Ervin Family Papers, 1847-1987.

Collection Number: 04498

Collection Title: Ervin Family Papers, 1847-1987.

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the FAQ section for more information.

Expand/collapse Collection Overview

Size	9.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 2600 items)
Abstract	John Witherspoon Ervin (1823-1902), a teacher and writer, his wife, Laura Catherine Nelson Ervin, and their six sons and three daughters, lived in Morganton, N.C. Their fifth son, Samuel James Ervin (1855-1944) married Laura Theresa Powe (1865-1956); he became a prominent lawyer in western North Carolina. Correspondence among members of the Ervin family, chiefly 1915-1960; legal account books of Samuel James Ervin and medical account books of William Caldwell Tate (1808-1869), both of Morganton; short stories and poems by John Witherspoon Ervin; and other items. Most of the correspondence concerns family matters and was addressed to Laura Powe Ervin or one of her daughters, Catherine Ellerbe Ervin (1890-1940) or Jean Conyers Ervin (b. 1909). Some letters from Samuel James Ervin, Jr. (1896-1985), then U.S. senator, are included. Other material includes legal notes and writings by Samuel James Ervin, Sr., a diary kept in Morganton in the late 1930s by Catherine Ervin, photographs and other material relating to Ervin family history, and files relating to Jean Conyers Ervin's work in speech therapy.
Creator	Ervin family.
Language	English

Expand/collapse Information For Users

Restrictions to Access: No restrictions. Open for research.

Copyright Notice: Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], in the Ervin Family Papers #4498, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information: Received from Jean Ervin of Morganton, N.C., in October 1987 and January 1988.

Sensitive Materials Statement: Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

Expand/collapse Related Collections

Samuel James Ervin, Jr., Papers (#3847);
James King Hall Papers (#1563).

Expand/collapse Biographical Information

John Witherspoon Ervin (27 March 1823 - 15 April 1902) was a teacher in Clarendon County, South Carolina; he married Laura Catherine Nelson in 1844. In 1874, the Ervins moved to Morganton, North Carolina, where Ervin taught school and wrote fiction and poetry. The Ervins had six sons and three daughters.

The Ervins' fifth son was Samuel James Ervin (21 June 1855 - 13 July 1944). S. J. Ervin passed the North Carolina bar examination in 1879 and became one of the most prominent lawyers of his time in western North Carolina. He married Laura Theresa Powe (25 June 1865 - 14 June 1956) in 1886, and with her had ten children, among whom were Joseph W., Samuel James, Jr. (the U.S. senator), Jean, Catherine, and Laura.

William Caldwell Tate (circa 1825-1870), two of whose account books are in this collection, was the father of Catherine Elvira Powe, mother of Laura Theresa Powe (wife of S. J. Ervin the elder).

ERVIN FAMILY

John Ervin (1754?-1810) m. (1-1775) Jane Witherspoon (1753-1790) (2) Margaret Witherspoon

James Robert (1788-1836) m. 1813 Elizabeth Powe (1798-1832)

John Witherspoon (1823-1902) m. 1844 Laura Catherine Nelson (1821-1887)

Lawrence Nelson (b. 1845)

Erasmus Ellerbe (b. 1847)

John Conyers (1848-1922?)

Donald McQueen (1850-1915)

Susan Elizabeth (b. 1854)

Louise Nelson (1854-1929)

Annie Davis (b. 1861)

Henry Flinn (1864-1865)

Samuel James (1855-1944) m. 1886 Laura Theresa Powe (1865-1956)

Laura Witherspoon (1888-1976) m. James King Hall (1875-1948)

James King (b. 1918)

Dorman Thompson (b. 1919)

Samuel Ervin (b. 1921)

Catherine Ellerbe (1890-1940)

Margaret Tate (1892-1911)

Edward Powe (1894-1933)

Samuel James (1896-1985) m. Margaret Bruce Bell (1898-1986)

Samuel James (b. 1926) m. Elizabeth (Betty) Crawford

Elizabeth "Betsy" Fore m. 1987 Kenneth Anthony Razza

Robert Crawford m. 1987 Mary Cameron Clark

Samuel James "Jimmy" m. 1986 Mary Temple Coutu

Margaret Bell

Margaret Leslie m. Gerald Hansler

Laura Powe

Hugh Tate (b. 1898)

Joseph Wilson (1901-1945) m. Susan Graham Erwin

Eunice Worth (b. 1903)

John Witherspoon (1906-1973)

Jean Conyers (b. 1909) m. (1) Frank Porcher (2) Herbert Nelson Budlong

Other children

POWE FAMILY

Erasmus Powe (1768-1829?) m. 1792 Esther Ellerbe (1770?-1853?)

