%xmlchars; ]> mc00001 Guide to the John William Harrelson Papers, 1908-1955 Processed by: Lea Jordan; machine-readable finding aid created by: Lea Jordan North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center 2005 Machine-readable finding aid derived from xml authoring program Finding aid written in English. Guide to the John William Harrelson Papers, 1908-1955 MC 1 North Carolina State University Libraries Special Collections Research Center &ncsuaddr; Lea Jordan Lea Jordan Descriptive Summary North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center Harrelson, J. W. (John William), 1885-1955. John William Harrelson Papers, 1908-1955 MC 1 10.522 boxes The John William Harrelson Papers contain correspondence, speeches and writings, reports, minutes, clippings, certificates, scrapbooks, financial records, and photographs. The collection provides information about Harrelson's military career, his tenure as a faculty member and administrator at North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University), and his service as director of the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development. The materials also relate to Harrelson's membership in various civic and professional organizations. John William Harrelson (1885-1955) was a member of the faculty and administrator at North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University) and was director of the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff. English Information for Users Restrictions to Access

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

 Acquisitions Information

Gift of Elizabeth Harrelson, 1968.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John William Harrelson Papers, MC 1, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

 Copyright Notice &ncsucpyrt;

Processed by Lea Jordan

Encoded by Lea Jordan

 Biographical Note

John William Harrelson was born on June 28, 1885, in Double Shoals Community, Cleveland County, North Carolina. He graduated from North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University) in 1909 with a Bachelor's degree in engineering. In 1915 he received a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the same school.

After graduation, Harrelson joined the military. Harrelson was actively employed in the military from 1917 to 1919, and remained a reserve officer after his active service was completed. During this period, Harrelson was a lieutenant in the Coast Artillery, North Carolina National Guard, when the United States entered World War I in April 1917. He was in active service for two years, before being returned to reserve status. While in the reserves, he was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1923.

After completing his active military service, Harrelson chose to stay at his alma mater as an instructor in the Mathematics Department. By 1921, he had risen to the rank of full professor. He was granted a leave of absence from the college in 1929, when Governor O. Max Gardner appointed him director of the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development. Harrelson remained there from 1929 to 1933, promoting wildlife awareness and sound hunting and fishing practices. Harrelson returned to the college in 1933, and resumed his post as head of the Mathematics department.

In 1934, he was appointed Dean of Administration at North Carolina State College. The name of the position was changed to Chancellor in 1945. Harrelson held this position until his retirement in 1953. Harrelson guided the university through many difficult changes, such as the consolidation of the University of North Carolina system and the student population boom after World War II due to the G.I. Bill.

In 1935 Harrelson married Elizabeth Connor, but the couple had no children. He served on many governmental and private boards, committees and councils, primarily focusing on education and health care. After his retirement, Harrelson was instrumental in working for and promoting the new library on State College Campus, and worked to help start the special collections. He died in Raleigh on March 13, 1955.

 Scope and Content Note

The John William Harrelson Papers contain a wide variety of materials including: correspondence, speeches and writings, reports, minutes, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, photographs, certificates, citations, commissions, appointments, scrapbooks, and other paraphernalia. The collection provides information about Harrelson's military career with the United States Army, his work as a professor and administrator at North Carolina State College, and his service as Director of the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development. The materials also relate to Harrelson's membership in various civic organizations and participation on certain boards, commissions, and councils, which were often associated with colleges and private schools, including Saint Mary's School, the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, and the Kiwanis Club.

 Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into six series: 1. Correspondence 2. University Papers 3. Department of Conservation and Development 4. Military Records 5. Membership in Organizations 6. Personal Papers

 Online Catalog Terms Harrelson, J. W. (John William), 1885-1955. North Carolina. Dept. of Conservation and Development--History. North Carolina State University--Faculty--History. North Carolina State College--Faculty. Artillerymen--United States--History. College administrators--North Carolina--History. College teachers--North Carolina--History. Universities and colleges--North Carolina--Faculty--History. Detailed Description of the Collection MC 1 Series 1 Correspondence, 1923-1955 0.5 linear feet1 archival box

This series contains congratulatory letters upon Harrelson's nomination as Dean of North Carolina State College, as well as personal and family notes, including those to informal business relations.

