This collection of official records will document the history of Pitt County, North Carolina, schools from about 1910 until the 1990s, highlighting especially the era of segregation. Included here are the Statement of Funds Needed for Six Months School on the Basis of Teachers' Salaries, Showing the Length of School Provided by Pitt County for the year July 1, 1916, through June 30, 1917, with separate statements for "White" and "Colored" schools, a letter (1924) from G. R. Whitfield, Supervisor for "Colored" Schools; audit reports (1928-1977); and scrapbooks (1970s-1980s) for Third Street School, C. M. Eppes Middle School, Third Street School, Greenville Middle School, and Agnes Fullilove School. Also included are building specifications and correspondence (1949-1982) related to Eastern Elementary, Fleming Street School, South Greenville Elementary, Greenville Middle School, Elmhurst Elementary, and Rose High School; football pamphlets for Rose High School; trophy cups (1922, 1980); and correspondence (late 1960s-early 1970s) with Arthur S. Alford, superintendent of Pitt County Schools.
The majority of this collection pertains to James V. Lobell of Maryland who was a leader in the footwear industry from 1913 to 1961; he founded Cavalier Shoe Polish Company which was purchased by KIWI in 1961. Included are business and personal correspondence, photographs, reports, shoe catalogs, and bound issues of Shoes and Leather Reporter (1910s-1920s). Papers also reflect his involvement with the Boy Scouts, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (especially during WWII), and Business Education among other topics. The donor wrote his master's thesis on Lobell's life and materials related to his research are included, too. Unrelated to Mr. Lobell are clippings (1969-1978) and posters concerning Rose High School (Greenville, North Carolina) football and baseball teams; a broadside "Chronology of Pitt County History" created by Jessamine Shumate (1953); and North Carolina public school education-related documents (1906-1933).