G. W. F. Harper Family Diary transcriptions
Collection
Identifier: AC-168
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of photocopies of typewritten transcriptions of the diaries of Major G. W. F. Harper, his wife Ella Rankin Harper and her sister Emma L. Rankin. The transcriptions were completed by George Harper Bernhardt, whose brother, John Bernhardt, donated the original diaries to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. In addition to the transcriptions, the collection includes a key to abbreviations used in the diaries. Although Harper kept diaries from 1841 to 1921, the majority of the diaries date from 1881 to 1921. There are references in his diaries to his Confederate Army service and his wife's diaries date to the Civil War era.
Dates
- 1846-1921
Language
The materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
No Interlibrary loan.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for use in the Dougherty Reading Room. An appointment for research is recommended. The Dougherty Reading Room is located on the 4th floor of Belk Library in Special Collections.
Biographical note
George Washington Finley Harper (1834-1921) was born at Fairfield Plantation in Wilkes County, North Carolina to James and Caroline Finley Harper. After graduating from Davidson College, he entered the general merchandise business with his father, a founder of the town of Lenoir. In 1859, Harper married Ella A. Rankin (1836-1909), daughter of Reverend Jessie and Ann Delight Rankin and sister of Emma L. Rankin (1838-1908). They had two children, George Finley Harper and Ellen D. Harper Bernhardt. In 1862, Harper enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private in Company H, 58th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to first lieutenant in July 1862, to captain the following September, and to major in the fall of 1863. After the war, Harper rejoined his father in business in the firm of H. Harper & Son. He was also involved in railroad expansion, becoming chair of the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company in 1884. Harper founded the Bank of Lenoir in 1893 and served as its president until his death in 1921.
Additional biographical information is available in the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography.
Additional biographical information is available in the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography.
Extent
2 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Abstract
The G. W. F. Harper Family Diary Transcriptions are photocopies of typewritten transcriptions of the diaries of Major G. W. F. Harper of Caldwell County, North Carolina, his wife Ella Rankin Harper and her sister Emma Rankin. Harper kept diaries from 1841 to 1921 and writes about his Confederate Army service, however, the majority of the diaries date from 1881 to 1921.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by diarist, then chronologically by year.
Acquisitions Information
It is unclear how the W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection acquired these photocopies of diary transcriptions, however they were accessioned in or around 1994 as MHD. This collection was opened to the public on 2 October 2002.
Location of Originals
The original diaries and transcriptions are located in the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill's Southern Historical Collection in the G. W. F. Harper Papers, 1838-1921 (Collection Number 00313).
General note
Collection was formerly titled the John Bernhardt Papers and was renamed in 2011 to better reflect the contents of the materials.
Processing Information
Originally processed by Deborah Bell, circa 1994; Reprocessed by Kathryn Staley, October 2002; Encoded by Kathryn Staley, January 2005; Reprocessed with duplicate copies added by Kelly Grimm, 2011; Finding aid revised by Cynthia Harbeson, 2011.
- Confederate States of America -- Armed Forces. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Confederate States of America. Army -- Officers -- Diaries Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Confederate States of America. Army. North Carolina Infantry Regiment, 58th Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lenoir (N.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Merchants -- North Carolina -- History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- AC.168: G. W. F. Harper Family Diary Transcriptions, 1846-1921
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid originally created by Kathryn Staley, October 2002. Revised and updated by Cynthia Harbeson, October 2011.
- Date
- October 2002
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Appalachian State University Special Collections Repository
Contact:
218 College Street
Boone U.S.A. - North Carolina 28608-2026 United States
8282624975
8282624975 (Fax)
witsmands@appstate.edu
218 College Street
Boone U.S.A. - North Carolina 28608-2026 United States
8282624975
8282624975 (Fax)
witsmands@appstate.edu
