University Archives Photograph Collection, Raleigh (N.C.) and the Triangle Area 1884-1997

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Creator
North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center
Size
1 linear foot (1 Album)
Call number
UA 023.026

This collections contains images of Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle area taken by North Carolina State University students and staff photographers from 1884 to 1997. Included in the collection are images of the North Carolina State Fair and the downtown area of Raleigh.

The Triangle area gets its name from the Research Triangle Park, a high tech and research park that is home to companies such as IBM and GlaxoSmithKline. The three cities that form the Triangle are Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Raleigh is home to North Carolina State University.

Biographical/historical note

The Triangle area is composed of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, three cities located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The Research Triangle Park or RTP, established in 1959, is where the region’s nickname the Triangle comes from. RTP was built to encourage high tech and research companies to establish headquarters in North Carolina to help build the economy of the state, which had been primarily based on agriculture. The park sits between Durham and Raleigh and is home to companies such as IBM and GlaxoSmithKline.

Raleigh, North Carolina was established in 1792 to serve as the state capitol of North Carolina. It was created on land owned by Joel Lane. In 1794 the state General Assembly met for the first time in the new capital. The current State Capitol was completed in 1840 and in 1853 the first State Fair was held just outside the city limits.

Raleigh is home to five institutions of higher learning, Peace College, Shaw University, St. Augustine's College, Meredith College, and North Carolina State University. All five were established in the 1800s following the Civil War.

During the 20th century Raleigh saw a huge growth in population, particularly after World War II. The current population of the city is estimated at over 350,000 people. In the first eight years of the 21st century alone, the city grew by 100,000 people.

Durham, established in 1853 as a railroad depot between Raleigh and Hillsborough, is home to Duke University and North Carolina Central University. It grew rapidly following the Civil War due to the tobacco industry. Two large tobacco companies, Bull Durham Tobacco Company, and Washington Duke and Sons Tobacco Company were based out of Durham. The city also became known for having a vibrant African-American community and was home to many black businesses, including North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company and Mechanics and Farmers Bank.

The city started to decline in the 1950s as manufacturing slowed down. However, with the establishment of RTP, the city began to rebuild and in the 1980s started to revitalize the downtown area. Durham’s population is currently over 200,000 people.

Scope/content

This collection consists of images taken by North Carolina State University students or staff photographers of the Raleigh and Triangle area from 1884 until 1997. The majority of pictures show the downtown area of Raleigh, particularly around the Capitol building and the North Carolina State Fair. Other photographs in this collection include images of Yates Mill prior to restoration, Duke Chapel, Pullen Park, the Andrew Johnson birthplace, candid shots of Raleigh residents, Fayetteville Street Mall, and images of teardowns that took place near downtown Raleigh in the 1960s and 1970s. The majority of the photographs are black and white, but there are some color photographs, as well as negatives, contact sheets and slides.

Arrangement

Negatives and contact sheets are located at the beginning of the subgroup. Photographic prints follow.

Use of these materials

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], University Archives Photograph Collection, Raleigh (N.C.) and the Triangle Area, UA 023.026, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Alternative form available

Source of acquisition

This collection was created by the University Archives from a variety of sources.

Processing information

Processed by Kristen Lipetzky, June 2008

Encoded by Kristen Lipetzky, June 2008. Updated by Stephanie Barnwell, July 2012.

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Contact Prints 1970-1979
Half box 2, Folder 1
Negatives 1970-1979
Half box 2, Folder 1
Aerial Views of Meredith College July 1967
Half box 2, Folder 8
Andrew Johnson Birthplate and Historical Marker 1972, undated
Half box 2, Folder 2
Dorton Arena undated
Half box 2, Folder 3
Downtown: Includes Capitol 1974, undated
Half box 2, Folder 4
Hillsborough Street 1900-1989
Memorial Auditorium undated
Half box 2, Folder 5
North Carolina Museum of Art undated
Half box 2, Folder 6
Views Beyond NCSU 1997, undated
Half box 2, Folder 7
Durham 1960-1979
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

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

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], University Archives Photograph Collection, Raleigh (N.C.) and the Triangle Area, UA 023.026, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

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.