Guide to the Perry-Wynns Fish Company Records, 1949 - 2002

Collection Number MC 304

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Collection Information
Abstract:

The Perry-Wynns Fish Company Records contain the business records, including financial, payroll, sales, and fishing information, of the Perry-Wynns Fish Company (alternatively known as the Perry-Wynns Fishery) of Colerain, North Carolina, on the Chowan River. The papers date from 1947 to 2002.

The Perry-Wynns Fish Company was formed in 1952 when L. D. Perry and Leo Wynns formed a partnership to run a herring packing plant in Colerain, North Carolina on the western shore of the Chowan River. Incorporated in 1966, the company was, for decades, the largest freshwater herring fishery in the world, packing both herring and herring roe under the Tidewater Brand, the Bertie Brand and Chowan's Best. In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel destroyed nine of the fishery's eleven buildings, putting the company out of business.

Contact Information:
Special Collections Research Center
NCSU Libraries
Campus Box 7111
Raleigh, North Carolina
27695-7111 USA
Phone: (919) 515-2273
Fax: (919) 513-1787
URL: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/specialcollections/
Web Contact Form
Processed by
Stephanie A. Horowitz
Date Completed
March, 2005
Encoded by
Stephanie A. Horowitz

Descriptive Summary

Creator

Perry-Wynns Fish Company

Title

The Perry-Wynns Fish Company Records, 1949 - 2002

Call Number

MC 304

Extent

20 boxes, 21 volumes, 43.5 linear feet

Location

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

Information for Users

Restrictions to Access

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

The Perry-Wynns Fish Company Records were a gift of the Perry-Wynns Fish Company on March 13, 2001 and of Lois Fischer Black on March 23, 2002.
Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], Perry-Wynns Fish Company Records, MC 304, Special Collections Department, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Copyright Notice

North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections Department are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

Historical Note


The Perry-Wynns Fish Company was formed in 1952 when L.D. Perry and Leo Wynns formed a partnership to run a herring packing plant in Colerain, North Carolina on the western shore of the Chowan River. The company was incorporated on February 7, 1966. For decades, it was the largest freshwater herring fishery in the world, packing both herring and herring roe under the Tidewater Brand, the Bertie Brand and Chowan's Best. It also ran a restaurant, the Sea Gull Cafe, that was open for lunch during the herring season in March and April. During the Perry-Wynns Fish Company's height, it hired up to 200 seasonal and permanent employees. During the 1990s, the number of herring in the Chowan River fell, and the business shrank to a point where it hired 25 seasonal employees and had ten full-time employees. The company also began packing herring, mackerel and mullet caught elsewhere, rather than processing fish caught locally in the Chowan River. In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel destroyed nine of the fishery's eleven buildings, putting the company out of business.

Scope and Content Note


The Perry-Wynns Fish Company Records include volumes of employee records (including salary information), records of fish caught and packed, and books of sales and general financial information. Also included is a subsequent addition of five photographs.

Organization of the Collection


The Perry-Wynns Fish Company Records are organized into four series: Employee Records, Financial Records, Catch Records, and Photographs.

Online Catalog Headings

  • Fisheries
  • Fisheries--Atlantic States
  • Fisheries--Economic aspects--North Carolina
  • Fisheries--North Carolina
  • Fisheries--North Carolina--Chowan River
  • Fishery processing industries--North Carolina
  • Fishery processing industries--North Carolina--Employees
  • Herring fisheries--North Carolina
  • Perry-Wynns Fish Company
  • Perry-Wynns Fishery

Detailed Description of the Collection


  • Series 1:Employee Records, 1951-1973


    10 boxes , 2.5 linear feet

    This series contains payroll records for the Perry-Wynns Fish Company's seasonal and permanent employees. The volumes have been arranged chronologically.

