Fred Fearing Papers, PC.5149

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Fred Fearing Papers, PC.5149

Abstract

Fred Fearing was an Elizabeth City native known for his encyclopedic knowledge of local history. He was also a collector of historical artifacts and an avid baseball fan. The Fred Fearing Papers, 1906-2006 and undated, primarily consists of material collected by Fearing while researching the history of eastern North Carolina, with a particular focus on Elizabeth City and the Outer Banks. The collection is arranged into two series: Papers, 1906-2006 and undated, and Photographs, 1908-2006 and undated.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Fred Fearing Papers
Call Number
PC.5149
Creator
Fearing, Fred L.
Date
1906-2006 and undated
Extent
3.200 cubic feet
Language
English
Repository
Outer Banks History Center

Series Quick Links

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 the 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 these materials.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], PC.5149, Fred Fearing Papers, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, NC, U.S.A.

Collection Overview

The Fred Fearing Papers, 1906-2006 and undated, primarily consists of material collected by Fearing while researching the history of eastern North Carolina, with a particular focus on Elizabeth City and the Outer Banks. The collection originally existed as 26 scrapbooks and photograph albums that were disassembled in the course of processing the collection. Fearing's papers comprise subject files on various local history topics (primarily consisting of clippings and Fearing's handwritten notes on the subject) and, to a lesser extent, correspondence and other personal papers. Most of the papers are photocopies rather than original sources, and many folders contain reproductions of materials originally dating from the 19th century.

A significant portion of the collection consists of photographs collected by Fearing related to Elizabeth City and Outer Banks history. Like Fearing's papers, his photographs are largely modern reproductions of 19th- and early 20th-century images. However, there are some original early photographs in the collection, especially relating to Fearing's family. Of note in the collection is significant documentation of sports (baseball and football) in Elizabeth City, in which Fearing participated and was particularly interested.

Arrangement Note

The collection is arranged into two series: Papers and Photographs. Folders are arranged alphabetically within each series.

Biographical/Historical

Frederick Lumsden "Fred" Fearing was born in Elizabeth City in 1914 to Gertrude Evans Fearing (1891-1970) and Enoch Pratt Fearing (1882-1952). Fearing had a passion for baseball and coached the local baseball team, the Elizabeth City Red Men, for fifteen years. He worked as a postal carrier in Elizabeth City, which provided him with a knowledge of the town and its structures, both residential and commercial. Eventually, Fearing became widely regarded and respected for his knowledge of local history, and he served as Elizabeth City's unofficial tour guide. He was also known for collecting historical artifacts, many of which now reside at the Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City.

In 1983, Fearing and his friend, Joe Kramer, decided to organize an impromptu wine and cheese reception for visiting boaters arriving at the Elizabeth City docks on the Intracoastal Waterway. During this reception, he also clipped several roses and presented them to the women boaters as they arrived at the docks. These receptions became a regular occurrence, and Fearing, Kramer, and the other locals who participated came to be known as the "Rose Buddies."

Fearing was involved with the development of Mariner's Wharf and the revitalization of the Elizabeth City harborside. He was a strong supporter of the Museum of the Albemarle. In 1997, Governor Hunt presented him with the Order of the Long-Leaf Pine. He was also an inaugural member of the Louisburg College Athletic Hall of Fame. Fearing passed away 19 October 2007 at Albemarle Hospital at the age of 93.

Contents of the Collection

1. Papers, 1906-2006 and undated

American Civil War - General Information, undated
Box 1
Blimp Hangar, Weeksville, 1995-2000
Box 1
Camden County, 1950-1997
Box 1
Coast Guard and Lifesaving Service, 1940-2001
Box 1
Committee of 100 for Elizabeth City--Boat Dock Proposal, 1982-1998
Box 1
Dare County - General Information, 1997-1998 and undated
Box 1
Dismal Swamp, 1996 and undated
Box 1
Duck Decoys, 1997-2005
Box 1
Elizabeth City--Pasquotank County - American Civil War, undated
Box 1
Elizabeth City--Pasquotank County (1586-1882), undated
Box 1
Elizabeth City--Pasquotank County (1900-1928), 1928 and undated
Box 1
Elizabeth City--Pasquotank County (1933-1956), 1951-1953 and undated
Box 1
Elizabeth City--Pasquotank County (1963-1999), 1972 and undated
Box 1
Elizabeth City--Pasquotank County (2000-2005), 2000-2005
Box 1
Elizabeth City--Pasquotank County (Miscellaneous and Undated), 1982 and undated
Box 1
The Floating Theatre (James Adams), 1965 and undated
Box 1
Fred Fearing--Personal, 1909-2006
Box 1
The Greater Albemarle Newspapers, 1939-1940
Box 1
Hatteras Island, undated
Box 1
Hurricanes, undated
Box 2
Intracoastal Waterway, 1995-2005 and undated
Box 2
Lighthouses, undated
Box 2
Lost Colony and Fort Raleigh, 1934-1993 and undated

Scope and Content:

Includes information on a special performance of The Lost Colony for "Negro Day" on 16 August 1940 as well as other papers.