Elizabeth (1798-1832) m. 1813 James Robert Ervin (1788-1836)

William Ellerbe (1793-1845) m. 1815 Elizabeth Sloan Torrence (1797-1840)

William Ellerbe, Jr. (1829-1905) m. 1862 Catherine "Katie" Elvira Caldwell (1841-1918)

Laura Theresa (1865-1856) m. 1886 Samuel James Ervin (1855-1944)

Edward Knox (1863-1929)

Erasmus Ellberbe (b. 1873)

Mary Wood (1876-1932)

William Tate (1869-1906)

Elizabeth "Bessie" Torrence (or Tate) (1866-1895)

Other Children

TATE FAMILY

Hugh Tate (1772-1816) m. 1798 Margaret Erwin (1777-1850)

William Caldwell (1808-1869) m. (1-1836) Laura Thera Wilson Polk (1808-1848) Polk (1808-1848) m. (2) Adeline Massey

Catherine "Katie" Elvira m. 1862 William Ellerbe Powe, Jr. (1829-1905)

Other Children

Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The arrangement of this collection and the inclusive dates and size of each series and subseries are indicated below. This material is arranged within each series and subseries largely as it was when it was received at the Southern Historical Collection.

Contents list

Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

1. William Caldwell Tate, 1847-1869.
2. John Witherspoon Ervin Undated, (circa 1850-1875).
2.1. Short Works, Undated.
2.2. Longer Works Undated.
2.3. Poetry Undated.
2.4. Journal Excerpt, Undated.
3. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., and Laura Powe Ervin, 1885-1956 and undated.
3.1. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Account Books, 1888-1940.
3.2. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Legal Notes and Writings, Undated.
3.3. Laura Powe Ervin Notes and Notebooks, 1929 and undated.
3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated.
3.5. Miscellaneous items.
4. Catharine Ellerbe Ervin, 1910-1940.
4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940.
4.2. Writings, 1937-1940.
5. Jean Conyers Ervin, 1829-1987.
5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987.
5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987.
5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986.
6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984.
7. Pictures, circa 1900-1987.

Expand/collapse Series 1. William Caldwell Tate, 1847-1869.

2 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Two account books of William Caldwell Tate (1808-1869), a physician in Morganton, North Carolina. This series also contains a letter written by William Caldwell Tate during a trip north in 1845.

Folder 1	Account Book, 1847-1855 #04498, Series: "1. William Caldwell Tate, 1847-1869." Folder 1
Folder 2a	Account Book, 1855-1869 #04498, Series: "1. William Caldwell Tate, 1847-1869." Folder 2a
Folder 2b	Letter #04498, Series: "1. William Caldwell Tate, 1847-1869." Folder 2b

Expand/collapse Series 2. John Witherspoon Ervin Undated, (circa 1850-1875).

96 items.

Arrangement: By type of work, then alphabetically by title.

Fiction and poetry written by John Witherspoon Ervin (1823-1902), a teacher in Clarendon County, South Carolina and Morganton, North Carolina. Note: see Folder 126 for biographical information on John Witherspoon Ervin.

Expand/collapse Subseries 2.1. Short Works, Undated.

12 items.

Folder 3	"The Ball-Room Belle" #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 3
Folder 4	"The Brothers" #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 4
Folder 5	"Little Dorrick" #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 5
Folder 6	"Marion Prileau" #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 6
Folder 7	"The Masquerade" #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 7
Folder 8	"The Missing Wife" #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 8
Folder 9	"The Monk of Caipha or Love in a Monastery" #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 9
Folder 10	"The Pet Sister" #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 10
Folder 11	"The Revelation of a Lost Locket" #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 11
Folder 12	"Short Incidents" (under pseudonym Alvan Allen) #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 12
Folder 13	Short Story (Class F) #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 13
Folder 14	"Tracking the Forgers or The Mountain Home" #04498, Subseries: "2.1. Short Works, Undated." Folder 14

Expand/collapse Subseries 2.2. Longer Works Undated.

