Finding Aid of the Mr. and Mrs. Ray Van Natta Postcard Collection, PHC.46
Abstract
The writer was an actor traveling to North Carolina cities in which a play was being
performed.
The picture postcards in the collection depict views of various scenes in North Carolina
from the coast to the mountains.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Mr. and Mrs. Ray Van Natta Postcard Collection
- Call Number
- PHC.46
- Creator
-
Unknown
- Date
- 1913
- Extent
- 40.00 items
- Language
-
English
- Repository
-
State Archives of North Carolina
Restrictions on Access & Use
Use Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as
stipulated by 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 the materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], PhC.46.1, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Van Natta Postcard Collection,
State Archives of North Carolina; Raleigh, NC.
Collection Overview
The picture postcards in the collection depict views of various scenes in North Carolina
from the coast to the mountains. The color postcards were never mailed, but were hand
dated December, 1913, on the reverse of the cards by the owner. Therefore all of the
cards were published just prior to that date. Some of the cards, in addition to the
dates on the back, contain notations of varying lengths. The last eleven postcards
include one continuous postal message.
Arrangement Note
The postcards are arranged chronologically by the hand dated notations on the back
of the images
Biographical/Historical note
The writer of the correspondence signed his name "Father," so his identity remains
a mystery. He purchased the postcards as souvenirs of his visit to North Carolina.
His messages apparently are directed to his daughter Bertie (location not given).
The writer was an actor traveling to North Carolina cities in which a play was being
performed. Research in local newspapers published at the time revealed that he was
probably a member of the cast of "Peg 'O My Heart", a J. Hartley Manners' comedy produced
by Oliver Morosco. The New York hit show was making a tour of the South, and after
leaving Virginia the group made its way into North Carolina. The chronology of his
cards displays the travel route and the order of cities in which the play was performed.
The troupe first visited Greensboro and in succession performed in Durham, Wilson,
Wilmington, Fayetteville, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Statesville, and Asheville.
After the engagement in Asheville the players continued on for a booking in Spartanburg,
South Carolina.
Contents of the Collection
Collection Contents
Normal College Buildings and Grounds, Greensboro, North Carolina, 12/13/1913
PhC.46.01
A & M College for Colored People, Greensboro, North Carolina, 12/4/1913
PhC.46.02
Monuments, Guilford Battle Ground, Greensboro, North Carolina, 12/5/1913
PhC.46.03
Watts Memorial Hospital, Durham, North Carolina, 12/5/1913
PhC.46.04
Trinity College Campus, Durham, North Carolina, 12/5/1913
PhC.46.05
The B. N. Duke Residence, Durham, North Carolina, 12/5/1913
PhC.46.06
Hotel Malbourne, Durham, North Carolina, 12/5/1913
PhC.46.07
Confederate Monument, Wilson, North Carolina, 12/6/1913
PhC.46.08
Tarboro Street, Looking South, Wilson, North Carolina, 12/6/1913
PhC.46.09
Oceanic Hotel, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, 12/8/1913
PhC.46.10
New High School, Wilmington, North Carolina, 12/8/1913
PhC.46.11
Officers Quarters, Parade Ground and Barracks, Fort Caswell, North Carolina, 12/8/1913
PhC.46.12
Court House Square, Fayetteville, North Carolina, 12/9/1913
PhC.46.13
Hay Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina, 12/9/1913
PhC.46.14
Fayetteville Street, looking North, Raleigh, North Carolina, 12/10/1913
PhC.46.15
Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 12/10/1913
PhC.46.16
Raleigh, North Carolina, State School for the Blind, 12/10/1913
PhC.46.17
State House and Confederate Monument, Raleigh, North Carolina, 12/10/1913
PhC.46.18
First Baptist Church, View from the Capitol, Raleigh, North Carolina, 12/10/1913
PhC.46.19
Worth Bagley and State House, Raleigh, North Carolina, 12/10/1913
PhC.46.20
Good Roads, leading to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 12/11/1913
PhC.46.21
The Phoenix Hotel Block, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 12/11/1913
PhC.46.22
Tobacco Sale, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 12/11/1913
PhC.46.23
"God's Acre." The Moravian Graveyard. Over 150 years old, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 12/11/1913
PhC.46.24
Scene on Trade Street, during a tobacco sale, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 12/11/1913
PhC.46.25
Charlotte, North Carolina, View Showing Post Office and Mint, 12/12/1913
PhC.46.26
View of Charlotte, North Carolina, from Sanatorium Roof Garden, 12/12/1913
PhC.46.27
View of Lakewood From Pavilion, Charlotte, North Carolina, 12/12/1913
PhC.46.28
Charlotte, North Carolina, View of Elizabeth Avenue, 12/12/1913
PhC.46.29
Graded School, Statesville, North Carolina . Beginning of postal message continued
on subsequent cards, 12/15/1913
PhC.46.30
First Methodist Church, Statesville, North Carolina, 12/15/1913
PhC.46.31
Kestler Bridge, Over 90 Feet High and 500 Feet Long, Statesville, North Carolina, 12/15/1913
PhC.46.32
South Center Street, Statesville, North Carolina, 12/15/1913
PhC.46.33
Catawba River Bridge, Statesville, North Carolina, 12/15/1913
PhC.46.34
The Manor, Asheville, North Carolina, 12/16/1913
PhC.46.35
An Old Mill, "In the Land of the Sky,", 12/16/1913
PhC.46.36
In the "Land of the Sky," Mt. Mitchell, Altitude 6711 ft., 12/16/1913
PhC.46.37
Fairfield Inn from Bald Rock, "In the Beautiful Sapphire Country," North Carolina, 12/16/1913
PhC.46.38
Andrews' Geyser, Near Asheville, North Carolina, 12/16/1913
PhC.46.39
Biltmore House, Home of George W. Vanderbilt, Biltmore, North Carolina, 12/16/1913
PhC.46.40
Subject Headings
Actors--North Carolina--1913.
Asheville (N.C.)
Charlotte (N.C.)
Durham (N.C.)
Fayetteville (N.C.)
Greensboro (N.C.)
Raleigh (N.C.)
Statesville (N.C.)
Wilmington (N.C.)
Wilson (N.C.)
Winston-Salem (N.C.)
Acquisitions Information
The collection was donated to the State Archives by Mr. and Mrs. Ray Van Natta on
April 23, 1992. They are acquaintances of Dr. Thornton W. Mitchell of Raleigh, who
acted as agent.
Processing Information
Processed by Stephen E. Massengill, April, 1992
Encoded by Dietra Stanley
Encoding updated by Aaron Cusick, January, 2012