William Bradley Umstead and Merle Davis Umstead Papers Inventory (#4529)
Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Collection Information
- 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/
- Processed by
- Library Staff
- Date Completed
- August 1993
- Encoded by
- Roslyn Holdzkom
- Revisions:
- Finding aid updated in December 2003 by Linda Sellars.
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Descriptive Summary Including Abstract
- Title
- William Bradley Umstead and Merle Davis Umstead Papers (#4529) 1863-1987
- Creator
-
Umstead, William Bradley, 1895-1954.
Umstead, Merle Davis, 1901-1988.
- Extent
-
- About 39,000 items (76.0 linear feet)
- Repository
- Southern Historical Collection
- Abstract
- William Bradley Umstead of Durham, N.C., served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina, 1932-1938; as a United States senator, 1946-1948; and as governor of North Carolina, 1952-1954. The collection includes correspondence, congressional files, campaign material, and other papers of William Bradley Umstead; papers of his wife, Merle Davis Umstead, originally of Rutherford County, N.C.; and records of Merle Davis Umstead's family's stores in Rutherford County. Political material chiefly concerns Umstead's years in the United States Senate, the period between his service in the Senate and his election as governor, and his 1952 gubernatorial campaign. The addition of February 2002 contains diaries, personal correspondence, financial records, military papers, and other items, most of which relate to Umstead's military service during World War I.
Administrative Information
- Usage Restrictions
- Use of audio-visual materials may required the production of listening or viewing copies.
- Provenance
- Received from Merle Umstead Richey of Durham, N.C., 1989-1991, and transferred from the North Carolina Collection Gallery in February 2002.
- Processing Note
- The addition of February 2002 has been arranged according to the organization scheme of, but has not been integrated into, the original deposit of materials.
- Preferred Citation
- [Identification of item], in the William Bradley Umstead and Merle Davis Umstead Papers #4529, 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 Terms
- Democratic Party (N.C.).
- Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs.
- Governors--North Carolina--Election.
- Merchants--North Carolina.
- North Carolina--Politics and government--20th century.
- Political campaigns--North Carolina.
- Politicians--North Carolina--History--20th century.
- Rutherford County (N.C.)--Commerce.
- Umstead, Merle Davis, 1901-1988.
- Umstead, William Bradley, 1895-1954.
- United States. Congress. Senate--Constituent communication.
- United States. Congress. Senate--History.
- Women--North Carolina--Social life and customs.
Biographical Note
William Bradley Umstead
William Bradley Umstead served North Carolina as a United States representative, a United States senator, and as governor. Prior to his election as the first representative from the newly formed sixth North Carolina district (Durham, Orange, Guilford, and Alamance counties) in 1932, Umstead was a practicing lawyer in Durham, and he continued his legal work during the gaps in his political career. Umstead chose to leave Congress in 1938 after his third term. He returned to practicing law, and served in various Democratic Party posts until his appointment to the United States Senate in 1946 by Governor R. Gregg Cherry to fill the seat of Josiah Bailey, who had died in office. Umstead was defeated in his attempt to succeed himself by J. Melville Broughton in the Democratic primary in 1948. In both houses of Congress, Umstead was an advocate of farmers and the tobacco industry. He was a moderate Democrat, supporting most of Roosevelt's New Deal legislation, but opposing Truman-era civil rights initiatives.
Umstead chose not to run for the Senate in 1950, citing poor health. In 1952 he successfully campaigned for governor as a friend of the farmer and as an opponent of desegregation. He suffered a heart attack on his third day in office and remained in poor health throughout his administration. In 1954 he suffered a second heart attack and died on 7 November 1954 from pneumonia and other complications at Watts Hospital in Durham.
| 13 May 1895 | Born in Mangum Township, Durham County, N.C., son of Lulie Lunsford and John W. Umstead. |
| 1912-1916 | Attended the University of North Carolina, where he excelled in debate and received the A.B. in history. |
| 1916-1917 | Taught high school history in Kinston, N.C. |
| May 1917-April 1919 | Served in the United States Army as lieutenant. |
| 1919-1921 | Studied law at Trinity College (now Duke University). |
| 1920 | Passed North Carolina bar examination. |
| 1 July 1921 | Began practicing law. |
| 1922 | Elected to the post of prosecuting attorney, Durham County Recorder's Court. |
| 1926 | Elected solicitor, 10th North Carolina Judicial District, consisting of Durham, Orange, Granville, Person, and Alamance counties. |
| 1929 | Married Merle Davis. |
| 1930 | Reelected to post as solicitor. |
| 1932 | Elected to 73rd United States Congress as representative for the new 6th North Carolina district (Durham, Orange, Alamance, and Guilford counties). |
| 1933 | Appointed to the committees on Elections, Merchant Marine Radio and Fisheries, and War Claims. |
| 1934 | Reelected. |
| 1935 | Appointed to the Appropriations Committee and its subcommittees for the Departments of Agriculture and the Navy. |
| 1936 | Reelected. |
| 1937 | Reappointed to previous subcommittees, chosen chair of Naval Appropriations Subcommittee. |
| 1938 | Chose not to run for reelection. Returned to private legal practice in Durham. |
| 1942 | Served as an appeals agent for the state draft board in Durham. Daughter Merle born. |
| 1944 | Appointed chair of the North Carolina Democratic Executive Committee. |
| 1945 | Appointed to the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina. |
| 18 December 1946 | Appointed to the United States Senate by Governor R. Gregg Cherry. Appointed to Committee on Civil Service. |
| May 1948 | Defeated in Democratic Senate primary by J. Melville Broughton by 24,000 votes. |
| 1950 | Withdrew from Senate campaign (for the other North Carolina seat) before officially announcing his candidacy following throat surgery. |
| 31 May 1952 | Won Democratic gubernatorial primary. |
| 4 November 1952 | Elected governor. |
| 5 January 1953 | Inaugurated. |
| 8 January 1953 | Suffered first heart attack. |
| 1954 | Suffered second heart attack. |
| 7 November 1954 | Died, Watts Hospital, Durham, N.C. |
Merle Davis Umstead
Merle Davis Umstead spent much of her public life as a political wife, seeing to the social and charity duties of the wife of a congressman, senator, and governor. As first lady of North Carolina from 1953 to 1954, during her husband's convalescence, Merle Davis Umstead managed most of the social events at the Governor's Mansion.
| 11 July 1901 | Born in Bostic, Rutherford County, N.C, daughter of Charles D. and Daisy Washburn Davis |
| 1914-1919 | Attended Asheville (N.C.) Normal and Collegiate Institute. |
| 1919-1920 | Attended Trinity College (now Duke University). |
| 1920-1921 | Principal, Sunshine (N.C.) School, Rutherford County. |
| 1921-1923 | Worked in the office of the Collector of Internal Revenue, Raleigh. |
| 1923-1925 | Returned to Trinity College. |
| 1925-1926 | Principal, Washburn School, Rutherford County. |
| 1926 | Received B.A. in English, Duke University. |
| 1927-1929 | Math teacher and librarian, Central High School, Rutherfordton, Rutherford County. |
| 5 September 1929 | Married William Bradley Umstead. |
| 1942 | Daughter Merle born. |
| January 1953-1954 | North Carolina's first lady. |
| July 1955 | Appointed to Board of Trustees, East Carolina College, Greenville, N.C. |
| March 1958 | Elected to the executive committee of the North Carolina Democratic Party. |
| 1978 | Honorary chairperson of Ladies for Jesse [Helms] and member of Democrats for Jesse. |
| 14 April 1988 | Died. |
Washburn Family and Washburn Family Stores
Originally from Worcestershire, England, the Washburn family settled in Rutherford County, N.C., in the early 1830s and set up a tavern and inn. After the Civil War, the youngest brother, Reverend Reuben Washburn (1829-1904), took over the family business. He ran it for about 35 years until his sons, Edgar Nollie Washburn (1874-1935) and William Adney Washburn (1868-1931), took over in 1904. By this time, the business had evolved into a dry goods store located in a large wood-framed building on Main Street in Bostic, N.C. The two brothers greatly expanded the family business, building in 1928 a brick store building and opening two other stores, one of which was located at Sunshine, N.C. Known as the Sunshine Cash Store and Service Station, this store was managed for many years by the parents of Merle Davis Umstead, Charles D. Davis (ca. 1880-1936) and Daisy Washburn Davis (1882-1961), sister of E. N. and W. A. Washburn.