8 items.

Folder 15	"The Butterfly Boy" #04498, Subseries: "2.2. Longer Works Undated." Folder 15
Folder 16	"By the Skin of My Teeth (In the Swamp)" #04498, Subseries: "2.2. Longer Works Undated." Folder 16
Folder 17-19	"Horseshoe Valley" #04498, Subseries: "2.2. Longer Works Undated." Folder 17-19 Folder 17 Folder 18 Folder 19
Folder 20a	"The Lost Bride" #04498, Subseries: "2.2. Longer Works Undated." Folder 20a
Folder 20b	"Margaret of Glenquarry" (newspaper clipping) #04498, Subseries: "2.2. Longer Works Undated." Folder 20b
Folder 21	"The Spectre of the Fireside" #04498, Subseries: "2.2. Longer Works Undated." Folder 21
Folder 22	"Until the Dream Be Fulfilled" #04498, Subseries: "2.2. Longer Works Undated." Folder 22
Folder 23	"Vancluse Hall" #04498, Subseries: "2.2. Longer Works Undated." Folder 23

Expand/collapse Subseries 2.3. Poetry Undated.

About 75 items.

Folder 24	The Feast of Babylon, Cantos I-III #04498, Subseries: "2.3. Poetry Undated." Folder 24
Folder 25	The Feast of Babylon, Canto IV, draft #04498, Subseries: "2.3. Poetry Undated." Folder 25
Folder 26	The Feast of Babylon, Canto IV #04498, Subseries: "2.3. Poetry Undated." Folder 26
Folder 27	The Feast of Babylon, Canto V, draft #04498, Subseries: "2.3. Poetry Undated." Folder 27
Folder 28	The Feast of Babylon, Canto V #04498, Subseries: "2.3. Poetry Undated." Folder 28
Folder 29	Short Poems (photocopies of handwritten transcripts) #04498, Subseries: "2.3. Poetry Undated." Folder 29
Folder 30-31	Poems (typed transcripts) #04498, Subseries: "2.3. Poetry Undated." Folder 30-31 Folder 30 Folder 31

Expand/collapse Subseries 2.4. Journal Excerpt, Undated.

1 item

Folder 32

Typed transcription of excerpt from journal, 1894-95 #04498, Subseries: "2.4. Journal Excerpt, Undated." Folder 32

Expand/collapse Series 3. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., and Laura Powe Ervin, 1885-1956 and undated.

About 836 items.

Legal writings and account books of Samuel James Ervin, Sr., (1855-1944); notebooks and an address book of Ervin's wife, Laura Powe Ervin (1865-1956); correspondence between Samuel James Ervin, Sr., and his wife; and letters to the Ervins from their children, other family members, and friends and business associates.

Expand/collapse Subseries 3.1. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Account Books, 1888-1940.

16 items

Arrangement: chronological.

Professional account books of Samuel James Ervin, Sr., a prominent lawyer in western North Carolina.

Folder 33	1888-1896 (3 books) #04498, Subseries: "3.1. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Account Books, 1888-1940." Folder 33
Folder 34	1897-1901, 1912, 1915 (3 books) #04498, Subseries: "3.1. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Account Books, 1888-1940." Folder 34
Folder 35	1918-1919, 1925, 1932 (3 books) #04498, Subseries: "3.1. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Account Books, 1888-1940." Folder 35
Folder 36	1933, 1936-1938 (3 books) #04498, Subseries: "3.1. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Account Books, 1888-1940." Folder 36
Folder 37	1938-1941 (4 books) #04498, Subseries: "3.1. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Account Books, 1888-1940." Folder 37

Expand/collapse Subseries 3.2. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Legal Notes and Writings, Undated.

