UNCW & Wilmington College -- Black History On Campus

University Archives serves as the repository for official records of all divisions of the University of North Carolina Wilmington as well as other items related to the history of the University. We collect, preserve, arrange, describe, and make available these materials in accordance with the Records Retention and Dispositions Schedule for Institutions of the University of North Carolina System.

The Academic Affairs Collection consists of administrative records pertaining to curricula, institutional research, and supporting academic services at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and its predecessor Wilmington College. A significant part of the collection is from institutional research, consisting of self-studies for accreditation and other reports prepared for planning or assessment.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington Academic Department Records consist of administrative materials from academic departments of Wilmington College and the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Wilmington College began as a county-supported two-year college before becoming one of 16 constituent institutions in the University of North Carolina System of public higher education and a nationally recognized university. In 1979, the university created four colleges or schools as part of an administrative reorganization: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Education, and the School of Nursing. Records include planning reports, annual reports, correspondence, departmental self-study reports, and departmental meeting minutes.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington Committee and Administration records include material from offices, departments, campus-wide committees, Staff Senate, and Faculty Senate. Policies, curriculum planning information, Honorary Degree information, meeting minutes, Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action plans, and records about the establishment of the Upperman African American Student Center are some of the material in this record group. The collection demonstrates the broad range of service and administrative activity conducted by faculty and staff of UNC Wilmington along with administrators. Material from Human Resources and the Office of Institutional Diversity are included in this record group. Originally a locally supported two-year college, Wilmington College joined the University of North Carolina System of public higher education in 1969.

Founded in 1947, Wilmington College became a four-year college in 1965, and then became part of the University of North Carolina System of public higher education in 1969. University of North Carolina Wilmington Student Affairs Records include information about fraternities, sororities, the student government association, student media, student honorary societies, and other student organizations. The Division of Student Affairs oversees intramural and club sports, including football, as well as Transitions Programs, the office responsible for new student orientation and commencement. The Division manages many aspects of the college experience such as student housing, residential life, tutoring and learning services, health services, and disability services. Historic material includes administrators' correspondence, student government meeting minutes, commencement programs, newspapers, yearbooks, periodicals such as literary and creative magazines, departmental newsletters, administrative reports, student handbooks, Codes of Student Life, and marketing materials.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington Athletics Records contains departmental information as well as information from men's and women's team sports offices. Although Wilmington College also had student athletes involved in intercollegiate sports, most of the information in this collection dates from after the Wilmington College period. In 1969, Wilmington College joined the University of North Carolina System of public higher education and became
UNC Wilmington. Departmental records include certification and self-study reports for the National Collegiate Athletic Association, newsletters, press releases, athletic directors' correspondence, and legal information about Title IX. Team records include programs, media guides, and schedules. Teams represented in this record group are baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country/track and field, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington Biographical Collection consists of biographical data sheets, photographs, announcements, brochures, and other material collected for public and media relations offices. The collection has information about faculty, staff, administrators, members of the Board of Trustees and several presidents and chancellors. The collection also includes unique research and scholarly writings by faculty.

This extensive collection includes the original materials and photocopies of the legal actions instituted by Dr. Eaton and his fellow plaintiffs to compel the integration of the fundamental institutions of New Hanover County--the public schools and the hospital--in the 1960s and 1970s. Moreover, the collection also reflects the broad spectrum of Dr. Eaton's interests and activities which included medical and public health issues, education, civil rights and athletics.

This collection contains materials relating to the education, career, and civic activities of Dr. Leroy Upperman, including diplomas, certificates, photographs, audiovisual materials, and memorabilia. Also included are diplomas and certificates related to the education and careers of Callie Smith Upperman and Leroy Upperman, Jr. Materials date from 1934 to 1996.

This collection contains materials created by the 1898 Foundation, Inc., formerly the 1898 Centennial Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on commemorating Wilmington’s 1898 coup d’état and massacre, as well as promoting community unity and fostering economic inclusion. Materials pertain to Foundation’s establishment, the programming and activities that reached a crescendo during the 1998 centennial, and the Foundation’s events following the centennial, which culminated in the dedication of 1898 Memorial Park in 2008. Types of materials include correspondence, financial documents, publicity materials, grant applications, photographs, minutes, reports, awards and certificates, digital files, audio and video cassette tapes, publications, and newspaper clippings. Materials date from 1898 to 2009, the bulk of materials dating from 1995 to 2009.

The materials in this collection are from Dr. McLaurin's personal files, and consist of correspondence, research notes, newspaper clippings, photographs and tapes regarding the 1898 Centennial, Separate Pasts, Celia: A Slave, The Marines of Montford Point documentary, and the North Carolina State Fair. This collection contains both original and photocopied material. Collection not processed. See Special Collections staff for access.

This collection contains the papers of Bertha Boykin Todd, a long-time New Hanover County educator and community leader. Content focuses on her work with the 1898 Centennial Foundation, biographical information and research for her memoir, "My Restless Journey," speeches and notes for events at which she spoke, recordings of her media appearances, and articles and correspondence related to her community engagement and work with the New Hanover County School system, highlighting her time as the librarian at Williston High School and as an administrator at Hoggard High School. Additional material speaks specifically to local school desegregation, the succeeding school riots, the Wilmington 10 incident, and Bertha's involvement in dampening racial tensions at the time. Also of note are items related to her many awards and accolades at the local and state level, as well as broad newspaper coverage of her work in the community and schools.