    • Employee records, 1951 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 1 , Volume 1]
    • Employee records, 1952 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 1 , Volume 2]
    • Employee records, 1953 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 1 , Volume 3]
    • Employee records, 1954 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 1 , Volume 4]
    • Employee records, 1955 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 1 , Volume 5]
    • Employee records, 1956 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 2 , Volume 1]
    • Employee records, 1957 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 2 , Volume 2]
    • Fish Cutters, 1958 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 2 , Volume 3]
    • Fish Cutters, 1959 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 2 , Volume 4]
    • Roe Pickers, 1959 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 2 , Volume 5]
    • Fish Cutters, 1963 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 2 , Volume 5]
    • Employee records, 1960 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 3 , Volume 1]
    • Fish Cutters, 1960 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 3 , Volume 2]
    • Roe Pickers, 1960 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 3 , Volume 3]
    • Employee records, 1960-1961 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 3 , Volume 4]
    • Employee records, 1961 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 3 , Volume 5]
    • Fish Cutters, 1961 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 4 , Volume 1]
    • Roe Pickers, 1961 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 4 , Volume 2]
    • Employee records, 1962 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 4 , Volume 3]
    • Roe Pickers and Fish Packers, 1962 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 4 , Volume 4]
    • Fish Cutters, 1963 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 4 , Volume 5]
    • Roe Pickers, Fish Packers, and Skinners, 1963 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 5 , Volume 1]
    • Fish Cutters, Men and Women, 1964 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 5 , Volume 2]
    • Roe Pickers, Fish Packers, and Skinners, 1964 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 5 , Volume 3]
    • Additional Cutters, 1964-1965 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 5 , Volume 4]
    • Regular and Off-season Fish Packers, July 4, 1964-June 25, 1966 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 5 , Volume 5]
    • Labor, 1965 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 6 , Volume 1]
    • Roe Pickers, Skinners, and Fall Fish Packers, 1965 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 6 , Volume 2]
    • Regular Payroll, 1966 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 6 , Volume 3]
    • Men and Fish Cutters, 1966 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 6 , Volume 4]
    • Roe Pickers, Skinners and Fall Packers, 1966 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 6 , Volume 5]
    • Men and Fish Cutters, 1967 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 7 , Volume 1]
    • Roe Pickers, Skinners, and Fall Packers, 1967 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 7 , Volume 2]
    • Men's Working Hours, 1967-1968 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 7 , Volume 3]
    • Men (Night Workers), 1967-1970 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 7 , Volume 4]
    • Regular Payroll, 1968 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 7 , Volume 5]
    • Men and Fish Cutters, 1968 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 8 , Volume 1]
    • Roe Pickers and Skinners, 1968 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 8 , Volume 2]
    • Roe Pickers, Fall Packers, and Skinners, 1969 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 8 , Volume 3]
    • Seasonal Men and Fish Cutters, 1969 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 8 , Volume 4]
    • Roe Pickers, Fall Packers, and Skinners, 1970 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 8 , Volume 5]
    • Regular Employees, 1970-1971 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 9 , Volume 1]
    • Seasonal Fish Cutters, 1970-1971 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 9 , Volume 2]
    • Roe Pickers, Skinners, and Packers, Fall 1971 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 9 , Volume 3]
    • Men (Night Workers), 1971-1973 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 9 , Volume 4]
    • Regular Employees, November 4, 1971-November 1, 1973 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 9 , Volume 5]
    • Roe Pickers, Skinners, and Fall Packers, 1972 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 10 , Volume 1]
    • Fish Cutters, 1972-1973 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 10 , Volume 2]
    • Roe Pickers, Skinners, and Fall Packers - Seasonal Operations, 1973 [MC 304 Series 1 Box 10 , Volume 3]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]


  • Series 2:Financial Records, , 1949-1970


    21 volumes , 25 linear feet

    The Financial Records series contains volumes of the Perry-Wynns Fish Company's financial information, including sales, purchase, and payroll records. The volumes have been arranged chronologically.

