%xmlchars; ]> mc00017 Guide to the L. R. Harrill Papers, 1888 - 1988 Processed by: Michael Watts; machine-readable finding aid created by: Michael Watts North Carolina State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center
Campus Box 7111 Raleigh, NC 27695-7111
2003 Machine-readable finding aid derived from xml authoring program. Date of source: February, 2003 Finding aid written in English Guide to the L. R. Harrill Papers, 1888 - 1988 MC 17 North Carolina State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center &ncsuaddr; Michael Watts February, 2003 Michael Watts Descriptive Summary North Carolina State University. Libraries. Special Collections Dept. Harrill, L. R. (Lera Rhinehart) The L. R. Harrill Papers, 1888 - 1988 MC 17 5.5 10 1 The L. R. Harrill Papers contain writings, speeches, journals, personal correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, certificates of merit and appreciation, agricultural publications, and mementoes that are associated with Harrill's student days at North Carolina State College and his long tenure, 1926-1963, as the director of North Carolina's statewide 4-H program, the largest in the nation. The material provides insight into Harrill's personal life and documents his involvement with the 4-H movement on a local, national, and international level, including the International Farm Youth Exchange. Represented are letters Harrill wrote as a student at North Carolina State College to his mother and father from 1918 to 1922. L. R. (Lera Rhinehart) Harrill (1897-1978) was director of North Carolina's statewide 4-H program from 1926 until 1963. on-site 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 requirs at least 24 hours advance notice.

Donated by L. R. Harrill, 1966; Mrs. L. R. Harrill, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1978, 1980, and 1986.

 Acquisitions Information

Donated by L. R. Harrill, 1966, and Mrs. L. R. Harrill, 1978, 1980, and 1986.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], L. R. Harrill Papers, MC 17, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, North Carolina.

 Copyright Notice &ncsucpyrt; Biographical Note

Known throughout the state of North Carolina as Mr. 4-H, L. R. (Lera Rhinehart) Harrill was born in Cleveland County, North Carolina on November 10, 1897. Harrill attended grammar school and high school in Lattimore, North Carolina and went on to earn a B.S. and an M.S. in Agriculture from the North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (later North Carolina State University). After graduating from North Carolina State College in 1922, Harrill worked briefly for the United States Department of Agriculture before becoming the County 4-H Club agent for Buncombe County, North Carolina. At that time, 4-H Clubs for farm youth were just beginning to be established as outreach and development programs sponsored by the county extension services that were affiliated with land grant colleges throughout the nation. In 1926 Harrill became the North Carolina State 4-H Club Leader. He held that position until 1963. In 1931, Harrill married Laura Weatherspoon of Raleigh. The couple had two children, James and Julia Anne.

In 1949 Harrill was selected to work with the United States military government that was responsible for the administration of the European theatre after World War II. Under the Marshall Plan of postwar reconstruction, Harrill helped to organize 4-H Clubs among the rural youth of Austria.

Harrill was a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Raleigh and served as the President of the Raleigh Rotary Club in 1957 and 1958. He was also a Master Mason and a member of numerous honorary societies and professional organizations including, Alpha Zeta Agricultural Fraternity, Epsilon Sigma Phi, the National Recreation Association, the National Camping Association, the National Farm Bureau, the National Grange and the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

In 1950, State magazine named Harrill their North Carolina Man of the Year. In 1957, the Progressive Farmer also chose L. R. Harrill to represent their publication as the North Carolina Man of the Year. Harrill received a Superior Service Award from the United States Department of Agriculture in 1955 and in 1963 a joint resolution was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly recognizing his outstanding service to the state's youth through his leadership in the 4-H movement. After his retirement in 1963, he wrote two books, Images of 4-H and Memories of 4-H. In 1975, the Youth Center at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds was designated the L. R. Harrill Center in his honor. In March of 1978, North Carolina State University recognized L. R. Harrill with the institution's highest non-academic award, the Watauga Medal.

During Harrill's tenure as North Carolina's State 4-H Leader, the organization's annual membership increased from 20,000 to 160,000, the largest 4-H enrollment of any state in the nation. L. R. Harrill provided leadership to over three million young people during his time of service with North Carolina State 4-H. Throughout his career, he stressed the citizenship and character building aspects of 4-H, as well as promoting the development of the specific skills that could be gained from 4-H projects and demonstrations. He would often say to his staff, "It's a great thing to produce a grand champion 4-H steer, but unless you do something at the same time to produce a grand champion boy or girl, you have failed in your greatest responsibility."

