Susie Sharp

Author Anna R. Hayes and UNC Press have recently released Without Precedent: The Life of Susie Marshall Sharp. The book examines the life of the first woman judge in the state of North Carolina and the first woman in the United States to be elected chief justice of a state supreme court. Hayes extensively used the Susie Sharp Papers in Wilson Library’s Southern Historical Collection to write the book, but I thought I would share a recent find from the North Carolina Collection’s Postcard project. A handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard states: “Susie Sharpe family picture 1910-1918, from Reidsville, N.C. Susie Sharpe — N.C. Supreme Court.” I have a guess, but can anyone help identify which one is Susie Sharp?

First Paper Mill In North Carolina?

I thought we were all supposed to be working in a “paperless office” in 2008, but I feel like I push around more paper than I ever did in the past. As I was cleaning the mounds of paper from my desk, I remembered something I had read recently…something I wanted to quiz our NC Miscellany readers about. We’ll operate this just like the “Where The Heel?” entries have been done…first person to give me the correct answer in the comments section wins. Wins what? Why, nothing less than NC Miscellany‘s love, affection, gratitude, and respect. Here goes:

Where was the first paper mill in the state built?

Hila R. Stratton for NC House

The image to the left is from our political ephemera collection. It is the front panel of a 1968 campaign brochure for Hila R. Stratton, a Republican candidate for North Carolina’s House of Representatives. In this time period, each state house district sent anywhere from one to seven representatives to Raleigh, depending on the population of the district (for example, heavily populated Mecklenburg County was the 36th district and sent seven representatives; the lightly populated-area of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, and Macon Counties was the 49th district and only sent one). Ms. Stratton was one of fourteen candidates for the seven seats in the 36th district. She garnered approximately 39,000 votes, which put her in thirteenth place.

Restaurant Menus, 1960

I’m constantly amazed at what I find in the NC Collection stacks. While looking for an item that was shelved incorrectly (yes, that does happen), I found a box of menus from various North Carolina restaurants in 1960. I’m not sure who collected them, though I’d bet it was William S. Powell, curator of the NC Collection from 1958 to 1974. Just as Bridget’s “The Price is What?” post highlighted one aspect of our consumer culture, these menus do the same thing. As an example, I’ll share two images with you. To the right is a menu from The Chuck Wagon Restaurant in Blowing Rock. The interior of the menu also mentions several other popular destinations in the area, such as Grandfather Mountain. Is it still there? I couldn’t find any information about it. Does anyone remember eating there?

I’ll also share with you a postcard that I found tucked into the menu. It is by the late Hugh Morton, owner of Grandfather Mountain and promoter and proponent of everything North Carolina. You can see more Hugh Morton images at the NC Collection Photographic Archives’ blog, A View to Hugh: Processing the Hugh Morton Photographs and Films.

UNC versus Notre Dame football

Many keyboards are clattering with chatter this week about the upcoming contest between the UNC and Notre Dame football squads on Saturday, so here’s our contribution.

You may be surprised to know that the host for the first encounter between these schools’  teams was neither Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill nor Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.  No, it was Yankee Stadium in New York City.

Why the Big Apple?

Starting in 1913, the annual Notre Dame versus Army football game evolved into a major rivalry.  From 1925 through 1946, the two teams battled at Yankee Stadium (with the exception of 1930, which was played in Chicago) in order to draw upon both institutions’ large alumni bases in New York.  The 1946 contest ended in a 0-0 tie between the country’s top two rated teams, and is a college football classic. The two previous years, however, saw Army routing Notre Dame with combined scores of 107—0, and the Black Knights declared that the annual meeting would cease with a finale to be played at Notre Dame Stadium in 1947.  The Fighting Irish’s returned to Yankee Stadium on November 12, 1949 to play UNC in their final appearance there until the 1963 Gotham Bowl.

