This collection consists of postcards dating from 1900 to 1996 that depict scenes around North Carolina State University's campus, buildings in Raleigh, North Carolina, and scenes from other locations in the state. The majority of the postcards are in color.
Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and home to one of the state's largest universities, North Carolina State University. NC State University was established as a land grant university that opened in 1889 with one building. In 2008 the university has hundreds of buildings on over 2,100 acres of land, serving over 31,000 students and faculty.
In 1887, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation creating the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, a land-grant institution to provide education, research, and extension services to the state. When the College opened in 1889, it consisted of a 62-acres site in west Raleigh with one building. This building, the original Main Building (later renamed Holladay Hall), housed all of the college’s activities during its first year: kitchen, dining-hall, shop, and gym in the basement; offices, classrooms, and library on the first floor; and dormitory facilities on the second and third floors. In the following decade, a number of new buildings were built, including a Mechanical Building, Watauga Hall, Primrose Hall, four dormitories, an infirmary, and several farm and dairy buildings.
As the university’s enrollment continued to grow throughout the 20th century, more land was acquired and more buildings and facilities were constructed. By the 1980s, however, the main campus was running out of space. In 1984 and 1985, Governors James B. Hunt and James G. Martin transferred parcels of undeveloped land from the Dorthea Dix hospital property to North Carolina State University, forming the basis for NC State University’s Centennial Campus. With later land acquisitions, this area totals approximately 1,000 acres of land and is larger than the main campus.
As of 2007, the University’s Raleigh campus consists of approximately 2,100 acres of land. Its hundreds of buildings house more than eight million square feet of built space and accommodate a community of over 31,000 students and faculty.
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 the largest of the five, North Carolina State University. All five were established in the 1800s following the Civil War. It is also home to St. Mary’s School, an all girls preparatory school built in 1842.
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.
The Postcard collection consists of 79 postcards and two postcard books that date from 1900 to 1990. The majority of the postcards are in color, although some are black and white. Most of the postcards are of buildings or aerial views on North Carolina State University’s campus. There are four postcards depicting views in Raleigh, one of a restaurant in Morehead City, N.C., one of a 4-H camp, one of a YMCA retreat center and one of the U.S.S. Yorktown.
The postcards are physically arranged according to the identification schema listed below.
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.
[Identification of item], University Archives Photograph Collection, Postcards, UA 023.035, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
This collection was created by the University Archives from a variety of sources.
Processed by Kristen Lipetzky, August 2008
Encoded by Kristen Lipetzky, August 2008
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], University Archives Photograph Collection, Postcards, UA 023.035, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.