Stuart Mcguire Noblin Papers
MC 00051
Special Collections Research Center
4.5 Linear feet
1857-1977
This collection contains the professional papers of Stuart McGuire Noblin, including those related to his professorship at North Carolina State University, and on topics of his research, including farmers' movements, the National Grange, and the role of churches in constructive race relations. Also contained in this collection are Noblin's personal papers from his involvement in the North Carolina Chess Association.
Stuart Noblin was a professor in the Departments of History and Political Science at North Carolina State University from 1947 to 1976. He also served as part-time University Archivist from 1957 to 1964, as well as chairman of the Committee on the History of the College, and was a member of the Faculty Senate from 1957 to 1961. Noblin was also active in the North Carolina Chess Association.
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the
Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff.
6 archival boxes, 1 legal sized archival box
Noblin, Stuart McGuire, 1913-1977
Restrictions to Access
This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.
Acquisitions Information
Material donated by Evelyn Blanchard Noblin in 1978 (Accession no. 1978-0003).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Stuart McGuire Noblin Papers, 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.
Processing Information
Processed by Michael Watts,
2005 May
Encoded by Michael Watts,
2005 May; Updated by Cate Putirskis, February 2008
Biographical Note
Stuart McGuire Noblin was born in Radford, Virginia, in 1913. He received his bachelor's degree from Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, majoring in history, and graduating in 1933. He taught junior high school for a brief period in Durham, North Carolina, and then pursued graduate work in history at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He was awarded a Masters of Arts degree in 1935 and a PhD in 1947. While working on the PhD, Noblin taught history at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, and at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia. Noblin came to Raleigh in 1947 and began work as an assistant professor at North Carolina State College. In 1951, he became an associate professor, and in 1957, a full professor.
Noblin was an authority on the history of the National Grange and American agricultural movements. He authored numerous articles and three books on the subject. These include
The Grange in North Carolina 1929 -1954: A Story In Agricultural Progress and
Codification of Grange Policy. His most important work is a full length biography of the nationally known farm leader Colonel Leonidas La Fayette Polk, titled
Leonidas Layfayette Polk: Agrarian Crusader. This is an account of the man who was North Carolina's first Commissioner of Agriculture, a leader in the establishment of North Carolina State University, and founder of the monthly farm publication,
The Progressive Farmer.
As an educator and historian at North Carolina State University, Noblin served as an advisor to the Student Publications Board. He was also active in the American Historical Association, the Southern Historical Association, the Historical Society of North Carolina, the American Association of University Professors, the State Grange, the Raleigh Torch Club, Organization of American Historians, the History of Education Society, and the Wake Historical Society.
Noblin was a leader in Raleigh's Institute of Religion. He studied churches in the South and was active in the movement for the peaceful desegregation of Raleigh. His work in the area led to the publication of a case study on the United Church of Raleigh through the Southern Historical Association in Washington, D.C. As a member of the United Church of Christ in Raleigh, Noblin served as the chairman of the church's Board of Deacons. He was also the church historian.
An expert chess player, Noblin labored diligently to promote the game in North Carolina, and worked cooperatively with chess associations at the national level to stage tournaments and exhibitions for the benefit of local chess enthusiasts. Noblin was the treasurer for the North Carolina Chess Association for two decades, and was the organization's president from 1961 to 1964.
Stuart Noblin was married to Evelyn Blanchard Noblin. His wife worked as a librarian in North Carolina State University's D. H. Hill Library. The couple shared a love of literature and history. Stuart McGuire Noblin died on January 10, 1977, at the age of sixty-three.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains book manuscripts, scholarly writings, Fulbright and Guggenheim fellowship applications, speeches, encyclopedia articles, and correspondence generated by Stuart McGuire Noblin during his tenure as a professor of history at North Carolina State University. In addition to papers that were written by Professor Noblin, there are journal articles, reviews, and papers written by his colleagues. There are also a few photographs and a number of alumni publications, as well as course outlines, syllabi, reading lists, exams, class rolls, grade rolls, research and oral report topics, student exams, and term papers from Noblin's classes. Also included are material documenting Noblin's work for the Raleigh Institute of Religion and the United Church of Christ regarding race relations in Raleigh, and papers related to Noblin's participation in the North Carolina Chess Association (NCCA).
Organization of the Collection
This collection is organized into two series. The first series, Professional, is further divided into nine subseries: Writings, Letters Received, Book Reviews, Applications, Research Files, Colleagues' Papers, Photographs, Newsletters, and Mementos. The second series, North Carolina Chess Assoication, is divided into two subseries: Correspondence and Administrative Information.
American Farm Bureau Federation.
National Farmers' Union (U.S.)
National Grange.
Noblin, Stuart McGuire, 1913-1977
North Carolina Chess Association.
North Carolina Farmers' Alliance.
North Carolina State University--Faculty--History.
North Carolina State University. Dept. of History.
Poe, Clarence Hamiliton, 1881-1964
Polk, L. L. (Leonidas La Fayette), 1837-1892
Raleigh Institute of Religion (Raleigh, N.C.)
United Church of Christ--North Carolina--Raleigh--History..
Chess
Farmers--United States--Political activity
Historians--North Carolina
North Carolina--History
Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity.
Professional
Series 1
1.5 Linear feet
1857 - 1977
3 archival boxes
Scope and Contents note
This series contains items related to Noblin's work in the Departments of History and Political Science at NC State. Materials are arranged chronologically within each subseries.
