MC 00051 Guide to the Stuart McGuire Noblin Papers, 1857-1977

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.

Creator

Noblin, Stuart McGuire, 1913-1977

Quantity

4.5 Linear feet 6 archival boxes, 1 legal sized archival box

General Physical Description note

6 archival boxes, 1 legal sized archival box

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff .

Language

English

Acquisitions Information

Material donated by Evelyn Blanchard Noblin in 1978 (Accession no. 1978-0003).

Processing

Processed by: Michael Watts; machine-readable finding aid created by: Michael Watts

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).

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.

Controlled Terms

1. American Farm Bureau Federation.
2. Chess
3. Clippings
4. Farmers--United States--Political activity
5. Historians--North Carolina
6. Letters (correspondence)
7. National Farmers' Union (U.S.)
8. National Grange.
9. Noblin, Stuart McGuire, 1913-1977
10. North Carolina Chess Association.
11. North Carolina Farmers' Alliance.
12. North Carolina State University--Faculty--History.
13. North Carolina State University. Dept. of History.
14. North Carolina--History
15. Photographs
16. Poe, Clarence Hamiliton, 1881-1964
17. Polk, L. L. (Leonidas La Fayette), 1837-1892
18. Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity
19. Raleigh Institute of Religion (Raleigh, N.C.)
20. United Church of Christ--North Carolina--Raleigh--History.

Access to Collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.

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

Mail

Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Telephone

(919) 515-2273

Fax

(919) 513-1787

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Stuart McGuire Noblin Papers, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

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