5 items

Notes on cases and chapters on the competency of witnesses and the relevancy and law of evidence. This subseries also includes a typed copy of an undated commencement address written by Samuel James Ervin, Sr.

Folder 38

Notes #04498, Subseries: "3.2. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Legal Notes and Writings, Undated." Folder 38

Folder 39-43a

Writings #04498, Subseries: "3.2. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Legal Notes and Writings, Undated." Folder 39-43a

Folder 39

Folder 43b

Commencement address #04498, Subseries: "3.2. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Legal Notes and Writings, Undated." Folder 43b

Expand/collapse Subseries 3.3. Laura Powe Ervin Notes and Notebooks, 1929 and undated.

10 items

A notebook containing names and addresses, a notebook containing mostly notes and magazine clippings about daylilies, notes on visitors at the Ervin home, and other items.

Folder 44a-44b	Address book, 1929; engagement calendar/diary, 1948; and other items #04498, Subseries: "3.3. Laura Powe Ervin Notes and Notebooks, 1929 and undated." Folder 44a-44b
Folder 45	Daylily notebook and other items #04498, Subseries: "3.3. Laura Powe Ervin Notes and Notebooks, 1929 and undated." Folder 45
Folder 45a	Notes on visitors at the Ervin home, 1886-1949 #04498, Subseries: "3.3. Laura Powe Ervin Notes and Notebooks, 1929 and undated." Folder 45a

Expand/collapse Subseries 3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated.

About 800 items

Arrangement: By correspondent, then chronologically.

Correspondence between Samuel James Ervin, Sr., and Laura Powe Ervin; and letters from their children, other family members, and friends. This subseries also contains letters, mostly to Laura Powe Ervin, but also to Samuel James Ervin, Sr., and the Ervin children, written at the time of the illnesses and deaths of various family members. Letters from Samuel James Ervin, Jr., are in Folder 51.

Folder 46-47	Correspondence between Samuel James Ervin, Sr. and Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 46-47 Folder 46 Folder 47
Folder 48	Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall to Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 48
Folder 49	Catharine Ellerbe Ervin to Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 49
Folder 50	Edward Powe Ervin to Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 50
Folder 51	Samuel James Ervin, Jr., to Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 51
Folder 52	Hugh Tate Ervin to Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 52
Folder 53	Joseph Wilson Ervin to Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 53
Folder 54	Eunice Worth Ervin to Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 54
Folder 55	John Witherspoon Ervin to Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 55
Folder 56-60	Jean Conyers Ervin to Laura Powe Ervin, 1921-1956 and undated #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 56-60 Folder 56 Folder 57 Folder 58 Folder 59 Folder 60
Folder 61-62	Daughters-in-law, cousins, grandsons, and other family members to Laura Powe Ervin, 1879-1957 and undated #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 61-62 Folder 61 Folder 62
Folder 63	Others to Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 63
Folder 64	At Margaret Tate Ervin's death (1 September 1911) #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 64
Folder 65	At Catharine Elvira Powe's death (Laura Powe Ervin's mother) (9 February 1918) #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 65
Folder 66	At Edward Knox Powe's death (Laura Powe Ervin's brother) (28 September 1929) #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 66
Folder 67	At Mary Wood Powe's death (Laura Powe Ervin's sister) (22 November 1932) #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 67
Folder 68	At Edward Powe Ervin's death (1 March 1933) #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 68
Folder 69	At the time of Laura Powe Ervin's illness (Richmond, Virginia, 1937) #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 69
Folder 70	At Catharine Ellerbe Ervin's death (2 November 1940) #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 70
Folder 71	At Samuel James Ervin, Sr.'s death (13 July 1944) #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 71
Folder 72	At Joseph Wilson Ervin's death (25 December 1945) #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 72
Folder 72A	His sister Louise to Samuel James Ervin, Sr. #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 72A
Folder 73	His children to Samuel James Ervin, Sr. #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 73
Folder 74	James King Hall to Samuel James Ervin, Sr. #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 74
Folder 75a	Others to Samuel James Ervin, Sr. #04498, Subseries: "3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated." Folder 75a

Expand/collapse Subseries 3.5. Miscellaneous items.

5 items.