 11Congratulatory Letters, 1934 June - 1934 July 4 12Congratulatory Letters, 1934 July 5 - 1934 July 9 13Congratulatory Letters, 1934 July 10 - 1934 July 31 14Congratulatory Letters, 1934 Aug. - 1934 Dec. 15Responses to Congratulations, 1934 16General Correspondence, 1923 - 1935 17General Correspondence, 1936 - 1949 18General Correspondence, 1953 19General Correspondence, 1954 Jan - 1954 June 110General Correspondence, 1954 July - 1955 Jan MC 1 Series 2 University, 1921-1955 2 linear feet3 archival boxes1 oversized box

This series contains minutes, reports, and correspondence dealing with Harrelson's service to North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University). It includes Alumni Association correspondence, the committee on University of North Carolina system consolidation, correspondence involving the bequest program, and notes from the North Carolina General Assembly of 1955. It also includes speeches and publications created by Harrelson while he was involved with the university, his retirement papers, and recommendations and introductions written for individuals within the university. A scrapbook detailing the 50th Anniversary of North Carolina State College is also included. The bulk of the materials date from 1930-1950.

 111Alumni Association, 1921 - 1934 112Alumni Association, 1935 - 1944 113Alumni Association, 1952 - 1954 114Alumni News, 1933 - 1934 21Committee on Consolidation, Letters, 1931 - 1932 22Committee on Consolidation, pamphelets, 1931 - 1932 23Consolidation, 1932 24Consolidation, 1933 25Consolidation Publications 26Bequest Program Papers 27General Assembly, 1955 28General Assembly, 1955 29General Assembly budget, 1955 31Speeches and Writings, 1935 - 1936 Sept 32Speeches and Writings, 1936 Oct - 1938 33Speeches and Writings, 1940 - 1941 34Speeches and Writings, 1942 - 1944 35Speeches and Writings, 1953 - 1954 36Retirement, 1950 - 1954 37Retirement, Publications 38Recommendations and Introductions 39Recommendations and Introductions 20N.C. State 50th Anniversary Scrapbook MC 1 Series 3 Conservation and Development, 1929-1941 3 linear feet3 archival boxes3 oversized boxes

This is a large portion of the collection, spanning Harrelson's years as the director of the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development. It includes correspondence, reports (both typed and published), speeches, scrapbooks, and papers written while he was in office. It also includes publications of the North Carolina Club, and the Atlantic Sportsman. Colonel Harrelson's original order has been preserved, save the organization by date.

 41Conservation and Development correspondence, 1929 42Conservation and Development correspondence, 1930 - 1931 Aug. 43Conservation and Development correspondence, 1931 Sept. - 1931 Dec. 44Conservation and Development correspondence, 1932 45Reappointment as Director, 1932 - 1933 46Conservation and Development Reports, 47Conservation and Development, late correspondence, 1933 Jan - 1933 Aug 48Letters Upon Losing Post, 1933 Aug 49Conservation and Development, correspondence after leaving, 1934 410Conservation and Development, correspondence after leaving, 1935 - 1941 51Reports (typed), 1930 52Reports (published), 1930 53Reports (typed), 1931 - 1933 54Reports (published), 1931 - 1933 55Reports (typed), 1935 - 1937 56Reports (published), 1935 - 1937 57Reports (typed), 1939 - 1941 61Speeches and Writings (1 of 4) 62Speeches and Writings (2 of 4) 63Speeches and Writings (3 of 4) 64Speeches and Writings (4 of 4) 65North Carolina Club 66North Carolina Club Publications 67Atlantic Sportsman 17Conservation Clippings Scrapbook 1 18Conservation Clipping Scrapbook 2 19Conservation Clipping Scrapbook 3 MC 1 Series 4 Military, 1921-1954 2.5 linear feet3 archival boxes1 oversized box

This series contains correspondence, memos, and calls to service arranged by date, dealing with Colonel Harrelson's time in the United States Army. It also includes correspondence regarding the Reserve Officer's Association, and the Council of Defense. Where possible, these documents have been arranged by date. It also includes Harrelson's American flag materials, which include military instructions for flag respect and care for civilians.

