Inventory of the Frank Nash Papers, 1726-1965

Collection Number 539

Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Collection Information

Descriptive Summary

Administrative Information

Online Catalog Headings

Biographical/Historical Note

Collection Overview

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Correspondence and Related Material, 1729-1933.

2. Other Papers, 1829-1965.

3. Volumes, 1800-1913 and undated.

Items Separated

Related Collections

Contact Information:: Manuscripts Department; CB#3926, Wilson Library; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890; Phone: 919/962-1345; Fax: 919/962-3594; Email: mss@email.unc.edu; URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Southern Historical Collection

Creator: Nash, Frank, 1855-1932.

Title: Frank Nash Papers, 1726-1965 (bulk 1900-1919)

Call Number: 539

Language of Materials: Materials in English

Extent: Items: About 4,000; Linear Feet: 5.5

Abstract

Francis (Frank) Nash (1855-1932), son of the Reverend Frederick Kollock Nash (1813-1861) and Anne McLean Nash, was assistant attorney general of North Carolina, 1918-1931, and clerk of the State Supreme Court, 1931-1932.

The collection includes legal, business, and personal correspondence, chiefly 1900-1919, of Frank Nash and members of his family. The papers, 1729-1859, consist of land grants, deeds, indentures, copies of wills, and correspondence of the Nash and Strudwick families of Hillsborough, N.C. Of special note are the letters of North Carolina federalists during the early 1800s. Also included are the personal letters of Frank Nash's grandfather, Frederick Nash (1871-1858), who served as Superior Court judge, 1818-1826 and 1836-1844; as justice of the State Supreme Court, 1844-1852; and as chief justice of the Court, 1852-1858. Papers, 1859-1865, deal with events leading up to and during the Civil War. Following the war, papers are mainly legal and business records with scattered reference to state and national politics. There are also items relating to the Nash and Kollock School for girls in Hillsborough; the Good Roads Movement, 1911-1913; and the campaign for prohibition, 1915. Also present are 37 volumes that are account books; scrapbooks; legal notebooks; and notebooks of historical and biographical writings, including writings on history and historical fiction by Frank Nash.

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Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access: No restrictions.

Alternate Form of Material: All or part of this collection is available on microfilm from University Publications of America as part of Southern Women and their Families in the 19th Century, Series A.

Acquisitions Information: Received from Jesse Powell Baker Nash before 1940 and in 1955 and from Mrs. Lenoir Chambers in the 1970s.

Processing Information: Processed by: Roslyn Holdzkom, 1993; Encoded by: Roslyn Holdzkom, May 2005

Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], in the Frank Nash Papers #539, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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

Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs.

Federal Party (N.C.).

Hillsborough (N.C.)--History.

Historians--North Carolina--History--20th century.

Judges--North Carolina--History.

Lawyers--North Carolina--History.

Nash and Kollock School (Hillsborough, N.C.).

Nash family.

Nash, Frank, 1855-1932.

Nash, Frederick, 1781-1858.

North Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

North Carolina--History--19th century--Fiction.

North Carolina--Politics and government.

Prohibition--North Carolina.

Roads--North Carolina--History.

Schools--North Carolina--History--19th century.

Strudwick family.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Causes.

Women--Education--North Carolina--History--19th century.

Related Collections

Abner Nash Papers (#1223)
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Biographical/Historical Note

Frederick Nash (1781-1858) was the son of Abner Nash, governor of North Carolina, and his second wife, Mary Whiting Jones Nash. He graduated from Princeton and began practicing law in New Bern, N.C., moving to Hillsborough in 1807. He served in the General Assembly, was a Superior Court judge, and a member of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1844-1858, serving as chief justice from 1852. He married Mary Goddard Kollock of Elizabethtown, N.J., in 1803. The couple had seven children, among them the Reverend Frederick Kollock Nash (1813-1861).

Francis Nash (1855-1932), known as Frank, was the son of the Reverend Frederick Kollock Nash, a Presbyterian minister, and his second wife, Anne Maria McLean Kollock. Frank Nash served as assistant attorney general of North Carolina, 1918-1931, and clerk of the state Supreme Court, 1931-1932. He made an unsuccessful bid to be the Democratic Party nominee for attorney general in 1924.