L. R. Harrill died on April 18, 1978 at the age of eighty.

 Scope and Content Note

The L. R. Harrill Papers contain writings, speeches, journals, personal correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, certificates of merit and appreciation, agricultural publications, and mementoes that are associated with Harrill's student days at North Carolina State College and his long tenure, 1926-1963, as the director of North Carolina's statewide 4-H program, the largest in the nation. The material provides insight into Harrill's personal life and documents his involvement with the 4-H movement on a local, national, and international level, including the International Farm Youth Exchange. Represented are letters Harrill wrote as a student at North Carolina State College to his mother and father from 1918 to 1922. Letters written between Harrill and his wife, Laura, from 1930 to 1949 reveal aspects of their relationship.

 Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into two series, Personal and Professional.

 Online Catalog Terms

The following terms have been used to index the guide to the collection in the NCSU Library's online catalog.

Individuals Harrill, L. R. (Lera Rhinehart) Corporate Entities International Farm Youth Exchange. North Carolina State University--Students--Social life and customs--20th century. Topics 4-H clubs--North Carolina. Boys--Societies and clubs--North Carolina Girls--Societies and clubs--North Carolina. Detailed Description of the Collection MC 17 Series 1 Personal, 1918 - 1988 4 archival boxes2 linear feet

This series contains educational material, personal correspondence dating from 1918 to 1988, certificates of accommodation and awards, notes and inspirational items, and newspaper articles that were collected by L. R. Harrill. Additionally, there is material from educational, civic, and fraternal organizations that Harrill was involved with, as well as material documenting L. R. Harrill's participation in the affairs of the First Baptist Church of Raleigh, North Carolina. Series also includes a collection of photographs, papers related to Harrill's retirement from his position as leader of the North Carolina 4-H Program, along with biographical sketches, business papers and house plans belonging to L. R. Harrill.

MC 17 Subseries 1.01 Education 1 1 Mementos and Gradesheets 12 Effects of Nitrate of Soda on the Germinating Qualities of Seed Potatoes 13 Effects of Nitrate of Soda on the Germinating Qualities of Seed Potatoes (photographs) 111 Scrapbook, North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering, 1918 - 1922 MC 17 Subseries 1.02 Correspondence, 1918 - 1988 14 Correspondence, 1918 - 1922 15 Correspondence, 1922- 1939 16 Correspondence, 1941-1949 17 Correspondence, 1950-1959 18 Correspondence, 1960-1967 19 Correspondence, 1971-1988 110 Correspondence, undated 111 Letters from Wife (Laura), 1930-1949 112 Letters from Servicemen, World War II 113 Letters from Son (Jim) 114 Letters from 4-H Club Members 115 Retirement Letters 21 Postcards and Greeting Cards MC 17 Subseries 1.03 Awards and Certificates of Appreciation

During his career as the North Carolina State 4-H Club Leader, L. R. Harrill received numerous awards and accommodations. Contains a collection of certificates of merit that were awarded to Harrill. In 1950, State Magazine named L. R. Harrill, Man of the Year. Progressive Farmer repeated that honor in 1957. Includes copies of those publications and congratulatory letters received by Harrill. Also contains a collection of news articles acknowledging the Progressive Farmer Man of the Year Award. Additionally there is a bound certificate from the North Carolina State Development Fund and a scroll honoring Harrill titled, 4-H Personified. Included also is a copy of the Joint Resolution that was passed by the North Carolina State Legislature honoring Harrill for his work in 4-H.

 22 Certificates of Appreciation (1 of 3) 23 Certificates of Appreciation (2 of 3) 24 Certificates of Appreciation (3 of 3) 25 Man of the Year Letters, State Magazine 26 Man of the Year Letters, Progressive Farmer 57 News Articles, Progressive Farmer 58 Bound Certificate, North Carolina State Development Fund 59 Scroll, 4-H Personified 112 Other Awards and Certificates, 1956 - 1973 113 Charter, National Farmers Alliance and Co-operative Union of America, Beaver Dam Alliance No. 906 in the State of North Carolina, 1888 MC 17 Subseries 1.04 Notes and Inspirational Material

Throughout his life L. R. Harrill collected inspirational material in the form of religious pamphlets and human-interest articles. He also jotted notes as a reminder of significant events. Contains notes, obituaries, inspirational material and jokes.