Back to TopCollection Overview
These papers chiefly document the political career of William Bradley Umstead. Also documented, though less thoroughly, are other activities of Umstead and of his wife Merle Davis Umstead, as well as activities of members of her family in Rutherford County, N.C.
Much of the political material in this collection relates to Umstead's 1952 gubernatorial campaign. Material also appears relating to Umstead's United States Senate career and to his Senate campaign, as well as to the years between his Senate term and his election as North Carolina governor. Relatively little appears documenting his terms as a United States representative or his legal career. As is often the case in collections of modern political officeholders, much of this material documents routine, day-to-day activities. It should also be noted that Umstead's papers clearly contain only a fraction of his original House and Senate files. Note that Umstead's official files as governor are state records housed at the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh.
The papers of Merle Davis Umstead begin with the years immediately preceding her marriage to William Bradley Umstead and extend through the years following his death. Much of the material concerning Merle Davis Umstead relates to the various organizations of which she was a member and to her life as the wife of a politician and as first lady of North Carolina. Substantial numbers of condolence messages received by her and tributes to Governor Umstead after his death are included.
Merle Davis Umstead's family's material chiefly concerns the running of the family businesses, chiefly as merchants in Rutherford County, N.C., and financial matters of her parents, Charles D. Davis and Daisy Washburn Davis.
The addition of February 2002 contains diaries, personal correspondence, financial records, military papers, and other items, most of which relate to Umstead's military service during World War I.
Back to TopOrganization of Collection
-
1. William Bradley Umstead United States House of Representatives Files
1.1. House Legislative Files
1.2. Retirement Correspondence
1.3. Other House Material
2. William Bradley Umstead United States Senate Files
2.1. Senate Campaign Files
2.1.1. Correspondence with Supporters
2.1.2. Other Campaign Files
2.2. Senate Office Files
2.2.1. Legislative
2.2.2. Casework and Appointment Files
2.2.3. General Correspondence and Miscellaneous Material
3. William Bradley Umstead North Carolina Gubernatorial Files
3.1. Gubernatorial Campaign Files
3.1.1. Correspondence with Supporters and Organizers
3.1.2. Other Campaign Files
3.2. Miscellaneous Gubernatorial Material
4. William Bradley Umstead Political Clippings
4.1. Political Scrapbooks
4.2. Loose Clippings
5. Other William Bradley Umstead Papers
5.1. Other Political Material
5.2. Non-political Material
6. Merle Davis Umstead Personal Material
6.1. Correspondence
6.2. Condolences and Tributes Upon the Death of William Bradley Umstead
6.3. Other Material
6.4. Yearbooks
7. Merle Davis Umstead Family Material
7.1. Correspondence
7.2. Sunshine Store Records
7.2.1. Bills and Receipts
7.2.2. Goods Bought/Cash Sales Daily
7.2.3. Inventory Books
7.2.4. Loose Account Records
7.2.5. Account Books
7.2.6. Other Store Materials
7.3. Other Material
8. Audio-Visual Material
8.1. Pictures
8.2. Audio Recordings
8.3. Films
Addition of February 2002
Back to Top
Series Descriptions
1. William Bradley Umstead United States House of Representatives Files, 1932-1938.
About 2000 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Legislative correspondence for 1937-1938, letters congratulating Umstead upon his retirement, and scattered other material. Umstead represented the 6th North Carolina district (Durham, Orange, Alamance, and Guilford Counties). These items undoubtedly represent only a fraction of Umstead's original files. The remainder of his House files presumably are lost or have been destroyed.
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1.1. Legislative Files, 1937-1938.
About 1250 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.
Correspondence with constituents concerning legislative issues, arranged and titled by Umstead's staff. Files relating to the judiciary, by far the largest category here, relate chiefly to Umstead's support for voluntary retirement of justices at age seventy and other legislation to reorganize the United States Supreme Court.
Other files chiefly contain statements of Umstead's stands on various legislation in response to mail from constituents. These files are arranged as they were received; A-H and S-Z files were not received with the collection.
Immigration
Folder
2-18
Judiciary
Folder
19-21
L
Folder
22
Labor
Folder
23-24
Labor: Fair Labor Standards Act
Folder
25-27
Miscellaneous Legislation, 1937
Folder
28-34
Miscellaneous
Folder
35
Naval Expansion Bill
Folder
36
Neutrality
Folder
37
Old Age Pensions
Folder
38
Pettingill Bill
Folder
39A
Public Utilities Holding Companies
Folder
39B
Public Works Administration
Folder
40
Public Works Administration: Relief
Folder
41
Relief Appropriations Bill
Folder
42
Reorganization
Folder
43
Revenue, 1938
Folder
44
Revenue Act
Folder
45
Revenue: District of Columbia
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1.2. William Bradley Umstead Retirement Correspondence, 1938.
About 250 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Letters received upon Umstead's retirement, chiefly of a routine nature.
A-C
Folder
47
D-G
Folder
48
H-L
Folder
49
M-P
Folder
50
R-S
Folder
51
T-W
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1.3. William Bradley Umstead Other House Material, 1932-1938.
About 500 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Scattered office files holding such items as programs and publications in which Umstead appeared and material relating to congressional trips Umstead made to Hawaii and the West in 1936 and 1938. Campaign material consists of a 1932 campaign pamphlet, a 1936 campaign schedule, and a few other items. The file "Federal Facilities in the 6th District" relates to efforts to improve post offices, park service holdings, and other federal facilities. Umstead's House voting records also appear.
Appointments
Folder
53A
Campaign Material
Folder
53B
Democratic State Executive Committee: List of Contributors, 1944-1946
Folder
54A
Federal Facilities in 6th District
Folder
54B
Hearings
Folder
54C
Invitation to Executive Mansion, Raleigh, 2 January 1945
Folder
55
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Folder
56
Other Material
Folder
57
Post Office Material
Folder
58
Prohibition Material
Folder
59
Publications and Programs
Folder
60
Soil Conservation Service, 1935-1937
Folder
61
Tobacco and Cigarette Legislation
Folder
62
Voting Records
Folder
63
Western Forest Service Trip Material, 1936
Folder
64
Western Forest Service Trip Material, 1938
Folder
65
Western Navy Trip Material, 1938
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2. William Bradley Umstead United States Senate Files, 1947-1949.
About 10000 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Files relating to Umstead's Senate career, including campaign material and Senate office files.
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2.1. Campaign Files, 1947-1949.
About 8250 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence with supporters and other material relating to Umstead's campaign to succeed himself in the Senate.
2.1.1. Correspondence with Supporters, 1947-1949.
About 7500 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by county.
Chiefly letters from constituents offering support to Umstead or from Umstead or his staff asking for or showing appreciation for support. This material was organized by county by Umstead's staff. Letters from supporters typically assure Umstead of their support, but some cite specific positions of Umstead or personal characteristics that led to their support for him. Some letters include contributions or offers of contributions to the campaign. The letters from Umstead and his staff either announce his candidacy and ask for support, or thank the correspondent for his or her support. Some of the requests for support cite Umstead's record of service as a congressman, lawyer, and Democratic Party worker.
