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This collection has access restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the FAQ section for more information.
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Collection Overview
| Size | About 39,000 items (76.0 linear feet) |
| 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. |
| Creator | Umstead, William Bradley, 1895-1954.
Umstead, Merle Davis, 1901-1988. |
| Language | English. |
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Information For Users
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
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Biographical Information
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.
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Scope and Content
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.
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Series Quick Links
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Series 1. William Bradley Umstead United States House of Representatives Files, 1932-1938.
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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Subseries 1.1. Legislative Files, 1937-1938.
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.
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Subseries 1.2. William Bradley Umstead Retirement Correspondence, 1938.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Letters received upon Umstead's retirement, chiefly of a routine nature.
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Subseries 1.3. William Bradley Umstead Other House Material, 1932-1938.
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.
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Series 2. William Bradley Umstead United States Senate Files, 1947-1949.
Arrangement: by type.
Files relating to Umstead's Senate career, including campaign material and Senate office files.
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Subseries 2.1. Campaign Files, 1947-1949.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence with supporters and other material relating to Umstead's campaign to succeed himself in the Senate.
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Subseries 2.1.1. Correspondence with Supporters, 1947-1949.
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.
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Subseries 2.1.2. Other Campaign Files, 1947-1949.
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.
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Subseries 2.2. Senate Office Files, 1947-1949.
Arrangement: by type.
Cheifly files of constituent correspondence concerning legislation and casework needs. Some other material also appears.
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Subseries 2.2.1. Legislative Files, 1947-1949.
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.
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Subseries 2.2.2. Casework and Appointment Files, 1947-1949.
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.
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Subseries 2.2.3. General Correspondence and Miscellaneous Material, 1947-1949.
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.
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Series 3. William Bradley Umstead North Carolina Gubernatorial Files, 1951-1953.
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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Subseries 3.1. Campaign Files, 1951-1953.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence with supporters, campaign speeches, and other material relating to Umstead's 1952 gubernatorial campaign.
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Subseries 3.1.1. Correspondence with Supporters and Organizers, 1951-1953.
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.
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Subseries 3.1.1.1. Letters of Support
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Subseries 3.1.1.2. Correspondence with Organizers
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Subseries 3.1.1.3. Post-campaign Appreciation Letters
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Subseries 3.1.2. Other Campaign Files, 1951-1953.
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.
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Subseries 3.2. Miscellaneous Gubernatorial Files, 1951-1954.
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.
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Series 4. William Bradley Umstead Political Clippings, ca.
1920-1980.
Arrangement: by type.
Loose newspapers clippings and scrapbooks of newspaper clippings relating chiefly to the political career of William Bradley Umstead.
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Subseries 4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954.
Arrangement: chronological.
| Oversize Volume VS-4529/1 |
1921-1943. #04529, Subseries: "4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954." VS-4529/1Chiefly 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. |
| Oversize Volume VS-4529/2 |
1929-1933. #04529, Subseries: "4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954." VS-4529/2Clippings 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. |
| Oversize Volume VS-4529/3 |
1933-1936. #04529, Subseries: "4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954." VS-4529/3Chiefly clippings of events in Washington, D.C., invitations to functions, and other memorabilia. |
| Oversize Volume VS-4529/4 |
1936. #04529, Subseries: "4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954." VS-4529/4Chiefly clippings of events in Washington, D.C., and invitations to functions. |
| Oversize Volume VS-4529/5 |
1941-1951. #04529, Subseries: "4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954." VS-4529/5Chiefly 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. |
| Oversize Volume VS-4529/6 |
1944. #04529, Subseries: "4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954." VS-4529/6Clippings covering the Democratic Campaign. Compiled/arranged by Sallie Baker Everett, vice-chair of the State Democratic Committee under Umstead. About 66 pp. |
| Oversize Volume VS-4529/7 |
1946-1948. #04529, Subseries: "4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954." VS-4529/7Clippings compiled during Umstead's term as United States Senator. Arranged by Merle Davis Umstead. About 143 pp. |
| Oversize Volume VS-4529/8-20 |
1952-1954. #04529, Subseries: "4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954." VS-4529/8-20Clippings compiled during Umstead's term as governor. VS-4529/8VS-4529/9VS-4529/10VS-4529/11VS-4529/12VS-4529/13VS-4529/14VS-4529/15VS-4529/16VS-4529/17VS-4529/18VS-4529/19VS-4529/20 |
| Oversize Volume VS-4529/21 |
1953-1954. #04529, Subseries: "4.1. Political Scrapbooks, 1921-1954." VS-4529/21Labeled "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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Subseries 4.2. Loose Clippings, ca.
1920-1980.
