NCSU Libraries Focus Online

Volume 21 number 2 - Winter 2001

By Bernie McTigue, Special Collections

The NCSU Libraries has begun a celebration of North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Jim Graham's political career as he steps down from political office. Graham served as North Carolina's commissioner of agriculture for thirty-six years. He is one of the state's most cherished public servants and one of NC State's best-known graduates. To honor his years of service to the university and to the state, the library has mounted an exhibition and developed several lasting tributes to commemorate Graham.

The library exhibit The Sodfather: A Friend of Agriculture in North Carolina opened to the general public in the D. H. Hill Library on January 4, 2001, and it will run through April 4. The exhibit uses photographs and artifacts to describe Graham's work to promote and develop agriculture in North Carolina. Complementing the documentation of Graham's achievements are materials drawn from the library's Special Collections Department that show how the state's largest land-grant university has contributed to the improvement of North Carolina's economic bases. Additionally, a virtual exhibit mounted by Special Collections enables off-site perusal of materials displayed in the exhibit and the opportunity to read The Sodfather, Graham's recollections of his career as "a friend of agriculture."

Before the exhibition opened to the general public, the library hosted two private receptions for Graham, his family, members of state government and the university community, and his many friends to acknowledge and thank Graham for his long and distinguished service to North Carolina and to allow a private showing of exhibition materials.

To provide a permanent legacy in honor of Graham, the library also has embarked on several initiatives to expand and enhance the resources available to researchers studying the history of North Carolina agriculture. The centerpiece of the Special Collection Department's research collections will be Graham's personal papers and memorabilia. Additionally, Graham's friends and family have created the Jim and Helen Ida Kirk Graham Agricultural Heritage Endowment to acquire books, journals, and electronic media relating to agriculture for the general library collections. Contributors to this endowment include the North Carolina Credit Unions, Randolph Electric Membership Corporation, and Southern States Cooperative, Inc.

Another initiative entails identifying and collecting the records of agricultural leaders, organizations, and businesses involved in agriculture or agribusiness activities in North Carolina. The library will gather unique source materials in fields such as tobacco cultivation and manufacturing, hog farming, poultry production, and dairy farming. These resources will permit students and researchers to explore major developments in the state's economic history.

Graham, who is seventy-nine, has served as agriculture commissioner since he was first elected in 1964. The state's top leaders have praised his role in helping North Carolina’s farmers and agricultural businesses. Former Governor Terry Sanford wrote, "All citizens, businesses and institutions [in North Carolina] will long benefit from his career of service." Governor James B. Hunt noted that "Jim Graham has done more for our farmers and the agriculture industry than anyone in the history of our state." William Friday, president emeritus of the University of North Carolina system, said of Graham, "I know that his energies and dedication have been spent building a greater state and for that uncommon spirit and commitment, we owe him our profound gratitude."

Funding for the exhibition and related events has been provided by Biltmore Estates Winery; Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University; Food Lion, Inc.; Friends of the Library of North Carolina State University; North Carolina Pork Council, Inc.; Philip Morris U.S.A.; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company; Universal Leaf Foundation; and the Wolfpack Club.