]
]
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 FAQ section for more information.
Expand/collapse
Collection Overview
| Size | 45.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 32000 items) |
| Abstract | Henry Wilkins Lewis was a faculty member and director of the Institute of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; active layman of the Episcopal Church; and authority on North Carolina family genealogy and the history of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina. The collection includes Lewis's personal correspondence; diaries; papers relating to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Episcopal Church in North Carolina, and other organizations; family history materials; and papers of members of Lewis's family. Correspondence and diaries document Lewis's life as a student at UNC and Harvard Law School; his army career during World War II; and several vacations to Europe, 1953-1983. Correspondents include Joseph Blout Cheshire, Jr., Albert Coates, James B. Cook, Jr., John van Gaasbeek Elmendorf, Frank Porter Graham, Blackwell Pierce Robinson, and Ellen Douglas Staton. Reports, memos, and other papers document Lewis's career as a faculty member and director, 1973-1978, of the Institute of Government; his tenure as acting vice-president of UNC-CH, 1968-1969; and his service on several UNC-CH boards and commissions. Papers also document Lewis's service to the Episcopal Church, both at the Diocesan level and locally at the Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill. Other papers document Lewis's associations with the North Carolina Bar Association; the Bank of Northampton in Jackson, N.C.; the board of trustees of the Virginia Episcopal School, Lynchburg, Va.; the Roanoke-Chowan Group; the Southampton Historical Society; and the Northampton Historical Society. There are also materials relating to Lewis's research and writings on the history of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Series 7-11 are family history materials relating chiefly to Lewis's genealogical studies. They include papers documenting the property and business interests of members of the Alston, Lewis, Long, Wilkins, and Williams families, and the history of the Alston, Blunt, Brodnax, Bruce, Burgwyn, Johnson, Jones, Kinchen, Lewis, Lucas, Peterson, Raines, Seddon, Wilkins, and Williams families of Northampton County and elsewhere in northeastern North Carolina. Among members of Lewis's immediate family who are well documented are Edmund Wilkins Lewis, H. Stuart Lewis, Sue Dabney Lewis, Henry Wilkins Lewis (1856-1936), Jane Crichton Williams Lewis, John J. Long, Mary Lewis Williams, and Edmonia Cabell Wilkins. |
| Creator | Lewis, Henry W. (Henry Wilkins), 1916-2004. |
| Language | English |
Expand/collapse
Information For Users
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
Expand/collapse
Biographical
Information
Born 7 November 1916 in Jackson, Northampton County, N.C., to Edmund Wilkins Lewis and Jane Crichton Williams Lewis, Henry Wilkins Lewis attended Jackson High School, 1928-1932, and the Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Va., 1932-1933, before attending the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill from 1933 to 1937, from which he graduated with an A.B. degree in American history. He attended law school at Harvard University from 1937 to 1940.
Lewis entered the private practice of law with Eric Norfleet of Jackson for one year after graduating from Harvard (LL.B., 1940; converted to J.D. in 1969), then enlisted in the army in 1941, where he served with the 99th Infantry Division, Headquarters Third Army, and Army Ground Forces Headquarters. Leaving the service as a captain in 1946, Lewis joined the faculty of the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he worked until his retirement. In addition to his administrative, consultative, and teaching responsibilities at the Institute, he also served on many University and Institute committees, including the Advisory Board and Visitor Committee of the Ackland Art Museum; the Chancellor's Selection Committee, 1970-71; the North Carolina Public Television Foundation and University of North Carolina Center for Public Television; and the Advisory Committee of the Southern Historical Collection and Manuscripts Department of the University Library.
At the Institute of Government, Lewis's principal fields of research, writing, and consultation were property taxation, the organization of state agencies, legislative organization and procedure, and election law and procedure. During his tenure, Lewis was assistant director, 1946-1973; research professor of public law and government, 1951-1957; professor of public law and government, 1957-1975; Kenan professor of public law and government, 1975-1978; and Kenan professor of public law and government emeritus. From November 1973 until his retirement in 1978, Lewis served as director of the Institute of Government. His only leave from the Institute occurred during 1968-1969, when he served as acting vice-president for university relations.