Folder
66-69
Alamance
Folder
70-71
Alexander
Folder
72
Alleghany
Folder
73-74
Anson
Folder
75-76
Ashe
Folder
77
Avery
Folder
78-79
Beaufort
Folder
80
Bertie
Folder
81-82
Bladen
Folder
83-84
Brunswick
Folder
85-89
Buncombe
Folder
90-91
Burke
Folder
92-93
Cabarrus
Folder
94-95
Caldwell
Folder
96-97
Camden
Folder
98-99
Carteret
Folder
100-101
Caswell
Folder
102-103
Catawba
Folder
104-105
Chatham
Folder
106-107
Cherokee
Folder
108-109
Chowan
Folder
110-111
Clay
Folder
112-113
Cleveland
Folder
114-115
Columbus
Folder
116-119
Craven
Folder
120-121
Cumberland
Folder
122-123
Currituck
Folder
124-125
Dare
Folder
126-127
Davidson
Folder
128-129
Davie
Folder
130-131
Duplin
Folder
132-136
Durham
Folder
137-138
Edgecombe
Folder
139-142
Forsyth
Folder
143-144
Franklin
Folder
145-147
Gaston
Folder
148-149
Gates
Folder
150-151
Graham
Folder
152-153
Granville
Folder
154-155
Greene
Folder
156-170
Guilford
Folder
171-172
Halifax
Folder
173-174
Harnett
Folder
175-176
Haywood
Folder
177-178
Henderson
Folder
179-180
Hertford
Folder
181-182
Hoke
Folder
183-184
Hyde
Folder
185-186
Iredell
Folder
187-188
Jackson
Folder
189-190
Johnston
Folder
191-192
Jones
Folder
193-194
Lee
Folder
195-196
Lenoir
Folder
197-198
Lincoln
Folder
199-200
Macon
Folder
201-202
Madison
Folder
203-204
Martin
Folder
205-206
McDowell
Folder
207-211
Mecklenburg
Folder
212-213
Mitchell
Folder
214-215
Montgomery
Folder
216-217
Moore
Folder
218-219
Nash
Folder
220-223
New Hanover
Folder
224-225
Northampton
Folder
226-227
Onslow
Folder
228-229
Orange
Folder
230-231
Pamlico
Folder
232-233
Pasquotank
Folder
234-235
Pender
Folder
236-237
Perquimans
Folder
238-239
Person
Folder
240-241
Pitt
Folder
242-243
Polk
Folder
244-245
Randolph
Folder
246-247
Richmond
Folder
248-249
Robeson
Folder
250-251
Rockingham
Folder
252-253
Rocky Mount
Folder
254-255
Rowan
Folder
256-257
Rutherford
Folder
258-259
Sampson
Folder
260-261
Scotland
Folder
262-263
Stanly
Folder
264-265
Stokes
Folder
266-267
Surry
Folder
268-269
Swain
Folder
270-271
Transylvania
Folder
272-273
Tyrrell
Folder
274-275
Union
Folder
276-277
Vance
Folder
278-283
Wake
Folder
284-285
Warren
Folder
286-287
Washington
Folder
288-289
Watauga
Folder
290-291
Wayne
Folder
292-293
Wilkes
Folder
294-295
Wilson
Folder
296-297
Yadkin
Folder
298-299
Yancey
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2.1.2. Other Campaign Files, 1947-1949.
About 750 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by type.
These items, which were not organized by Umstead or his staff, include campaign speeches by and for Umstead, lists of county managers and contacts, and political correspondence, chiefly thanking supporters or requesting support. Some correspondence details Umstead's campaign tactics. Correspondents who give particular insight into campaign strategies include Joe Carruthers, Umstead's campaign manager; Wesley McDonald; John Harden, private secretary to Governor Cherry and later Umstead's director of public relations; and Thomas Broughton, a Thomasville, N.C., public relations agent. Other notable correspondents include Governors R. Gregg Cherry and Kerr Scott.
Folder
300
Advertisements
Folder
301A
Campaign Speeches
Folder
301BA
Senate Campaign Finances
Folder
301BB
Clipping about prospective senatorial candidates, September 1949
Folder
302-303
Contacts and Managers by County (see also Folder 861)
Folder
304
Correspondence, December 1946-April 1947
Folder
305
Correspondence, May-August 1947
Folder
306
Correspondence, September-October 1947
Folder
307
Correspondence, November-December 1947
Folder
308
Correspondence, January 1948
Folder
309
Correspondence, February 1948
Folder
310
Correspondence, March 1948
Folder
311
Correspondence, April 1948
Folder
312-313
Correspondence, May 1948
Folder
314
Correspondence, June 1948 and undated
Folder
315
Guest Register, January 1947-November 1948
Folder
316-317
Lists of Possible Supporters
Folder
318
Miscellaneous Campaign Material
Folder
319
Speeches by Others Supporting Umstead
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2.2. Senate Office Files, 1947-1949.
About 1750 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Cheifly files of constituent correspondence concerning legislation and casework needs. Some other material also appears.
2.2.1. Legislative Files, 1947-1949.
About 750 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.
Chiefly correspondence with constituents regarding public issues of concern to them. Over half of this material concerns the Taft-Hartley Act, which Umstead supported. The act, intended to curb the power of organized labor, passed over President Truman's veto. Umstead routinely stated his position on the act and occasionally explained his stand in more detail.
Material also appears concerning such issues important to North Carolina as the furniture industry, federal aid to improve rivers and harbors, and Umstead's views on drunk driving and the prohibition of advertising of alcoholic beverages. Speeches record Umstead's stands on such issues as civil rights and agricultural legislation.
The majority of these files were organized and titled by Umstead's staff; they almost surely reflect only a fraction of his original subject files.
Folder
320A
Agriculture
Folder
320B
Alcoholic Beverages
Folder
321-322
Camp Butner
Folder
323
Federal Government
Folder
324
Furniture
Folder
325
General
Folder
326-333
Labor: For
Folder
334-337
Labor: Against
Folder
338
Louisburg Theatre
Folder
339
Report on North Carolina Manufacturers' Taxes
Folder
340
Rivers and Harbors
Folder
341
Speeches and Press Releases
Folder
342
Wilmington Ports Authority
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2.2.2. Casework and Appointment Files, 1947-1949.
About 500 items.
Files relating to veterans' affairs, postal and civil service appointments, and other constituent needs for which Umstead's aid was sought. These files document efforts by the senator's office to expedite government appointments, especially postal and service academy appointments, and constituents' dealings with the Veterans Administration and other government agencies.
These files are generally arranged alphabetically by client; there are noticeable gaps, particularly Casework, C-I.
Folder
343
Appointments: Academies
Folder
344
Appointments: Justice Department
Folder
345
Appointments: Postal
Folder
346
Casework: B
Folder
347-348
Casework: General
Folder
349
Casework: J
Folder
350
Casework: K
Folder
351
Casework: L
Folder
352
Casework: M
Folder
353
Casework: O
Folder
354
Casework: P
Folder
355
Casework: R
Folder
356
Casework: S
Folder
357
Casework: T
Folder
358-363
Casework: Veterans
Folder
364
Casework: W
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2.2.3. General Correspondence and Miscellaneous Material, 1947-1949.
About 500 items.
Chiefly routine and social correspondence. Correspondence from January 1947 consists mostly of congratulatory letters from friends and supporters on Umstead's appointment to the U. S. Senate and Umstead's replies. Some correspondence and miscellaneous material relates to such routine internal Senate functions as office supplies and travel allowances.
Folder
365-367
Christmas Greetings
Folder
368
Correspondence, 1946
Folder
369-373
Correspondence, January 1947
Folder
374
Correspondence, February-May 1947
Folder
375
Correspondence, June-December 1947
Folder
376
Correspondence, January-November 1948
Folder
377
Correspondence, December 1948 and undated
Folder
378
Crank Mail
Folder
379
Miscellaneous Material
Folder
380
Visitors' Registry
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3. William Bradley Umstead North Carolina Gubernatorial Files, 1951-1953.
About 11500 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Material relating chiefly to Umstead's 1952 gubernatorial campaign. Some material relating to his administration is contained here, but the researcher interested primarily in the administration should consult the North Carolina State Archives to see Umstead's official gubernatorial records.
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3.1. Campaign Files, 1951-1953.
About 10500 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence with supporters, campaign speeches, and other material relating to Umstead's 1952 gubernatorial campaign.
3.1.1. Correspondence with Supporters and Organizers, 1951-1953.
About 10000 items.
Arrangement: by type then alphabetical by county.
Letters regarding support for Umstead's Candidacy, post-campaign letters of appreciation to supporters, and correspondence with county organizers. This material was arranged by Umstead's staff.
