Personal Papers of William Highsmith, 1956 - 1984
UA3.4

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Biographical Information

Scope and Content

Administrative Information

Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Repository

UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives

Title

Personal Papers of William Highsmith, 1956 - 1984

ID

UA3.4

Date [inclusive]

1956-1984

Extent

2.75 Linear feet 3 boxes

Physical Description

Contains the personal papers of William Highsmith, primarily from 1962 to 1984, the years he led the University of North Carolina Asheville and its predecessor, Asheville-Biltmore College. Includes papers, correspondence, photographs, and other materials related to Dr.Highsmith's personal and professional interests, including serving as a trustee of St. Mary's Junior College in Raleigh, NC. The original titles and organization of the files are unknown. The files have therefore been arranged into three groups: those related to Asheville civic organizations, those related to medical groups and boards, and miscellaneous papers.

Location

Located in Special Collections, Row 1, Section 2

Language

English

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Biographical Information

William Edward Highsmith was born in Eastland, Texas on March 21, 1920 and received a MA (1947) and Ph.D (1953) in history from Louisiana State University. He worked at the University of Arkansas (1949-50), the LSU Caribbean Program (1951-1954), the Gadsden Center of University of Alabama (1954-1957), and was dean of the faculty at Jacksonville University from 1957 to 1962 . In 1962, he became president of Asheville-Biltmore College, and in 1969 was elected as the first chancellor of the newly created UNC Asheville. He stepped down as chancellor of UNCA in 1984, and died on July 28, 1987.

In addition to his duties at UNCA, Dr. Highsmith was involved in a variety of civic activities in Asheville. Among the organizations which Highsmith served were, the Asheville Chamber of Commerce (director), Mission Memorial Hospital (trustee), and the Health Education Commission of Western North Carolina (board member). He was also member of the NC Symphony Society, Asheville Rotary Club, and the Pen & Plate Club of Asheville. Additionally, he maintained correspondence with a number of former colleagues and private citizens, often related to education issues. At the time of his death, Highsmith was working on a history of UNCA and its predecessors.

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Scope and Content

This archive holds personal (non-university) papers of William Highsmith, primarily from 1962 - 1984, the years he worked in Asheville. Although not considered part of the official university archive, there are overlaps between this collection and Highsmith's official papers (UA3.2 and UA3.3), due to the civic status arising from Highsmith's role at the university, and his interest in educational issues. Research notes prepared by Highsmith for his book about the history of UNCA are included in this collection, but materials for book arising after Highsmith died are included in UA3.3, due to the significant input by university staff to complete the book after Highsmith's death.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina Asheville assumes no responsibility.

Rights

No restrictions. Any display, publication, or public use must credit the University Archives, D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville. Copyright retained by the creators of certain items in the collection, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Accruals

Accruals are not anticipated

Creator

University of North Carolina at Asheville. Asheville-Biltmore College. William E. Highsmith.

Processing Information

Initially processed by Special Collections staff, date(s) unknown. Reprocessed by Colin Reeve, October 2014.

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Collection Inventory