, Depot Brigade and the 218th Ambulance Company in the American Expeditionary Force in France, 1918-1919, camp schedule, list of letters received and answered, addresses of French women, debts, English - French phrase, movements, places visited, and observations on daily military activities; memorials after his death; biographical sketches and clippings; letters and clippings describing him; and photographic prints of him in his World War I uniform. In English and French language.

Correspondence (1910-1911, 1913-1914) between Belva Agnes Ross and her parents William Henry Ross and Lida Baynor Little Ross and her brother Wilbur "Buddy" Ross while she is attending East Carolina Teachers Training School in Greenville, North Carolina. Wilbur Ross also started attending ECTTS with his sister in October 1910, but at some point he left to attend Guilford College. The Rosses were from Edward community about three miles east of Aurora in Beaufort County, North Carolina. Belva had to withdraw from school in January 1911 because she contracted the measles, but she returned to school at least by October 1913. Also included are abstracts of the correspondence created by Belva Ross's grandson Roy A. Archbell, Jr.

On January 14, 2009, Dale Sauter (Grant Project Director) and Chris Oakley (Grant Historian) interviewed David J. Whichard II and Stuart Savage. Both Whichard and Savage have been at the Daily Reflector for most of their lives. Whichard's grandfather and his grandfather's brother founded the newspaper in the late 1800s. Savage retired in March 2009 with fifty years at the newspaper. They have both been involved in the newspaper in many capacities, including Whichard as one time publisher, and Savage as photographer. What makes this interview so special are the reflections of both Whichard and Savage about their experiences at the newspaper and in the Greenville area. Obviously, many changes have occurred since the start of the careers and the present day. These changes include both the physical processes, as well as the whole nature of the newspaper business. During this time there have also been dramatic and sweeping social transformations in Greenville that also mirror changes that occurred on a state and national level. In the interview, both Whichard and Savage reflect back on this interesting time in history. [Quote by Dr. Christopher A. Oakley.]

A journal (1/19 – 6/29/1859) written by Augustus M. Handley, a young British Army officer in the 19th Regiment of Foot, of a voyage from Gravesend, England, to Calcutta, India, aboard the sailing ship H.M.S. Bucton Castle with Captain Moorsom commanding. The journal contains a detailed description of daily life aboard the Bucton Castle, including various personalities on board, daily activities, an explanation of the ship's time-keeping, a drawing of the ship with parts labeled, notes on the how-to of navigation, changing weather conditions, sea conditions, and meetings with the various ships along the way.

The collection includes materials (1898-1959) documenting the work of Shackleford Banks native Josiah Clark Chadwick working on freighters running from North Carolina to New York, and then with the Army Corps of Engineers in North Carolina (1927-1959) working the Eastern N.C. federal waterway projects on diesel engines and then inspecting dredges. Included are family history, Chadwick's work history, training materials, engineers' level books, logbooks, and inventories of engineering property in Chadwick's charge.

This collection (1823-1999) contains the papers of Robert "Bob" Boyd Robinson III. Robinson, born in 1948 in Halifax County, N.C., was a member of various groups including the Sons of the Revolution in the State of North Carolina. His papers include materials related to various families of Northeastern North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia.

Papers (1895-1956) of the Tapp-Jenkins Tobacco Warehouse, consisting of correspondence, bills, receipts, tobacco invoices, tobacco shipping papers, tobacco warehouse records, ledgers, pamphlets, publications, newspaper articles, political files and miscellaneous.

Collection (1862-1994) containing correspondence, service records, photographic prints, newspapers, newsletters and clippings, scrapbook, publications, pamphlets and other miscellaneous papers relating to the American Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II; also relating to the U.S. Navy, its ships, stations, and personnel; donated by various individuals to the U. S. Naval Memorial Foundation and transferred to its collection at various times; arranged in original order.

Papers (1926-1983) including correspondence, land records, legal materials, financial records, photographs, pamphlets, speeches, editorials, and miscellaneous materials.

Papers (1905-1942) of Allen Jay Maxwell, N.C. Commissioner of Revenue (1929-1942), including a biographical sketch, newspaper clippings, photographs, and speeches relating to state tax issues, his campaigns for N.C. governor, dissatisfaction with public school history textbooks and other aspects of his life.

A typescript of "Three years, three months and nine days", a memoir of a U.S. Navy enlisted man as a Japanese POW. (undated)

The Edsall R. Johnston, Jr., Papers consists of materials pertaining to the USS Mount Olympus (AGC-8), including a European cruise journal (1952) and materials pertaining to the U.S. Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland. All materials are photocopies.