Manuscripts Department
Library of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION
#3822
WESLEY CRITZ GEORGE PAPERS
Inventory
Abstract: Wesley Critz George (1888-1982) was professor of
histology and embryology and chair of the Anatomy
Department, University of North Carolina Medical
School, and an internationally recognized researcher on
the genetics of race.
Early items relate to George's family and early
career. Materials relating to George's theories on the
genetic basis of "racial inferiority" begin in 1944.
There are also letters documenting George's disputes
with religious leaders, particularly at the Chapel of
the Cross in Chapel Hill, N.C., about racial mixing in
churches, and George's disapproval of the liberal
tendencies of President Frank Porter Graham and
sociologist Howard W. Odum at UNC. After the 1954
Brown decision, George's fight against school
integration escalated, reaching its height in 1955-
1957, when George was active in the Patriots of North
Carolina, Inc. Many materials, 1958-1963, relate to
the North Carolina Defenders of States' Rights, Inc.,
which picked up the anti-integration banner after the
Patriots' demise. George's activities in I. Beverly
Lake's unsuccessful North Carolina gubernatorial
campaign are reflected in materials dated 1958-1960.
Items, 1959-1963, document George's interest in race
problems in other countries and in the issue of
academic freedom on college campuses. Correspondents
include Carleton S. Coon, James P. Dees, Henry E.
Garrett, Luther Hodges, R. Carter Pittman, Carleton
Putnam, Clayton Rand, and Archibald Roosevelt. There
are also a considerable number of letters and other
items George received from individuals and
organizations with extremist ideas on race relations.
A scattering of family letters and a small number of
items relating to George's tenure at UNC are also
included. Writings by George relate to academic
freedom; civil rights; genetics and race; and
communism. Also included are writings by others on
race and other topics, notes, clippings, biographical
materials, genealogical materials relating to the Critz
and Dalton families, and a few family photographs.
Online Catalog Terms:
Academic freedom--North Carolina.
Academic freedom--United States.
Afro-Americans--Civil rights--History.
Afro-Americans--Education--History.
Anticommunist movements--United States.
Chapel Hill (N.C.)--Social life and customs--20th century.
Chapel of the Cross (Chapel Hill, N.C.).
Civil rights--Religious aspects.
Civil rights--United States.
Coon, Carleton Stevens, 1904- .
Critz family.
Dalton family.
Dees, James P.
Garrett, Henry Edward, 1894- .
George, Wesley Critz, 1888- .
Graham, Frank Porter, 1886- .
Hodges, Luther Hartwell, 1898-1974.
Lake, Isaac Beverly, 1906- .
North Carolina Defenders of States' Rights, Inc.
North Carolina--Politics and government--1951-
North Carolina--Race relations--20th century.
Odum, Howard Washington, 1884-1954.
Patriots of North Carolina, Inc.
Pittman, R. Carter (Robert Carter), 1898- .
Putnam, Carleton, 1901- .
Race discrimination--United States--History--20th century.
Race relations--United States--History--20th century.
Race--Genetic aspects.
Racism--United States--History--20th century.
Rand, Clayton, 1891- .
Roosevelt, Archibald, 1918- .
School integration--United States.
Segregation in education--United States.
Segregation--United States--History.
United States--Race relations--History.
University of North Carolina (1793-1962)--Faculty--History
--20th century.
White supremacy movements--North Carolina--History--20th
century.
White supremacy movements--United States--History--20th
century.
Size: About 4,800 items (10.5 linear feet).
Provenance: Received from Wesley Critz George of Chapel Hill,
N.C., 1969-1972.
Access: No restrictions.
Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers,
or their descendants, as stipulated by United
States copyright law.
INTRODUCTION
Biographical Note
Wesley Critz George was born on 28 August 1888 in Yadkin
County, N.C., the son of Thomas Miller (b. 1852) and Mary Critz
George. George's father had been a school teacher in Courtney,
N.C., until he moved the family to Missouri, where he opened a
hardware store. Around 1900, the family moved back to Yadkin
County, where they farmed on 160 acres of land and built a
private school. The school was soon given up, however, because
there were few people in the neighborhood who could afford to pay
tuition. After a brief tenure as principal of a school in Elkin,
N.C., George's father bought a newspaper and printing business
there. He operated these businesses until around 1920, when poor
health forced him into retirement.