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.
| Folder 717 |
1920s #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 717 |
| Folder 718-719 |
1930s #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 718-719Folder 718Folder 719 |
| Folder 720 |
1940-1945 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 720 |
| Folder 721 |
1946 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 721 |
| Folder 722 |
1947 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 722 |
| Folder 723-725 |
1948 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 723-725Folder 723Folder 724Folder 725 |
| Folder 726 |
1949 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 726 |
| Folder 727 |
1950 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 727 |
| Folder 728 |
1950-1951 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 728 |
| Folder 729-739 |
1951 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 729-739Folder 729Folder 730Folder 731Folder 732Folder 733Folder 734Folder 735Folder 736Folder 737Folder 738Folder 739 |
| Folder 740-792 |
1952 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 740-792Folder 740Folder 741Folder 742Folder 743Folder 744Folder 745Folder 746Folder 747Folder 748Folder 749Folder 750Folder 751Folder 752Folder 753Folder 754Folder 755Folder 756Folder 757Folder 758Folder 759Folder 760Folder 761Folder 762Folder 763Folder 764Folder 765Folder 766Folder 767Folder 768Folder 769Folder 770Folder 771Folder 772Folder 773Folder 774Folder 775Folder 776Folder 777Folder 778Folder 779Folder 780Folder 781Folder 782Folder 783Folder 784Folder 785Folder 786Folder 787Folder 788Folder 789Folder 790Folder 791Folder 792 |
| Folder 793-823 |
1953 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 793-823Folder 793Folder 794Folder 795Folder 796Folder 797Folder 798Folder 799Folder 800Folder 801Folder 802Folder 803Folder 804Folder 805Folder 806Folder 807Folder 808Folder 809Folder 810Folder 811Folder 812Folder 813Folder 814Folder 815Folder 816Folder 817Folder 818Folder 819Folder 820Folder 821Folder 822Folder 823 |
| Folder 824-843 |
1954 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 824-843Folder 824Folder 825Folder 826Folder 827Folder 828Folder 829Folder 830Folder 831Folder 832Folder 833Folder 834Folder 835Folder 836Folder 837Folder 838Folder 839Folder 840Folder 841Folder 842Folder 843 |
| Folder 844 |
1955 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 844 |
| Folder 845 |
1956-1959 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 845 |
| Folder 846 |
1960-1966 #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 846 |
| Folder 847 |
1970s #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 847 |
| Folder 848 |
1980s #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 848 |
| Folder 849-855 |
Undated #04529, Subseries: "4.2. Loose Clippings, ca. 1920-1980." Folder 849-855Folder 849Folder 850Folder 851Folder 852Folder 853Folder 854Folder 855 |
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Series 5. Other William Bradley Umstead Papers, 1863-1953.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.
Material relating to Umstead, but not to his congressional or gubernatorial career.
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Subseries 5.1. Other Political Material, 1928-1953.
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.
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Subseries 5.2. Non- Political Material, 1863-1954.
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.
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Series 6. Merle Davis Umstead Personal Material, 1924-1987.
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Subseries 6.1. Correspondence, 1924-1986.
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.
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Subseries 6.2. Condolences and Tributes Upon the Death of William Bradley Umstead, 1954.
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.
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Subseries 6.3. Other Materials, 1954-1983.
Arrangement: by subject.
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Subseries 6.4. Yearbooks, 1930-1987.
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.
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Series 7. Merle Davis Umstead Family Material, 1894-1961.
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Subseries 7.1. Correspondence, 1894-1961.
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.
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Subseries 7.2. Sunshine Store Records, 1899-1941.
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.
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Subseries 7.2.1. Bills and Receipts, 1899-1907;
1928-1938.
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 #04529, Subseries: "7.2.1. Bills and Receipts, 1899-1907; 1928-1938." Folder 1043-1044Folder 1043Folder 1044 |
| Folder 1045 |
1903 #04529, Subseries: "7.2.1. Bills and Receipts, 1899-1907; 1928-1938." Folder 1045 |
| Folder 1046-1047 |
1906 #04529, Subseries: "7.2.1. Bills and Receipts, 1899-1907; 1928-1938." Folder 1046-1047Folder 1046Folder 1047 |
| Folder 1048 |
1907 #04529, Subseries: "7.2.1. Bills and Receipts, 1899-1907; 1928-1938." Folder 1048 |
| Folder 1049 |
1928-1938 #04529, Subseries: "7.2.1. Bills and Receipts, 1899-1907; 1928-1938." Folder 1049 |
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Subseries 7.2.2. Goods Bought/Cash Sales Daily, 1906;
1933-1939.
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.
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Subseries 7.2.3. Inventory Books, 1912;
1930-1937.
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.
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Subseries 7.2.4. Loose Account Records, 1919-1941 and
undated.
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.
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Subseries 7.2.5. Account Books, ca. 1900; 1915-1940
and undated.
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.
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Subseries 7.2.6. Other Store Materials, 1901-1902; 1923;
1930-1935 and undated.
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.
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Subseries 7.3. Other Materials, 1895-1947 and
undated.
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.
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Series 8. Audio-Visual Material, 1930s-1981 and
undated.
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Subseries 8.1. Pictures, 1930s-1981 and
undated.
Arrangement: by subject.
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Subseries 8.2. Audio Recordings, 1947-1962 and
undated.
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Subseries 8.2.1. Audio Tape, 1962 and
undated.
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Subseries 8.2.2. Audio Disks, 1947-1953 and
undated.
Note that some disks are delaminating and/or warped, and may not e playable.
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Subseries 8.3. Films, 1952-1957.
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Addition of February 2002 (Acc. 99173).
Processing Note: This addition has been arranged according to the organization scheme of, but has not been integrated into, the original deposit of materials.
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Subseries 5.2. Non-political Material, 1917-1946 and
undated.
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 correspondence, financial records, military papers, and other items.
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Items Separated
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.
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