Throughout his career, Lewis was an active layman of the Episcopal Church, serving numerous times at the Diocesan level on the Executive Council, the Historical Commission, the Committee on Constitution and Canons, the Committee on Racial Subjects, and the Standing Committee of the Diocese of North Carolina, and as deputy from the Diocese of North Carolina to the General Convention. Locally, Lewis served as vestryman and senior warden of the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill and on the Committee on Restoration of St. John's Church, Williamsboro, N.C.
Lewis was active as well in other organizations and institutions, including the North Carolina Bar Association; the Bank of Northampton, Jackson, N.C. (later the Peoples Bank); the board of trustees of the Virginia Episcopal School; the Roanoke-Chowan Group; the Southampton Historical Society; the Northampton Historical Society; Alpha Tau Omega and the Order of Gimghouls at the University of North Carolina; and the Lincoln's Inn Society at Harvard Law School. Lewis also served as vice president and director of the Wilkins Texas Corporation, a family corporation.
As a writer and researcher on historical themes, Lewis's interests focused chiefly on the history and genealogy of North Carolina families, his own and related families preeminently, and the history of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina.
(For additional biographical information, including bibliographic and academic data, see materials in Series 3.1, folder 257.)
Back to Top
Expand/collapse
Scope and Content
This collection consists chiefly of material relating to Henry Wilkins Lewis's personal and family life, his service to the Episcopal Church and other non-academic organizations, and his genealogical and historical pursuits.
A small portion of this collection (Series 3) relates to Lewis's academic career as a faculty member and director of the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina and to his work in other university positions. Those seeking Lewis's academic papers should consult the records of the Institute of Government in the University Archives and Records Service.
Inclusive dates for this collection are those of original manuscripts contained in the collection. The oldest such manuscript, dated 1820, is the legal notebook of John Limbrey Wilkins Jr. in Series 11.
Folder titles established by Henry W. Lewis have been maintained in their original form or with slight alteration.
Material concerning the UNC class of 1937 50th reunion held in May 1987. This includes alumni lists, correspondence regarding reunion planning, and some materials saved from the 25th reunion held in 1962.
Primarily personal correspondence dated 1992-1997 which was written to Lewis from friends and family discussing family life, current events, and Lewis's writings and works on genealogy and Southern traditions. Also included are invitations, birth and death announcements, and Christmas and birthday and get well cards. Additionally, there are letters and updates from various organizations with which Lewis was involved including the Ackland Museum, the University of North Carolina Institute of Government, the Harvard Law Fund, the Centura Bank Board of Directors, the Gimghoul Society, the North Carolina Historical Association, and the Chapel of the Cross. Information on the 1948 fundraising efforts of the Class of 1937 Memorial Fund, for which Lewis was treasurer, includes minutes of fundraising meetings, lists of contributors, class lists, pledge cards and related correspondence.
Back to Top
Expand/collapse
Series Quick Links
Expand/collapse
Series 1. General Correspondence and Related Items, 1916-1991.
Arrangement: chronological.
An index of correspondents for each year is located at the front of the first folder for each year. See folder 241b for a photocopy of Henry W. Lewis's card index to his correspondence, circa 1922-1991.
The collection includes personal and family correspondence of Henry W. Lewis. Correspondents include members of the Alston, Lewis, Harris, Mitchell, Taylor, and Williams families, and friends and associates, such as Joseph Blount Cheshire Jr., Albert Coates, James B. Cook Jr., John van Gaasbeek Elmendorf, Frank Porter Graham, and Blackwell Pierce Robinson. Subjects include student life at the University of North Carolina, Lewis's army experiences and the legal career that followed, and Lewis's association with the Institutue of Government. Additional material (e.g. magazines, student papers, newsletters) is noted in the folder descriptions below. Correspondence related particularly to Lewis's academic, church, volunteer, and historical pursuits, is arranged separately in the relevant series. Correspondence was arranged and indexes were compiled by Henry W. Lewis or his assistants.
