Charles McGee Heck Papers 1922-1943

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Creator
Heck, Charles McGee
Size
1 linear foot (1 half box, 1 card box, 1 flatbox)
Call number
MC 00030

The Charles McGee Heck Papers document Heck's life and work prior to and during his tenure as Professor and Head of the Physics Department at North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (later North Carolina State University), 1917 - 1946. The collection consists of bulletins, letters, a proposal, a testimonial, typescripts, a display album, and lantern slide plates.

Charles McGee Heck (1881-1952) joined the Electrical Engineering Department at North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University) in 1913 to teach physics. He became Professor and Head of the Physics Department in 1917 and remained so until his retirement in 1946.

Biographical/historical note

Professor Charles McGee Heck was born on May 28, 1881, in the family residence on Blount Street, between Lane and North, in Raleigh, North Carolina. At the age of fifteen he began his freshman year at Wake Forest College and received an A.B. in the year 1900. He continued as a graduate student at Columbia University where he parlayed previous research on the chemistry of alternating current, performed in his attic during preceeding summers, and received an M.A. in 1901.

After spending time in Berlin and China, Heck returned to the United States and took a position at the University of Nebraska as an Assistant Professor of Physics, 1905-1912. After a short period at Colorado College, Heck took a position under William Hand Browne in the fall of 1913 as Associate Professor of Physics in the Electrical Engineering Department at North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University). He achieved the title of Professor and Head of the Physics Department in 1917. During his tenure, Professor Heck designed the Physics half of the building that would later be named in honor of Josephus Daniels. He discovered the first known spiral crystal and devised the multiple radiator for meteorological reseach and weather forecasting. Upon his retirement in 1946, he was named Dean Emeritus.

In addition to his academic career, Heck spearheaded a relief effort to save millions of Chinese from starvation shortly after World War I. He also, as a result of his interest in the history and future of North Carolina, compiled materials for young students, to inspire "them to love Raleigh and their state and implant in their young minds a determination to be loyal to and serve this community..."

Heck was married to Maude Williams Heck. They had one son, Charles W. Heck. Charles McGee Heck died on November 23, 1952.

Scope/content

The Charles McGee Heck Papers document Heck's life and work prior to and during his tenure as Professor and Head of the Physics Department at North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (later North Carolina State University), 1917 - 1946. As a physics professor, Heck discovered the first known spiral crystal and devised the multiple radiator for meteorological reseach and weather forecasting. The papers illuminate Heck's personal life as a child growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina, his relationship with his parents and siblings, thoughts about school and those who inspired him and developed his philosophies throughout his life and work. The collection consists of bulletins, letters, a proposal, a testimonial, a display album of spiral research, and typescripts of The Story of Early Raleigh Its Capitol and Its First Railroad and a seventy-page autobiography.

Arrangement

This collection is organized by type of document.

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. 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 North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Charles McGee Heck Papers, MC 00030, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Related material

Source of acquisition

Donated by the Heck family in 1972 and 1977 (Accession 1972-0002, 1977-0002) and by Julian W. Bunn Jr. in 1981 (Accession 1981-0002).

Processing information

Processed by Laurence Gavin;

Encoded by Laurence Gavin

Updated by Hannah Chapman, 2022 March

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

The collection is organized into two principal series:

Papers 1922-1943 (MC 00030 series 1)
Size: 0.25 linear feet

Papers of Charles McGee Heck include bulletins, letters, proposal, a testimonial, and typescripts.

no content

Bulletins 1922, 1939

Two articles from Alumni News published by North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering. The first, dated June 1922, documents an address given by Professor Heck accepting the Memorial To Nurses. The second, also from Alumni News, is a short biography and photo of Professor Heck dated 1939.

Half box 1, Folder 1
Letters 1938, 1940

Two typed letters: the first to the Honorable Josephus Daniels regarding the Physics-Electrical Engineering Building at State College being named in his honor, the second is to "A Raleigh Teacher" in regard to a manuscript wriiten by Professor Heck entitled, The Story of Early Raleigh Its Capitol and Its First Railroad.

Half box 1, Folder 2
Proposal and Testimonial 1940, 1943

A proposal written by Professor Heck entitled Suggested use of the Foundation of the Memorial Tower at State College as a Thousand-Year Repository for an Analysis of North Carolina's Present Condition and High Lights in History and a testimonial by an unknown author to Charles McGee Heck entitled, Raleigh As An Environment For Inspiration

Half box 1, Folder 3
Typescript 1940

The Story of Early Raleigh Its Capitol and Its First Railroad by Charles M. Heck

Half box 1, Folder 4
Typescript 1940 March 5

Contemporaneous Accounts of the Coming of the First Train to Raleigh, N.C. by Charles M. Heck

Half box 1, Folder 5
Typescript 1940s

The Autobiography of Charles McGee Heck

Half box 1, Folder 6
Display albums of spiral research approximately between 1910-1940

Albums contain microscope photos of spiral crystals and scientific graphs and charts

The provenance of these albums is unknown. It is suspected that they are part of the Charles McGee Heck papers based on the apparent age and the contents of the albums, which relate to research conducted by Heck.

Flat box 3
Lantern Slides 1930s (MC 00030 series 2)

Pictures of snowflakes, meteorological graphs, and Heck with meteorological instruments.

1 card box

Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 1
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 2
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 3
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

After review, access to the digital copies may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.

The Special Collections Research Center, NC State University Libraries, has digital copies of some or all of these materials.

Card box 2, Folder 4
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 5
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 6
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 7
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 8
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 9
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 10
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 11
Lantern Slide Plates 1930s

Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 12
Lantern Slide Plates 1938?

Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 13
Lantern Slide Plates 1938?

Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 14
Lantern Slide Plates 1938?

Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 15
Lantern Slide Plates 1938?

Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 16
Lantern Slide Plates 1938?

Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 17
Lantern Slide Plates 1938?

Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 18
Lantern Slide Plates 1938?

Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Card box 2, Folder 19
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.

For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Charles McGee Heck Papers, MC 00030, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. 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 North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.