D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections

MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS
Of the manuscript collections currently maintained in Special Collections, many were collected by the staff of the Southern Highlands Research Center, a repository which operated at UNCA from 1978-1986. The mission of this Center was to collect information related to urban Appalachia, and particularly to Asheville as an Appalachian city. Many of these urban-focused collections are found below. While the urban Appalachian focus has been retained, other collections have been added as the Special Collections mission has been expanded to meet the needs of the undergraduate research programs at UNCA. Included in the expanded collections, are materials that center on issues of race and ethnicity, education, WWI and WWII, arts and craft, and other local, regional, national, and international materials of interest to the undergraduate researcher,  the scholar and the general user.
Chase Ambler Collection [M2008.04.1] Chronology of the establishment of  the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a small collection of re-prints, and 5 photographs.

American Association of University Women (AAUW), Asheville  Papers, [M77.9.1-7 ; OS77.9.1-11] Western North Carolina chapter archive.

Walter Ashe Collection, [ M99.2.1] USS Asheville history and 3 large scrapbooks of memorabilia from WWII South China Sea.

Asheville Area Human Relations Council (See Frank E. Ratzell Papers)

Asheville Garden Club Collection, [M79.5.1]
Asheville Industrial Council (See Frank Coxe Papers)

Asheville School for Girls Collection, [VF]

Asheville YWCA Archive,[M99.1.1-4 ; P99.1.1-4 ; OS99.1.1-9] Includes Phyllis Wheatly branch history and very early historical papers, records, clippings, photographs, and letters of correspondence.

H. W. Bellamy Papers (1848-1926), [ ........] poetry and memoir of the Tennessee minister

Beth Ha Tephila Congregation (Asheville, NC) 1891-   , [M79.13.1-5 ; P79.13.1 ; OS79.13.1] an Asheville synagogue. Includes the correspondence of Rabbil Sidney Unger, 1951-1961.

Biltmore Industries Archive, (1901-1991) [M01.8.1 ; Virtual Collection]   a listing of files and some full image and text files, held in the Biltmore Industries archive located at Grovewood Gallery, Inc., Asheville, NC ; a surrogate digital photograph collection from Biltmore Industries; a historical overview  and excerpts from an exhibit held in D.H. Ramsey Library on Nov. 5 - Dec. 5, 2002.

Black Highlanders (see Heritage of Black Highlanders Collection), the most comprehensive local collection of material on Blacks in western North Carolina.

Black Highlanders in World War I, a four-page manuscript on the history of the 349th Artillery Regiment, and all Negro regiment,  by Jean McKissick McNeill (see Heritage of Black Highlanders Collection)

Christopher Blake Collection, [M03.4.1-4] a small collection of photographs, pamphlets, and a unique, though unidentified, travel guide of western North Carolina from the turn of the century.
Aaron Blomberg Family Papers, [M05.5.1] a small collection of photographs related to S.I. Blomberg, son of Aaron Blomberg,  owner of The Leader in Asheville.
Louis Blomberg Family Papers, [M04.2.1] personal papers including correspondence in Yiddish, letters and telegrams of appreciation for community service and information about Asheville businesses. Also includes marriage license and photographs of the family.

W. Vance Brown and Family Collection, [M79.10.1] photocopies of papers and dairy of John Brown (1772-1845). Also includes information on John Brown, 1772-1845 ; John Evans Brown,1827 -1894 ; Samuel S. Brown ; William J. Brown, 1803-1884 ; William Caleb Brown.
 

Solon H. Bryan Collection (1914-1938), [M78.2.1] collected papers of the director of the Piedmont Bureau. Includes 74 photos of Western NC.

Buncombe County Planning Council Collection, [M96.2.1-3]

Curtis Bynum and Family Papers,  [M03.1.1-4] contains personal papers, business items, newspaper clippings, publications, and photographs from Bynum and family that relate to their Asheville years. 

Carolina Mountain Club Archive, [M03.2.1-20] - Established in Asheville, North Carolina on July 16, 1923 the hiking club was active in promoting and protecting the mountains of North Carolina.

F. Stuart Chapin Collection, [M77.4.1] - Papers on early T.V.A

Choosing to Remember: From the Shoah to the Mountains,  Recollections of the Holocaust by survivors and witnesses in western North Carolina,  gathered by the Center for Diversity Education, Asheville. 

Otis J. Clontz Collection , [M01.1.1-11] - Collection of photographs,  postcards, memorabilia from WWI era.

Congregation Beth Israel Papers, [M2008.-3.01-  ; P2008.03.01-  ; OS2008.03.01- ]
Pauline Miller Cowan Collection, [M05.31-6 ; MC05.3.1] - Drawings and designs used and created by master Tryon Toy-Makers wood-carver.

