Finding Aid of the Virginia Pou Doughton Family Papers, PC.1981
Abstract
Virginia Davis Pou Doughton (1922-2014), a native of Raleigh, N.C. was born to Virginia Davis (1896-1973) and James H. Pou, Jr. (1893-1944). A graduate of Peace College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, class of 1944, she had a life-time involvement in family history and research on various topics including the Outer Banks and Beaufort and Morehead City. The collection consists of items dating from 1848 to 2000, including correspondence; slave lists (a hand-sewn booklet that lists the first names of children born into slavery and their mothers, as part of the Bynum or Farmer families, Edgecombe or Wilson counties); photographs and albums; news clippings; genealogical materials; research notes; information on education and religion; and material relating to the Bynum, Farmer, Davis, Pou, Drake, Harrison, Silver, and Stith families in North Carolina.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Virginia Pou Doughton Family Papers
- Call Number
- PC.1981
- Creator
- Doughton, Virginia Pou
- Date
- 1741-2006
- Extent
- 8.00 boxes
- Language
- English
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Series Quick Links
- Doughton Family,1949-2006
- Pou Family,1750-2006
- Genealogical Record: Slaves: Includes listings of Slaves, of Bynum or Farmer Family, in Edgecombe or Wilson Counties,1825-1865
- Barnes, Bynum, Davis Families,1741-2006
- Atlantic Hotel Research,1859-1991
- Research,1833-2000
- Photographs, Family and Friends,ca. late 1800's - ca.1980's
- Photographs, Buildings, Homes, Historical Markers, and Landscapes,1900's
- Photo Albums,1905-1947
Restrictions on Access & Use
Access Restrictions
Available for research
Use Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item] in PC.1981, Virginia Pou Doughton Family Papers, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Collection Overview
Consists primarily of genealogy, family records, pedigree charts, wills, deeds, marriage and death certificates (a mix or originals and photocopies), correspondence, and photographs, and research Virginia Pou Doughton has done on different subjects, including the Atlantic Hotel, Atlantic coast hurricanes, and the Davis School. Among papers of interest is a hand-sewn booklet that lists the first names of children born into slavery and their mothers, as part of the Bynum or Farmer families, Edgecombe or Wilson Counties, circa 1825-1865. Also, there are numerous letters and a card, 1941-1943, written to Mrs. Doughton, her aunt, but primarily to her grandmother Mrs. Floyd Davis and to other family from John (Johnnie) Farmer, an African American of Wilson County who served during World War I, and worked as a cook and handy man. Farmer was a patient at a Veterans Administration hospital in Kecoughtan, Hampton, Virginia.
Mrs. Doughton's maternal grandfather, Frank Washington Barnes, lived in Wilson, North Carolina where he served as lieutenant and later captain of the 4th North Carolina Cavalry during the Civil War. After the war he was a banker, businessman and farmer. Biographical information is included along with a handwritten account of his wartime experience, ca. late 1800s written by a family member.
The papers also include Mrs. Doughton's research on various topics. The main topic of her research is the Outer Banks Coast and the Atlantic Hotel, Beaufort and Morehead City. Included in these papers is some of the research Mrs. Doughton utilized in writing a book on the Atlantic Hotel. Additionally, Mrs. Doughton drafted a personal account of a sailing trip with Robert Hanes and then Governor Luther Hodges where Mrs. Doughton served as captain. In addition to the story Mrs. Doughton commissioned sketches of scenes from her story. Copies of these sketches are included.
The collection also contains a quantity of photographs including four photo albums. While the majority of the photographs are of family members from 1900 and beyond, there are numerous pictures of both family homes and historic homes and landmarks throughout North Carolina. A large portion of the photographs were taken at Morehead City where Mrs. Doughton spent much of her time. These photographs include images of the Atlantic Hotel, the family cottage, homes damaged from various hurricanes, and photos of Mrs. Doughton competing in sailboat races.
Arrangement Note
The papers are organized into the following series: 1.Barnes, Bynum, Davis Families; 2. Pou Family: 3. Doughton Family; 4. Slaves: Includes listings of Slaves, of Bynum Family or Farmer Family, in Edgecombe or Wilson Counties, 1825-1865; 5 Atlantic Hotel Research; 6. Research; 7. Photographs: Family and Friends; 8.Photographs: Buildings, Homes, and Landscapes; 9. Photo Albums. Whenever possible, groupings of individuals, their correspondence, and related documents were retained as Mrs. Doughton had indicated.