There is a fairly complete run of letters regarding support for Umstead's Candidacy arranged by county (there is no material for Clay or Haywood counties; High Point and Rocky Mount have their own files). These items consist chiefly of letters from Umstead soliciting support from individuals, responses to these letters, and Umstead's response in turn. Organizational correspondence is complete through Northampton County except for Bertie and Hyde counties, and contains a file for High Point. Post-campaign appreciation letters are the most scattered and least complete, and contain a miscellaneous file and an out-of-state file. See also Subseries 3.1.2, folder 660F.
Letters of Support
Folder
381-384
Alamance
Folder
385
Alexander
Folder
386
Alleghany
Folder
387
Anson
Folder
388
Ashe
Folder
389
Avery
Folder
390
Beaufort
Folder
391
Bertie
Folder
392
Bladen
Folder
393
Brunswick
Folder
394-397
Buncombe
Folder
398
Burke
Folder
399-400
Cabarrus
Folder
401
Caldwell
Folder
402
Camden
Folder
403
Carteret
Folder
404
Caswell
Folder
405-406
Catawba
Folder
407
Chatham
Folder
408
Cherokee
Folder
409
Chowan
Folder
410
Clay
Folder
411
Cleveland
Folder
412-413
Columbus
Folder
414
Craven
Folder
415-416
Cumberland
Folder
417
Currituck
Folder
418
Dare
Folder
419
Davidson
Folder
420
Davie
Folder
421
Duplin
Folder
422-423
Durham
Folder
424-425
Edgecombe
Folder
426-429
Forsyth
Folder
430
Franklin
Folder
431-433
Gaston
Folder
434
Gates
Folder
435
Graham
Folder
436-437
Granville
Folder
438
Greene
Folder
439-445
Guilford
Folder
446-448
Halifax
Folder
449-450
Harnett
Folder
451
Haywood
Folder
452
Henderson
Folder
453
Hertford
Folder
454-456
High Point
Folder
457
Hoke
Folder
458
Hyde
Folder
459-460
Iredell
Folder
461
Jackson
Folder
462-463
Johnston
Folder
464
Jones
Folder
465
Lee
Folder
466-468
Lenoir
Folder
469-470
Lincoln
Folder
471
Macon
Folder
472
Madison
Folder
473
Martin
Folder
474
McDowell
Folder
475-480
Mecklenburg
Folder
481
Mitchell
Folder
482-483
Montgomery
Folder
484-486
Moore
Folder
487-488
Nash
Folder
489-493
New Hanover
Folder
494
Northampton
Folder
495
Onslow
Folder
496
Orange
Folder
497
Pamlico
Folder
498-500
Pasquotank
Folder
501
Pender
Folder
502
Perquimans
Folder
503-504
Person
Folder
505-508
Pitt
Folder
509
Polk
Folder
510
Randolph
Folder
511
Richmond
Folder
512-515
Robeson
Folder
516-518
Rockingham
Folder
519-521
Rocky Mount
Folder
522-523
Rowan
Folder
524-525
Rutherford
Folder
526
Sampson
Folder
527
Scotland
Folder
528
Stanly
Folder
529
Stokes
Folder
530-531
Surry
Folder
532
Swain
Folder
533
Transylvania
Folder
534
Tyrrell
Folder
535-536
Union
Folder
537-538
Vance
Folder
539-541
Wake
Folder
542-550
Wake
Folder
551
Warren
Folder
552
Washington
Folder
553
Watauga
Folder
554-555
Wayne
Folder
556
Wilkes
Folder
557-558
Wilson
Folder
559
Yadkin
Folder
560
Yancey
Correspondence with Organizers
Folder
561
Alamance
Folder
562
Alexander
Folder
563
Alleghany
Folder
564
Anson
Folder
565
Ashe
Folder
566
Avery
Folder
567
Beaufort
Folder
568
Bladen
Folder
569
Brunswick
Folder
570
Buncombe
Folder
571-572
Burke
Folder
573
Cabarrus
Folder
574
Caldwell
Folder
575
Camden
Folder
576
Carteret
Folder
577
Caswell
Folder
578
Catawba
Folder
579
Chatham
Folder
580
Cherokee
Folder
581
Chowan
Folder
582
Clay
Folder
583
Cleveland
Folder
584
Columbus
Folder
585
Craven
Folder
586
Cumberland
Folder
587
Currituck
Folder
588
Dare
Folder
589
Davie
Folder
590
Duplin
Folder
591
Durham
Folder
592
Edgecombe
Folder
593
Forsyth
Folder
594
Franklin
Folder
595
Gaston
Folder
596
Gates
Folder
597
Graham
Folder
598
Granville
Folder
599
Greene
Folder
600
Guilford
Folder
601
Halifax
Folder
602
Harnett
Folder
603
Haywood
Folder
604
Henderson
Folder
605
Hertford
Folder
606
High Point
Folder
607
Hoke
Folder
608
Iredell
Folder
609
Jackson
Folder
610
Johnston
Folder
611
Jones
Folder
612
Lee
Folder
613
Lenoir
Folder
614
Lincoln
Folder
615
Macon
Folder
616
Madison
Folder
617
Martin
Folder
618
McDowell
Folder
619
Mecklenburg
Folder
620
Mitchell
Folder
621
Montgomery
Folder
622
Moore
Folder
623
Nash
Folder
624
New Hanover
Folder
625
Northampton
Post-campaign Appreciation Letters
Folder
626
Buncombe
Folder
627
Burke
Folder
628
Cabarrus
Folder
629
Caldwell
Folder
630-631
Columbus
Folder
632
Craven
Folder
633
Cumberland
Folder
634
Currituck
Folder
635
Dare
Folder
636
Davidson
Folder
637
Miscellaneous
Folder
638-641
Out-of-state
Folder
642
Richmond
Folder
643
Robeson
Folder
644
Rockingham
Folder
645
Rowan
Folder
646
Transylvania
Folder
647
Tyrrell
Folder
648
Union
Folder
649
Vance
Folder
650-652
Wake
Folder
653
Warren
Folder
654
Yancey
Back to Top
3.1.2. Other Campaign Files, 1951-1953.
About 5500 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by type.
Campaign office files, including lists of county contacts, election returns, financial statements, public statements and news releases, and copies of political advertisements for Umstead and for Hubert Olive, his main opponent. Much of this material was not organized by Umstead's staff.
Folder
655
Advertisements
Folder
656-657A
Applications for Jobs
Folder
657B
Campaign Finance Ledger
Folder
657C
Cancelled Checks, Gubernatorial Campaign
Folder
658A
Certification of Results
Folder
658B
Check Stub Books, 1952
Folder
659-660A
Contacts and Managers by County (see also Folder 861)
Folder
660B
Contributors, Lists of. 1952, and undated
Folder
660C
Contributions and Expenditures
Folder
660D
Contributions and Political Expenses Record
Folder
660E
Correspondence: Miscellaneous, 1952 and January 1953
Folder
660F
Correspondence: Mainly responses to letters sent out on behalf of Umstead's candidacy by E. I. Bugg, president of the Durham Hotel Corporation.
Folder
660G
Correspondence: Mainly between Umstead and Josh Horne, of the Rocky Mount Publishing Company
Folder
661
Election Returns
Folder
662-664
Engagements Filled, 1952
Folder
665-668
Financial Material
Folder
669-671
Form Letters (Copies)
Folder
672
Guest Registers, 1952
Folder
673-674
Invitations Accepted
Folder
675-677
Invitations Declined
Folder
678
Invitations Pending
Folder
679A-B
Hubert Olive Campaign Material
Folder
680
Lists Checked
Folder
681
Miscellaneous Campaign Files
Folder
682
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Folder
683-684
Newspaper Form Letters, 1952
Folder
685
Office Services
Folder
686
Office Supplies
Folder
687-688A
Pre-campaign File
Folder
688B
Speeches given by or on behalf of Umstead, 1952
Folder
689-690E
Statements and News Releases
Folder
691
Telegrams
Folder
692A
Thank You Letters (Help in Headquarters)
Folder
692B
"The William Umstead Club": an 8-page roster of signatures, 12 September, 1951
Folder
692C
Witholding tax and payroll, Gubernatorial Camapaign: Official documents and correspondence
Back to Top
3.2. Miscellaneous Gubernatorial Files, 1951-1954.
About 1050 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by type.
