Ranging in date from 1919 to 1966, the North Carolina State University Memorial Tower Committee records document the conceptualization and construction of the Memorial Tower on North Carolina State University's main campus. This collection chiefly contains correspondence, reports, and financial records. These records document the committee's interactions with architect William H. Deacy of New York; the J. D. Sargent Granite Company of Mt. Airy, N.C.; the Works Progress Administration; and other individuals and companies. There are also blueprints of the tower.
The North Carolina State University Memorial Tower, popularly known as the Belltower, stands 115 feet tall and is one of North Carolina State's main landmarks. Vance Sykes, class of 1907, and other alumni, formed the Memorial Tower Committee in the 1920s with the hope of erecting a monument to honor the thirty-four State College (later North Carolina State University) students and alumni killed in World War I. The Memorial Tower is a landmark of North Carolina State University's campus and has become central to several school traditions, including the housing of class rings inside the Tower the night before graduation and the illumination of the Tower with red light on significant dates, including athletic victories of North Carolina State.
English
The North Carolina State University Memorial Tower, popularly known as the Belltower, stands 115 feet tall and is one of North Carolina State's main landmarks. Vance Sykes, class of 1907, and other alumni, formed the Memorial Tower Committee in the 1920s with the hope of erecting a monument to honor the thirty-four State College (later North Carolina State University) students and alumni killed in World War I. However, the Memorial Tower Committee, chaired by Professor C. L. Mann, did not experience the seamless trajectory of progress that they expected. The Committee struggled with debt during the decades preceding the Tower's completion, largely as a result of the Depression. Although the Works Progress Administration was brought in to aid in the completion of the tower, the project fell deeply into debt and the committee was threatened with legal action until the outstanding balance was paid. Due to these financial constraints, the Belltower has housed an electric speaker system rather than the planned 54-bell carillon.
The Memorial Tower is a landmark of North Carolina State University's campus and has become central to several school traditions, including the housing of class rings inside the Tower the night before graduation and the illumination of the Tower with red light on significant dates, including athletic victories of North Carolina State.
Ranging in date from 1919 to 1966, the North Carolina State University Memorial Tower Committee Records document the conceptualization and construction of the Memorial Tower on North Carolina State University's main campus. This collection chiefly contains correspondence, reports, and financial records. These records document the committee's interactions with architect William H. Deacy of New York; the J. D. Sargent Granite Company of Mt. Airy, N.C.; the Works Progress Administration; and other individuals and companies. There are also blueprints of the tower.
The subgroup is organized into five series:
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], North Carolina State University, Committees, Memorial Tower Committee Records, UA 022.055, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Transferred from North Carolina State University Memorial Tower Committee.
Processed by Kelsey Chandler, May 2013; finding aid created by Kelsey Chandler.
The collection is organized into five principal series:
This series contains information and correspondence relating to William H. Deacy of New York, the primary architect on the Memorial Tower project, as well as information pertaining to the granite companies involved with the project, especially J. D. Sargent Stone Company of Mount Airy, North Carolina.
Arranged by subject.
This series contains the blueprints for the Tower and files on specific construction elements of the Tower, including the bronze door, the clock and chimes, and the floodlights.
Arranged by subject.
This series contains the records, minutes, reports, and correspondence of the Alumni Memorial Tower Committee.
Arranged by type of document.
This series contains correspondence, bills, receipts, audit reports, WPA proposals, and other material relating to the funding of the Tower's construction.
Arranged by subject.
This series contains typescripts of speeches and articles, newspaper clippings, programs from dedication ceremonies, postcards and other pictures of the Memorial Tower.
Arranged by type of document.
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.
For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.
Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111
Phone: (919) 515-2273
[Identification of item], North Carolina State University, Committees, Memorial Tower Committee Records, UA 022.055, 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.