George's formal education began in the family's private
school and continued in public schools in Missouri and Elkin. By
the time he reached the University of North Carolina in 1907,
George had already taught public school for a year in Cabarrus
County, N.C. While a student at UNC, George worked in the
University's print shop, setting English and Greek type while
studying classics. Entering graduate school at UNC, however,
George switched to the sciences, earning an A.M. degree in 1912
and a Ph.D. in 1918.
When a hernia kept George out of active service during World
War I, he accepted a graduate fellowship with embryologist E. G.
Compton at Princeton. He later served as part of a neurological
study team at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C.
After the war, George held short-term teaching positions at
several colleges until 1920, when he returned to UNC as associate
professor of histology and embryology in the Medical School,
specializing in embryology and comparative hematology. Much of
his research centered on blood studies of tunicates and molluscs.
In 1924, he became full professor and, in 1940, head of the
Department of Anatomy. He became professor emeritus in 1961.
George married Wilma Kirk Green of Monroe, N.C., in 1926.
The couple had one daughter, Patricia Ann. After a long illness,
George died on 29 October 1982 in Southern Pines, N.C.
Collection Overview
Materials, 1904-1940, are chiefly letters from relatives and
friends, largely relating to George's career choices that
eventually led him to a position in the Anatomy Department of the
Medical School at the University of North Carolina. Items
relating to race issues begin in 1944 and include letters about
race and genetics and about George's disputes with religious
leaders, particularly at the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill,
about their "liberal" stands on race mixing. There are also
letters documenting George's general disapproval of the thinking
and activities of President Frank Porter Graham and sociologist
Howard W. Odum at UNC.
Letters from individuals and newsletters from organizations
intent on maintaining separation of the races begin around 1951.
After the 1954 Brown decision, George's fight against school
integration escalated, reaching its height in 1955-1957, when
George was active in the Patriots of North Carolina, Inc. In
these years, George issued and widely disseminated a large number
of writings and speeches on racial issues. Many materials, 1958-
1963, relate to the North Carolina Defenders of States' Rights,
Inc., and its head, James P. Dees, rector of Trinity Episcopal
Church, Statesville, N.C., and later a founding member of the
Anglican Orthodox Church of North America. George's activities
in I. Beverly Lake's unsuccessful North Carolina gubernatorial
campaign are documented in materials dated 1958-1960. There are
also materials, 1959-1963, that document George's interest in
race issues in other countries, particularly in South Africa and
Rhodesia. Beginning around 1960, other materials show George's
thinking on the issue of academic freedom, particularly as it
related to free speech on UNC campuses. Only a few items relate
directly to the 1965 Speaker Ban controversy.
In 1961, George issued "Race, Heredity, and Civilization",
and, in 1962, The Biology of the Race Problem, which was
commissioned by Governor John Patterson of Alabama. Letters and
reviews relating to these publications document the dissemination
of George's ideas on racial differences based on genetics. There
are also items, beginning in March 1957 and continuing into 1967,
relating to George's testimony on genetics and race in the Stell
v. Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education school integration
case.
Writings by George are sorted into the following categories:
academic freedom; civil rights, including school integration;
genetics and race; and miscellaneous, including the I. Beverly
Lake campaign, international race issues, and communism.
Writings by others are grouped as follows: civil rights,
including school integration; genetics and race; and
miscellaneous, including international race issues and communism.
Also included are George's notes on various topics,
including bibliographic references for some of his works;
clippings on race and related topics; biographical items;
genealogical materials relating to the Critz and Dalton families;
and a few family photographs.
Throughout the collection, there are letters and other items
from individuals and organizations with extremists ideas on race
relations. There is also a scattering of family letters and of
items relating to George's tenure at UNC. The volume of
materials drops off significantly after 1964. Some duplication
of materials may be found, due, in most cases, to George's
tendency to borrow from himself as he wrote articles and speeches
for different occasions and purposes.
The collection is arranged as follows:
Series 1. Correspondence and Related Items
Subseries 1.1. 1904-1940
Subseries 1.2. 1944-1954
Subseries 1.3. 1955-1957
Subseries 1.4. 1958-1971 and undated
Series 2. Writings
Subseries 2.1. Writings by George
Subseries 2.2. Writings by Others
Series 3. Notes
Series 4. Clippings
Series 5. Other Materials
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Correspondence and Related Items
1904-1971 and undated. 3,550 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Subseries 1.1. 1904-1940
About 150 items.
