Guide to the Charles McGee Heck Papers, 1922

Descriptive Summary

Repository: North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center
Creator: Heck, Charles McGee, 1881 - 1952
Title: Charles McGee Heck Papers, 1922 - 1943
Call Number: MC 30
Extent: 0.75 linear feet, (1 half box, 1 card box).
Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff.
Language of Material: English

Information for Users

Restrictions to Access: This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.
Acquisitions Information: 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).
Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], Charles McGee Heck Papers, MC 30, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Copyright Notice: The nature of the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NCSU 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.

Biographical 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 and Content Note

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, and typescripts of "The Story of Early Raleigh Its Capitol and Its First Railroad" and a seventy-page autobiography.

Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized by type of document.

Online Catalog Terms

The following terms have been used to index the guide to the collection in the NCSU Library's online catalog.

Individuals

Heck, Charles McGee, 1881 - 1952

Corporate Entities

North Carolina State College. Dept. of Physics -- History.
North Carolina State University -- Faculty -- History.
North Carolina State University. Dept. of Physics -- History.

Topics

International relief -- Asia -- History.
Physicists -- Travel -- China.
Physicists -- Travel -- Germany.
Physics -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- North Carolina.
Weather forecasting--Technological innovations.

Places

Raleigh (N.C.) -- History.

Related Material

North Carolina State University College of Physical and Mathmatical Sciences website
North Carolina State Archives - Charles M. Heck (1881 - 1952) Collection, Number 236. In the map collection is a bound volume of photostatic documents, dating from 1663 - 1887, which includes the original charter for the colony, early land grants for Raleigh and Wake County, land entries, deeds, maps of Wake County and North Carolina, plans of the city of Raleigh, census records, and letters.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Papers, 1922-1943

0.25 linear ft.

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

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.	[MC 30 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."	[MC 30 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"	[MC 30 Half Box 1, Folder 3]

Typescript, 1940
"The Story of Early Raleigh Its Capitol and Its First Railroad" by Charles M. Heck
[MC 30 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
[MC 30 Half Box 1, Folder 5]
Typescript, 1940s
"The Autobiography of Charles McGee Heck"
[MC 30 Half Box 1, Folder 6]

[Return to Descriptive Summary]

Lantern Slides, 1930s

1 card box

Pictures of snowflakes, meteorological graphs, and Heck with meteorological instruments.
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve1]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve2]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve3]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve4]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve5]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve6]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve7]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve8]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve9]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve10]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve11]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1930s
  Meteorological Graph on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve12]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1938?
  Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve13]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1938?
  Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve14]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1938?
  Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve15]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1938?
  Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve16]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1938?
  Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve17]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1938?
  Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve18]
- Lantern Slide Plates, 1938?
  Heck with Heat Measuring Device and other Meteorological Instruments on 3 1/4" x 4" plate
  [MC 30 Card Box 2, Sleeve19]
[Return to Descriptive Summary]

Guide to the Charles McGee Heck Papers, 1922 - 1943

Collection Number MC 30

Collection Information