Two other children of Frederick Nash and Mary Goddard Kollock Nash were daughters Maria J. Nash (1819-1907) and Sally K. Nash (1811-1893), who, along with their cousin Sara Kollock, operated the Nash and Kollock School, a school for young ladies in Hillsborough from 1859 to 1890. The school was in the Nash home that Frederick Nash purchased from Duncan Cameron, one part of which had been built in the 18th century by Isaac Edwards, secretary to Governor Tryon.

Collection Overview

The collection includes legal, business, and personal correspondence, chiefly 1900-1919, of North Carolina lawyer Frank Nash and members of his family. The papers, 1729-1859, consist of land grants, deeds, indentures, copies of wills, and correspondence of the Nash and Strudwick families of Hillsborough, N.C. Of special note are the letters of North Carolina federalists during the early 1800s. Also included are the personal letters of Frank Nash's grandfather, Frederick Nash (1871-1858), who served as Superior Court judge, 1818-1826 and 1836-1844; as justice of the State Supreme Court, 1844-1852; and as chief justice of the Court, 1852-1858. Papers, 1859-1865, deal with events leading up to and during the Civil War. Following the war, papers are mainly legal and business records with scattered reference to state and national politics. There are also items relating to the Nash and Kollock School for girls in Hillsborough; the Good Roads Movement, 1911-1913; and the campaign for prohibition, 1915. Also present are 37 volumes that are account books, scrapbooks, legal notebooks, and notebooks of historical and biographical writings, including writings on history and historical fiction by Frank Nash.

Note that original letters relating to the Nash and Kollock School are interfiled in Series 1.1. Series 2.2. contains writings and other materials relating to the school.

Arrangement of Collection

Series 1. Correspondence and Related Material
Series 1.1. 1729-1890
Series 1.2. 1891-1933
Series 1.3. Undated after 1890
Series 1.3.1. Correspondence
Series 1.3.2. Legal briefs and notes
Series 1.3.3. Writings
Series 2. Other Papers
Series 2.1. Clippings
Series 2.2. Nash and Kollock School
Series 2.2.1. Papers
Series 2.2.2. Pictures
Series 3. Volumes
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Items Separated

Oversize volume (V-539/S-8)
Photographs (P-539/1-22)

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Correspondence and Related Material, 1729-1933.

About 3,700 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

1.1. 1729-1890.

About 400 items.

Legal, business, and personal correspondence and related material, chiefly 1900-1919, of Frank Nash and members of his family. Papers, 1729-1859, consists of land grants, deeds, indentures, copies of wills, and correspondence of the Nash and Strudwick families of Hillsborough, N.C. Many of the early items are typed transcriptions or photocopies of materials in private hands. Of special note are the letters of North Carolina federalists during the early 1800s. Also included are personal letters of Frank Nash's grandfather, Frederick (1771-1858), who served as Superior Court judge, 1818-1826 and 1836-1844; as justice of the state Supreme Court, 1844-1852; and as chief justice, 1852-1858. Papers, 1859-1865, deal with events leading up to and during the Civil War. Following the war, papers are chiefly legal and business records with scattered reference to state and national politics. Scattered throughout are a few short writings by Frank Nash and others on various topics. Also included are items relating to the Nash and Kollock School for girls in Hillsborough. These include letters, beginning in the 1860s, relating to life at the school; the ordering of books, circulars, and other materials for the school; advertisements for the school; and other topics. For other material relating to the Nash and Kollock School, see Series 2.2.

Folder 1

1729-1769

Folder 2

1775-1785

Folder 3

1787-1796

Folder 4

1803-1810

Folder 5

1812-1819

Folder 6

1820-1829

Folder 7

1830-1839

Folder 8

1840-1849

Folder 9

1850-1859

Folder 10

1861-1865

Folder 11

1866-1869

Folder 12

1870-1875

Folder 13

1877-1879

Folder 14

1880-1889

Folder 15

1890

Folder 15a

Undated and fragments before 1891

1.2. 1891-1933.

