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

SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION

#4770
J. CARLYLE SITTERSON PAPERS
Initial Inventory

Abstract:       J. Carlyle Sitterson was born in Kinston,
           N.C., in 1911.  He received his B.A. from the
           University of North Carolina in 1931 and began
           teaching history at UNC in 1935 while completing his
           Ph.D.  In 1955, Sitterson became dean of the School of
           Arts and Sciences, and, in 1965, he was appointed vice-
           chancellor.  Serving as chancellor from 1966 to 1971,
           he steered the University through major desegregation
           efforts, anti-Vietnamese War protests, and general
           campus unrest while reorganizing the administration to
           reflect the needs of a modern university.  Through all
           of his administrative work, Sitterson continued to
           teach history, moving from his specialty in United
           States economic history to 20th-century United States
           history; he retired as William Rand Kenan Professor of
           History in 1981.  Sitterson married Nancy Howard in
           1944; the couple had three children:  Joseph Carlyle,
           Jr.; Mary Howard, who married Eric Calhoun; and Curtis
           Howard.  Sitterson died 19 May 1995.
               Papers, 1930s-1990s, reflecting Sitterson's
           activities at the University of North Carolina,
           his professional activities within the community
           of historians, work with other groups, and
           family correspondence and financial records.  Included
           are general office files containing correspondence,
           publications, calendars, and other materials and
           several boxes of notes and other items relating to
           classes that Sitterson taught.  Also included are a
           considerable number of documents relating to
           Sitterson's work with other groups, particularly the
           Research Triangle Institute and the North Carolina
           Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), which
           he served as first board chair.  NCCAT was organized
           in 1984 to promote excellence in teaching by offering
           outstanding teachers opportunities to study advanced
           topics in the sciences, arts, and humanities.  Family
           papers include 19th-century correspondence and court
           and legal records from Sitterson’s ancestors of
           Wiliamston, N. C., as well as Sitterson’s own family
           correspondence and other personal papers.

Online Catalog Terms:
   Education, Higher--North Carolina--History--20th century.
   Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs--20th century.
   History--Study and teaching (Higher).
   North Carolina--Social life and customs--20th century.
   North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching.
   Research Triangle Institute.
   Sitterson family.
   Sitterson, J. Carlyle (Joseph Carlyle), 1911- .
   Teacher centers--North Carolina.
   University of North Carolina (1793-1961)--Faculty--History--
     20th century.
   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Administration.
   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chancellor.
   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--Faculty--History--
     20th century.
   Williamston (N.C.)--History.

Size:  About 15,000 items (25.5 linear feet).

Provenance:    Received from Nancy Howard Sitterson in August
               1995 (Acc. 95112) and May 1997 (Acc. 97064).

Access:        UNPROCESSED, but screened; researchers may
               require extra help to use effectively.

Related Collections:  Records of the Office of Chancellor:
                   Joseph Carlyle Sitterson Series, 1966-1971,
                   University Archives and Records Service,
                   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
                     Records of the Office of the
                   Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,
                   University Archives and Records Service,
                   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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

Table of Contents:
   Box List

                            BOX LIST

   Materials have been roughly sorted into office files, which
include items relating to the North Carolina Center for the
Advancement of Teaching, the Research Triangle Institute, and
other groups with which Sitterson was associated, and teaching
materials.

Boxes 1-9      Office files

Boxes 10-12    Teaching materials


                ADDITION OF MAY 1997 (Acc.97064)

Size:          About 5,000 items (7.5 linear feet).
Dates:         1800-1995.
Provenance:    Received from Mrs. J. Carlyle Sitterson in May
               1997.
Access:        No restrictions.
Description:   Personal records of J. Carlyle Sitterson.
           Included is 19th-century correspondence and court and
           legal records of Sitterson’s ancestors of Williamston,
           N.C.  Also included are materials, 1933-1995, of
           Sitterson, including personal documents and letters
           and cards relating to personal and family matters.
           Materials from 1995 are primarily concerned with the
           death of Lyle Sitterson.  There are also awards and
           certificates of J. Carlyle Sitterson, newspaper
           clippings about family members, a 1971 inventory of
           items at the UNC-Chapel Hill chancellor’s residence, and
           records, 1967-1971, of University expenses.  There are
           also photographs of the inventory of the Sitterson’s
           home and miscellaneous family photographs.

   Box 13  1800-1964
   Box 14  1965-1975
   Box 15  1976-1990
   Box 16  1995
   Box 17  Undated correspondence, clippings, inventories,
           expenses

Items Separated:
   P-4770/1 of 2           Inventory photographs
   P-4770/2 of 2           Family photographs