North Carolina Collection

Online Exhibits

Research Guides

Article Databases

Clipping Files

Online Catalog

Site Map

A Study Guide on the History of
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

About the Guide

Margaret L. Adams, a graduate student in the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, created this guide in the fall of 1994. The North Carolina Collection staff made revisions in 2005.

The guide lists reference materials on the University of North Carolina and its history. The arrangement of sources is from general to specific. The guide is based upon resources found in the North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill. The North Carolina Collection is a repository for printed materials about the University. Manuscripts, including personal papers and records of University departments, are located in the Manuscripts Department and University Archives on the fourth floor of Wilson Library.

BIBLIOGRAPHIES | HISTORIES | NEWSPAPERS CLIPPING FILES
UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS | ALUMNI DIRECTORIES
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH

General Resources
The printed holdings of the North Carolina Collection are included in its card catalog through the year 1984. After that date entries appear in the UNC-Chapel Hill online catalog. The headings used are

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA (CHAPEL HILL CAMPUS).
These are followed by subheadings such as: --HISTORY, --STUDENT LIFE, or --DESCRIPTION.

Bibliographies
The following bibliographies are general reference guides containing information about the University's history.

Bibliography of Books, Pamphlets, Catalogs and Articles Relating to the History of Schools, Departments and Units at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill: UNC Bicentennial Observance Office, 1989.
Cp378 UE101

Jones, H. G., comp. North Carolina: An Annotated Bibliography. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1995. (Consult the index for subject headings such as: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill / Orange County / Chapel Hill.)
C016.97 J77n

Parker, David, comp. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: A Historical Bibliography. Revised by Edward L. Harrelson, 1992. Available online at http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/unc/biblio.html.
Cp378 UE102 1992

Histories
William D. Snider, Light on the Hill: A History of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1992.

Light on the Hill is the most recent comprehensive history of the University and is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in learning more about UNC. Snider’s book covers the founding of the University through the bicentennial, with a special emphasis on the presidents and administrators of the school.

William S. Powell, The First State University: A Pictorial History of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Third edition. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1992.

This book, by a former Curator of the North Carolina Collection, contains hundreds of images, with helpful notes, on the people, places, and events important in the history of UNC.

Albert Coates and Gladys Hall Coates, The Story of Student Government in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill: Professor Emeritus Fund, 1985.

Although the focus of this history is student government, the book effectively covers student life at UNC.

Kemp P. Battle, History of the University of North Carolina, 1789-1912. Two volumes. Raleigh: Edwards & Broughton, 1907 and 1912. Available online through “Documenting the American South” at http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/battle1/menu.html and http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/battle2/menu.html.

The book is extremely thorough in its coverage of the development of the University and contains colorful descriptions of several student pranks. Battle’s history is the source of many of the stories and legends about the founding and early days of UNC.

Connor, R. D. W., ed. Documentary History of UNC, 1776-1799. Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 1953. Two volumes.
C378 UE25 or CR378 UE25

Fordham, Christopher C., III. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The First State University. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina, 1986.
Cp378 UE99

Henderson, Archibald. The Campus of the First State University. Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 1949.
C378 UE23 or CR378 UE23

Madry, Sarah Brandes. Well Worth a Shindy: The Architectural and Philosophical History of the Old Well at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lincoln, Neb.: iUniverse, 2004.
CR378 UW24

Wilson, Louis Round. The University of North Carolina, 1900-1930: The Making of a Modern University. Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 1957.
C378 UE27

Wilson, Louis Round. The University of North Carolina Under Consolidation, 1931-1963: History and Appraisal. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Consolidated Office, 1964.
C378 UE30 or CR378 UE30

Newspapers
State and campus newspapers are resources that chronologically document the history of the University. The North Carolina Collection has on microfilm back issues of many newspapers including The Chapel Hill Newspaper, and The News and Observer (Raleigh). (There can be a four month delay before microfilm of recent issues reach the shelf.)

From 1893-1929, the campus newspaper was titled The Tar Heel ; in 1929 the name changed to The Daily Tar Heel. The current year's issues of The Daily Tar Heel may be requested at the North Carolina Collection Reference Counter. Earlier issues are available on microfilm.
Film CO71 T16 1893-

Current issues of the Daily Tar Heel are also available online at http://www.dailytarheel.com/
There is an index to Daily Tar Heel issues from 1970-2003 available online at http://www.lib.unc.edu/dth/.