About 3,300 items.

Included are materials on the Good Roads Movement, 1911-1913, with much about financing roads through bonds, and the prohibition campaign, 1915. There are many short, dated, writings, chiefly by Frank Nash (see Series 1.3.3. for undated short writings and volumes 136-151). Topics include North Carolina history and legal matters. Beginning around 1900, there are letters and short writings relating to Nash's interest in his own family history and in genealogy in general. Around 1909, letters relate to North Carolina politics, particularly as it influenced road construction. From 1912 on, many items relate to law cases that Nash handled. In 1923 and 1924, politics again surfaced as Nash made an unsuccessful run at becoming the Democratic Party nominee for attorney general. Beginning around 1925, there are more items relating to historical and genealogical interests than to legal and political ones. In 1932, there is a listing of historical subjects about which Nash wrote.

Folder 16

1891-1893

Folder 17

1894-1895

Folder 18

1896

Folder 19

1897-1899

Folder 20

1900

Folder 21

1901

Folder 22

1902

Folder 23

1903

Folder 24

1904

Folder 25-26

1905

Folder 27

1906

Folder 28

1907

Folder 29

1908

Folder 30-31

1909

Folder 32-33

1910

Folder 34-35

1911

Folder 36-43

1912

Folder 44-47

1913

Folder 48-49

1914

Folder 50-52

1915

Folder 53-54

1916

Folder 55-59

1917

Folder 60

1918

Folder 61

1919

Folder 62

1920-1922

Folder 63-66

1923

Folder 67-69

1924

Folder 70-71

1925

Folder 72-73

1926

Folder 74-76

1927

Folder 77-78

1928

Folder 79-80

1929

Folder 81-83

1930

Folder 84-86

1931

Folder 87

1932

Folder 88

1933

1.3. Undated aftr 1890.

About 200 items.

1.3.1. Correspondence.

About 20 items.

A few undated letters of Frank Nash, chiefly relating to genealogical matters.

Folder 89

Correspondence, undated

1.3.2. Legal Briefs and Notes.

About 100 items.

Undated briefs, notes, and other legal items relating to specific cases handled by Nash.

Folder 90-95

Legal briefs and notes, undated

1.3.3. Writings.

About 80 items.

Undated writings, chiefly on historical or genealogical topics, by Nash. Included with the genealogical writings (folder 107) are a few miscellaneous notes on family history and diplomas earned by various family members.

Folder 96-107

Writings, undated

2. Other Papers, 1829-1965.

About 50 items.

2.1. Clippings, 1829-1893.

About 10 items.

Copies of The Presbyterian, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Southern Religious Telegram, and the National Gazette and Literary Register containing notices of the deaths of Nash and Kollock family members.

Folder 108

Clippings

2.2. Nash and Kollock School, 1860-1965.

About 40 items.

2.2.1. Papers, 1860s-1965.

About 20 items.

Notes and writings about the Nash and Kollock School. There is a small amount of correspondence, 1952-1965, relates to Ann Strudwick Nash's Ladies in the Making, a history of the Nash and Kollock School that was privately printed in 1964, while original letters relating to the Nash and Kollock School are interfiled in Series 1.1. Page proofs of this publication are also included.

Folder 109

Miscellaneous writings and notes

Folder 110

Ann Strudwick Nash: Correspondence

Folder 109

Ann Strudwick Nash: Notes

Folder 109

Ann Strudwick Nash: Ladies in the Making: Page proofs, index, illustration list

2.2.2. Pictures, 1860-1965.

About 20 items.

Photographs chiefly relating to students at the Nash and Kollock School.

