Mary Gilchrist McNeill (1881-1961) Papers, PC.1614
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Mary Gilchrist McNeill (1881-1961) Papers
- Call Number
- PC.1614
- Creator
- McNeill, Mary Gilchrist
- Date
- 1855-1958
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Collection Overview
Papers of Miss McNeill of Lumberton, Robeson Co., clubwoman, civic leader, and recorder of family, local, and state history, including diaries and scrapbooks, correspondence, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and brochures. Two diaries of 1918 and 1919-1929 are illustrated by clippings of current events (marriages and deaths, WWI, peace negotiations, woman suffrage, KKK, Democratic party campaigns, and elections). Three scrapbooks contain letters, newspaper clippings, pictures, and commentary on the McNeills, Purcells, and Gilchrists of Richmond, Scotland, and Hoke counties; and the Smiths and Campbells of Cumberland and Harnett counties. Several unbound and fragmented scrapbooks cover the 1930-1950 period with clippings and commentary on personal, local, state, and national events (WPA projects, public library movement, WWII and homefront activities with USO, integration), and reflect Miss McNeill's interests in Flora Macdonald College, the Presbyterian church, UDC, Colonial Dames, music, theater, literature, travel, North Carolina and family history. A few papers of her father Thomas A. McNeill (1844-1921), superior court judge and legislator in 1870, 1872, 1893 sessions, include letters in 1871 from constituents referring to outlawed Lowry Gang, redistricting of Robeson Co., and Gov. W. W. Holden's impeachment trial; letter to son urging liberal arts education (ca. 1900); and letters (1920) from cousin Angus W. McLean (governor, 1925-1929) commenting on rules for Democratic conventions and the peace treaty. Other correspondents include Walter Clark, Platt D. Walker, Owen R. Guion, Lee S. Overman, Kemp P. Battle, William Lamb, William H. Battle, and Furnifold M. Simmons.