Frank Coxe Papers, [M83.3.1-14 ; P83.3.1 ; OS83.3.1] - Banker and past Executive Director of the Asheville Industrial Council and descendent of Tench Coxe

Tench Coxe Collection (1798-1910), [M79.16.1] - Railroad history and land speculation materials. Col. Tench Coxe built the Asheville Battery Park Hotel and was the grandson of the Philadelphian, Tench Coxe, 1755-1824.

Genealogy of the Creasman family
Margaret Deaver Collection of Presbyterian Newsletters, [M05.7.1] - Includes partial runs of two newsletters: The Appalachian Appeal and Our Mountain Work, 1919-1931.
Joseph Dave Family Papers, [M04.12.1] - Dave Steel Company, Inc. and early western NC Jewish business

John Dawson Collection, [M01.2.1] - Scrapbook of unknown origin with African-Americans in Asheville, NC, c. 1940s.

Jerome Dykeman Papers, [M02.5.1] - Letters, newspaper clippings, related to the creation of the Craggy Gardens recreation area. Ledgers of the Carolina Mountain Club and assorted materials pertaining to environmental issues in western North Carolina.

Genealogy of the Edney Family
Eliada Home Archive- [M05.8.1]  - A large collection of photographs, correspondence, ephemera, newspaper clippings, and administrative records detailing the history of Eliada Homes, Inc.

Family Services Center Collection, [M96.1.1-2 ; p96.1.1 ; OS96.1.1-2]
Flat Rock Playhouse Archive, [in process] A large collection covering business and administrative records from 1924 to the present and including scripts, scores, director's notes, posters, programs, photographic prints, films, workshop notebooks, reviews, personal correspondence, legal and financial documents, blueprints, and promotional material.

Mary Lloyd Frank Collection, [M79.11.1] - Contains two publications: Leaves from the Sondley and The Southern Packet, both published by the Stephens Press.

A. Allen Gardner Papers, [M79.7.1] - Papers from the Asheville Area Human Relations Council containing the notes and minutes of meetings from 1962 through 1967, concerning desegration, busing, and personnel issues.

Robert J. Godbey Collection, [M03.8.1-5] - Detailed first-hand account and photographs of WWI in France in five journals and two scrapbooks.

W.B. Gwyn Collection, [M02.7.1.1-2] - Ledgers of legal correspondence from 1891-1894 involving various prominent Asheville figures.
Marian Haines Collection of Pack Family Home Photographs, [M08.     ] Small collection of photographs of G.W. Pack home in Manchester, Vermont.

Peter J. Hanlon and James K Vessey Collection, [M03.6.1-2] - Collected material related to the Cradle of Forestry and the history of forestry in western North Carolina.
Cpt. Robert E. Harris and Joanne Harris USS Asheville Collection

Heritage of Black Highlanders Collection, [M77.10.1-5 ' OS77.10.1-4] - Materials related to African Americans in Western North Carolina, including biographical sketches  collected by Lucy Herring

Lucy S. Herring Collection (See also Heritage of Black Highlanders Collection)  [M78.3.1]

General Hugh Hester Collection, [M84.1.1] - Photographs of the General and his family.
Housing Authority of the City of Asheville [HACA] , Records [M2007.12.01-120+]
Independent Torch Collection , [OS79.2.1] - Random assortment of an activist newspaper published by Lewis W. Green, Asheville, NC.
Thomas Clingman Jarrett Collection, [Vertical file] A virtual collection online and a small set of photocopy records.

John E. Jervis Labor Collection (1949-1977), [M77.12.1-5 ; OS77.12.1-3] - Correspondence, publications, newspaper clippings and other related materials from local, state, and some national unions. Records union interest in local and state politics; recruitment techniques; and examples of contracts with local companies such as the Slosman Corporation, the William Brownell Company, American Enka, and others.

Jewish Life in Western North Carolina Collection,  Contributions from Center for Diversity Education, UNCA and from History@Hand, LLC on WNC Heritage Web. [See individual collections]
  Beth-Ha-Tephila Congregation (Asheville, NC, 1891-1976)
  Louis Blomberg Family Papers
  Aaron Blomberg Family Papers
  Choosing to Remember: From the Shoah to the Mountains
  Congregation Beth Israel Papers
  Joseph Dave Family Papers (1923-present)
  Leo Finkelstein Oral History
  Golden Book of Memories, Fiftieth Anniversary of Congregation
Beth Ha-Tephila (1941)
  Lipinsky Family Collection
  Miscellaneous articles and material related to Jewish Life in Western North Carolina (Vertical Files)
  Lou and Ada Pollock Collection
  Samuel Robinson Papers (1891-1973)
  Jacob Rosen Collection (1884-1959)
  Schandler Family Papers
  Schochet Family Papers
  Sol Schulman Collection
Frances Johnson Collection, [M05.9.1] - Photographs of Johnson and family, thesis, and miscellaneous papers. Second woman radio engineer in the United States.
Joseph Joyner Collection - The Standpipe Papers , Small folder of material related to the failure of the water stand-pipe system in Asheville in March 1887 and on January 22, 1893. The letters and correspondence, newspaper clippings and notes detail the events of the failure of the stand pipe system during a wind storm and then freezing temperatures.