Correspondents are chiefly relatives and friends. In 1908,
there is a typed transcription of a letter from Roan Critz,
former slave of Haman and Elizabeth Critz to Mrs. T. M. George
about the death of her mother. In 1917, there are letters
relating to George's desire to attend officers' training camp.
Documents show that, when a hernia blocked his way to this goal,
George accepted an assistantship at Princeton. Later, he became
a private in the Medical Crops and was stationed at Walter Reed
General Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he was a member of a
team investigating neurological issues.
Letters from 1919 show that George was teaching at the
University of Georgia. In 1920, after a brief flirtation with a
position at the University of Tennessee Medical School, George
began teaching and conducting research at the Anatomy Department
of the Medical School at the University of North Carolina. From
1921 to 1940, there are a small number of letters about UNC
administrative issues and a few relating to reunions of the UNC
Class of 1911. In 1940, there are several letters congratulating
George on becoming head of the Anatomy Department.
Throughout this period, there are scattered letters from
relatives about routine family affairs, and, in 1926, there is a
series of letters about a financial settlement relating to a
mortgage note. No letters relate to George's courtship of or
1926 marriage to Wilma Kirk Green of Monroe, N.C.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, a few letters from
George's friend E. L. Mark, director of Harvard's Bermuda
Biological Station for Research, touch on biological issues, and,
in the 1930s, a few items relate to blood studies conducted by
George.
Folder 1 1904-1917
2 1918
3 1919-1929
4 1930-1940
Subseries 1.2. 1944-1954
About 175 items.
Very scattered family letters continue, but most items
relate to racial issues, particularly arguments against race
mixing (or race amalgamation, as it was sometimes called) on the
basis of genetics. The first letter in this series sets the tone
for the remainder of the collection. In his 23 March 1944 letter
to Rev. Charles M. Jones of Chapel Hill, George wrote, "The
presence in this country of the white race and the black race in
large numbers presents a problem which is, to my mind, the most
fundamental problem facing the country. ... In attempting to
break down the barriers against social intermingling of the two
races you are, I believe, doing a great disservice to the negro
and incalculable harm to the white race and the civilization of
America. There may be those who do not object to looking forward
to an America populated by a nation of mulattoes, but that is not
the future for my country that I anticipate with pleasure." The
second letter, dated 24 May 1944 and addressed to Howard W. Odum,
sociologist at UNC who also bred prize cattle, amplified the
theme of race mixing, giving it the scientific bent that is
central to George's work in genetics: "You are a breeder of fine
cattle, and know something about genetics. And yet according to
newspaper accounts and local reports you are promoting public
policies the ultimate results of which would be to do to the
white race in America the sort of thing that would be done to
your Jersey herd if the state were to require you to incorporate
into your herd the sorriest scrub bull in North America. I don't
understand."
From the mid-1940s through the early 1950s, there are many
letters from George to various church leaders, particularly Rev.
Jones and Rev. David W. Yates, rector of the Chapel of the Cross,
Chapel Hill, N.C., about interracial activities, both documented
and alleged, in Chapel Hill churches and elsewhere.
In an 19 April 1947 letter to UNC President Frank Porter
Graham, George cited one of his first public statements on race
mixing, quoting his own 1933 letter protesting the decision to
admit Jews at UNC "without regard to race." In the quoted
letter, George had written, "I wish it might never be necessary
to direct any restrictive measure against Jews or any other race,
but it may be necessary to do so in order to protect another race
or racial culture." In an undated 1950 letter to Willis Smith,
George outlined his objections to Graham's U.S. senatorial
candidacy.
In 1951, George complained to UNC President Gordon Gray
about the alleged indoctrination of UNC co-eds by such
organizations as the Federal Council of Churches that "stands for
racial brotherhood." Also in 1951 and continuing through 1953,
there are materials relating to George's tenure as president of
the North Carolina Academy of Sciences. These are chiefly
routine organizational materials and items relating to the
Symposium on Genetics and Contemporary Problems, which George
orchestrated for the May 1952 annual meeting.