 31 Bound Volume Inspirational Material 32 Notes 33 Notes and Obituaries 34 Inspirational Material (1 of 2) 35 Inspirational Material (2 of 2) 36 Jokes MC 17 Subseries 1.05 Newspaper Articles

Contains newspaper articles collected by Harrill that documented his work and achievement as the North Carolina State 4-H Club Leader. Also contains news articles that chronicle Harrill's work with regional civic organizations and the social activities of the Harrill family in the Raleigh area.

 37 Newspaper Articles 38 Newspaper Articles: Wedding Announcements and Society Pages MC 17 Subseries 1.06 Educational, Civic and Fraternal Organizations

Harrill participated in numerous organizations. He was elected Secretary of the North Carolina State Agricultural and Mechanical College Graduating Class of 1922 and worked actively with the North Carolina State College Alumni Association for over fifty years. Contains material related to his role as class secretary and class alumni meeting coordinator. Additionally there is material documenting Harrill's involvement with the honorary agricultural extension fraternity, Epsilon Sigma Phi. Also contains material from the Wake County Rotary Club. Harrill was the Rotary Club President in 1957 and 1958. Included is a copy of Harrill's Square and Compass card, certifying his membership in the Intercollegiate Fraternity of Master Masons.

 39 Class of 1922 (1 of 3) 310 Class of 1922 (2 of 3) 311 Class of 1922 (3 of 3) 312 Class of 1922, Twenty-five Year Reunion, 1947 313 Epsilon Sigma Phi 314 Rotary Club 315 Square and Compass MC 17 Subseries 1.07 First Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina

L. R. Harrill was a Deacon at the First Baptist Church of Raleigh. He served as a church administrator, took an active part in weekly Sunday service, promoted fund raising efforts, taught Sunday School, helped plan additions to the structure and was on hand when the mortgage for the church building was symbolically burned to signify that the congregation was free from debt. Material documents involvement in church affairs.

102 First Baptist Church oversized material 103 Growth of New Testament: State College Bible Class, oversized MC 17 Subseries 1.08 Photographs

Contains photographs collected by L. R. Harrill. The collection includes photos of Harrill as a boy, as a college student and as a young man. Additionally there are photographs of Harrill participating in 4-H activities and civic functions, photographs of associates and public figures as well as pictures that document his personal life. The images cover a time period ranging from 1897 into the 1970s.

41 Photographs, 1897-1925 42 Photographs, undated 43 Photographs, undated 44 Photographs and Negatives, undated MC 17 Subseries 1.09 Retirement, 1963

Contains announcements and articles acknowledging Harrill's retirement in 1963.

45 Retirement MC 17 Subseries 1.10 Biographical Sketches, Business Papers, House Plans,

Contains biographical sketches that Harrill updated throughout his life. Additionally there is a collection of miscellaneous business papers and designs and drawings for the construction of a house.

 46 Biographical Information 47 Real Estate and Insurance Information 48 Investment, Tax Receipts, Pension Information 49 House Plans MC 17 Series 2 Professional, 1922 - 1967 5 archival boxes2.5 linear feet

This series is made up of material that was generated and used by L. R. Harrill during his career as the North Carolina State 4-H Leader. Series contains professional journals, speeches and articles, radio program transcripts, book manuscripts, and other writings by L. R. Harrill. There is also material documenting Harrill's mission to Austria, in 1949 as a representative of the United States government under the Marshall Plan. Additionally there are Cooperative Extension and 4-H pamphlets and periodicals, and material on the International Farm Youth Exchange. Series also contains an assortment of magazines, periodicals and promotional literature from the agricultural industry.

MC 17 Subseries 2.01 Journals, 1926 - 1927

Journals written by Harrill from 1926-1927 as he began his career with the North Carolina State 4-H Club as the State 4-H Club Leader.

 MC 17 Subseries 2.02 Speeches and Articles, 1922 - 1967

Speeches and articles by L. R. Harrill. Harrill spoke and wrote extensively during his career as the North Carolina State 4-H Club Leader. Material used in speeches given to 4-H groups and civic organizations was often included in articles that were written for publications that were issued by the State 4-H Club, the agricultural Cooperative Extension, regional newspapers and national agricultural publications. The manuscripts contained are arranged chronologically except for material that was not dated but arranged according to subject by Harrill.

