]
]
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.
Expand/collapse
Collection Overview
| Size | 37.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 17,000 items) |
| Abstract | Thomas Jackson White was a state representative and senator for Kinston, N.C., in the 1950s and 1960s, serving as chair of the Senate Finance Committee and the Advisory Budget Commission in the 1960s. Legislative Papers, personal correspondence, other Papers, photographs, and recordings of Thomas Jackson White, Jr. The bulk of the collection relates to White's legislative career as a member of the State House of Representatives and the State Senate, as Legislative Counsel to Governor Robert W. Scott, as a member of the State Advisory Budget Commission and the State Legislative Building Governing Commission, and as a lobbyist for the Tobacco Tax Council. The remainder of papers consists of personal correspondence, and papers dealing with White's legal career, civic organizations to which he belonged, and North Carolina state politics. Notable correspondents are Jesse Helms, then executive vice- president of WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C.; playwright Paul Green; journalist Jonathan Daniels; University of North Carolina (System) President William Friday; and North Carolina governors Luther H. Hodges, Dan K. Moore, and Robert W. Scott. |
| Creator | White, Thomas J., 1903-1991. |
| Language | English |
Expand/collapse
Information For Users
Expand/collapse
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.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
Expand/collapse
Related Collections
Expand/collapse
Biographical Information
Thomas Jackson White, Jr., was born in Concord, North Carolina, 6 March 1903. Upon graduation from Concord High School in 1920, White attended North Carolina State College for two years, but left and entered the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1924. Earning his degree in 1927, White subsequently practiced law in Durham before opening a practice in Kinston, North Carolina, in 1938. He served as Lenoir County Attorney from 1938 to 1964.
After an unsuccessful campaign for a General Assembly seat in 1944, White served as a member of the Wildlife Resources Commission from 1947 to 1949. In 1953, White made a successful bid for the General Assembly, and served as representative from Lenoir County in the 1953, 1955, and 1957 regular sessions and the extra session of 1956. He later ran for the State Senate, and served in the 1961, 1963, 1965, and 1967 regular sessions and the extra sessions of 1963, 1965, and 1966. White was a powerful figure in state government, serving in 1961 as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and, in 1963, 1965, and 1967, as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He also served on the Advisory Budget Commission from 1961 to 1973 (ten of those years as chairman), and headed the legislative building and art museum building commissions.
White's tenure in the State Legislature was often stormy. During the 1956 extra session, he advocated interposition as the best method of meeting the Supreme Court's Brown vs. Board of Education decision, rather than the "Pearsall Plan" (tuition grants to parents who chose not to send their children to integrated schools), which was backed by Governor Luther Hodges and a majority of the State Legislature. White also opposed the use of radar ("whammies") to catch speeding motorists, but was a proponent of drivers' education legislation. The senator also had an often fiery relationship with the press, resulting in prolific editorial coverage of White's activities. White retired from the State Senate in 1968.
During the 1969 regular session, White served as legislative counsel to Governor Robert Scott. Later, he served as a lobbyist for the Richmond-based Tobacco Tax Council, which fought against the taxation of tobacco products.
Back to Top
Expand/collapse
Scope and Content
The bulk of this collection relates to White's legislative career as a member of the State House of Representatives and the State Senate, as Legislative Counsel to Governor Robert W. Scott, as a member of the State Advisory Budget Commission and the State Legislative Building Commission, and as a lobbyist for the Tobacco Tax Council. The remainder of the material consists of personal correspondence; papers dealing with White's legal career, civic organizations to which he belonged, and North Carolina state politics; and photographs and recordings. Notable correspondents are Jesse Helms, then executive vice-president of WRAL-TV in Raleigh (particularly folders 117, 142, 414); playwright Paul Green (folder 129); journalist Jonathan Daniels (folder 141); UNC President William Friday (particularly folder 141); and North Carolina Governors Luther H. Hodges (particularly folder 68), Dan K. Moore (particularly folders 129, 142), and Robert Scott (particularly folders 140, 195).
Back to Top
Expand/collapse
Series Quick Links
Expand/collapse
Series 1. North Carolina State Legislature, 1944-1969.