In 1954, spurred by the Supreme Court's Brown decision,
George wrote articles against school integration and circulated a
petition in Orange County, which, according to a summary and
copies of actual signed petitions filed with the undated 1954
materials, was sent to Governor Luther Hodges and state
legislators in support of "... a policy of continued separation
of white and negro children in schools [that] had its origin in a
desire to strengthen the hands of our legal representatives who
would protect us from racial deterioration." In November and
December 1954, there are many letters of support for this
petition, which ultimately was sent to Hodges with about 5,730
signatures.
A 2 December 1954 letter to Mr. French contains a good
summary of how school integration related to George's genetic
"proof" of the necessity of racial segregation: "Briefly, my
position is this: Bringing the two sexes of the two races
together in more intimate social and semi social relations, as in
schools, during childhood and young adulthood promotes the
illicit and legitimate crossing of blood. This in the course of
time will result in the destruction of the white and colored
races and the substitution of a mulatto race. Reproduction in
humans follows the laws of heredity that are known for animals
and for humans. Consequently, the resulting blend of races would
be a blend of the physical, intellectual and creative qualities
of the two races. That would be socially bad because: All the
evidence that we have indicates that the negro races [are] on the
average definitely below the white races in intellectual ability
and creativeness. ... We can't afford to take a chance on
lowering the quality of our race and destroying our
civilization."
Beginning around 1951, there are newsletters and other
mailings from various individuals and organizations. Many of
these items graphically portray hatred of African-Americans,
Jews, and others. A large portion of these materials focus on
alliances, alleged or real, between white women and African-
American men (e.g., many reproductions of photographs of Ava
Gardner and Sammy Davis, Jr.), while others concentrate on
showing African-Americans in a negative light (e.g., drawings
filed with undated 1954 materials). Included are materials from
a few states' rights leagues and citizens' councils. There are
also materials from the more scholarly American Eugenics Society
and the occasional misdirected piece from the NAACP.
Folder 5 1944-1950
6 1951
7 1952
8 1953
1954
9 January-October
10 November
11 December
12 Undated
Subseries 1.3. 1955-1957
About 1,000 items.
Materials relating to the school segregation petition
continue; the petition itself appears to have been forwarded to
Governor Hodges in late January 1955, although signed copies of
the petition were returned to George well into 1955. The volume
of newsletters and other items from individuals and organizations
escalates considerably during this period. Among the groups
represented are the Association for Preservation of the White
Race, the Federation for Constitutional Government, the American
Society for the Preservation of State Government and Racial
Integrity, the National Association for the Advancement of White
People, the Defenders of State Sovereignty and Individual
Liberties, White Men Incorporated, and many states' rights
leagues and citizens' councils. There is also some material from
the American Eugenics Society.
The Patriots of North Carolina, Inc., with George as its
first president, is the most important and most heavily
documented organization during this period. Based in Greensboro,
N.C., the group was organized in 1954, but did not really become
active until 1955. The Patriots' goals, as stated in the 1955
charter and other literature, were: "... to maintain the purity
and culture of the white race and Anglo-Saxon institutions; to
promote the peace, domestic tranquility and the best interest and
general welfare of all citizens; to encourage and promote
friendly racial relations and racial peace and good will; [and]
to promote the value of maintaining the existing social structure
in North Carolina in which two distinct races heretofore have
lived as separate groups, and the value of educating the
different races in separate schools." Most 1956 items relate to
the Patriots, including a great many filed with the undated 1956
items. The group, however, was short-lived. In 1956, there are
many documents relating to questionable financial practices of
board members, and, by 1957, letters show that George had
resigned from the board, stating that the Patriots were more
concerned with fighting among themselves than working towards the
organization's goals. Also in 1957, documents show that George
became dissatisfied with the American Eugenics Society over the
election of Montague Cobb and Bentley Glass to the board of
directors.
During this period, there continue to be materials that
demonstrate support for George's theories, reveal George's
hostility towards the "liberals" with whom he lived and worked in
Chapel Hill and towards members of various religious
organizations, and document the constant barrage of writings and
speeches on racial issues that he produced and widely
disseminated. Many who were sent copies of George's writings
politely acknowledged receipt without stating their opinion of
the content, but some prominent individuals were more friendly.