Writings
M.A. Thesis
1
1
1935
"North Carolina Grange" typescript
1
2
1954
"The Grange of North Carolina: A Story of Agricultural Progress, 1929 - 1954"
1
3
1954
"Gleanings From a College Archive"
1
4
1960
"Codification of Grange Policy"
1
5
1961
"A Voice of Agriculture: Recent Policies of the National Grange"
1
6
1962
Encyclopedia Articles
1
7
1968
"The United Church of Raleigh: A Case Study"
1
8
1969
"The American Experiment"
1
9
1976
Sketch from "Representative Men of the South," by Leonidas L. Polk
1
10
undated
Correspondence Received
1952 - 1962
1
11
1962 - 1965
1
12
1966 - 1969
1
13
1970
1
14
1971 - 1973
1
15
1974 - 1975
1
16
1976
1
17
Book Reviews
North Carolina Historical Review: "Leonidas Polk"
1
18
Apr. 1943
North Carolina Historical Review: "Leonidas Polk"
1
19
Jul. 1943
Applications
Fulbright Application
1
20
1951
Guggenheim Fellowship
1
21
undated
Research Files
Address and Newspaper Article on Leonidas Polk by Clarence Poe
2
1
1937
"Topical Studies and References on the Farmer's Movement in the United States, 1650 - 1946"
2
2
1946
Agricultural Course Descriptions (by state)
2
3
1948
"John Simpson: The Southwest's Militant Farm Leader," by Gilbert C. Fite
2
4
1949
Miscellaneous Grange Research Material
2
5
1954
National Grange Pamphlets
2
6
1955 - 1964
American Historical Association 82nd Annual Meeting: Program
2
7
1967
American Historical Association 82nd Annual Meeting: "A Grange Rennaissance: Comments on the Papers of Professor Thomas Nordin"
2
8
1967
"Preliminary List of References for the History of the Granger Movement," University of California, Davis
2
9
1967
"North Carolina State Grange: Patrons of Husbandry,"
Journal of Proceedings
2
10
1974
"The National Grange: Legislative Policies"
2
11
1975
History Course Files and Student Research
Course Materials
2
12
1947 - 1973
History 121, 122: Political and Diplomatic Aspects of American History
2
13
1950
History 205: The Modern Western World
2
14
1954
Summary of Regular Teaching Responsibilities
2
15
1955
History 312: Economic and Social History of the South
2
16
1955
History 244-009: The U.S. Since 1914
2
17
Spring 1974
History 244-011: The U.S. Since 1914
2
18
Spring 1974
History 548E: American Response to Industrialism
2
19
Spring 1974
History 244: The U.S. Since 1914
3
1
Fall 1974
History 244-006: The U.S. Since 1914
3
2
Fall 1974
History 491-001: Seminar in History
3
3
Fall 1974
History 244-003: The U.S. Since 1914
3
4
Spring 1975
History 464: North Carolina Since 1860
3
5
Spring 1975
American Response to Industrialism
3
6
Spring 1975
History 244-005: The U.S. Since 1914
3
7
Fall 1975
History 244-008: The U.S. Since 1914
3
8
Fall 1975
Populism and Progress
3
9
Fall 1975
History 244-003: The U.S. Since 1914
3
10
Spring 1976
History 244-004: The U.S. Since 1914
3
11
Spring 1976
Social Studies 392, 393: Contemporary Social Problems
3
12
undated
Student Research Paper: Via, James
3
13
1962
Student Research Paper: Boney, William Jr.
3
14
1972
Student Research Paper: Franks, Mona
3
15
1972
Student Research Paper: Melton, Carroll
3
16
1972
Student Research Paper: Ott, Leslie
3
17
1972
Student Research Paper: Lawber, Harold
3
18
1973
Journal Articles, Reviews, Papers (Colleagues)
1938 - 1954
3
19
1955 - 1964
3
20
1971 - 1974
3
21
1976, undated
3
22
Photographs
Leonidas Polk Illustrations, Chess Club Photos
3
23
1857 - 1972
Newsletters and Mementos
Mementos: Charleston, S.C.
4
1
1940
Historical Chart of Mankind
4
2
1950
Democratic Digest,
Johns Hopkins Magazine
4
3
1961, 1970
Newsletters, News Clippings, and Brochures
4
4
1963 - 1970
Department of History Sign, Travel Forms
4
5
undated
North Carolina Postcards
4
6
undated
North Carolina Chess Association
Series 2
3.0 Linear feet
1951 - 1971
3 archival boxes, 1 legal sized archival box
Scope and Contents note
This series contains the correspondence and other administrative information collected by Noblin while he was a member of the North Carolina Chess Associtaion. Materials are arranged chronologically within each subseries.
Correspondence
1951
4
7
1952
4
8
1953
4
9
1954
4
10
1955
4
11
Jan.-Apr. 1956
4
12
May-Dec. 1956
4
13
Jan.-Jun. 1957
4
14
Jul.-Dec. 1957
4
15
Jan.-Jul. 1958
4
16
Aug.-Dec. 1958
4
17
Jan.-Jun. 1959
5
1
Jul.-Dec. 1959
5
2
Jan.-May 1960
5
3
Jun.-Aug. 1960
5
4
Sep.-Dec. 1960
5
5
Jan.-Apr. 1961
5
6
May-Dec. 1961
5
7
1962
5
8
Jan.-May 1963
5
9
1964
6
1
1965-1971
6
2
undated
6
3
Administrative Information
Constitution, Bylaws, Tournament Rules
6
4
1951-1973
Membership
6
5
1951-1961
Treasury
6
6
1951-1960
Tournament Participation
6
7
1951-1962
Publications, Pamphlets, News Articles
6
8
1955-1961
"The Carolina Gambit"
7
1
1960-1961
"The Carolina Gambit"
7
2
1962-1963