Folder 75b

Railway passes and other items #04498, Subseries: "3.5. Miscellaneous items." Folder 75b

Expand/collapse Series 4. Catharine Ellerbe Ervin, 1910-1940.

About 727 items

Expand/collapse Subseries 4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940.

About 725 items

Arrangement: By correspondent.

Letters to Catharine Ellerbe Ervin from family members, friends, and others, and a few copies of outgoing letters.

Folder 76-77a	Letters from Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 76-77a Folder 76
Folder 77b	Fragments of letters from Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 77b
Folder 78	Letters from Samuel James Ervin, Sr. #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 78
Folder 79	Letters from Joseph Wilson Ervin #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 79
Folder 80	Letters from Jean Conyers Ervin #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 80
Folder 81	Letters from other family members #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 81
Folder 82-83	Letters from P. G. Hamlin, 1914-1917 #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 82-83 Folder 82 Folder 83
Folder 84	Correspondence with Bayard Wooten, Chapel Hill photographer, 1935-1938 #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 84
Folder 85	Correspondence with officials of the North Carolina College for Women, 1927-1931 #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 85
Folder 86	Letters from others, 1913-1924 #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 86
Folder 87	Letters from others, 1925-1928 #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 87
Folder 88	Letters from others, 1929-1930 #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 88
Folder 89	Letters from others, 1931-1935 #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 89
Folder 90	Letters from others, 1936-1940 #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 90
Folder 91	Letters from others, undated #04498, Subseries: "4.1. Correspondence, 1910-1940." Folder 91

Expand/collapse Subseries 4.2. Writings, 1937-1940.

2 items

Typed and handwritten versions of a diary of Catharine Ervin recounting daily events and containing garden notes and newspaper clippings; and Catharine Ervin's writings about the history of women's work in the First Presbyterian Church, Morganton, North Carolina.

Folder 94a	Garden Diary #04498, Subseries: "4.2. Writings, 1937-1940." Folder 94a
Folder 95b	History of Women's Work, First Presbyterian Church, Morganton, N.C. #04498, Subseries: "4.2. Writings, 1937-1940." Folder 95b

Expand/collapse Series 5. Jean Conyers Ervin, 1829-1987.

About 760 items

Letters to Jean Conyers Ervin; material relating to her work as a speech therapist and professor of speech and other subjects; and material relating the history of the Ervin family.

Expand/collapse Subseries 5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987.

About 550 items.

Arrangement: By correspondent.

Letters written by family, friends, and professional associates to Jean Conyers Ervin. Of particular interest are letters and postcards from Samuel James Ervin, Jr., in Folder 97, dated 23 June 1940, 19 June 1963, 4 March 1966, 7 October 1968, 23 March 1970, 19 June 1970, 13 January 1971, 9 July 1971, 17 September 1974, 8 May 1975, 8 March 1976, and 20 April 1976.

Folder 95	Letters from Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987." Folder 95
Folder 96	Letter from Samuel James Ervin, Sr. #04498, Subseries: "5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987." Folder 96
Folder 97	Letters from brothers and sisters #04498, Subseries: "5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987." Folder 97
Folder 98	Letters from other family members #04498, Subseries: "5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987." Folder 98
Folder 99	Letters from others, 1942-1966 #04498, Subseries: "5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987." Folder 99
Folder 100a	Letters from others, 1967-1977 #04498, Subseries: "5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987." Folder 100a
Folder 100b	Letters from others, 1978-1987 #04498, Subseries: "5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987." Folder 100b
Folder 101	Letters from others, undated #04498, Subseries: "5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987." Folder 101
Folder 102	Letters from Bower and Lucille Aly 1944-1976 and undated #04498, Subseries: "5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987." Folder 102
Folder 103	Correspondence with the Mayflower Society of Connecticut #04498, Subseries: "5.1. Correspondence, 1927-1987." Folder 103

Expand/collapse Subseries 5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987.

160 items.

Arrangement: By subject. Then alphabetical within subject.

Files concerning professional activities, trips, property, and other aspects of Jean Ervin's life. Folder 116 contains a letter from Samuel James Ervin, Jr. (24 November 1980).