In a letter, dated 11 August 1955, for example, North Carolina
Governor Luther Hodges wrote that he and George appeared to agree
on Hodges's plan for voluntary school segregation. In a 2
September 1955 follow-up letter, Hodges asked George, "Have you
any specific ideas as to what we can and ought to do if the
Negroes do not accept the voluntary plan, and there are evidences
that they will not." Also, beginning around July 1956, there are
many letters and other items from H. M. Roland, superintendent of
New Hanover County and Wilmington City schools, who responded
favorably to the scientific language of George's arguments and,
over the years, attempted to use George's writings as support for
continued segregation of North Carolina public schools. In March
1957, George began an enduring correspondence with R. Carter
Pittman of Pittman, Kinney & Pope of Dalton, Ga., counsel for the
white children involved in the Stell v. Savannah-Chatham County
Board of Education school integration case (see series 1.4).
There are also a considerable number of letters and other
items George received from individuals and organizations with
extremist ideas on race relations. Very few items represent
views contradictory to George's. There are also few family or
personal materials and little relating to George's tenure at UNC.
1955
Folder 13 January-February
14 March-May
15 June-July
16 August-September
17 October
18 November
19 December
20 Undated
1956
21 January
22 February
23 March
24 April
25 May
26 June
27 July
28 1-14 August
29 15-31 August
30 September
31 October-December
32 Undated
1957
33 January-February
34 March-April
35 May-August
36 September-December
37 Undated
Subseries 1.4. 1958-1971 and Undated
About 2,225 items.
Although there are some references to the Patriots as late as
April 1960, the group appears to have been replaced by the North
Carolina Defenders of States' Rights, Inc., around 1958. George
served on the board of directors, and James P. Dees, rector of
Trinity Episcopal Church, Statesville, N.C., was the president.
While still fighting the battle to maintain racial segregation,
the Defenders, especially in their later years, added a strong
anti-communist stand. Although George was a less active Defender
than he had been a Patriot, he still managed a lively
correspondence with Dees and other members of the group at least
through 1963, when the Defenders appear to have disbanded. Some
movement towards starting a new patriots' group is evident in
materials from 1964, but a letter dated 5 September 1964 shows
that Dees had already moved on to the Anglican Orthodox Church of
North America, which he and others had founded in November 1963.
A brochure accompanying this letter states that members of the
Church believed "... that the primary objective of the church
should be to glorify God ... and not to issue edicts on social,
political and economic matters, stirring up strife and discord
and civil disobedience." There is no evidence that George was
directly involved in any patriot-type groups after 1963. (For
additional information on the Patriots of North Carolina, see a
letter dated 20 January 1964, that contains George's summary of
the group's activities. See also the taped and transcribed
interview with George in Series 5.)
In February 1958, George started his campaign to persuade
conservative I. Beverly Lake to run for governor in 1960. In
1959 and 1960, many items relate to George's activities as a
manager, with strong support from the Defenders, of Lake's
Democratic primary (28 May) and primary runoff (25 June) races.
Included is a scattering of items documenting some of the
financial contributions made to the campaign, particularly by
small donors. After Lake's loss to Terry Sanford, letters show
that George and his supporters endorsed the eventual loser,
Republican Robert L. Gavin.
In 1959, George became interested in race issues in other
countries, particularly in South Africa and Rhodesia. Materials
reflecting this interest include papers in March 1959 documenting
George's disapproval of the trip to South Africa made by UNC
sociologist Guy Johnson, and letters showing that George hosted
South African officials in 1962 and 1963. George's international
interests later seemed to focus on supporting anti-communist and
anti-United Nations groups.
Starting around 1960, there are scattered papers documenting
George's thoughts on academic freedom, particularly as it relates
to what he saw as indoctrination of college students by liberal
professors and administrators. While George was also concerned
with blocking invitations from local universities to liberal
speakers--Hubert Humphrey, Langston Hughes (e.g., letter of 22
July 1960), Linus Pauling--there are only a few letters that
directly relate to the 1965 Speaker Ban controversy that rocked
UNC campuses. Similarly, there are very few items relating to
the bitter fight that erupted in Chapel Hill when a fraternity
pledged a black member in the same year. On a related topic,
there are many items about the 1960 appointment as editor-in-
chief of the Encyclopedia Britannica of Harry Ashmore, who George
labeled "an aggressive propagandist for race-mixing."