Arrangement: chronological by subject.
The bulk of White's papers relate to legislative matters. These papers cover his political career in the North Carolina House of Representatives, State Senate, and as legislative counsel to Governor Robert W. Scott. During White's tenure as State Representative, the Legislature dealt with the implications of the Brown decision of 1954 and debated the controversial "Pearsall Plan." There are also papers relating to White's support of the Speaker Ban Law, his opposition to the use of radar by highway patrolmen, his sponsorship of driver education legislation, and the legislator's sometimes contentious dealings with the press. Also included in this series are papers dealing with White's legislative campaigns (including an unsuccessful one in 1944).
Most file titles were assigned by White or his staff.
Expand/collapse
Series 2. Advisory Budget Commission, 1962-1973.
Arrangement: chronological.
Papers concerning White's service on the Advisory Budget Commission, including meeting minutes and correspondence.
Expand/collapse
Series 3. Legislative Building Commission, 1959-1973.
Arrangement: chronological.
Papers pertaining to White's service on the Legislative Building Commission and the Legislative Building Governing Commission, 1959-1973.
| Folder 197-220 |
Legislative Building Commission, 1959-1973 #04231, Series: "3. Legislative Building Commission, 1959-1973." Folder 197-220Folder 197Folder 198Folder 199Folder 200Folder 201Folder 202Folder 203Folder 204Folder 205Folder 206Folder 207Folder 208Folder 209Folder 210Folder 211Folder 212Folder 213Folder 214Folder 215Folder 216Folder 217Folder 218Folder 219Folder 220 |
Expand/collapse
Series 4. University of North Carolina, 1963-1977.
Arrangement: chronological.
Papers concerning White's service on the UNC Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors.
| Folder 221-273 |
University of North Carolina, 1963-1977 #04231, Series: "4. University of North Carolina, 1963-1977." Folder 221-273Folder 221Folder 222Folder 223Folder 224Folder 225Folder 226Folder 227Folder 228Folder 229Folder 230Folder 231Folder 232Folder 233Folder 234Folder 235Folder 236Folder 237Folder 238Folder 239Folder 240Folder 241Folder 242Folder 243Folder 244Folder 245Folder 246Folder 247Folder 248Folder 249Folder 250Folder 251Folder 252Folder 253Folder 254Folder 255Folder 256Folder 257Folder 258Folder 259Folder 260Folder 261Folder 262Folder 263Folder 264Folder 265Folder 266Folder 267Folder 268Folder 269Folder 270Folder 271Folder 272Folder 273 |
Expand/collapse
Series 5. Lenoir County, 1938-1969.
Arrangement: by subject.
Papers relating to White's career as Lenoir County Attorney. The bulk of the papers date from the 1940s and 1950s, with some from the 1960s.
| Folder 274-297 |
Lenoir County, 1938-1969 #04231, Series: "5. Lenoir County, 1938-1969." Folder 274-297Folder 274Folder 275Folder 276Folder 277Folder 278Folder 279Folder 280Folder 281Folder 282Folder 283Folder 284Folder 285Folder 286Folder 287Folder 288Folder 289Folder 290Folder 291Folder 292Folder 293Folder 294Folder 295Folder 296Folder 297 |
Expand/collapse
Series 6. Tobacco Tax Council, 1971-1976.
Arrangement: chronological.
Papers relating to White's career as a lobbyist with the North Carolina State Legislature for the Richmond-based Tobacco Tax Council.
| Folder 298-312 |
Tobacco Tax Council, 1971-1976 #04231, Series: "6. Tobacco Tax Council, 1971-1976." Folder 298-312Folder 298Folder 299Folder 300Folder 301Folder 302Folder 303Folder 304Folder 305Folder 306Folder 307Folder 308Folder 309Folder 310Folder 311Folder 312 |
Expand/collapse
Series 7. Subject Files, 1933-1977.
Arrangement: by subject.
This series reflects White's tenure with various state commissions and civic organizations, aspects of his legal career, service with various statewide political campaigns, and other interests. Most file titles are White's.
Expand/collapse
Series 8. Personal Papers, 1946-1975.
Arrangement: chronological.