Folder 104	Professional Activities and Writings An Automated Program in Speech Therapy #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 104
Folder 105	Professional Activities and Writings Esophageal Speech #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 105
Folder 106	Professional Activities and Writings Virginia License Law #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 106
Folder 107	Professional Activities and Writings Writings and Speeches #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 107
Folder 108	Professional Activities and Writings Writings of Others and other items #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 108
Folder 109	Trips An Adventure in World Understanding (23 June-25 August 1963) #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 109
Folder 110	Trips An Adventure in World Understanding #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 110
Folder 111	Trips Christian Heritage Tour (14-29 May 1979) #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 111
Folder 112	Property 2315 N. Vernon Street, Arlington, Va. #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 112
Folder 113	Property Holly Tree, Earlysville, Va. #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 113
Folder 114	Property Holly Tree Insurance #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 114
Folder 115	Miscellaneous Art Objects. Horace Burr #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 115
Folder 116	Miscellaneous The History of Burke County. Related materials #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 116
Folder 117	Miscellaneous May Thompson Evans. Nomination for Distinguished Women of North Carolina Award #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 117
Folder 118	Miscellaneous North Caroliniana Society Dinner honoring Samuel James Ervin, Jr. #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 118
Folder 119	Miscellaneous #04498, Subseries: "5.2. General Subject Files, 1950-1987." Folder 119

Expand/collapse Subseries 5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986.

50 items.

Arrangement: Chronological.

Information collected by Jean Ervin on the history and genealogy of the Ervin family. This subseries includes information about the Ervin, Erwin, Faison, McFadden, Goode, James, Tait, and Tate families. See also Folder 101, Undated letter from Claudia (Mrs. John M.) Belk. Folders 123, 125a, 125b, 126, and 129 contain material written by Samuel James Ervin, Jr.

Folder 120a	Ervin Family Genealogy #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 120a
Folder 120b	Descent of Ervins from John Knox #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 120b
Folder 121	Will of Alexander Erwin #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 121
Folder 122a	Will of Joseph Wilson #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 122a
Folder 122b	Albert Torrence (1752-1825) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 122b
Folder 123	Colonal John Ervin (1754-1810) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 123
Folder 124	Record from the Bible of Colonal John Ervin #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 124
Folder 125a	Colonel James Robert Ervin (1788-1836) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 125a
Folder 125b	Hugh Tate (1772-1816) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 125b
Folder 126	John Witherspoon Ervin (1823-1902) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 126
Folder 127a	Erwin family #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 127a
Folder 127b	Ervin and McFaddin families #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 127b
Folder 127c	A Legacy (Goode, James, Tait, and Ervin families) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 127c
Folder 128a	Faison Family of Old Duplin #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 128a
Folder 128b	Interesting Kindred of Benjamin Williams, Governor of North Carolina #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 128b
Folder 129	William Caldwell Tate (1808-1869) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 129
Folder 130	Robert Tate (1827-1911) and Julia Adelaide Tate Barbour #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 130
Folder 131	Laura Powe Ervin (1865-1956) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 131
Folder 132	Jean Conyers Ervin's notes on interviews with Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 132
Folder 133	Samuel James Ervin, Sr. Dictation to Jean Conyers Ervin #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 133
Folder 134	Edward Knox Powe (1863-1929) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 134
Folder 135a	Edward Knox Powe (1898-1938) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 135a
Folder 135b	Samuel James Ervin, Jr. (1896-1985) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 135b
Folder 136	Jean Conyers Ervin (1909- ) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 136
Folder 137	Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall (1888-1976) and other Halls #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 137
Folder 138	James King Hall (1875-1948) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 138
Folder 139	Margaret Bruce Bell Ervin (1898-1986) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 139
Folder 140	Samuel James Ervin, III (1926- ) #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 140
Folder 141a	Samuel James Ervin IV and Robert C. Ervin. Graduation invitations #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 141a
Folder 141b	Miscellaneous items #04498, Subseries: "5.3. Ervin Family History, 1829-1986." Folder 141b

Expand/collapse Series 6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984.

100 items.

Arrangement: Chronological.