Many items in this time period relate to George's efforts to
provide "scientific proof" of the inferiority of non-whites based
on genetics. In 1961, "Race, Heredity, and Civilization" was
published and widely disseminated by Britons Publishing Society,
London, England, publisher of The Mankind Quarterly,
International Quarterly Journal of Ethnology, Human Genetics,
Ethno-psychology and Anthropo-geography, which began publication
around 1960 and carried articles by George as late as 1968. On
18 October 1962, an editor at Britons wrote, "Your book is going
all over the White World and I think it is doing a lot of good."
In 1961, George was commissioned (see invoice dated 17 October
1971) by Governor John Patterson of Alabama to write a scientific
study of the relative intelligence of white and African-American
school children and college students. The study, completed in
September 1962 and released to the public in October of that year
as The Biology of the Race Problem, created quite a furor, since
George was paid $3,000 from Alabama state funds to produce it.
When the commission was announced, the American Anthropological
Association passed a resolution condemning it, saying that the
Association "... repudiates statements ... that Negroes are
biologically and in innate mental ability inferior to whites...."
In November 1963, Science ran an article condemning The Biology
of the Race Problem, and, in early 1964, the debate over the
merits of the study continued in letters to the journal. In
February 1963, George was threatened with a lawsuit over a
quotation out of context that he used in The Biology of the Race
Problem; George avoided the suit by ordering errata sheets for
the first edition and removing the quotation in subsequent
editions. The Biology of the Race Problem appears to have sold
quite well on both sides of the Atlantic; there are many requests
for the book from individuals and groups, and, on 18 September
1966, there is a letter from a French publisher who wanted to
translate and publish it in France.
There are also items beginning in 1958 and continuing into
1967, relating to George's testimony on genetics and race in the
Stell v. Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education school
integration case (see series 1.3 for George's first contact with
R. Carter Pittman, counsel for the white children involved in the
Stell case). In 1963, there are materials documenting the
judge's initial ruling that forbade segregation based on race and
color.
George added several major correspondents during this
period: Carleton S. Coon, curator of ethnology and professor of
anthropology at the University Museum in Philadelphia and author
of the racially slanted "The Story of Man" (1962); Carleton
Putnam, founder of Chicago and Southern Airlines, Delta Airlines
board of directors member, author of Race and Reason (1961), and
publisher of The Putnam Letters, a series of texts on
conservative topics; Henry E. Garrett, professor emeritus of
psychology from Columbia University, president of the
International Association for the Advancement of Ethnology and
Eugenics, Inc. (IAAEE), and one of the editors of The Mankind
Quarterly; Clayton Rand of Mississippi, owner of the Dixie Press,
editor of rural newspapers, and self-styled "fighting editor of
the Deep South," who issued a series of pamphlets called "The Wit
and Wisdom of Clayton Rand"; and Archibald Roosevelt, who appears
to have been involved in distributing "Race, Heredity, and
Civilization" in the United States. There are also scattered
letters from public figures like Jesse Helms, then with WRAL-TV
in Raleigh, and George Wallace, who wrote on 4 November 1963
about his appearance on the "Today Show."
During this period, there continue to be letters and other
items from individuals and organizations with extremist ideas on
race relations (e.g., a letter, 12 June 1960, from a man in
Florida who was convinced that teaching white children to use
"criticism, sarcasm, and caustic ridicule" against African-
American children would end African-American's desire for school
integration; a letter, filed with undated 1961 materials, from a
person concerned with the anatomical characteristics of "a true
Negro virgin"; a letter, 5 November 1963, from a man in Oregon
about establishing a "Caucasian Peoples' National Homeland").
Again, in this period, there is little relating to family
and personal matters. George's work at UNC is reflected chiefly
in letters of congratulation on the ceremonial hanging of his
portrait in the Medical School in April 1959. There are no
materials relating to his becoming professor emeritus in 1961.
The volume of letters drops off significantly after 1964.
1968 materials end in July; there are very few items dated 1969-
1971. Undated materials (ca. 25 items) consist chiefly of copies
of letters written by George on various topics and newsletters
from organizations like the Federation for Constitutional
Government and the Citizens' Protective League. The Citizens'
Protective League's newsletter contains particularly graphic
drawings relating to race inferiority.