Personal correspondence of Umstead while he was governor, programs of events he attended, and such administrative material as state budget analyses, statements and press releases, business newsletters and other research material, and material relating to Umstead's inauguration.
The personal correspondence in this series consists almost entirely of routine social letters and includes a large number of get-well wishes and their acknowledgments. Inaugural material consists chiefly of invitations and letters of appreciation to people who worked on the event. Included in Other Gubernatorial Material are lists of members of several state agencies, some administrative reports, and items recording press coverage. Research Material consists chiefly of business newsletters and annual reports as well as reports on activities of other state governments.
Also in this series is a set of alphabetically arranged 3x5" index cards carrying names and addresses of political supporters who Umstead consulted when making state government appointments. Colors apparently reflected level of support.
The bulk of Umstead's gubernatorial papers are official state records on file at the North Carolina State Archives.
Appointment Calendars, 1953 and 1954
Folder
694
Budget, Tax, and Economy
Folder
695A
Callers and Invitations File
Folder
695B
Certification of election, signed by Thad Eure, Secretary of State
Folder
696A
Conservation and Development
Folder
696B
Correspondence about photographs of Umstead and his family
Folder
697-702
Get-Well Wishes and Acknowledgments
Folder
703
Inaugural Address
Folder
704
Inaugural Material
Folder
705
Legislative Notebook, 1953
Folder
706
Mansion Guest Register, Office Guest Register, 1953 (Volumes 4529/S-22 and S-23)
Folder
707-708A
Other Gubernatorial Material
Folder
708B
Pamphlet: "Facts about North Carolina," 1951
Folder
709A
Personal Correspondence
Folder
709B
Personal and Confidential Correspondence. Correspondents and/or addressees include Otis M. Banks, S. C. Brawley, Walter Briggs, Gregg Cherry, R. J. Ennis Davis, E. R. Derryberry, Bryce R. Holt, O. K. LaRouque, W. Kerr Scott, Bodie Ward, and Penn Watson
Folder
710
President of Turkey Visit, 1954
Folder
711-712
Programs
Folder
713
Public Higher Education
Folder
714
Research Material
Folder
715
Requests for Photographs
Folder
716
Statements and Press Releases
Box
27-31
Index Card Files
Back to Top
4. William Bradley Umstead Political Clippings, ca. 1920-1980.
About 10020 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Loose newspapers clippings and scrapbooks of newspaper clippings relating chiefly to the political career of William Bradley Umstead.
Back to Top
4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954.
21 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Volume 4529/S-1: 1921-1943. Chiefly clippings of Umstead's political career as solicitor and congressman. Also included are programs of events at which Umstead was the featured speaker, congratulatory telegrams (1936, 1938), and a few personal notes. Compiled by Mrs. O. G. Duke, Jr. About 176 pp.
Volume 4529/S-2: 1929-1933. Clippings concerning Umstead's terms as solicitor and congressman. There are two letters to Merle Davis Umstead from her father, Charles D. Davis, dated June 1932, expressing his happiness at Umstead's nomination as Democratic candidate for Congress, and a few congratulatory telegrams from others also concerning Umstead's nomination. Compiled by Merle Davis Umstead. About 76 pp.
Volume 4529/S-3: 1933-1936. Chiefly clippings of events in Washington, D.C., invitations to functions, and other memorabilia.
Volume 4529/S-4: 1936. Chiefly clippings of events in Washington, D.C., and invitations to functions.
Volume 4529/S-5: 1941-1951. Chiefly clippings about Umstead as campaign manager for R. Gregg Cherry, as Democratic State chair, and as United States senator. Also documented is Umstead's campaign for reelection to the senate.
Volume 4529/S-6: 1944. Clippings covering the Democratic Campaign. Compiled/arranged by Sallie Baker Everett, vice-chair of the State Democratic Committee under Umstead. About 66 pp.
Volume 4529/S-7: 1946-1948. Clippings compiled during Umstead's term as United States Senator. Arranged by Merle Davis Umstead. About 143 pp.
Volumes 4529/S-8 - S-21: 1952-1954. Clippings compiled during Umstead's term as governor.
Volume 4529/S-21: 1953-1954. Labeled "Special Scrap Book." The clippings in this volume are chiefly from columns in the Charlotte Oberserver or in the Raleigh Times
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4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980.
About 10100 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Newspaper clippings relating chiefly to William Bradley Umstead's senate and gubernatorial campaigns and terms. Clippings relating to other political events of concern to Umstead also appear. There are a few clippings relating to Merle Davis Umstead.
1920s
Folder
718-719
1930s
Folder
720
1940-1945
Folder
721
1946
Folder
722
1947
Folder
723-725
1948
Folder
726
1949
Folder
727
1950
Folder
728
1950-1951
Folder
729-739
1951
Folder
740-792
1952
Folder
793-823
1953
Folder
824-843
1954
Folder
844
1955
Folder
845
1956-1959
Folder
846
1960-1966
Folder
847
1970s
Folder
848
1980s
Folder
849-855
Undated
Back to Top
5. Other William Bradley Umstead Papers, 1863-1953.
About 1000 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.
Material relating to Umstead, but not to his congressional or gubernatorial career.
Back to Top
5.1. Other Political Material, 1928-1953.
About 450 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.
Chiefly scattered material relating to R. Gregg Cherry's 1944 gubernatorial campaign, which Umstead managed, and to Umstead's decision not to run for the United States Senate in 1950. Other material consists of campaign items that are not marked such as to identify the particular campaign involved and items not related to campaigns.
Political correspondence includes a letter (24 October 1928), signed "KKK," threatening to lynch Umstead if he continued to support Al Smith's presidential candidacy; a resolution (November, 1928) signed by Umstead and other officers of the American Legion forbidding the Klan from participating in a parade; a letter (22 December 1941) from Josephus Daniels, publisher of the News and Observer, praising an address made by Umstead. Also included are letters in 1949 and 1950 from supporters urging that Umstead be appointed to replace Senator Broughton, and, when Frank Porter Graham was appointed instead, urging that he run for the office in the next election. The correspondence after 1950 consists primarily of invitations to speak at various local events, and Umstead's replies.
Campaign Financial Reports and Signed Endorsements, 1932. Durham County Bar.
Folder
856B-860A
Cherry Campaign, 1944
Folder
860B
Cancelled Checks and Bills
Folder
860C
Check-Stub Books, 1944, 1946, 1947
Folder
861A
Clipping. Political Criticism/Satire, from the Raleigh News and Observer, 6 April 1931
Folder
861B
Contacts by County, undated
Folder
861C
Congressional Record Mailing List, 19 November 1947
Folder
861DA
Democratic Executive Committee Finances, 1947
Folder
861DB
Higgins, Carlyle W.: Correspondence, 1952
Folder
862-863
Miscellaneous Material
Folder
864
Party Handbooks, 1940-1952
Folder
865
Political Correspondence, 1924-1929
Folder
866
Political Correspondence, 1940-1945
Folder
867A
Political Correspondence, 1946
Folder
867B
Political Correspondence, 1946 (Campaign Contributions)
Folder
868A
Political Correspondence, 1947
Folder
868B
Political Correspondence, 1948 (Telephone Bills)
Folder
869-879
Political Correspondence, 1949
Folder
880
Political Correspondence, 1950
Folder
881-888
Political Correspondence, 1950
Folder
889-900
Political Correspondence, 1951
Folder
901-902
Political Correspondence, 1952-1953 and undated
Folder
903A
R. L. Harris Campaign for Lt. Governor, 1940
Folder
903B
State Democratic Campaign Checks and Statements, 1944
Folder
903C
State Democratic Headquarters: "Amounts sent by counties," 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946
Folder
904
Statements and Press Releases
Back to Top
5.2. Non- Political Material, 1863-1954.
About 550 items.
- Processing note: See also Addition of February 2002.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.
Various items relating to Umstead's private life, including personal correspondence, biographical material, financial records, school-related material, and certificates and resolutions honoring him.