Letters to other members of the Ervin family, primarily to children of Samuel James Ervin, Sr., and Laura Powe Ervin. This series also includes writings and clippings concerning Eunice Worth Ervin and the writings and subject files of other Ervin family members.

Folder 142	Letters to Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall from Laura Powe Ervin and Samuel James Ervin, Sr. #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 142
Folder 143	Letters to Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall from Catharine Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 143
Folder 144	Letters to Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall from Eunice Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 144
Folder 145	Letters to Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall from John Witherspoon Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 145
Folder 146	Letters to Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall and family from Jean Conyers Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 146
Folder 147	Letters to Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall from others #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 147
Folder 148a	Letters to James King Hall from Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 148a
Folder 148b	Letters to Margaret Tate Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 148b
Folder 148c	Margaret Tate Ervin. Miscellaneous items #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 148c
Folder 149	Letters to Edward Powe Ervin from Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 149
Folder 150	Letters to Edward Powe Ervin from Eunice Worth Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 150
Folder 151	Letters to Edward Powe Ervin from Jean Conyers Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 151
Folder 152	Letters to Eunice Worth Ervin from Laura Powe Ervin and Samuel James Ervin, Sr. #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 152
Folder 153	Letters to Eunice Worth Ervin from Catharine Ellerbe Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 153
Folder 154	Letters to Eunice Worth Ervin from Joseph Wilson Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 154
Folder 155	Letters to Eunice Worth Ervin from Jean Conyers Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 155
Folder 156	Letters to Eunice Worth Ervin from others #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 156
Folder 157	Eunice Worth Ervin. The Bicentennial of Burke County #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 157
Folder 158	Eunice Worth Ervin. Writings and Clippings #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 158
Folder 159	Eunice Worth Ervin. Quaker Meadows Cemetary #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 159
Folder 160	Eunice Worth Ervin. Miscellaneous #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 160
Folder 161	Letters to Joseph Wilson Ervin from Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 161
Folder 162	Letters to Joseph Wilson Ervin from Catherine Ellerbe Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 162
Folder 163	Joseph Wilson Ervin. Debate about Charles B. Aycock #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 163
Folder 164	Joseph Wilson Ervin (?). Debate about women's suffrage #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 164
Folder 165a	Speech by Guy T. Carswell (?) at time of Joseph Wilson Ervin's Congressional campaign #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 165a
Folder 165b	Typed copy of article about Joseph Wilson Ervin from the Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel, 21 January 1945 #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 165b
Folder 166	Letters to John Witherspoon Ervin from Laura Powe Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 166
Folder 167	Letters to John Witherspoon Ervin and wife Dot from various individuals. Also includes miscellaneous items concerning John Witherspoon Ervin. #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 167
Folder 168a	Fragments of letters from Laura Powe Ervin to her children #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 168a
Folder 168b	Catechisms studied by some of the Ervin children #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 168b
Folder 169a	Letters to Mary Wood Ervin #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 169a
Folder 169b	Letter to Edward Knox Powe from William Caldwell Tate #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 169b
Folder 169c	Letters to Catharine Tate Powe (Laura Powe Ervin's mother) #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 169c
Folder 170	Letters to Margaret Bruce Bell Ervin (Mrs. Samuel James Ervin, Jr.) #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 170
Folder 171	Letters from Laura Powe Ervin and Samuel James Ervin, Sr., to their grandchildren #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 171
Folder 172	Miscellaneous letters #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 172
Folder 173	Miscellaneous non-correspondence #04498, Series: "6. Other Ervin Family Members, 1918-1984." Folder 173

Expand/collapse Series 7. Pictures, circa 1900-1987.

54 items

Mostly black and white photographs of various members of the Ervin family.