1958
Folder 38 January-April
39 May-August
40 September-December
41 Undated
1959
42 January-February
43 March-May
44 June-September
45 October-December
46 Undated
1960
47 January-March
48 April
49 May
50 June
51 July-October
52 November-December
53 Undated
1961
54 January-March
55 April-July
56 August-October
57 November
58 December
59 Undated
1962
60 January-March
61 April-July
63 August-September
63-64 October
65 November
66 December
67 Undated
1963
68 January
69 February
70 March
71 April
72 May
73 June
74 July
75 August
76 September
77 October
78 November
79 December
80 Undated
1964
81 January-February
82 March-April
83 May-August
84 September-December and undated
1965
85 January-April
86 May-August
87 September-December and undated
1966
88 January-May
89 June-September
90 October-December and undated
1967
91 January-April
92 May-September
93 October-December
94 1968
95 1969-1971
96-97 Undated
Series 2. Writings
1950s-1960s. About 650 items.
Arrangement: by topic.
Subseries 2.1. Writings by George
About 250 items.
Chiefly short writings by George on various topics as
categorized below. There are, however, some longer works,
especially in the genetics category. The categories are quite
broad, and there is considerable overlap among them. In some
cases, there are several versions of the same basic text, since
George often borrowed freely from himself as he wrote articles
and speeches for different occasions and purposes. Several
writings in this series were prepared by George on behalf of the
Patriots of North Carolina; a few others were written for I.
Beverly Lake's 1960 gubernatorial campaign. Some writings appear
in both typed and printed formats, and many of the typed copies
are heavily edited in George's hand. Most writings are undated.
Some of George's letters to editors, especially those that are
dated, are filed in chronological order in Series 1. Writing
fragments are filed with the notes in Series 3.
Folder 98 Academic freedom, including writings about
speakers and courses at UNC that George
considered controversial and about George's
displeasure with the appointment of Harry S.
Ashmore as editor-in-chief of the
Encyclopedia Britannica. About 20 items.
Folders 99-100 Civil rights, including school integration
and disagreements George had with church
leaders on interracial activities. Included
is "Human Progress and the Race Problem."
About 50 items.
Folders 101-105 Genetics and race. Included are:
"The Biology of the Race Problem";
"Brains, Behavior, and Statecraft";
"Brains, Intelligence, and Populations";
"Genes, Brains, and Social Policies";
"Genetics and the Course of Civilization";
"Lecture to Dr. Odum's Class, April 24,
1946";
"Race Differences and Our Race Problem";
"Race, Heredity, and Civilization";
"The Race Problem from the Standpoint of
One Who Is Concerned About the Evils of
Miscegenation";
"A 'Scientific Racist's' Rejoinder";
"Statement of Dr. W. C. George on S. 1731
1731 (Civil Rights Bill)."
About 80 items.
Folder 106 Miscellaneous, including a few writings
broadly detailing the dangers of communism,
several historical sketches relating to the
UNC, a few writings about being a scientist,
and a small number of original poems.
Included are:
"Medical Education in Chapel Hill--A
Historical Sketch";
"The Responsibility of Scientists in the
Era of Subversion of the Intellect."
About 20 items.
Subseries 2.2. Writings by Others
1940s-1970s. About 400 items.
Chiefly short writings on topics having to do with race,
many dealing with attempts to establish a genetic proof of the
inferiority of African-Americans, Jews, and others. Some
writings are published works, especially from journals like
Eugenics Quarterly, while others are typed copies of works that
were probably never published. The authors of most writings are
identified, but the great majority are undated. Many writings
are by R. Carter Pittman; there are also several publications of
the International Association for the Advancement of Ethnology
and Eugenics, Inc. (IAAEE), Henry E. Garrett of Columbia
University, president. Writings have been grouped according to
broad subjects, and there is much overlap among them.
Folders 107-119 Civil rights, including writings on school
integration and citizens' councils. Included
is Turn on the Lights (1966), a full-length
draft sequel to Carleton Putnam's Race and
Reason. About 250 items.
Folders 120-124 Genetics and race, including copies of
references used by George when compiling his
testimony as expert witness in Stell v.
Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education; a
few UNESCO publications; and other scientific
works. About 30 items.
Folders 125-128 Miscellaneous, including pamphlets relating
to South Africa, and a few writings about the
dangers of communism. About 20 items.
Series 3. Notes
1940s-1970s. About 200 items.
