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Collection Number: 04101

Collection Title: R. B. House's paper regarding Frank Porter Graham, 1962-1974

This collection has access restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.

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 Duplication Policy section for more information.


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Size 3.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 140 items)
Abstract Audio tape recordings of interviews, some with typed transcripts, scattered correspondence, writings, and miscellaneous materials about Frank Porter Graham (1886-1972), president of the University of North Carolina, 1930-1949, and U.S. senator, 1949-1950, collected by G. Maurice Hill, businessman of Morganton, N.C., as he prepared to write a book about Graham. Interviewees include Archie Daniels, Mark Ethridge, Miguel Elias, Robert B. House, William C. Friday, Collier Cobb, and Lucy Morgan. In addition to Graham, topics discussed in interviews include other aspects of the University of North Carolina, North Carolina and national politics, and education in North Carolina.
Creator Hill, G. Maurice, 1905-1975, collector.

House, R. B. (Robert Burton), 1892-
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Language English
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Restrictions to Access
Use of audio materials may require production of listening copies.
This statement needs to be added to the listed finding aids within the Restrictions to Access: Access to streaming audio or moving image materials may be restricted to researchers who can authenticate with an ONYEN or who are physically present on campus. For further information about access to streaming audiovisual materials, contact Research and Instructional Services staff at Wilsonlibrary@unc.edu
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 R. B. House's paper regarding Frank Porter Graham #4101, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Mrs. G. Maurice Hill, Sr., Chapel Hill, N.C., in August and December 1976, and November 1980.
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.
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Processed by: Ellen Neal, 1976; Carolyn Roff, July 1986

Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008

Updated by: Gergana Abernathy, July 2016

Updated by: Anne Wells, February 2018

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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.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Biographical Information

G[eorge] Maurice Hill, the son of Lucy Callahan and Robert Martin Hill, was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, in 1905, graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1925, and worked for the Utilities Division of the University from 1926 until 1934 when he became special assistant to University President Frank Porter Graham, a position he held until 1941 when he became associate director of the Institute of Government as well as a member of the Office of Price Administration. He worked for a year at Broughton Hospital in Morganton, North Carolina, and then in 1944 moved to Drexel Furniture Company where he was elected president in 1960. In 1965 he became president of the company's parent company Drexel Enterprises.

When he retired from Drexel Enterprises in 1970 he began work on a book about Frank Porter Graham under whom he had worked at the University. This collection, which he assembled for the book he was unable to complete before his death in 1975, includes scattered correspondence, 1962-1972, about his research; tapes and transcripts of interviews with Graham himself and with Graham's friends, colleagues and family; articles about Graham written by Hill for the Charlotte Observer; preliminary outlines for Hill's book and letters from the Charlotte Observer concerning the publishing and writing of the book; typed copies of selected articles from the Charlotte Observer, 1919-1921; and miscellaneous notes and materials including a proposal for an unrelated novel.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

Audio tape recordings of interviews, some with typed transcripts, scattered correspondence, writings, and miscellaneous materials about Frank Porter Graham (1886-1972), president of the University of North Carolina, 1930-1949, and U.S. senator, 1949-1950, collected by G. Maurice Hill, businessman of Morganton, N.C., as he prepared to write a book about Graham. Interviewees include Archie Daniels, Mark Ethridge, Miguel Elias, Robert B. House, William C. Friday, Collier Cobb, and Lucy Morgan. In addition to Graham, topics discussed in interviews include other aspects of the University of North Carolina, North Carolina and national politics, and education in North Carolina.

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Contents list

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. Correspondence, 1962-1974.

55 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Primarily letters (in part copies) between Hill in Morganton, N.C., and individuals he interviewed about Frank Porter Graham, especially Miguel "Mike" G. Elias of New York, N.Y. February 17, 1971, Frank Porter Graham, Chapel Hill, to G. Maurice Hill, illness of Hill's wife. Included as well is correspondence with the Charlotte Observer about writing and printing of the book. Scattered bills, receipts and business correspondence including a letter, March 3, 1972, to Hill from William E. Stevens, Jr., Lenoir, N.C., about the Southern Furniture Manufacturers' Association of which Hill had been president.