Image P-4498/folder 1	Town residence of William Caldwell Tate, Morganton, N.C.; Home of Hugh Tate and later of William Caldwell Tate, Morganton, N.C.; Ervin Homeplace, Morganton, N.C. (2 pictures); Table Rock Mountain, Morganton, N.C.; Grave marker of James King Hall (2 pictures). #04498, Series: "7. Pictures, circa 1900-1987." P-4498/folder 1
Image P-4498/folder 2	John Witherspoon Ervin (2 pictures); Samuel James Ervin, Sr. (3 pictures); Laura Theresa Powe Ervin; Bob Tate; Mattie Tate Wood; Mattie Tate Wood. Mary McR. Todd Tate, Paul T. Tate, Jr., and James E. Wood, Jr. #04498, Series: "7. Pictures, circa 1900-1987." P-4498/folder 2
Image P-4498/folder 3	Samuel James Ervin, Jr. (6 pictures); Samuel James Ervin, Jr., Margaret Bruce Bell Ervin, Laura Powe Ervin, Margaret Leslie Ervin, Elizabeth "Betty" Crawford Ervin, Samuel James Ervin, III. #04498, Series: "7. Pictures, circa 1900-1987." P-4498/folder 3
Image P-4498/folder 4	Samuel James Ervin, III (2 pictures); Samuel James Ervin, III, his wife Elizabeth Crawford Ervin, and their four children, Samuel James Ervin, IV. #04498, Series: "7. Pictures, circa 1900-1987." P-4498/folder 4
Image P-4498/folder 5	Leslie Ervin Hansler and Gerald Hansler; Hugh Tate Ervin, Jr.; Joseph Wilson Ervin (2 pictures); John Witherspoon Ervin; Dorothy Kimball Ervin and John Witherspoon Ervin, Jr. #04498, Series: "7. Pictures, circa 1900-1987." P-4498/folder 5
Image P-4498/folder 6	Jean Conyers Ervin and John Marshall "Jack" Starrett (2 pictures); Jean Conyers Ervin (7 pictures); Wedding of Dorothy Mitchell and Hugh Bebb Jones, with brother of Hugh Bebb Jones and Jean Conyer Ervin; Jean Conyers Ervin, Sumiko, and Mrs. Chigusa; Jean Conyers Ervin, Mr. and Mrs. Chigusa?; Jean Conyers Ervin and tour group (2 pictures). #04498, Series: "7. Pictures, circa 1900-1987." P-4498/folder 6
Image P-4498/folder 7	John Sherin Ervin, Bruce Keith Ervin, Jean Nelson Ervin, and Jean Conyers Ervin; Laura Powe Ervin and Catharine Ellerbe Ervin, Eunice Worth Ervin, Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall, and Jean Conyers Ervin; Jean Conyers Ervin, Laura Theresa Powe Ervin, and Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall in front of Ervin Homeplace; Elizabeth "Betty" Crawford Ervin, Jean Conyers Ervin Budlong, and Herbert Nelson Budlong; Friend of Jean Conyers Ervin, Dorothy Friend, Laura Witherspoon Ervin Hall, Laura Powe Ervin, and Josephine Prall. #04498, Series: "7. Pictures, circa 1900-1987." P-4498/folder 7

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P-4498/Folders P1-P7

Processing Information

Processed by: Gina Overcash, January 1988

Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008

This collection is not yet refoldered since additions are expected.

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Collection Number: 04498 Collection Title: Ervin Family Papers, 1847-1987.

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Contents list

Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

Expand/collapse Series 1. William Caldwell Tate, 1847-1869.

Expand/collapse Series 2. John Witherspoon Ervin Undated, (circa 1850-1875).

Expand/collapse Subseries 2.1. Short Works, Undated.

Expand/collapse Subseries 2.2. Longer Works Undated.

Folder 17

Folder 18

Folder 19

Expand/collapse Subseries 2.3. Poetry Undated.

Folder 30

Folder 31

Expand/collapse Subseries 2.4. Journal Excerpt, Undated.

Expand/collapse Series 3. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., and Laura Powe Ervin, 1885-1956 and undated.

Expand/collapse Subseries 3.1. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Account Books, 1888-1940.

Expand/collapse Subseries 3.2. Samuel James Ervin, Sr., Legal Notes and Writings, Undated.

Folder 39

Expand/collapse Subseries 3.3. Laura Powe Ervin Notes and Notebooks, 1929 and undated.

Expand/collapse Subseries 3.4. Correspondence, 1885-1956 and undated.

Folder 46

Folder 47

Folder 56

Folder 57

Folder 58

Folder 59

Folder 60

Folder 61

Folder 62