Notes relating to writings of George and general comments by
him on various topics. Included are annotated bibliographies,
particularly on brain size; writing fragments, many of which were
used in completed writings; and informal comments by George
relating to quotations from various sources.
Folders 129-133
Series 4. Clippings
1940s-1970s. About 350 items.
Clippings, chiefly from southern newspapers, but also from
magazines and other printed sources. Note that complete
newsletters published by various organizations are filed
chronologically in Series 1. Clippings have been grouped
according to broad subjects, and there is much overlap among
them.
Folders 134-137 George's activities and reports of his work,
especially The Biology of the Race Problem.
Folder 138 Academic freedom.
Folders 139-144 Civil rights, including school integration
and general segregation issues. Included are
a number of clippings dealing with the
activities of the Patriots of North Carolina,
Inc., and a few about the North Carolina
Defenders of States' Rights, Inc.
Folder 145 Genetics, including articles reporting
"scientific proof" of race inferiority.
Folders 146-147 Miscellaneous, including articles on
communism, the United Nations, South Africa,
and Rhodesia.
Series 5. Other Materials
1940s-1970s. About 50 items.
Folder 148 Biographical materials, including lists of
accomplishments; publication lists and
abstracts of particular writings; and an
extensive interview on a 7-inch reel audio
tape (T-3822/1) with typed transcription
conducted by UNC graduate student Roy
Flewelling in 1971-1972, chiefly focussing on
George's activities with the Patriots of
North Carolina, but also including
information about George's early life and
research interests. About 10 items.
Genealogical materials, including
correspondence, 1939-1967; notes; and
clippings relating to George's interests in
genealogy, particularly of the Critz, Dalton,
and related families. About 100 items.
Folder 149 Correspondence
Folder 150 Notes and clippings
Photographs
P-3822/1 Wesley Critz George, portrait, undated.
P-3822/2-5 Wesley Critz George at various speaking
engagements, 1955-1960.
P-3822/6 Haman Critz, photograph of drawing,
undated.
P-3822/7 Critz homestead, built ca. 1760, 1958.
P-3822/8 Hardin Reynolds Memorial School, Critz,
Va., 1958.
Shelf List
Series 1. Correspondence and Related Items
Box 1 Subseries 1.1. 1904-1940 (folders 1-4)
Subseries 1.2. 1944-Oct. 1954 (folders 5-9)
Box 2 Subseries 1.2. Nov.-Undated 1954 (folders 10-12)
Subseries 1.3. Jan.-July 1955 (folders 13-15)
Box 3 Subseries 1.3. Aug. 1955-Feb. 1956 (folders 16-22)
Box 4 Subseries 1.3. Mar.-July 1956 (folders 23-27)
Box 5 Subseries 1.3. Aug. 1956-Feb. 1957 (folders 28-33)
Box 6 Subseries 1.3. Mar.-Undated 1957 (folders 34-37)
Subseries 1.4. 1958 (folders 38-41)
Box 7 Subseries 1.4. Jan. 1959-May 1960 (folders 42-49)
Box 8 Subseries 1.4. June 1960-Undated 1961 (folders 50-59)
Box 9 Subseries 1.4. 1962 (folders 60-67)
Box 10 Subseries 1.4. Jan.-Sept. 1963 (folders 68-76)
Box 11 Subseries 1.4. Oct. 1963-Aug. 1965 (folders 77-86)
Box 12 Subseries 1.4. Sept. 1965-1971 and Undated
(folders 87-97)
Series 2. Writings
Box 13 Subseries 2.1. Writings by George (folders 98-104)
Box 14 Subseries 2.1. Writings by George (folders 105-106)
Subseries 2.2. Writings by Others (folders 107-110)
Box 15 Subseries 2.2. Writings by Others (folders 111-115)
Box 16 Subseries 2.2. Writings by Others (folders 116-120)
Box 17 Subseries 2.2. Writings by Others (folders 121-125)
Box 18 Subseries 2.2. Writings by Others (folders 126-128)
Series 3. Notes (folders 129-131)
Box 19 Series 3. Notes (folders 132-133)
Series 4. Clippings (folders 134-138)
Box 20 Series 4. Clippings (folders 139-145)
Box 21 Series 4. Clippings (folders 146-147)
Series 5. Other Materials (folders 148-150)
Items separated:
T-3822/1 Audio tape of interview with George
P-3822/1-8 Photographs