Personal correspondence dates from 1915 to 1954, chiefly 1917-1921 and 1943-1952. Correspondents include family members, friends, and students. Included are letters from Lelia Humble about difficulties finding a teaching job and letters from students in Kinston about Umstead's enlistment during World War I. Legal material consists largely of correspondence relating to cases Umstead handled. Family material includes records (1863) of the substitution of another man to be conscripted into the Confederate Army, in place of John Umstead of Orange County.
American Legion Material
Folder
905B
Baily, General Charles Justin, United States Army. Memorial, November 1946
Folder
906
Beanies, UNC class of 1916
Folder
907A
Biographical Material
Folder
907B
Boy Scouts. Program for Annual Meeting of Mecklenburg Boy Scouts of America, December 1950
Folder
908
Business Cards and Calling Cards
Folder
909
Certificates and Resolutions
Folder
910A
Certificates and Resolutions
Folder
910B
Chamber of Commerce: Detailed program Chamber of Commerce dinner, 20 February 1925
Folder
911
Church Material
Folder
912-916
College Material (University of North Carolina): Includes debating texts and other debating material
Folder
917
Contributions by Umstead
Folder
918
Financial Records
Folder
919A
Financial Records
Folder
919B
Governor's Conference, 1953; issue of State Government magazine
Folder
920
Grammar School Themes
Folder
921
Health Care in North Carolina
Folder
922AA
High School Material
Folder
922AB
Hope Valley Country Club Receipt, 1942
Folder
922B-923
Law School Material
Folder
924-925
Legal Material
Folder
926
Other Items
Folder
927-947
Personal Correspondence
Folder
948-949
Programs
Folder
950-951
Speech Notes
Folder
952-955
Speeches
Folder
956
Teaching Material
Folder
957
Tickets and Passes
Folder
958AA
Umstead Family Material
Folder
958AB
War Production Plan forms, 1943
Folder
958B
UNC Class of 1916: Fifth Reunion
Back to Top
6. Merle Davis Umstead Personal Material, 1924-1987.
About 2475 items.
Back to Top
6.1. Correspondence, 1924-1986.
About 400 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly letters from Merle Davis Umstead's years as First Lady of North Carolina (1952-1954). Letters preceding the 1950s deal most notably with the death of Merle Davis Umstead's father, Charles D. Davis, in May 1936, William Bradley Umstead's travels through the western United States in 1936, and a congressional trip to the western United States and Hawaii in 1938, on which Merle Davis Umstead accompanied her husband.
From 1952 to 1954, the correspondence consists chiefly of personal notes to Merle from friends expressing congratulations and support at William's 1952 election and concern over his illness in January 1953. Also included are invitations and notes of appreciation from organizations such as the North Carolina March of Dimes, the United Fund, and the Raleigh Music Club.
Correspondence after William Bradley Umstead's death in 1954 pertains chiefly to memorials or events held in his honor, such as the unveiling of the Umstead portrait in February 1957, the opening of the William Bradley Umstead Memorial Bridge in Dare County, N.C., in 1957, and Umstead State Park. Brief notes to Merle Davis Umstead from Frank Porter Graham in 1956 and from Senator Samuel J. Ervin in 1962 are included.
1924-1935
Folder
960-961
1936
Folder
962
1937-1951
Folder
963-965
1952
Folder
966-967
1953
Folder
968-969
1954
Folder
970
1955
Folder
971
1956
Folder
972
1957
Folder
973A
1958-1973
Folder
973B
1974-1986
Back to Top
6.2. Condolences and Tributes Upon the Death of William Bradley Umstead, 1954.
About 1700 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by writer.
Cards, telegrams, and letters sent to Merle Davis Umstead and her daughter Merle Bradley Umstead by friends, relatives, politicians, and citizens of North Carolina expressing sympathy at the death of William Bradley Umstead in November 1954. There is also one folder of condolence letters received by Lucille Long, sister of William Bradley Umstead, and another folder of letters concerning Umstead's death that were received by others. Also included are tributes offered and resolutions adopted in honor of the late Governor Umstead sent to Merle Davis Umstead by state and local organizations, and lists of those who paid condolence calls to the Governor's Mansion and of those who sent gifts or flowers to the Umstead family.
A
Folder
975-976
B
Folder
977-978
C
Folder
979-980
D
Folder
981
E
Folder
982
F
Folder
983-984
G
Folder
985-986
H
Folder
987
I-J
Folder
988-989
K-L
Folder
990-991
M
Folder
992
N-O
Folder
993-994
P-Q
Folder
995-996
R
Folder
997-998
S
Folder
999-1000
T-U
Folder
1001-1002
V-W
Folder
1003
Y-Z
Folder
1004
Condolence Letters to Others
Folder
1005
Condolence Letters to Lucille Long
Folder
1006-1009
Tributes and Resolutions
Folder
1010
Visitor/Gift Lists, November 1954
Back to Top
6.3. Other Materials, 1954-1983.
About 300 items.
Arrangement: by subject.
Folder
1011
Autographs of friends compiled in a scrapbook by Merle Davis while at Trinity College in 1924.
Folder
1012
Newspaper, handbooks, and mementos collected by Merle Davis during her 1928 and 1929 summer visits to Camp Montreat for Girls in Montreat, N.C. (see also P-4529/241-269).
Folder
1013
"My Camp Log," a scrapbook compiled by Merle Davis while at Camp Montreat in July and August 1928. Personal messages written by other campers and programs of events are included.
Folder
1014
Writings compiled by Merle Davis while a counselor at Camp Montreat in 1929. "Chapel Talks," camp songs and cheers, and skits probably performed by campers are included.
Folder
1015
"Wildflowers from the Wasatch Mountains in Utah," a collection of dried and pressed flowers presented to Merle Davis Umstead as a memento of her June 1938 trip to Ogden, Utah.
Folder
1016
Menus, schedules, room assignments, and other items from Merle Davis Umstead's trip, along with her mother, Daisy Washburn Davis, to Panama in November 1938 aboard United States Army transport ships (see also P-4529/120-127).
Folder
1017
Notebook of Daisy Washburn Davis which briefly records the daily events of her 1938 trip to Panama.
Folder
1018
Newsletters ("Republication" and "Daily Reporter") from the voyage of November 1938 from New York to Panama.
Folder
1019
Printed invitations, 1918-1983.
Folder
1020A
Calling cards, gift enclosures, membership cards, 1927-1956.
Folder
1020B-1022
American Legion Auxilliary, 1927-1957.
Folder
1023
Woman's Club of Rutherfordton, N.C., 1928-1929; Raleigh Garden Club Yearbooks, 1953-1954.
Folder
1024
Woman's Club of Raleigh Yearbooks, 1953-1954.
Folder
1025A
Congressional Club Yearbooks, 1932 and 1934.
Folder
1025B
Attendence Record at meetings of the Board of Trustees, East Carolina College, 1955-1958.
Folder
1026
Sir Walter Cabinet, 1959 and 1967.
Folder
1027
Christmas card/gift lists, 1946, 1950, 1955.
Folder
1028-1030
Clippings, 1952-1953.
Folder
1031A
Governor's Mansion, 1953-1954. Included are notes made by Laura Reilly, the Mansion housekeeper, guest lists and plans for social functions held by Merle Davis Umstead, and a typewritten description of the Governor's Mansion used for tours.
Folder
1031B
Receipted bills, Governor's Mansion account.
Folder
1032A
Speeches and programs from events held in honor of the late Governor William Bradley Umstead, 1955-1957.
Folder
1032B
Article by Ed Rankin, William B.Umstead's secretary, about Umstead's last days, North Carolina Magazine, November, 1970.
Folder
1033
Newspaper clippings from the 1957 opening of the William Bradley Umstead Memorial Bridge in Dare County, N.C.
Folder
1034AA
Newspaper clippings from the unveiling of Umstead's portrait in the State Capitol in Raleigh in February 1957.
Folder
1034AB
Material about the presentation of Umstead portrait, February 1957.
Folder
1034B
Correspondence on the dedication of Umstead Hall, 1962.
Folder
1034C
News release about dedication of classroom at East Carolina College, March 1960.
Folder
1035
Certificates awarded to Merle Davis Umstead, 1956-1960.
Folder
1036A
Lists compiled by Merle Davis Umstead of people to be invited to the portrait unveiling in February 1957 and those who should be sent a copy of the Governor Umstead Letterbook in March 1958.