The Tar Heels’ 1949 encounter with Notre Dame was not the first time UNC played in “The House that Ruth Built.”  Yankee Stadium was home field for the New York University football team beginning in the mid 1920s. UNC made its Yankee Stadium debut against NYU in 1936 with a 14-13 victory. The following year the UNC-NYU game was moved from Yankee Stadium to Ohio Field to make room for the World Series. Back in Yankee Stadium again in 1938, UNC bested NYU 7-0.

The Daily Tar Heel reported an estimated 25,000 UNC fans—with 2,200 student tickets sold—would head for New York to see the 5-2 Tar Heels take on the 6-0 Fighting Irish.  Those departing from Chapel Hill and vicinity traveled on two Seaboard Air Line Railroad and Southern Railway “specials,” Carolina Coach Company buses, and caravans of decorated cars.  The DTH published a small article describing some of their escapades along the way.  Yackety Yack photographer Bob Brooks photographed one of the automobiles parked on a New York street. The car is adorned with player names—featuring a train on the driver-side door featuring The “Choo-Choo” All-American Charlie Justice—and expressions, such as “Hello Yankees! How ‘Yawl’?” and “We’re From Carolina Gung Hav’ Beeg ‘Pahty.'”  The writing on the front fender cannot be made out entirely, but something or someone is “Gung Take Noo-Yawk.”

Brooks also captured at least two scenes during the huge pep rally of 3,000 UNC students on the preceding Friday night with 20,000 spectators lining the streets on Times Square.  The streets were full of Confederate flags and UNC fight songs.

UNC registered the first score of the game, a touchdown by UNC running back Dick Bunting—seen on the bottom of the pile in the photograph below. Other UNC players, grouped in the center, are Kenny Powell on the far left, Joe Neikirk (#63), Art Weiner (#50), and Julian King (#84).

That would be the only UNC score. The Tar Heels held the eventual national champions to a 6-6 draw by halftime. But without the Tar Heels’ All-American running back Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice, who was unable to play after injuring his ankle the week before against William and Mary, and nowhere near the depth of reserves of their opponent, the Irish rattled off 36 unanswered points in the second half for the victory.  Through it all, Tar Heel fans remained highly spirited, described by DTH reporter Roy Parker, Jr. as “the cheeringest bunch of Carolina rooters ever assembled.”  Even after the game’s close, the singing of “Hark the Sound” drowned out the Notre Dame fight song.

1868 Election Ballots

The North Carolina Collection has a fascinating collection of ballots from the 1868 state and federal elections. These provide a wonderful glimpse into the voting practices and campaign styles in use in the state 140 years ago. To begin with, candidates from the same party ran together on a single ticket, requiring voters to vote for parties rather than for individuals. The federal election ballot shown here has Ulysses S. Grant at the head of the ticket, with other candidates listed below (click on the image to see the full ballot).

In North Carolina, the big issue in 1868 was a new state constitution. This was the second attempt at a new constitution in three years. The 1866 constitution had been rejected by voters, and the entire document was rewritten with significant changes, including the removal of property requirements for officeholders, and the establishment of a public school system. In one of the most notable changes, African Americans were not explicitly prohibited from voting. The Republican Party supported the new constitution, while the Conservative Party strongly opposed it. In case voters had a hard time remembering which was which, the ballots themselves made it abundantly clear:

One of the important things to remember about this period is that this was before the practice of a private ballot was adopted. Elections often took place in the open, which may explain why ballots were printed in contrasting colors. If, for example, you were of a mind to persuade a voter through bribery or intimidation, the colored ballots would make it much easier for you to watch and see if they did as told on election day.

The BBQ Song

East vs. West, vinegar-based vs. tomato-based…whichever way you lean, you’ll love the following song by Rhett & Link, comedians from North Carolina. For all non-North Carolinians and transplants, please get a pad and pencil to take notes while listening, and please remember “barbecue” is not a verb and it isn’t a grill. If this statement confuses you, just watch the video.