Biographical Note
Through her maternal side, Mrs. Doughton was a seventh generation descendant of James Davis, North Carolina's first printer. A native of Virginia, Davis brought his printing press to North Carolina in 1749. For years, Mrs. Doughton researched the family history of Davis and other lines. After much preliminary effort, she obtained permission to erect a tombstone for Davis at Christ Church in New Bern and arranged a dedication in 2000. A great-grandson of James Davis, Adam C. Davis founded a prestigious military school for boys in North Carolina called the Davis School. Although it was originally located in LaGrange, a meningitis outbreak caused it to close in 1879. The school was reopened the following year in Winston Salem where is remained opened until 1893. Mrs. Doughton published two articles on the Davis School in "The State" magazine.Mrs. Doughton spent much of her childhood and adult life on Bouge Sound. As a child she spent summers at her family's home in Morehead City, a building that previously housed the North Carolina Teacher's Assembly annual meeting. Her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Davis bought the assembly building around 1900 and repurposed it as a home where their entire family could congregate during the summer.Mrs. Doughton has expressed her deep affection for the Bouge Sound through her research and documentation of its past. She has written books and articles on the historic Atlantic Hotel that once drew some of the state's most prominent social, political, and business leaders. She has documented storms that have ravaged its coastline throughout the 1950's and 60's. Several highway historical markers have been erected largely because of her efforts, including the Atlantic Hotel at Morehead City and Beaufort, Fort Hancock at Cape Lookout, and Verrazzano, the Italian explorer, at Pine Knoll Shores.In her youth, Mrs. Doughton was an avid sailor. She competed and won in sailboat races organized by the Morehead City Junior Yacht Club. Photographs and newspaper clippings depict a young lady standing with trophy in hand among boys and men.
Contents of the Collection
1. Doughton Family,1949-2006
Scope and Content:
This series contains papers pertaining to Mrs. Doughton's husband's family. Includes correspondence, news clippings, and genealogical records.
Robert Lee Doughton, grandfather of her late husband Horton Doughton, from Laurel Springs, North Carolina served 43 years as a United States Congressman, 18 of which he served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Commitee. Correspondence and records pertaining to his service in the House of Represenatives is enclosed as well as copies of the Congressional Record containing eulogies delivered on the floor of the House in 1955.
2. Pou Family,1750-2006
Scope and Content:
This series contains papers pertaining to Mrs. Doughton's pateranl family. There are papers such as birth certificates, wills, death certificates, deeds, and various letters to and from people in her family in this series, and some photographs. The dates in this series range from circa. 1750 to 2006, with the 18th and 19th century documents being photocopies.
Of particular interest are records and letters relating to her great-grandfather, Edward W. Pou, who served in the United States Congressman for 33 years, 1901-1934. Additionally her grandfather, James H. Pou was a prominent lawyer in Raleigh. In addition to correspondence, are records of several of his business dealings in Raleigh, including his participation in the construction of the Raleigh Country Club and development of the first planned neighborhood in Raleigh called Bloomsbury.
3. Genealogical Record: Slaves: Includes listings of Slaves, of Bynum or Farmer Family, in Edgecombe or Wilson Counties,1825-1865
Scope and Content:
Consists of a manuscript thirteen page hand-sewn booklet, ca. 3 1/2 x 5 inches. Earliest date of slave birthdate is January 1825; last date 1865. Includes listings of children by first name by mother's first name. Booklet also has lists of supplies, such as tobacco, molasses, whiskey, cotton, feathers, lard, etc.
4. Barnes, Bynum, Davis Families,1741-2006
Scope and Content:
This series contains letters, cards, with some photographs, deeds, wills, contract, etc. related to Mrs. Doughton's maternal family from Wilson, North Carolina. This series also contains letters to Mrs. Doughton as well as some she sent personally. Some of the photographs are not identified.
Frank Washington Barnes, grandfather of Mrs. Doughton, lived in Wilson, North Carolina where he served as lieutenant and later captain of the 4th North Carolina Cavalry during the Civil. After the war he was a successful banker, businessman and farmer. Biographical information is included along with a handwritten memoir of his wartime experience, circa. late 1800's, written by a niece of Mr. Barnes.