Folder
1036B
Congressional Record, 18 November 1954 and 11 April 1974, presented to Merle Davis Umstead by Representative Ike Andrews, April 1974.
Folder
1037AA
Miscellaneous items, including bills for the medical treatment of Merle Davis Umstead, her 1921 application for employment in the Internal Revenue Service, and her 1928 teacher's contract with Rutherford County, N.C.
Back to Top
6.4. Yearbooks, 1930-1987.
63 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
"Yearbooks" kept by Merle Davis Umstead. Entries are very short, typically consisting of a single sentence or two that records the names of visitors, the time of her appointments, preparations for parties and receptions, or other sundry information. Entries are sporadic in some volumes, and they are sometimes in shorthand. Translation of at least some of the shorthand was completed by the donors of the collection. These transcriptions are filed at the end of the subseries.
1930
Folder
1037AC
1931
Folder
1037AD
1932
Folder
1037BA
1933
Folder
1037BB
1934
Folder
1037BC
1935
Folder
1037CA
1936
Folder
1037CB
1937
Folder
1037CC
1938
Folder
1037DA
1939
Folder
1037DB
1940
Folder
1037DC
1941
Folder
1037EA
1942
Folder
1037EB
1943
Folder
1037EC
1944
Folder
1037FA
1945
Folder
1037FB
1946
Folder
1037FC-GA
1947
Folder
1037GB
1948
Folder
1037GC
1949
Folder
1037HA
1950
Folder
1037HB
1951
Folder
1037HC
1952
Folder
1037IA-IB
1953
Folder
1037IC
1954
Folder
1037ID
1955
Folder
1037JA
1956
Folder
1037JB
1957
Folder
1037JC
1958
Folder
1037KA
1959
Folder
1037KB
1960
Folder
1037KC
1961
Folder
1037LA
1962
Folder
1037LB
1963
Folder
1037LC
1964
Folder
1037MA
1965
Folder
1037MB
1966
Folder
1037MC-NA
1967
Folder
1037NB
1968
Folder
1037NC
1969
Folder
1037OA
1970
Folder
1037OB
1971
Folder
1037OC
1972
Folder
1037PA
1973
Folder
1037PB
1974
Folder
1037PC
1975
Folder
1037QA
1976
Folder
1037QB
1977
Folder
1037QC
1978
Folder
1037RA
1979
Folder
1037RB
1980
Folder
1037RC-SA
1981
Folder
1037SB
1982
Folder
1037SC
1983
Folder
1037TA
1984
Folder
1037TB
1985
Folder
1037TC
1986
Folder
1037UA
1987
Folder
1037UB
Transcriptions
Back to Top
7. Merle Davis Umstead Family Material, 1894-1961.
About 415 items.
Back to Top
7.1. Correspondence, 1894-1961.
About 60 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Business and personal correspondence of Charles D. and Daisy Washburn Davis (parents of Merle Davis Umstead) and of various Washburn and Harton relatives of Daisy Washburn Davis.
From 1899 to 1918, there are chiefly letters written by John Harton to his mother, Mrs. W. H. Harton of Bostic, N.C., while Harton served in the United States Army stationed in the Philippines from 1899 until his death in 1901. These letters deal largely with Harton's health and location and his wishes for those at home. John Harton was the brother-in-law of Edgar Nollie Washburn. There is one letter to Mrs. W. H. Harton from another son, Leslie N. Harton, who was stationed in France in 1918. There are also several letters to William A. Washburn from friends and family members, including one written in 1902 by E. N. Washburn referring to the building of the store which still stood in Bostic in 1909.
From 1929 to 1961, there are chiefly business letters sent to Charles D. Davis in the early 1930s dealing with loans, insurance policies, and Davis's pension claims as a Spanish-American War veteran. There are a few letters to Davis from Congressman Zebulon Weaver. The correspondence of Daisy Washburn Davis is chiefly comprised of letters written to her when she was in Washington, D.C., in 1947 by her nephew, J. Reid Washburn of Bostic, N.C. The letters chiefly concern family matters and the collecting of rent by Reid Washburn on property owned by Daisy Washburn Davis. There are also clippings and letters sent to Daisy Washburn Davis by Laura H. Reilly, housekeeper of the Governor's Mansion while Davis's son-in-law, William Bradley Umstead, was governor of North Carolina (1952-1954). There are a few scattered letters written in the late 1930s to Ben Washburn, son of E. N. Washburn and Grace Harton Washburn, including brief responses by Senate committee members to inquiries made by Washburn and a vocational questionnaire from Sunshine High School.
1894-1900
Folder
1039
1901-1929
Folder
1040
1930-1931
Folder
1041
1932-1936
Folder
1042
1938-1961 and undated
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7.2. Sunshine Store Records, 1899-1941.
About 315 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Records of various business transactions conducted by the Sunshine Cash Store and Service Station and E. N. Washburn Store, No. 2, both in Rutherford County, N.C. Bills and receipts, Goods Bought/Cash Sales Daily volumes, inventory books, loose account records, and account books are among the types of documentation included. Although chiefly generated by store business, the records also document Washburn family household expenses as well as other financial transactions of Charles D. and Daisy Washburn Davis, including Estate Checks Given, Estate Collections, and Cotton Bought.
7.2.1. Bills and Receipts, 1899-1907; 1928-1938.
About 120 items.
Bills, receipts,a nd shippings invoices from merchants or from suppliers/wholesalers of the stores. Most material resulted from buying trips of Will A. Washburn to New York City in the early 1900s.
Folder
1043-1044
1899-1902
Folder
1045
1903
Folder
1046-1047
1906
Folder
1048
1907
Folder
1049
1928-1938
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7.2.2. Goods Bought/Cash Sales Daily, 1906; 1933-1939.
3 items.
Record of goods purchased, merchants and suppliers/wholesalers dealt with, and daily and monthly totals of cash received for merchandise sold in the Sunshine Cash Store. Totals of the sales tax on the merchandise are listed for 1933-1939.
Folder
1050
1906
Folder
1051
1933-1936
Folder
1052
1936-1939 (also lists estate checks given and estate collections)
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7.2.3. Inventory Books, 1912; 1930-1937.
8 items.
Records of goods on hand in the stores, including grocery items, household supplies and equipment, clothing, and textiles. The quantity and monetary value of the goods listed are also specified.
Folder
1053
1912: Invoice of Washburn and Biggerstaff. Includes a genealogy of the Washburn family, written in 1936 by Benjamin Washburn (son of E. N. Washburn).
Folder
1054
1930-1934: Inventory of the Sunshine Service Station.
Folder
1055
1931: Inventory of E. N. Washburn Store, No. 2, 6 January 1932.
Folder
1056
1932: Inventory of E. N. Washburn Store, No. 2, 9 January 1933.
Folder
1057
1934: Inventory of Sunshine Cash Store.
Folder
1058
1935-1936: Inventory of Sunshine Cash Store, 1 June 1936.
Folder
1059
1936-1937: Inventory, probably of Sunshine Cash Store, 23 September 1937.
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7.2.4. Loose Account Records, 1919-1941 and undated.
About 100 items.
Chiefly IOUs handwritten by customers to Charles D. Davis in the early 1930s requting that merchandise be charged to their accounts. Most of these items had been loosely inserted in account books.
Folder
1060
1919-1932
Folder
1061
1933-1941 and undated
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7.2.5. Account Books, ca. 1900; 1915-1940 and undated.
24 items.
Most of these volumes list the names of individual customers of Sunshine Cash Store, items purchased, and amounts due. There is no apparent scheme of arrangement; however, an alphabetically arranged list of the customers and pages on which they appear is located at the beginning of most volumes.
Folder
1062
ca. 1900: Informal account book, apparently concerning the Washburn family household. Included among the few, brief entries are sales transactions between Washburn family members and payment records for services rendered, such as washing and plowing.
Folder
1063
1915: Account book. Also includes records of cash sales, collections on time sales, and cash paid Furst and Thomas.