    • Financial records1949 June - 1952 April [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 11 ]
    • Financial records1952 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 12 ]
    • Financial records1953 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 13 ]
    • Financial records1953-1958 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 14 ]
    • Financial records1954 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 15 ]
    • Financial records1955 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 16 ]
    • Financial records1956 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 17 ]
    • Financial records1957 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 18 ]
    • Financial records1958 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 19 ]
    • Financial records1959 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 20 ]
    • Financial records1960 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 21 ]
    • Financial records1961 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 22 ]
    • Financial records1962 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 23 ]
    • Financial records1963 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 24 ]
    • Financial records1964 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 25 ]
    • Financial records1965 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 26 ]
    • Financial records1966 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 27 ]
    • Financial records1967 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 28 ]
    • Financial records1968 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 29 ]
    • Financial records1969 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 30 ]
    • Financial records1970 [MC 304 Series 2 Volume 31 ]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]


  • Series 3:Catch Records, , 1950-1995


    10 boxes , 16 linear feet

    The Catch Records series includes records of the numbers of fish caught by Perry-Wynns Fish Company employees in individual years. The records have been arranged chronologically.

    • Catch records1950-1952 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 32 , Folder 1]
    • Catch records1953 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 32 , Folder 2]
    • Catch records1954 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 32 , Folder 3]
    • Catch records1955 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 32 , Folder 4]
    • Catch records1956 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 32 , Folder 5]
    • Catch records1957 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 33 , Folder 1]
    • Catch records1958 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 33 , Folder 2]
    • Catch records1959 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 33 , Folder 3]
    • Catch records1960 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 33 , Folder 4]
    • Catch records1961 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 33 , Folder 5]
    • Catch records1962 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 34 , Folder 1]
    • Catch records1963 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 34 , Folder 2]
    • Catch records1964 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 34 , Folder 3]
    • Catch records1965 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 34 , Folder 4]
    • Catch records1966 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 34 , Folder 5]
    • Catch records1966-1968 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 34 , Folder 6]
    • Catch records1967 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 34 , Folder 7]
    • Catch records1968 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 35 , Folder 1]
    • Catch records1969 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 35 , Folder 2]
    • Catch records1970 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 35 , Folder 3]
    • Catch records1970-1971 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 35 , Folder 4]
    • Catch records1971 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 35 , Folder 5]
    • Catch records1972 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 35 , Folder 6]
    • Catch records1972-1974 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 35 , Folder 7]
    • Catch records1973 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 36 , Folder 1]
    • Catch records1974 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 36 , Folder 2]
    • Catch records1975 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 36 , Folder 3]
    • Catch records1975-1977 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 36 , Folder 4]
    • Catch records1976 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 36 , Folder 5]
    • Catch records1977 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 36 , Folder 6]
    • Catch records1978 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 36 , Folder 7]
    • Catch records1978-1979 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 37 , Folder 1]
    • Catch records1979 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 37 , Folder 2]
    • Catch records1980-1981 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 37 , Folder 3]
    • Catch records1980-1983 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 37 , Folder 4]
    • Catch records1982 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 37 , Folder 5]
    • Catch records1983 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 37 , Folder 6]
    • Catch records [File 1 of 2]1984 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 37 , Folder 7]
    • Catch records [File 2 of 2]1984 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 38 , Folder 1]
    • Catch records1985 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 38 , Folder 2]
    • Catch records1985-1989 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 39 , Folder 1]
    • Catch records1985-1995 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 40 , Folder 1]
    • Catch records1987 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 40 , Folder 2]
    • Catch records1988 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 40 , Folder 3]
    • Catch records1990-1993 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 41 , Folder 1]
    • Catch records1994-1995 [MC 304 Series 3 Box 41 , Folder 2]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]


  • Series 4:Photographs, , 2002


    1 folder

    Five photographs were taken of the Perry-Wynns Fish Company by Lois Fischer Black, NCSU Libraries Special Collections Research Center, following the company's donation of its records to North Carolina State University.

    • Photographs2002 [MC 304 Series 4 Folder 42 ]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]