Includes letters from John (Johnnie) Farmer, an African American man, who was a World War I veteran, a cook, and a handyman in Wilson, N.C. The letters and a card apparently were written from the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Kecoughtan, Hampton, Va. (now Hampton VA Medical Center). Farmer was thought to have died there in 1944. His letters were written to Virginia Pou, UNC, Chapel Hill; in 1943 to Mrs. Frank B. Davis; but primarily to Mrs. Floyd Davis [Virginia Pou Doughton's grandmother].
Mrs. Doughton was a seventh generation descendant of James Davis, first Colonial printer in North Carolina. Folder contains biographical information written by Mrs. Doughton as well as an invitation to a dedication of a commemorative marker honoring James Davis at Christ Episcopal Church in New Bern, North Carolina and a press release from the UNC School of School of Journalism and Mass Communication announcing the establishment of a scholarship honoring James Davis awarded by Mrs. Doughton.
The dates in this series range from 1741 [copy, not original] to 2006.
5. Atlantic Hotel Research,1859-1991
Scope and Content:
Mrs. Doughton published two articles in "The State" magazine and privately published book on The Atlantic Hotel in Beaufort (1859-1879) and later The New Atlantic Hotel in Morehead City (1880-). She extensively researched both hotels. Includes copies of "The State" with her articles in 1978, a copy of her book published in 1991, research, and multiple handwritten drafts.
Also of notable interest is her research on the North Carolina Teacher's Assembly which held a yearly meeting at Morehead City. In 1888 a permanent assembly building was erected located near the Atlantic Hotel. Around 1900 the building was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Barnes (grandparents of Mrs. Doughton) and turned into a summer home for their family.
The dates in this series range from 1859 [copy, not original] to 2006.
6. Research,1833-2000
Scope and Content:
Contains research on various subjects of interest to Mrs. Doughton as well as research for various articles and highway historical markers she petitioned for.
Of particular interest is a personal account of a sailing trip with Robert Hanes and then Govenor Luther Hodges where Mrs. Doughton served as captain. In addition to the story Mrs. Doughton commissioned sketches of scenes from her story. Copies of these sketches are included.
Photographs, draft, and news column Mrs. Doughton wrote for the Iredell Morning News, October 14, 1955 recalling the 1955 summer season at Morehead City which brought 3 major hurricanes in August, Connie, Diane and Ione. Pictures damaged homes from Hurricane Hazel and Donna are also enclosed.
Includes research for a highway historical marker commemorating the explorer, Verrazzano. Mrs. Doughton was instrumental in the process of erecting a highway marker at Pine Knoll Shores.
One other notable subject enclosed in Mrs. Doughton research and articles about the Davis School, located first in LaGrange and later in Winston Salam. Mrs. Doughton published articles in 1980 and 1981 editions on "The State" magazine about this school. Started by Adam C. Davis, Jr., a great-grandson of James Davis, first printer in North Carolina, the Davis School was a military boarding school for boys. The school closed in LaGrange due to a meningitis breakout on 1889, and later was moved to Winston Salem where it operated until 1893. Included is research and drafts for these articles.
The dates in this series range from 1833 [copy, not original] to 2006.
7. Photographs, Family and Friends,ca. late 1800's - ca.1980's
Scope and Content:
An extensive collection of photographs of family members and friends. Includes a tin type of an unidentified couple as well as a picutre of Virginia Davis Pou sitting on a horse with Johnny Farmer standing beside her.
8. Photographs, Buildings, Homes, Historical Markers, and Landscapes,1900's
Scope and Content:
Contains pictures of various family homes thorughout North Carolina and Georgia, scenes from the Atlantic Hotel and surrounding Morehead City, other buildings of interest to Mrs. Doughton, and landscapes.
Photographs document a 1948 sailboat race of which Mrs. Doughton was a participant in New Bern.
Also of notable interest are pictures of and from the dedication a various highway historical markers Mrs. Doughton was involved in having erected.
9. Photo Albums,1905-1947
Scope and Content:
Photo Albums likely belonging to Elizabeth Barnes Davis, her daughter, Virginia Pou Davis, and granddaughter, Virginia Pou Doughton. Albums include photographs of family members and friends, homes, vacations, and the family's extensive time spent at Morehead City. Later Album/Scrapbook kept by Virginia Pou Doughton records photographs and biographical information about historic homes located throughout North Carolina
Subject Headings
Acquisitions Information
Gift from Virginia Pou Doughton, Raleigh, N.C., October 2008; and May 2013 (additional material).