Clipping Files (Biography and Subject)*
These files consist of bound volumes of clippings, primarily from North Carolina newspapers. Articles are arranged alphabetically by subject (subject files) or personal name (biographical files). Volumes through 1989 are shelved in the North Carolina Collection Reading Room. Clippings after 1989 may be requested at the Reference Counter.
CRBo N87 Biography
CR917 N87 Subject

*Clippings through 1975 relating directly to UNC-Chapel Hill are bound separately in eighteen volumes. A table of contents is in the front of each volume. An online version of the index through the year 1989 is available at the North Carolina Collection Web site. The clippings are also available on microfilm.
CR378 UE7 and Film C378 UE7

University Publications
Publications produced on campus or by campus organizations provide a thorough and varied perspective on many aspects of the University.

Alumni Review. Chapel Hill: General Alumni Association, UNC Chapel Hill, 1912-1982.
C378 UT2 1912-1982 x (An index is available under this call number for the 1912-1939 issues.)

Carolina Alumni Review. Chapel Hill: General Alumni Association, UNC Chapel Hill, Dec. 1982- .
C378 UT2 1982-

Commencement Programs. 1894- .
C378 UL1 1894-

Faculty and Administration. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill: Publications Services, UNC Chapel Hill, 1992-1993.
Reference Counter for current year, G24 14: F14 for previous years.

Long, Rachael. Building Notes UNC-Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill: Facilities Planning Office, UNC-Chapel Hill, 1984. Revised edition 1993.
C378 UW10 & C378 UW10 1993
This work includes completion dates, information on building names, costs, renovations, size, and other information about campus buildings.

Record of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1896- .
C378 UJ1

Record of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The General Catalog Issue. 1819-1967/68. Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 1819-1967/68.
C378 UH1 1819-1967/68

Register of the Officers and Faculty of the University of North Carolina, 1795-1945. Compiled by The Staff of the North Carolina Collection, Chapel Hill, 1954.
C378 UM

University Gazette. Chapel Hill: Office of Public Information, 1973-.
FC378 UC32 1973- .
Current issues found at: http://gazette.unc.edu/

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Campus Directory. 1916/17- .
Contains phone numbers and addresses of faculty, staff, students, and departments.
C378 UPd 1916/17- .

Yearbooks
From 1890 through 1900 the UNC yearbook was titled the Hellenian. In 1901 the name changed to the Yackety Yack.
C378 UPh & C378 UPy

Alumni Directories
Alumni History of the University of North Carolina, 2nd ed. Chapel Hill: General Alumni Association, 1924.
C378 UT5

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Alumni Directory, 1954 ed. Chapel Hill: The Alumni Office of the General Alumni Association, 1954.
C378 UT5.2

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Alumni Directory, 1975 ed. Chapel Hill: The Alumni Office of the General Alumni Association, 1976.
C378 UT5.3

The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill: Directory of Alumni 1984. White Plains, NY: Bernard C. Harris Publishing Co., Inc., 1985.
C378 UT5.4

The General Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: 1988 Membership Directory. Chapel Hill: The General Alumni Association, 1988.
C378 UT5.5

The University of North Carolina 1990 Bicentennial Directory of Alumni. Chapel Hill: The General Alumni Association, 1991.
CR378 Ut5.6

See also the card and online catalogs under the headings:
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL -- PERIODICALS
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL -- STUDENTS' PERIODICALS

Student Publications and Research
Theses and Dissertations, 1894- .
The North Carolina Collection holds the archival copy of all theses and dissertations accepted for degrees at UNC-Chapel Hill. As much as eighteen months can elapse after a degree is awarded before a bound thesis or dissertation is available for use. These archival copies do not circulate. A circulating copy in some format is usually available either in Davis Library or another campus library. Assistance in locating theses and dissertations is available from the reference staff.
C378 UO2 & UO1

Honors Essays
The North Carolina Collection is the official depository for all undergraduate honors essays at UNC-Chapel Hill. These are bound by department; each department has a unique call number.
C378 UO3 - C378 UO54

Research: A Record of Scholarship and Publication, 1918-1980. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1918-1980. (Research was issued as a part of the Record of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.)
C378 UH2

Endeavors: Research and Graduate Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill: Office of Research Services, 1984-.
"Each issue of Endeavors describes only a few of the many research projects undertaken by faculty and students of the University."
C378 UJ22

Photographs
The North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives has an extensive collection of photographs documenting the history of the University. Please see the Photographic Archives web page at http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/pcoll/uncchimages/uncchphotos.html for more information.