Expand/collapse
Series 2. Babybook, Commonplace Book, and Diaries 1916-1983.
A babybook, a commonplace book, and diaries of Henry W. Lewis. The high school diary (folder 242B) contains brief entries written while Lewis attended the Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Va., 1932-1933. The Harvard Law School/army diary 2 (folder 243) contains longer entries kept during his time at Harvard Law School and a narrative about his tour in the army, 1941-1946, written after leaving the service. The remaining diaries were kept during vacations overseas.
Expand/collapse
Series 3. University of North Carolina, 1949-1988.
Professional correspondence, memos, printed material, and other papers related to Henry W. Lewis's career as a faculty member and director of the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; his tenure as acting vice president for university relations of the University of North Carolina; and his service on various boards and committees of the university. (Researchers should note that the majority of Lewis's academic papers are housed with the records of the Institute of Government, University Archives and Records Service.)
Expand/collapse
Subseries 3.1. Institute of Government Papers
Expand/collapse
Subseries 3.2. General Administration
Expand/collapse
Subseries 3.3. Other University-Related Activities
Expand/collapse
Series 4. Episcopal Church in North Carolina, 1952-1990.
Correspondence, printed material, reports, notes, committee minutes, clippings, and other papers documenting Henry W. Lewis's service to the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina and to the Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, N.C. Researchers should note that Lewis's writings on the history of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina are filed in Subseries 6.1 and 6.5.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 4.1. Chapel of the Cross
Expand/collapse
Subseries 4.2. Diocesan Business
Expand/collapse
Subseries 4.3. Other Church Business
Expand/collapse
Series 5. Other Activities and Associations, 1954-1984.
Correspondence, notes, minutes, printed material, and other papers relating to Henry W. Lewis's service to the Bank of Northampton (later the People's Bank & Trust Co.), the North Carolina Bar Association, the Roanoke-Chowan Group, and the Virginia Episcopal School.
Expand/collapse
Series 6. Writings by Henry W. Lewis, 1951-1987.
Book drafts, research notes, correspondence, transcriptions, and other material related to books, book chapters, and articles about local and family history in North Carolina and surrounding regions, and the history of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina. For additional writings, see Series 11, particularly folders 627 and 628. Researchers interested in Lewis's academic writings (i.e. on taxation) should consult Series 3.1, folder 257, for bibliographic information.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 6.1. Northampton Parishes
Research materials for a book on the history of the Episcopal Church in Northampton County, N.C., published in Jackson, Northampton County, N.C., in 1951.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 6.2. Horses and Horsemen in Northampton before 1900
Background materials for a paper presented to the Northampton County Historical Society, Jackson, N.C., 14 April, 1972. Published as an article in the North Carolina Historical Review (Vol. 51, No. 2, April 1974. Pages 125-148).
Expand/collapse
Subseries 6.3. The Doctor and Mrs. Lewis
Materials for a biography of Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis and Sally Ridley Lewis published in 1980 by the author in Chapel Hill.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 6.4. More Taste Than Prudence: A Study of John Evans Johnson (1815-1870), an Amateur
with Patrons
Materials for a biography of Virginia architect John Evans Johnson, published by Borderer Press, Chapel Hill, in 1983.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 6.5. Formation of the Diocese in North Carolina
Materials for a chapter in The Episcopal Church in North Carolina, 1701-1959 edited by Lawrence Foushee London and Sarah McCulloch Lemmon and published by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina in Raleigh, 1987.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 6.6. That Sally Brodnax [or, Seventeen to Twenty-Two: The Story of Sally J. Brodnax
As Told in Her Letters, 1846-1851.]
Materials for a biography of Sally Jones Brodnax (1829-1851).
Expand/collapse
Series 7. Lewis Family Materials, 1887-1973.
