R. Gregg Cherry (1891-1957) Papers, PC.1138
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- R. Gregg Cherry (1891-1957) Papers
- Call Number
- PC.1138
- Creator
- Unknown
- Date
- 1911-1957
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Collection Overview
Papers of Robert Gregg Cherry, Gastonia lawyer and governor of North Carolina (1945-1949). Some correspondence and ledgers (1913-1932) relate to the A. L. Bulwinkle and Cherry law firm; and files on Cherry's WWI service as captain in 1st N.C. Cavalry (Co. A, 115th Machine-Gun Battalion, 60th Brigade Division) include diary (Apr.-Jul., 1918), official and personal correspondence, maps, carbons of messages sent from the field, muster roll and other record books, printed information, a history of his company overseas written by Cherry in 1918, and some postwar letters about veterans. There are also his papers as major in the National Guard (1921-1922), and correspondence and papers as mayor of Gastonia (1919-1923).
Relating to Cherry in the N.C. House of Representatives (1931-1939) where he was chairman of the finance committee and speaker, and in the N.C. Senate (1941-1943), are correspondence and papers especially on the sales tax (1933-1935) and the speakership race (1936-1937), and miscellaneous bills and amendments. As chairman of State Democratic Executive Committee (1937-1940), his files contain correspondence; bills; publicity material; lists of local officials, Democratic women's organizations, young Democratic clubs, contributors, applicants for positions, and speakers; notebooks on Democratic county and precinct organization; and material about state and national conventions, Jackson Day dinners, and the Institute of Government at Chapel Hill. Political correspondence (1937-1944) is arranged by congressional district, and gubernatorial campaign material and correspondence (1943-1945) are arranged by county.
Cherry's papers as governor concern his appointments to office; prisoners, paroles, death sentences, and commutations; prisoners working at the Governor's Mansion; campaign and mansion expenses; and national and southern governors' conferences. Official reports and other papers relate to budget, taxes, highways and public works, regional education, port at Wilmington, and the work of various commissions; and there are copies of gubernatorial speeches, messages to the General Assembly, appointments, and proclamations. A large number of political and miscellaneous speeches date from 1915 to 1951, and general political files (1920-1956) concern various campaigns for national and state offices, including congressional campaigns of A. L. Bulwinkle (1920, 1922, 1928) and U.S. Senate races or appointments of 1938, 1950 (Willis Smith v. Frank P. Graham), and 1954. There is also material on conventions and platforms, and correspondence with Senators Robert R. Reynolds (1937-1943), Josiah W. Bailey (1938-1943), and Alton Lennon (1953-1954).
In Cherry's personal files are correspondence with Duke Law School Dean Samuel Fox Mordecai (1913-1932); letters from Mrs. Cherry reflecting problems of a politician's wife (1933-1940); papers about their real estate in Gastonia (1921-1941, 1950); and letters and papers concerning his work for the State Textbook Commission (1935-1939), State Board of Charities and Public Welfare (1936-1937), Council of State Governments (1949), Crusade for Freedom (1950-1951), and several other organizations. Personal ledgers contain his accounts (1911-1922) as student and young lawyer, and accounts of Trinity College literary publication the Archive (1911). Correspondence and papers relating to Trinity College/Duke University (1916-1957) and the consolidated University of North Carolina (1946-1957) concern Cherry as trustee for both institutions and as class agent (Class of 1912) for the former. There are also Cherry's college notebooks on English and law, and notebook from machine-gun school (1917-1918). Much material relates to the American Legion (1919-1956) and some to Knights of Pythias (1911-1921), Knights of Khorossan (1916-1920), and Kiwanis Club (1923-1931). Legal files concern Ross Motor Lines Co. of Gastonia (ca. 1935-1944). Photo albums and scrapbooks contain material from Trinity College (1911-1916), WWI, Honorary Tar Heels, inaugurations of Governor Cherry and of Gov. W. Kerr Scott, and events during Cherry's administration such as drive to enlist women in Women's Army Corps General Hospital Companies (Feb., 1945), visit to Cherokee Indian Reservation (1947), and visit by President Truman to Raleigh (1948). Newspaper clippings cover his entire career, and there are many printed pamphlets and programs. Miscellaneous maps, plats, and surveys are of Gaston Co. Sound recordings of several speeches by Cherry (1944-1947) are in the Audiovisual Collection, N.C. State Archives.