Folder 1

1962-1972

Folder 2

1973-1974 and undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2. Interviews, 1970-1974.

16 items.

Interviews which Hill conducted with Graham himself, and his friends, colleagues, and family which focus on the career, philosophy and personality of Frank Porter Graham. These interviews often include discussion of past and present state and national politics; the development of higher education in North Carolina; individuals who played an important role in the University, especially Harry W. Chase, L. R. Wilson, William G. Carmichael, and Gordon Gray; and other topics unrelated to Graham.

Some interviews, especially those with Archie Daniels and Mark Ethridge, also include much information on the career of the interviewee and all interviews include frequent comment by Maurice Hill, his own recollections of the University and his work with Graham, and his views of contemporary politics.

Folder 3

Frank Porter Graham, 1970

Folder 4

Dr. Warren Ashby

Folder 5

Dr. Miguel Elias, 1970, 1971

Folder 6

Kemp D. Battle, Archie Daniels

Folder 7

Mark Ethridge

Folder 8

William C. Friday, 1974

Folder 9

House, Morgan-Lathrop-Wilson

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 3. Articles and Other Writings, Undated.

Articles based on his research on Frank Porter Graham, especially the interviews, written by Maurice Hill for the Charlotte Observer, on "Frank Graham as University President," "Who Beat Frank Graham? [1950 Senate Election]," "Frank Graham, Five-foot Two Marine," "The Knapp Foundation and Its Support of Frank Graham," "Frank Graham as President of the Consolidated University," and "Frank Graham Offered Vice-Presidency by Franklin Roosevelt." Outlines and proposals for additional articles. Outline for a biography of Frank Porter Graham. Other writings about Graham.

Also included are articles about Frank Porter Graham and his involvement in Kashmir.

Folder 10

Drafts of Articles

Folder 11

Book Proposal

Folder 12

Drafts of Book Chapters

Folder 13

Frank Porter Graham and Kashmir

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 4. Other Papers, circa 1920s and undated.

28 items.

Typed copies of articles on education in North Carolina from the Charlotte Observer, October, 1919, to January, 1921. Miscellaneous notes, copies, maps and other materials. Proposal for a novel about the "Merger of two giant corporations" based on the merger of Champion Paper and U. S. Plywood.

Folder 14

Charlotte Observer Articles

Folder 15

Miscellaneous

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 5. Tapes, circa 1970s.

15 items.

Use of audio materials may require production of listening copies.

The tapes include a number of interviews not transcribed and these interviews like those described above include discussion of past and present politics, the development of education in North Carolina, and other topics unrelated to Graham as well as much material about Graham and the University of North Carolina. The tapes are arranged in rough alphabetical order as follows.

Audiocassette C-4101/1

Warren Ashby, part 1

Audiocassette

Audiocassette C-4101/2

Warren Ashby, part 2

Audiocassette

Audiocassette C-4101/3

Kemp D. Battle

Audiocassette

Audiocassette C-4101/4

Archie Daniels, part 1

Audiocassette

Audiocassette C-4101/5

Archie Daniels, part 2

Audiocassette

Audiocassette C-4101/6

Mike Elias, part 1

Audiocassette

side b only; side a is blank

Audiocassette C-4101/7

Mike Elias, part 2

Audiocassette

Audiocassette C-4101/8

Mark Ethridge, part 2; R. B. House, part 1

Audiocassette

part 1 of the Mark Ethridge interview is missing

Audiocassette C-4101/9

R. B. House, part 2

Audiocassette

side b is blank

Audiocassette C-4101/10

William C. Friday, part 1

Audiocassette

Audiocassette C-4101/11

William C. Friday, part 2; Collier Cobb, part 1

Audiocassette

Audiocassette C-4101/12

Collier Cobb, part 2

Audiocassette

Audiocassette C-4101/13

Lucy Morgan, Virginia Lathrop, Emily Wilson, part 2

Audiocassette

part 1 is missing

Audiocassette C-4101/14

Kate Graham Sanders

Audiocassette

Audiocassette C-4101/15

George Maurice Hill

Audiocassette

missing as of July 2016

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