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 Lawrence Foushee London Papers #4958, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information

Received as deposit from Lawrence London of Chapel Hill, N.C., in November 1998 (Acc. 98240). Original deposit converted to gift in June 2002, upon receipt of addition (Acc. 99276) at the same time. Addition received March 2004 (Acc. 99738). Received from Lawrence F. London Jr. in March 2005 (Acc. 100038).

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.

Processed by: Nancy Kaiser, June 2004, and Amanda Ross, March 2008

Encoded by: Nancy Kaiser, June 2004

Additions received after June 2004 have not been integrated into the original deposits. Researchers should always check additions to be sure they have identified all files of interest to them.

Finding aid updated in March 2008 by Amanda Ross because of addition.

Finding aid updated in November 2021 by Dawne Howard Lucas.

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.

• Blind--North Carolina.
• Boarding schools--United States.
• Chapel Hill (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
• Chapel of the Cross (Chapel Hill, N.C.).
• Chatham County (N.C.)--History--19th century.
• Cheshire, Joseph Blount, 1850-1932.
• Claypoole family.
• Confederate States of America. Army--Military life.
• Confederate States of America. Army. North Carolina Infantry Regiment, 32nd.
• Dewey family.
• Diaries.
• Episcopal Church. Diocese of North Carolina.
• Families--North Carolina--Social life and customs.
• Foushee family.
• Haughton family.
• Hill family.
• Librarians--North Carolina.
• London family.
• London, Frank, 1876-1945.
• London, Henry Adolphus, 1808-1882.
• London, John, 1747-1816
• London, Lawrence Foushee.
• London, William Lord.
• Mabson family.
• Mauger family.
• Mitchell family.
• Slavery--North Carolina.
• Soldiers--United States--Correspondence.
• Stuart family.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Rare Book Collection.
• Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American.
• World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.

• George Stanley Dewey Papers (#4390), Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Joseph Piper Jones (#3985), Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Henry Adolphus London Papers (#2011), Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Henry Armand London (#868-z), Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Henry Mauger London (#1561), Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• John London Diary (#2446), Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• London Family Papers (#2442), Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Emily London Short Papers (#5181), Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Lawrence Foushee London was born 12 February 1908, in Pittsboro, N.C., to Arthur Hill London and Elizabeth Foushee London. Though "Lonnie" lost his sight at age twelve as a result of a firecracker accident, it proved no impediment to academic and professional achievement. He earned a B.A. in 1931, an M.A. in 1933, and a Ph.D. in American History in 1936, all from the University of North Carolina. In 1936, he joined the University of North Carolina library staff as a Research Associate, and in 1956 he was appointed Curator of Rare Books. London held that position until he retired in 1975.

London authored numerous books and articles relating to North Carolina history and the Episcopal Church, including Bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire: His Life and Work (UNC Press, 1941); The Episcopal Church in North Carolina, 1701-1959 (editor, with Sarah McCulloh Lemmon, Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, 1987); and 22 sketches for the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography (UNC Press, 1979-1996).

London has been a lifelong and active member of the Episcopal Church of North Carolina. He served at one time as senior warden at his home parish, Chapel of the Cross, in Chapel Hill, N.C., and for 50 years (1937-1987) he was the diocesan historiographer for the Episcopal Church of North Carolina.

In 1991 he received the North Caroliniana award in recognition of his contributions to the state.

London married Emily Dewey Mitchell of Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1936. Emily Dewey Mitchell London, known as "Dewey," was the daughter of Adeline Dewey Claypoole Bernard. Following her marriage, she remained in contact with relatives, including her mother, stepfather William S. Bernard, aunt Caroline Claypoole, uncle Jesse Claypoole, and other members of the Claypoole, Dewey and Mitchell families.

Lawrence and Dewey London had two sons, Lawrence Foushee London Jr. and Alexander Claypoole London.

Papers of Lawrence Foushee London (1908-), a retired Curator of Rare Books at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an active member of Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, N.C., and the Episcopal Church of North Carolina, and an avid family historian. The collection includes personal, church, and family papers documenting London's relationships with family, friends, and colleagues, and his interest in research and preservation of church history and family history. Correspondence documents family life, including the experiences of his son, Alexander Claypoole London, at boarding school during the 1960s, and later in the Navy Hospital Corps during the Vietnam War; family history and church history research; the response to publication of London's book on Bishop Joseph B. Cheshire; the experiences of friends serving in the South Pacific during World War II; friendships that grew from common interests in collecting Caruso recordings and bird watching; and the North Caroliniana Society Award that London received in 1991. There is a small amount of material relating to library administration matters. Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina materials document London's efforts to research and preserve the history of the Diocese and the Chapel of the Cross (Chapel Hill, N.C.). London family papers chiefly consist of 18th- and 19th-century correspondence, indentures, deeds, and other papers of John R. London, Henry Adolphus London, William Lord London, and other family members. Included are deeds transferring ownership of slaves and land, and letters with news of family, business, and political affairs of various family members, chiefly in Chatham County, N.C. Civil War materials include letters from William Lord London regarding camp life and news at home and an 1863 muster roll for the 32nd North Carolina Regiment. Letters of Frank Marsden London to his parents document his art school experience and life in New York. Other materials include miscellaneous writings, a memorial, and genealogical materials.

The Addition of March 2005 includes correspondence, photographs, clippings, and other materials related to Lawrence Foushee London and his wife Emily Dewey Mitchell London; church-related materials; items related to genealogical research by London about the London family and extended relations, including the Foushee, Haughton, Hill, Mauger, Mabson, and Stewart families; correspondence, genealogical and biographical research, scrapbooks, photographs, and other materials related to Emily Dewey Mitchell London's extended relations, including her mother Adeline Dewey Claypoole Bernard, her stepfather William S. Bernard, and other members of the Claypoole, Dewey, and Mitchell families. Also included are ancestry papers, family trees, photographs, daguerreotypes, scrapbooks, a photograph album, and other materials. Key figures include Ann London, Arthur Hill London, Emily Dewey Mitchell London, Frank Marsden London, Henry Aldolphus London, John London, William Lord London, and others. Items of note include a typed transcript of John London's 1800 diary; photocopies of letters written by Frank Marsden, chiefly 1895-1896 letters to his mother; and correspondence among Caroline Claypoole, Jesse S. Claypoole, and Adeline Claypoole.

Original order and folder titles have been maintained when possible.

• Oversize papers (OP-4958/1-35, housed in Oversize paper folders OPF-4958/1-4)
• Oversize paper folder (OPF-4958/5)
• Photographs (PF-4958/1-9)
• Oversize images (OP-PF-4958/1)
• Special format images (SF-P-4958/1-6)
• Scrapbooks (S-4958/1-3)
• Photograph album (PA-4958/1)