Box 2
Miscellaneous Articles, undated
Box 2
Nags Head, undated
Box 2
Ocracoke Island, undated
Box 2
Outer Banks Bridges, 1993
Box 2
Perquimans County, undated
Box 2
Political Campaign Buttons, circa 1970s-1990s
Box 2
Postcards, 1906-circa 1990s
Box Postcards
Beach/Sea Scenes, circa 1960s-1980s
Box 3
Bodie Island Lighthouse, circa 1950s-1990s
Box 3
Bonner Bridge/Oregon Inlet, circa 1940s-1980s
Box 3
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse/Seashore, circa 1960s-1990s
Box 3
Causeway, circa 1950s-1960s
Box 3
Coastguard Stations/Lifesaving Stations, circa 1970s
Box 3
Colington Island, 1960s
Box 3
Corolla Light, circa 1980s
Box 3
Elizabeth City, 1906-circa 1990s
Box 3
Elizabethan Gardens, circa 1960s
Box 3
Fishing Piers/Fishing, circa 1940s-1980s
Box 3
Flora & Fauna, circa 1950s-1960s
Box 3
Jockey's Ridge, circa 1930s-1970s
Box 3
Kill Devil Hills, circa 1960s
Box 3
Kitty Hawk, circa 1950s-1960s
Box 3
Lost Colony/Fort Raleigh, circa 1940s-1980s
Box 3
Nags Head, 1914-1970s
Box 3
Ocracoke Island/Lighthouse, circa 1950s-1980s
Box 3
Poems & Legends, 1940s-1950s
Box 3
Restaurants & Motels, circa 1950s-1990s
Box 3
Roanoke Island, circa 1930s-1966
Box 3
Shipwrecks, circa 1950s-1980s
Box 3
Virginia, circa 1950s
Box 3
Wright Brothers Memorial, circa 1950s-1960s
Box 3
Wright Memorial Bridge, 1960s
Box 3
Rose Buddies, Elizabeth City, 1989-2005 and undated
Box 2
W.O. Saunders, 2005 and undated
Box 2
Scrapbook Pages, circa 1940s-1987 and undated
Box 2
Ships (Steamboats & Ferries), 1995 and undated
Box 2
Shipwrecks, undated
Box 2
Sports: Baseball, 1957-1999 and undated
Box 2
Sports: Football, 1957-1994 and undated
Box 2
Sports: General Information, 1998 and undated
Box 2
David Stick, 1996-1998 and undated
Box 2
Taft Airplane Corporation (The Kingfisher float plane), undated
Box 2
Virginia History, undated
Box 2
Wright Brothers & Wright Memorial, 1995-2002 and undated
Box 2

2. Photographs, 1908-2006 and undated

Elizabeth City (circa 1800s-2000s), undated
Box Elizabeth City (circa 1800s-2000s)
Elizabeth City (1847-1968), 1937-1976 and undated
Box Elizabeth City (1847-1968)
Elizabeth City (1970-2004), 1970-2004
Box Elizabeth City (1970-2004)
Boats & Ships (including the Hattie Creef), undated
Image Box 4
Nell Cropsey Home and Gravesite, 1987-2001
Image Box 4
Dismal Swamp/Intracoastal Waterway, 1985 and undated
Image Box 4
Edenton, undated
Image Box 4
Family and Personal Photographs, circa 1916-2001 and undated
Image Box 4
Hatteras Island and Oregon Inlet, 1946-1986 and undated
Image Box 4
Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk, 1939-1991 and undated
Image Box 4
Manteo/Roanoke Island (Including the Lost Colony), circa 1984-1985 and undated
Image Box 5
Museum of the Albemarle, 1996-2001
Image Box 5
Nags Head, circa 1920s-1976 and undated
Image Box 5
Nixonton, undated
Image Box 5
Northeastern North Carolina/Currituck County, circa 1940s-2000s and undated
Image Box 5
Ocracoke, undated
Image Box 5
People, 1908-1989 and undated
Image Box 5
Rose Buddies, 1984-2006
Image Box 6
Shipwrecks & Lifesaving Service, 1925-1978 and undated
Image Box 6
Shipyards, 1977 and undated
Image Box 6
Sports, 1933-1985 and undated
Image Box 6
Weeksville Blimp Hangar, 1995 and undated
Image Box 6
Wright Brothers & Wright Memorial, 1976 and undated
Image Box 6
Miscellaneous Photographs, 1990 and undated
Image Box 6
Unidentified Photographs and Negatives, 1972-2001 and undated
Image Box 6
Oversize Photographs, 1909 and undated
Box Oversize Photographs

Subject Headings

  • James Adams Floating Theater
  • Baseball--North Carolina--Elizabeth City
  • Football--North Carolina--Elizabeth City
  • Albemarle Region (N.C.)--History
  • Camden County (N.C.)--History
  • Elizabeth City (N.C.)--History
  • Elizabeth City (N.C.)--Social life and customs
  • Outer Banks (N.C.)--History
  • Pasquotank County (N.C.)--History
  • Pasquotank County (N.C.)--Social life and customs

    • Acquisitions Information

    Donated by Robyn Fearing Owens and Marjorie Patton Fearing Routh, October 2008.

    Processing Information

  • Processed by Samantha Crisp, October 2019.