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 (1861-1865, undated) of Civil War soldier in the 12th Ohio Battery, consisting of diary, copy, comments, transport discomfort, marriage, doggerel rhymes, clothing bills.
Papers (1777-2022) relating to John Baxton Flowers III academic career, family history and Scottish genealogy (Flowers, Kennedy, and Thompson families of Wayne County, NC), historic preservation, horticulture and garden history. Included are correspondence, financial and legal papers, academic records, newspaper clippings, photographs, typescripts, genealogical material, publications, certificates, house plans, watercolor drawings, and newsletters.
Collection (1799-1897, 1913) including correspondence, 1835-1897, 1913, and financial records, 1799-1894, of New Bern, NC merchant, whose store was used by Union troops, and who was appointed "Superintendent of Poor Whites" for Craven County, NC.
Papers (1780-1969; bulk 1808-1924) including correspondence, land records, legal papers, financial papers, ledgers, etc., of two prominent Eastern North Carolina families--Grimes and Bryan--related through marriage. Other material concerns the Wharton and Conrad families of Clemmonsville, North Carolina, in Davidson County, who are also related by marriage to the Grimes family.
Journal (1905-1906) consisting of reminiscences, historical, genealogical notations, insurance, autobiographical sketch, textbooks, journal entries of salaries, etc.
Collection (1802-2008) of two East Carolina University history professors, includes their academic works, historical reviews, correspondence with various organizations of educational, historical, political, and philanthropic persuasions. Also includes family files on Steelman and Edmisten families, plus large collection of familial correspondence.
Papers (1805-1968; bulk 1860-1916) consisting of correspondence of a political nature, family-related correspondence, speeches, financial papers, farm records, farm account books, clippings, photographs, a diary and printed material related to Elias Carr and other members of the Carr and related families. Elias Carr (1839-1900) of Edgecombe County, a member of the Democratic Party, was the governor of North Carolina (1893-1897) and president of the N.C. State Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union (1889-1892).