S.J. Justice and G.W. Justice Papers & Survey Records, [M03.4.1-5]  - Correspondence, maps and plats related to the survey work of Speculation Lands property and associated western North Carolina land.

Michael F. Keleher Papers, [M80.3.1-2] - Asheville City School Board, 1960-1977. Includes correspondence, laws, etc.

League of Women Voters of Asheville/Buncombe County , [M77.11.1-2]
Lipinsky Family Collection, [M06.1.1] - Correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings related to the family.
William H. Lord - Trinity Episcopal Church Papers [M06.5.1] -  As supervising architect for the rebuilding of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Asheville in 1912-13, Lord's correspondence records many construction details. Correspondence includes letters to and from Cram, Goodhue, and Ferguson,  the architects of record and Mary Elizabeth Tillinghast, the designer of the stained glass windows.

Edgar M. Lyda Collection (1873-1956), [M79.9.1-2 ; P79.9.2] - Chairman of Buncombe County Commissioners in 1920's, includes correspondence and materials related to the construction of the Buncombe County Court House and the City Building.

Mayflower Society, Asheville Colony papers. Includes the Mayflower Compact (1897), Mail and Compact Co. See WNCLN catalog for The North Carolinian, quarterly journal of genealogy.

George W. McCoy Collection, [M78.1.1, M78.1.2] - Newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and other material, with a special focus on race relations and integration issues.

Caroline and W.B. McEwen Collection,  1904-1906, [M79.15.1] - Personal narrative of local history around Lake Toxaway and photographs of area

Jean McKissick McNeill (See Heritage of Black Highlanders Collection)

Herbert D. Miles Collection, 1912-1958 [M2007.09.01] A small collection of letters, clippings, booklets, and photographs from the Miles family related to the life and times of Herbert D. Miles, a financier and businessman who moved to Asheville in 1912 from Chicago.
Alfred J. Miller Collection, [M05.12.1-3] Collection of letters, promotions, meeting minutes, photographs, and newspaper articles relating to the redevelopment of Asheville from the late 1950's to the mid-1970's and promotion of the Blue Ridge Parkway as a tourist destination.

Papers of Irwin Monk (1916-1978), Asheville lawyer

Mary Gudger Moore Papers, [M83.2.1] - Western North Carolina in the 19th century
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival & Shindig on the Green, [M2005.1-, P2005.1-] - Archive of the festival held in Asheville, N.C. from 1928 to  present
Native Stone, June 3, 1971 - Dec. 12, 1974, [ OS79.2.1] - Local issue-oriented newspaper edited by Lewis W. Green.
Newton Academy Cemetery - A small collection of material related to the Academy and to the cemetery close-by. Contains some information on African American burials.
Annie Rives Nicholson Collection, (1913-1950's) [M05.10.1] - Virtual collection], scrapbook representative of the interests and experiences of women during the 1930's and early 1940's

Richmond Pearson Collection, (1852-1923) [M77.3.1 ; OS77.3.1], - A member of the State house of representatives for various terms, United States counsel to Genoa, Italy  and Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Persia. In 1907 he served as Minister to Greece and Montenegro. Papers and photographs.
The William Dudley Pelley Collection, [M2006.3.1-4] - Books, periodicals, and newspapers articles written by William Dudley Pelley from the 1920's to 1960's.  Many of these documents pertain to the Silver Shirts Movement of the 1930's, and are metaphysical/anti-semitic in nature.

Hilliard Penland Collection, [M2001.3.1] - UNCA alumni and decorated veteran of WWII

Seth J. Perkinson Collection, [see vertical files Perkinson, Seth] - Document regarding his work with the Knot-Hole Gang and civic groups in Asheville, NC. 
Louisa B. Pitkin Diary, [M2003.5.1] - A small diary encompassing five years of the life of Pitkin and her travels and life in Tryon, North Carolina.
James William Pless, Sr. Collection, [M2007.3.1] - Pless was lawyer and former mayor of both Brevard, NC and Marion, NC. Photographs and personal writing and family history is included in the collection.

Ada and Lou Pollock Collection, [M2003.10.1-2] - Asheville Jewish cemetery records, letters of correspondence, and photographs related to western North Carolina's Jewish community.

