The Special Collections Division at East Carolina University offers primary sources that allow students to conduct original research on various topics through documents, photographs, newspapers, manuscripts, rare books, and more. These special collections are accessible both on-site and online, and provide rich historical information about North Carolina, the university, and other subjects through eyewitness materials produced at the time of the events.

1. The Special Collections Division offers rich primary sources—documents produced at the time events
occurred, usually by eyewitnesses—that enable students to conduct original research pertaining to
many topics, including the history of North Carolina, communism and socialism, southern literature,
military history worldwide, the work of Christian missionaries around the world, the tobacco industry,
and maritime history. Click through this presentation to learn more about Special Collections at ECU.

2. Click here to be taken directly to the University Archives webpage.

3. Old photographs, such as this view of the
dining hall kitchen (1915), depict campus
life at a simpler time. For more
information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/10323
Campus publications, including the Buccaneer,
provide important information about student
University
activities and organizations. For more information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/10290 Archives

4. Minutes such as these, which discuss budget
cuts during the Great Depression, document
many aspects of life at East Carolina.
For more information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/837
A triumphant football team celebrates
ECU’s Peach Bowl victory in 1992.
For more information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/10256

5. Click here to be taken directly to the North Carolina Collection webpage.

6. Broadsides such as this one from around Hundreds of newspapers on microfilm
1901 were posted to communicate from the 1700s to the present reveal much
important information. about local and state history.
For more information: For more information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/12597 http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/12767

7. The Roberts Collection includes works of
fiction set in North Carolina, including this, the
first children’s book written by a North
Carolinian. For more information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/11531
Old maps capture many aspects of the
state’s past at a moment in time.
For more information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/10444

8. Click here to be taken directly to the Manuscripts and Rare Books webpage.

9. Manuscripts, including this letter from
the founder of Pepsi-Cola, provide
first-hand information about people,
businesses, and institutions. For more
information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/22792
The papers of military officers often include maps
or plans related to actions in which they
participated. This plan belonged to Vice Admiral
Robert Lee Ghormley, who initially was in charge
of the naval campaign at Guadalcanal. For more
information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/11216

10. Rare books are available from 1574 to the
present and augment manuscript sources.
The Hoover Collection on International The General History of the Pyrates (1724),
Communism includes books, pamphlets, thought to have been written by Daniel
periodicals, and tracts pertaining to the DeFoe, includes the first depiction of
American labor movement as well as to Blackbeard.
communism and socialism. For more information:
For more information: http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/857
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/865

11. Click here to be taken directly to Digital Collections

12. Primary Sources: Digital Collections
Members of the Class of 1917
are seated on the grounds of
East Carolina Teacher Training
School. Old Austin and Wilson
Dormitory are in the
background.
For more information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/21042
On March 26, 1969 a group of students confronts Dr.
Leo Jenkins at his home. The students were
protesting continued race-based inequality on
campus.
For more information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/10304

13. Primary Sources: Digital Collections
East Carolina student celebrate
graduation with props, signs, and
cheers. These 1992 graduates
received their diplomas in Dowdy-
Ficklen Stadium.
For more information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/11034
Members of the 1943 East Carolina
YWCA organization enjoy the water
at their leadership retreat. The
YWCA was among the first student
organizations at ECU.
For more information:
http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/14148

14. Want to know more? Ready to start searching?
Visit us in Joyner Library: Or click the links below to be taken to our Special Collections:
Fourth Floor University Archives
Third Floor North Carolina Collection
Fourth Floor Manuscripts and Rare Books
Online Digital Collections