 71General Records, 1921 - 1923 72General Records, 1924 73General Records, 1925 Jan - 1925 July 74General Records, 1925 Aug - 1925 Dec 75General Records, 1926 Jan - 1926 July 76General Records, 1926 Aug - 1926 Dec 77General Records, 1927 78General Records, 1928 - 1934 81General Records, 1935 82General Records, 1936 - 1937 83General Records, 1938 84General Records, 1939 - 1940 85General Records, 1941 86General Records, 1942 - 1943 July 87General Records, 1943 Aug - 1943 Dec 88Travel Vouchers, 1943 - 1944 89General Records, 1944 Jan - 1944 Apr 810General Records, 1944 May - 1944 June 91General Records, 1944 July 92General Records, 1944 Aug - 1944 Dec 93General Records, 1945 94General Records, 1948 - 1954 95Reserve Officer's Association, 1925 96Reserve Officers Association, 1926 - 1934 97Reserve Officer Publications, 1923 - 1932 98Military National Defense, 1925 - 1933 99Council of Defense, 1940 910Council of Defense, 1941 911Council of Defense, 1942 912American Flag Materials 913"The Flag of the United States" 163Oversized Military MC 1 Series 5 Membership in Organizations, 1929-1955 3.5 linear feet4 archival boxes1 oversized box

This series contains reports, notes, publications, budgets, scrapbooks, and correspondence related to the various boards, committees and councils that Colonel Harrelson sat on during his lifetime. These groups include private schools, colleges, the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, and the Merit System Council. These organizations are arranged alphabetically, and by date when possible within groupings.

 102Chamber of Commerce, Raleigh, 1946 - 1950 103Chamber of Commerce, Raleigh, 1953 104Chamber of Commerce, Raleigh, 1954 - 1955 105Charlotte College, 1954 106Cotton Grower's Co-op, 1939 - 1954 107Executive's Club, 1948 - 1955 108Farmer's Co-op Exchange, 1948 - 1955 109Gardner-Webb College, 1942 - 1945 1010Kiwanis Club, 1939 - 1955 1011Merit System Council, 1941 1012Merit System Council, 1942 Jan - 1942 Aug 111Merit System Council, 1945 112Merit System Council, 1948 - 1949 113Merit System Council, 1950 - 1954 114Nautical School, 1939 - 1945 115Newcomen Society, 1942 116Pinehurst Preperatory School, 1940 - 1941 117Railroad Centennial, Raleigh, 1940 118Raleigh Sesquicentennial, 1941 - 1942 Mar 119Raleigh Sesquicentennial, 1942 Apr - 1942 Oct 1110Ravenscroft School, 1951 - 1952 1111Saint Agnes Hospital, 1942 - 1953 121Saint Agnes Hospital, 1954 - 1955 122Saint Agnes Hospital, bookeeper's reports, 1954 123Saint Augustine's College, 1937 - 1947 124Saint Augustine's College, 1949 - 1953 125Saint Augustine's College, 1954 - 1955 126Saint Mary's School, 1945 - 1947 127Saint Mary's School, 1948 - 1954 128State Planning Board, 1936 - 1937 129State Planning Board, 1938 1210State Planning Board, 1939 - 1941 1211State Programming, television, WRAL, 1954 131State - Professional Engineers of NC, 1954 132Standard Oil Discussion Group, 1953 - 1954 133Watauga Club 134Other Memberships, 1929 - 1955 211Kiwanis Club Scrapbook MC 1 Series 6 Personal, 1908-1955 1 archival box2 albums1 artifact box

Harrelson marked these files "personal". They have been left as a grouping, but include citations and certificates, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and personal financial records. This group also included a collection of personal photographs, many of which were labeled by Harrelson himself.

 Financial Statements, 1930-1955 135Personal Financial Records, 1929 - 1955 136Paystubs and Cancelled Checks, 1930 - 1955 Citations, Certificates, and Commissions 137Citations, Certificates, and Commissions 162Oversized Certificates and Citations Clippings, 1916-1955 138Newspaper Clippings and Magazines, 1916 - 1933 139Newspaper Clippings and Magazines, 1934 1310Newspaper Clippings and Magazines, 1935 - 1941 1311Newspaper Clippings and Magazines, 1943 - 1955 Photographs, 1908-1955 141Photographs: Family, Residence, State College Campus 151Commencements, Military Ceremonies, Fort Bragg, Conservation and Development 161Oversized Photographs Signature Stamp 22Signature Stamp