Julian Price Papers, [M2004.3.1-6] - Asheville philanthropist and civic leader. Letters and documents related to civic initiatives and investments in the Asheville community. 
George Holcomb Prosser, [M2007.7.1], a collection of poetry written by Prosser in the 1940's when he and his family lived in western North Carolina. Describes camping, work at American Enka Corporation, moonshining and rural life following the Depression years. 

D. Hiden Ramsey Collection, [M1980.5.1-4 ; P1980.5.1] - Leader in higher education

Ernest Clifton Rankin Collection, [M2004.8.1-9] - Legal examiner for the United States Department of Justice

Frank E. Ratzell Papers, 1945-1964, [ M77.7.1-4 ] - Congregationalist minister in Asheville. Papers contain the notes and minutes of meetings from 1962-1967. Desegregation concerns in Asheville, quality of education and busing.

Bertha Reed's Sewing Manual, [ M77.15.1] - Practical manual of sewing techniques

Helen Tasarov Reed Papers (1915-1993), [M77.8.1] - Early Asheville education and integration

Mark Reed Papers,  includes unpublished manuscript, The Swannanoa by author Joseph L. Reed a planned contribution to the Rivers of North Carolina series. 

Julia and Richard Richards Collection [M2006.]  A short memoir of Emma Lydia Rankin and her family that includes a first-hand account of  life during the last year of the Civil War, and a single 1841 issue of the Highland Messenger, one of Asheville, NC's earliest newspapers.

Ora Rives Collection,  [virtual collection] - Journal and photographs of family camping trip in western North Carolina in 1905 

Roadless Area Review Evaluation Papers          

Reuben B. Robertson Collection, - Documents related to Robertson's years as Manager of Champion paper plant, Enka, NC

Samuel Robinson Papers, - Optometrist and civic leader in Asheville
Jacob Rosen - "The Chicken Man" - Asheville resident who sold chickens and produce 1920s to WWII

R. Henry Scadin Collection, Diaries, photographs and family albums from 1886-1923;

Schochet Family Collection - Letters, photographs, and memorabilia related to the Schochet Family of Asheville, NC.

Sol  Schulman Collection, - Material collected by Jan Schochet and Sharon Fahrer as part of the "History @ Hand Partnership." Documents western North Carolina's Jewish presence.
Schandler Family Collection, Misc. photographs, ephemera, letters, newspaper clippings related to the Schandler family and to Jewish life in western NC

Sherrill's Inn Collection, [M94.1.1, M94.1.2] - Guest registers covering 1840-1909; biographical notes by D. Hiden Ramsey

Weimer Siler Collection, - A very small collection of family genealogical papers
Southern Appalachian Writers Collection - [2005.05.01-
Henry Spanner Collection - [M2007.11.01-2 ] - Photographs, Bible and papers related to the Montford district, Asheville, NC family of Henry Spanner.

Speculation Lands Collection [ M2003.3.1-12 ; OS2003.3.1-2] - Plats, patents, correspondence, ledgers and survey field notes of land speculation in western North Carolina, 1795- c.1920.

Silas H. Stepp Civil War Letters [M2004.4.1] - Written by Silas Stepp while in the 7th North Carolina Cavalry, to his wife Eleanor, between May 1863 through October 1864.
Shirley Stipp Ephemera Collection - A large collection of ephemera related to western North Carolina. Includes engravings, photographs, pamphlets, flyers, brief articles, etc.

Papers of Congressman Roy Arthur Taylor  , - Archive of congressional papers
Tryon Toy Makers (see Pauline Miller Cowan Collection)
James Hamilton Tweed Family Collection - Photographs, documents, and other material related to the Tweed family, early settlers in the Cane Creek area of Buncombe County, North Carolina.

T.V.A. (See F. Stuart Chapin Collection)

Upper French Broad Defense Association Collection, Environmental grassroots association

James K. Vessey/Peter J. Hanlon Collection (see Peter Hanlon Collection)
Joseph Grayson Waldrop Family Collection

Jay Walker (See Louise Jackson Wright Collection)

William R. Walls, Jr. Collection, - Papers include nineteenth century correspondence of the Montreville Weaver family from the Reems Creek/Weaverville area.

Western North Carolina Tomorrow Position Papers - Small collection containing information on conservation and development of natural resources in the western part of the state.

Mildred Alexander Baird White Collection, - Genealogical materials for Baird and Alexander families

Arval Woody, Chair Maker, - Biographical information, newspaper clippings and photographs of Arval Woody and his workshop in Spruce Pine, North Carolina.

Louise Jackson Wright Collection (1925-1942), [M79.12.1] - Papers of "Jay Walker", newspaperman

YWCA (See Asheville YWCA Archive)

Charlotte Young Collection (1878-1985), Teacher and poet of Black Mountain, North Carolina and friend of regional poet Olive Tilford Dargen

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