 52 Speeches and Articles, 1922 - 1937 53 Speeches and Articles, 1937 - 1943 54 Speeches and Articles, 1938 - 1942 55 Speeches and Articles, 1942 - 1949 56 Speeches and Articles, 1950 - 1967 57 Speeches and Articles, undated (1 of 3) 58 Speeches and Articles, undated (2 of 3) 59 Speeches and Articles, undated (3 of 3) 510 Speeches and Notes, undated 61 4-H History: North Carolina and General- Material for Talks 62 Material for 4-H Speeches MC 17 Subseries 2.03 Radio Programs, 1950 - 1959

Transcripts of 4-H Club broadcasts Harrill did in the 1950s for regional radion stations.

 63 Speeches, Articles and Radio Broadcasts 64 Radio Programs, 1953 4-H Golden Anniversary Broadcasts, 1959 65 Pages 1-26 66 Pages 27-62 67 Pages 63-93 68 Pages 94-116 69 Pages 117-134 610 Pages 135-163 611 Pages 164-196 612 Pages 197-226 613 Pages 227-251 614 Pages 252-287 MC 17 Subseries 2.04 Writings

In addition to writing articles and speeches, L. R. Harrill authored two books, Memories of 4-H and Images of 4-H. Contains the manuscripts that those two publications were derived from. The series also contains a collection of untitled material written by Harrill dated 1945-1960. Included are manuscripts under the headings of general 4-H history, 4-H history by county, and a manuscript titled, Fifty Years of 4-H / Silver Threads Among the Green. Series also contains partial book and chapter manuscripts and congratulatory letters that Harrill received after Images of 4-H was printed in 1966.

 71 Memories of 4-H: First Draft 72 Memories of 4-H Manuscript 73 Manuscripts, 1945-1960 74 North Carolina 4-H Histories (1 of 2) 75 North Carolina 4-H Histories (2 of 2) 76 4-H Historical and County Information 77 4-H History Manuscript 78 Fifty Years of 4-H/Silver Threads Among the Green 79 Partial Manuscript: Milestones in 4-H 81 4-H Club Camp Story 82 Correspondence: Images of 4-H, 1966-1967 MC 17 Subseries 2.05 Mission to Austria

Contains photographs, United States government papers, correspondence, regional background information, newsletters, periodicals, and oversized documents. In 1949 L. R. Harrill was selected by the United States military government to promote 4-H Youth Clubs in Austria. Under the Marshall Plan for postwar reconstruction of Europe, Harrill traveled to Europe and aided rural Austrian youth in adapting modern farming methods.

83 Photographs 84 United States government papers 85 Correspondence (1 of 3) 86 Correspondence (2 of 3) 87 Correspondence (3 of 3) 88 News Clippings, Itineraries, Regional Background Information 89 Periodicals and Newsletters (regional) 810 Periodicals (regional) 811 Marshall Plan Periodicals 101 Mission to Austria Documents (oversized) MC 17 Subseries 2.06 4-H Papers and Pamphlets: Cooperative Extension Periodicals

Contains a collection of business papers and printed material used by the North Carolina 4-H Club and the North Carolina Agricultural Cooperative Extension.

 91 4-H Budget and Statistics, 1957 - 1959 92 4-H Pamphlets (1 of 3) 93 4-H Pamphlets (2 of 3) 94 4-H Pamphlets (3 of 3) 95 Extension Periodicals,1923 - 1963 MC 17 Subseries 2.07 International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE), 1955-1959

Contains travel itineraries, business and personal correspondence, and greeting cards related to Harrill's involvement with the IFYE Program in the 1950s.

96 International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) 97 IFYE Christmas Cards MC 17 Subseries 2.08 Periodicals, Newsletters and Pamphlets

Contains magazines, newsletters and printed material with an agricultural and outdoor orientation.

 98 Periodicals, Newsletters and Promotional Pamphlets 11 1 Proclamation from Governor Scott Making Harrill a Country Squire, 1952 MC 17 Subseries 2.09 Aggregate Study by W. B. Olsen

An aggregate study that was included in L. R. Harrill's papers, possibly related to concrete work at one of North Carolina's 4-H outdoor camps.

 99 Aggregate Study by W. B. Olsen