This collection contains oral histories gathered from Kannapolis, North Carolina, residents as well as persons associated with the North Carolina Research Campus. Interviews were conducted in 2008. These histories present a detailed picture of the transformation of work and community in Kannapolis.
Kannapolis was once home to Cannon Mills, at one time the largest manufacturer of sheets and towels in the world. In 2003, the Pillowtex Corporation, the last owner of the textile company, closed its doors. This was the largest one-day layoff in North Carolina history. In December 2004, David Murdock purchased the former Cannon Mills Plant One at auction, and then in 2005 in partnership with the University of North Carolina system, he announced plans for a $1.5 billion scientific and economic revitalization project. The result is the North Carolina Research Campus, which houses biotechnology firms and partners them with North Carolina research universities. Through interviews with a variety of people, these oral histories chronicle changes in Kannapolis and the early development of the North Carolina Research Campus.
Kannapolis, North Carolina, was once home to Cannon Mills, at one time the largest manufacturer of sheets and towels in the world. James William Cannon founded Cannon Mills in 1906; his son expanded the company between 1920 and 1970. In 1982, the Pacific Holding Company, owned by David Murdock, purchased Cannon Mills. In 1984, the citizens of Kannapolis voted to officially incorporate the city of Kannapolis. In 1986, the Pacific Holding Company sold Cannon Mills to Fieldcrest Mills, becoming Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc. Then, in 1997, the Pillowtex Corporation acquired the Fieldcrest Cannon Company. In 2003, the Pillowtex Corporation, the last owner of the textile company, closed its doors, laying off 7,650 people. Four thousand three hundred and forty of that number lived in Kannapolis or the counties surrounding the city. In December 2004, David Murdock purchased the former Cannon Mills Plant One at auction, and in 2005 in partnership with the University of North Carolina system, he announced plans for a $1.5 billion dollar scientific and economic revitalization project.
This collection contains oral histories gathered from residents of Kannapolis, North Carolina, and from people associated with the North Carolina Research Campus. The interviews were conducted in 2008 by NC State University Libraries staff to document the transformation of Kannapolis from a textile-based economy to an information-research one.
This collection is arranged alphabetically by last name.
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.
[Identification of item], Kannapolis Oral Histories, MC 00118, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Processed by Genya O'Gara, February 2009; Finding aid created by Genya O'Gara, April 2009
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.
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[Identification of item], Kannapolis Oral Histories, MC 00118, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
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.