Correspondence, notes, research material, other papers, and manuscripts, some originals and others photocopied and/or transcribed, collected by Henry W. Lewis, documenting the lives and careers of members of his immediate family.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 7.1. Edmund Wilkins Lewis
Papers relating to Edmund Wilkins Lewis (1889-1955) of Jackson, Northampton County, N.C., father of Henry W. Lewis. Note that Benjamin Lewis is the uncle of Edmund Wilkins Lewis and the brother of Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 7.2. H. Stuart Lewis and Sue Dabney Lewis
Papers relating to H. Stuart Lewis (1885-1947) and Sue Dabney Lewis (1891-1980) of Suffolk, Va., uncle and aunt of Henry W. Lewis.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 7.3. Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis.
Papers relating to Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis (1856-1936), originally of Brunswick County, Va., and after 1879, of Jackson, Northampton County, N.C. Dr. Lewis was the grandfather of Henry W. Lewis.
| Folder 512 |
Articles, Speeches #04456, Subseries: "7.3. Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis." Folder 512 |
| Folder 513 |
Correspondence. 1887-1935 #04456, Subseries: "7.3. Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis." Folder 513 |
| Folder 514-515 |
Estate #04456, Subseries: "7.3. Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis." Folder 514-515Folder 514Folder 515 |
| Folder 516-517 |
Legal Documents #04456, Subseries: "7.3. Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis." Folder 516-517Folder 516Folder 517 |
| Folder 518 |
Miscellaneous Materials #04456, Subseries: "7.3. Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis." Folder 518 |
| Folder 519 |
Poetry #04456, Subseries: "7.3. Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis." Folder 519 |
Expand/collapse
Subseries 7.4. Jane (Crichton) Williams Lewis.
Papers relating to Jane (Crichton) Williams Lewis (1892-1978) of Jackson, Northampton County, N.C., mother of Henry W. Lewis.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 7.5. John Joseph Long Poems.
Poems of John Joseph Long (1875-1949), of Norfolk, Va. Long was the half-brother of Edmund Wilkins Lewis and H. Stuart Lewis.
| Folder 541 |
Poems by John J. Long, circa 1905-1915, clipped from newspapers and pasted in a notebook by 'Willie W. (Long) Faucett. #04456, Subseries: "7.5. John Joseph Long Poems." Folder 541 |
Expand/collapse
Series 8. Lewis Family Business Papers, 1939-1958.
Correspondence, legal documents, and other papers documenting the business interests of the Wilkins Land Company and of members of Henry W. Lewis's immediate family.
Expand/collapse
Series 9. Lewis Family Estate Papers, 1897-1980.
Correspondence, legal documents, wills, financial records, and other papers relating to property owned by Mary Niven Alston, Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis, John J. Long, Martha (Pattie) Urquhart, Edmonia Cabell Wilkins, Archibald D. Williams, Lucy A. Williams, and Mary Lewis Williams. This material was collected by Henry W. Lewis for legal and personal uses.
Expand/collapse
Series 10. Miscellaneous State and Local History Material, circa 1950-1989.
Photocopied documents, newspaper clippings, notes, family trees, and research papers and manuscripts by other authors that were reviewed and/or corrected by Henry W. Lewis, and other papers relating to state and local history in North Carolina and surrounding regions. This material was collected by Henry Wikins Lewis for personal use.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 10.1. Manuscripts and Notes.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 10.2. Clippings, 1938-1982.
Expand/collapse
Series 11. Miscellaneous Genealogical Material, circa 1950-1989.
Notes; clippings; original, photocopied, and typed transcriptions of manuscripts; and other research material relating to the history/genealogy of specific families in North Carolina and surrounding regions. These materials were collected by Henry W. Lewis for personal use and arranged by him or his assistants. Note that Wilkins family materials appear at the end of the alphabetical list.
Expand/collapse
ADDITION OF AUGUST 1997 (Acc. 97102).
Expand/collapse
ADDITION OF FEBRUARY 1998 (Acc. 98025).
Expand/collapse
Items Separated
Processed by: Connie Cartledge, Tim West, August 1986; Pamela Dean, August 1989; Roslyn Holdzkom, May 1992; Ryan Teall, Spring 1994 with subsequent additions
Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008
Back to Top