Folder
1064
1917-1919: Account book
Folder
1065
1919-1920: Account book
Folder
1066
1920-1921: Account book
Folder
1067
1927-1928: Account book
Folder
1068
1928-1929: Account book
Folder
1069
1928-1935: Account book from the Sunshine Service Station
Folder
1070
1929: Account book
Folder
1071
1929-1930: Account book
Folder
1072
1931-1932: Account book
Folder
1073
1931-1932: Account book
Folder
1074
1932-1933: Record of Berge Neill's accounts with Sunshine Cash Store and with E. N. Washburn Store, No. 2
Folder
1075
1932-1935: Account book
Folder
1076
1934-1935: Informal records of accounts probably from Sunshine Cash Store, transcribed in small notebooks rather than in bound ledgers
Folder
1077
1934-1940: Account book from Sunshine Cash Store. Also includes records of cotton transactions.
Folder
1078
1935-1936: Account book from Sunshine Cash Store
Folder
1079
1936-1939: Account book from Sunshine Cash Store
Folder
1080
Undated: Informal, fragmentary account books, one of which chiefly records cotton and corn transactions.
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7.2.6. Other Store Materials, 1901-1902; 1923; 1930-1935 and undated.
About 60 items.
Chiefly price lists and advertisements from merchants or suppliers/wholesalers. Also included are letters to Charles D. Davis from the North Carolina Cotton Growers Co-Operative Association; a letter from the North Carolina State Board of Health concerning comfort station regulations and inspections; and several undated, handwritten lists of store customers.
Folder
1081
1901-1923
Folder
1082
1930
Folder
1083
1931-1933
Folder
1084
1935-1939 and undated
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7.3. Other Materials, 1895-1947 and undated.
About 40 items.
Tax notices, bank statements, and receipts, 1925-1947, of Charles D. and Daisy Washburn Davis; trustee record and bank statements of the Bostic Presbyterian Church Manse, 1925-1927, when Charles D. Davis was secretary/treasurer of the church; an essay entitled concerning canal building, June 1895, and possibly written by Ben Washburn; a portion of The Soldier's Handbook, which was printed in 1896 and belonged to John Harton; and a few other items.
Canal building, 1895
Folder
1086
The Soldier's Handbook, 1896
Folder
1087
Tax notices, bank statements, and receipts of Charles D. and Daisy Washburn Davis, 1925-1947
Folder
1088
Records of Bostic Presbyterian Church Manse, 1925-1927
Folder
1089
Miscellaneous
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8. Audio-Visual Material, 1930s-1981 and undated.
About 400 items.
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8.1. Pictures, 1930s-1981 and undated.
About 375 items.
Arrangement: by subject.
P-4529/1A: Photocopied photograph portraits of American statesmen, signed and dedicated by them to William Bradley Umstead (negatives included).
P-4529/1B-12F: William Bradley Umstead.
P-4529/13-61: Umstead with political figures and groups. Included are photographs of Umstead with Adlai Stevenson (42) and Dwight D. Eisenhower (55-56).
P-4529/62-72: Umstead with non-political figures and groups.
P-4529/73-100: Merle Davis Umstead with groups. Chiefly official photographs of functions during Umstead's term as governor and after his death.
P-4529/101: Merle Bradley Umstead, daughter of William and Merle Davis Umstead (image on metal plate).
P-4529/102-109: Umstead with his family. Chiefly photographs of the family during Umstead's term as governor.
P-4529/110-119: Other identified individuals.
P-4529/120-127: Trip made by Merle Davis Umstead and her mother, Daisy Washburn Davis, to Panama.
P-4529/128-198 : 1938 Western trip.
P-4529/199-207: John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir Dedication, 3 October 1952.
P-4529/208-218: Governor Umstead's inauguration.
P-4529/218A-218B: Fayetteville, N.C., Centennial.
P-4529/219-228: Jefferson Standard Life Insurance convention.
P-4529/228A: Bridge Dedication, before November 1954.
P-4529/228B: Dedication of Umstead Youth Center, Butner, N.C.
P-4529/228C-228DA: House Love Feast, April 1953.
P-4529/228DB: Official Opening of Benson Aircraft Plant, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
P-4529/228E-228H: Doughton Park, October 1953.
P-4529/228I: Swearing in of Air Force Recruits.
P-4529/228J: Concert dedicated to William Bradley Umstead.
P-4529/228K-228M: Dedication of William Bradley Umstead Park, August 1955.
P-4529/229: Person County Court House.
P-4529/230-231: Drugstore displaying Umstead's senate campaign picture and truck displaying Umstead's gubernatorial campaign slogan.
P-4529/232: Headquarters for gubernatorial campaign.
P-4529/233-238: Interior of the governor's mansion.
P-4529/239-240: Governor Umstead ferry.
P-4529/241-269: Camp Montreat for Girls.
P-4529/270-281: Unidentified people.
P-4529/282: Unidentified places.
PA-4529/1: Dedication of the Canton Public Library, Canton, N.C., 1954.
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8.2. Audio Recordings, 1947-1962 and undated.
24 items.
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8.2.1. Audio Tape, 1962 and undated.
2 items.
T-4529/1: Eat Carolina college, Umstead Hall Dedication, 1 April 1962 (reel-to-reel).
T-4529/2: "Recording to cassette tape of radio transcription disk."
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8.2.2. Audio Disks, 1947-1953 and undated.
29 items.
Note that some disks are delaminating and/or warped, and may not e playable.
D-4529/1: Senator Umstead, recorded 24 April 1947 (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/2-3: Labor speech by Senator William Bradley Umstead, 4 May 1948. 2 copies (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/4: Senator William Bradley Umstead: "Civil Rights," 7 May 1948 (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/5-6: Senator William Bradley Umstead: "Plain Talk and Straight Answers," 19 May 1948. Parts 1 and 2. (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/7: Farm Talk with Senator William Bradley Umstead, 24 May 1948 (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/8: Col. S. C. Chambers and Reverend M. C. Dunn speaking for Senator William Bradley Umstead (78 rpm).
D-4529/9: W. M. Bacon speaking for Senator William Bradley Umstead (78 rpm).
D-4529/10: Umstead Song by Royal Kings-Genial Gene (78 rpm).
D-4529/11: Dan K. Edwards and Reverend F. Marshall speaking for Senator William Bradley Umstead (78 rpm).
D-4529/12-13: Tom Allen for Umstead. 2 copies (78 rpm).
D-4529/14: A. C. Lon Edwards For Umstead (78 rpm).
D-4529/15: An address by J. Melville Broughton, Jr., on behalf of Umstead (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/16: An address by Representative Robert L. Doughton on behalf of William Bradley Umstead, candidate for governor (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/17-18: Umstead for Governor, narration by J. Harden, to be synchronized with film, 8 May 1952 (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/19: Judge Varser, Umstead for Governor, 27 May 1952 (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/20-22: Jingle, Umstead for Governor, May 1952. 3 copies (78 rpm).
D-4529/23: Speaker Eugene Bost's presentation of gift to Governor Umstead at Legislative "Lovefeast," North Carolina House of Representatives, 1953 (78 rpm).
D-4529/24-26: "Umstead Memorium," WPTF, Raleigh, 15 March 1955. Parts 1-5 (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/27-28: "In Memorium: Governor William Bradley Umstead," WPTF, Raleigh, 7 November 1954. Parts 1-4 (33 1/3 rpm).
D-4529/29: "Senator William Bradley Umstead," WPTF, Raleigh, 6 April 1948 (33 1/3).
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8.3. Films, 1952-1957.
4 items.
F-4529/1-2: William Bradley Umstead's gubernatorial television campaign (16 mm).
F-4529/3: Umstead's election night and inauguration as governor (16 mm, silent, 400 ft.).
F-4529/4: Dedication of Governor Umstead bridge, 26 April 1957 (16 mm, color, 100 ft.).
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Addition of February 2002 (Acc. 99173).
About 400 items.
- Processing Note: This addition has been arranged according to the organization scheme of, but has not been integrated into, the original deposit of materials.
5.2. Non-political Material, 1917-1946 and undated.
About 400 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Various items relating to William B. Umstead's life before his election to Congress. Almost all of the items in this addition relate to Umstead's military service during World War I. Included are diaries, personal correspondenc