Personal correspondence and other personal papers relating to White. A notable item is a 15 April 1970 letter from Jesse Helms (at that time Executive Vice President of television station WRAL in Raleigh) praising White's efforts to "clean up" the universities. (folder 414)
| Folder 369-427 |
(including one letter from Jesse Helms in folder 414). #04231, Series: "8. Personal Papers, 1946-1975." Folder 369-427Folder 369Folder 370Folder 371Folder 372Folder 373Folder 374Folder 375Folder 376Folder 377Folder 378Folder 379Folder 380Folder 381Folder 382Folder 383Folder 384Folder 385Folder 386Folder 387Folder 388Folder 389Folder 390Folder 391Folder 392Folder 393Folder 394Folder 395Folder 396Folder 397Folder 398Folder 399Folder 400Folder 401Folder 402Folder 403Folder 404Folder 405Folder 406Folder 407Folder 408Folder 409Folder 410Folder 411Folder 412Folder 413Folder 414Folder 415Folder 416Folder 417Folder 418Folder 419Folder 420Folder 421Folder 422Folder 423Folder 424Folder 425Folder 426Folder 427 |
Expand/collapse
Series 9. Audio Visual Materials, circa 1940-1972.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 9.1. Pictures, circa 1940-1972.
Photographs relating to White's legislative career, hunting and fishing activities, and family life.
| Image P-4231/1-107 |
Pictures, circa 1940-1972 #04231, Subseries: "9.1. Pictures, circa 1940-1972." P-4231/1-107P-4231/1P-4231/2P-4231/3P-4231/4P-4231/5P-4231/6P-4231/7P-4231/8P-4231/9P-4231/10P-4231/11P-4231/12P-4231/13P-4231/14P-4231/15P-4231/16P-4231/17P-4231/18P-4231/19P-4231/20P-4231/21P-4231/22P-4231/23P-4231/24P-4231/25P-4231/26P-4231/27P-4231/28P-4231/29P-4231/30P-4231/31P-4231/32P-4231/33P-4231/34P-4231/35P-4231/36P-4231/37P-4231/38P-4231/39P-4231/40P-4231/41P-4231/42P-4231/43P-4231/44P-4231/45P-4231/46P-4231/47P-4231/48P-4231/49P-4231/50P-4231/51P-4231/52P-4231/53P-4231/54P-4231/55P-4231/56P-4231/57P-4231/58P-4231/59P-4231/60P-4231/61P-4231/62P-4231/63P-4231/64P-4231/65P-4231/66P-4231/67P-4231/68P-4231/69P-4231/70P-4231/71P-4231/72P-4231/73P-4231/74P-4231/75P-4231/76P-4231/77P-4231/78P-4231/79P-4231/80P-4231/81P-4231/82P-4231/83P-4231/84P-4231/85P-4231/86P-4231/87P-4231/88P-4231/89P-4231/90P-4231/91P-4231/92P-4231/93P-4231/94P-4231/95P-4231/96P-4231/97P-4231/98P-4231/99P-4231/100P-4231/101P-4231/102P-4231/103P-4231/104P-4231/105P-4231/106P-4231/107 |
Expand/collapse
Subseries 9.2. Audio Discs, 1947-1948.
Recordings made for radio broadcast by John Dawson, Congressman John H. Folger, and Gene Simmons in behalf of the Charles M. Johnson Campaign for Governor.
| Audiodisc D-4231/1-3 |
Audio Discs, 1947-1948 #04231, Subseries: "9.2. Audio Discs, 1947-1948." D-4231/1-3D-4231/1D-4231/2D-4231/3 |
Expand/collapse
Series 10. Volumes, 1958-1963.
Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, Vol. S 1 covering the work of the State Legislative Building Commission, Vol. S 2 the 1963 Regular Session of the North Carolina General Assembly.
| Volume S-1, S-2 |
Volumes, 1958-1963 #04231, Series: "10. Volumes, 1958-1963." S-1, S-2 |
Expand/collapse
Items Separated
Processed by: John Beam, September 1986
Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008
Since additional material is expected, this collection has not yet been fully described or re-foldered. Additional processing is pending.
Back to Top