Image P-539/1

Susan Mary Kirland, circa 1860-1865

Image P-539/2

Anna R. Burwell, circa 1860-1870

Image P-539/3

Rosaline Spotswood Strudwick, 1866

Image P-539/4

Sally K. Nash, circa 1865-1875

Image P-539/5

Agnes Strudwick, circa 1870-1875

Image P-539/6

Ann Strudwick, circa 1870-1875

Image P-539/7

Emma Graves Alderman, circa 1885-1895

Image P-539/8

Hope Summerell Chamberlain, circa 1885-1895

Image P-539/9

Elise Hutcheson Chapin, circa 1885-1895

Image P-539/10

Ann Strudwick, 1891

Image P-539/11

Ann Strudwick(?), circa 1890-1895

Image P-539/12

Group of five women, circa 1860-1865: "Civil War Pupils--Ella Williams (center)"

Image P-539/13

Group of 15 girls at the Nash and Kollock School, circa 1865-1875

Image P-539/14

Group of three women, circa 1890-1895: "Ann Strudwick at left wearing tam o'shanter"

Image P-539/15

Side view of the Nash and Kollock School with Mrs. Shepperd Strudwick in the foreground, circa 1880-1890

Image P-539/16

Front view of the Nash and Kollock School, circa 1880-1890

Image P-539/17

"The Cedar Walk: Trees planted by Mary Kollock Nash shortly after she came to live in Hillsboro"

Image P-539/18

"Heartsease--formerly the home of Governor Thomas Burke's daughter, Miss Polly Burke"

Image P-539/19

"Mantel and other carved woodwork from the home of Frederick Nash. This woodwork is now the property of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander H. Graham"

Image P-539/20

Corner view of house, circa 1955-1965. "Office on lot where cedar walk used to be"

Image P-539/21

Side view of Meadowside in Hillsborough, circa 1955-1965

Image P-539/22

Front view of Meadowside in Hillsborough, circa 1955-1965

3. Volumes, 1800-1913 and undated.

37 items.

Folder 113

V-539/1: 1800-1806

Commonplace book containing extracts of poetry and philosophy, possibly compiled by Mary Goddard Kollock

Folder 114

V-539/2: 1844-1846

Notes on specific cases before the state Supreme Court by Frederick Nash. Basic points, arguments, comments, and references to authorities are given.

Folder 115

V-539/3: 1853-1858

Frederick Nash's notes as above after he became chief justice of the Supreme Court in 1852.

Folder 116

V-539/4: 1811, 1822

Commonplace book with religious memoranda of Isaac A. Kollock of Burlington.

Folder 117

V-539/5: 1865-1866

Pocket-sized account book and diary with miscellaneous accounts, June 1865, and F. N. Strudwick's records, February-May 1866, of a voyage by sea to Mexico and an overland trip back to North Carolina.

Folder 118

V-539/6: 1869-1874

Notebook of Robert C. Strudwick while a student at the Bingham School, Mebaneville, N.C. Included is prose, poetry, and lists of names and hometowns of fellow students.

Folder 119

V-539/7: 1888

High school register from Bishopville, S.C., with names of patrons and daily attendance. Blank pages were later used for a political article called "Three Platforms--A Comparative View" and for other similar material.

Folder 120

V-539/S-8: 1893-1904

Scrapbook with newspaper clippings, chiefly articles by Frank Nash, concerning law, politics, North Carolina history, and church matters.

Folder 121

V-539/9: 1905-1913

Miscellaneous accounts of Frank Nash, including those with tenants, for building repairs, as guardian, and other activities.

Folder 122

V-539/10: circa 1909-1932

Scrapbook relating to the public career of Frank Nash.

Folder 123-125

V-539/11-13

Small, undated notebooks, chiefly containing disorganized notes. Volume 11 contains notes on John Ker; Volume 12 contains notes on the Eno River and the Orange County, N.C., region; Volume 13 contains notes on Dennis Heartt, Governor Graham, and others.

Folder 126-135

V-539/14-23

Six canvas books relating to prohibition issues in Orange County, 1908, kept by Frank Nash as chair of the County Executive Committee; three notebooks on family history; one notebook containing the constitution and bylaws of the Social and Literary Club of Hillsborough.

Folder 136-151

Vv-539/24-39

Notes on family history, Orange County history, legal theory and practice, politics, Sir Walter Scott, Alfred Tennyson, James Iredell, and other topics and persons.