Category Archives: University Archives

6 November 1863: “I must express to you the great gratification and interest felt in perusing the report, which will be filed at this office with pride as a North Carolinian”

Item Description: Letter, 6 November 1863, from Col. Peter Mallett, Commandant for Conscripts, to University of North Carolina President David L. Swain, notifying Swain of the War Department’s acceptance of his request to exempt UNC seniors from conscription. [Item transcription available … Continue reading

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31 May 1862: “That fifteen lashes be inflicted upon any colored man or woman, who, for the sake of convenience, and unaccompanied by any white person, may walk on forbidden ground…”

Item description: At the 31 May 1862 meeting of the Philanthropic Society, a committee recommended passage of the following law: “That fifteen lashes be inflicted upon any colored man or woman, who, for the sake of convenience, and unaccompanied by … Continue reading

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9 May 1862: “All confessed to have partaken, but denied intoxication.”

Item description: Meeting minutes, dated 9 May 1862, of the University of North Carolina General Faculty. Item citation: From volume 1:6 in the General Faculty and Faculty Council of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40106, University … Continue reading

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27 April 1862: “Fear of conscription threatens great injury here unless immediately allayed and I therefore urge prompt and earnest attention to the subject.”

Item Description: Letter of 27 April 1862 from David Swain to Charles Manly.  In this letter, President David Swain writes to Governor Manly concerning recent conscription legislation and the negative impact that the law will have on the University of … Continue reading

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29 January 1862: “[Capt. McDade] does not consider any student, not a resident of Orange liable to drill or draft.”

Item description:  University of North Carolina President David Swain writes to Charles Manly, the secretary-treasurer of the university’s Board of Trustees, that he had spoken with local Confederate militia Captain McDade. Swain explains that drafting students appeared unlikely. Item citation: From folder 219 in … Continue reading

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5 October 1861: “The Philanthropic Society have heard with painful feelings of the death of one of its most distinguished ornaments.”

Item description: Minutes from a 5 October 1861 meeting of the Philanthropic Society of the University of North Carolina. Minutes note society business and debates, and contain committee reports and society resolutions. This particular set of minutes includes a resolution … Continue reading

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30 August 1861: “Would it be advisable for the Confederate Government under existing circumstances to act on the offensive?”

Item description: Minutes from a 30 August 1861 meeting of the Philanthropic Society of the University of North Carolina. Minutes note society business and debates, and contain committee reports and society resolutions. This particular entry notes the evening’s question for … Continue reading

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31 July 1861: “Students who were with us at the opening of the present year are now to be found in arms under the banners of every State in the Confederacy…”

Item description: Circular letter, 31 July 1861, from UNC President David Swain to students discouraging them from enlisting in the Confederate Army.  Since 1795, he writes, nothing had occurred to cause the university to close, and he did not anticipate … Continue reading

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17 May 1861: “Which gives the greatest incentive to action, the hope of reward or the fear of punishment.”

Item description: Minutes from a 17 May 1861 meeting of the Philanthropic Society of the University of North Carolina. Minutes note society business and debates, and contain committee reports and society resolutions. This particular set of minutes details passage of … Continue reading

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1 May 1861: “[The Faculty] beg leave to intimate to parents and guardians the propriety of restraining the anxiety so natural to the young and inexperienced to rush prematurely into military service.”

Item desciption: Circular letter from UNC President David L. Swain. North Carolina was three weeks from officially seceding when President David L. Swain issued the first of these circulars. He urged parents and guardians of university students to restrain their … Continue reading

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