Finding Aid of the Mr. and Mrs. Ray Van Natta Postcard Collection, PHC.46

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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

Series Quick Links

  1. Collection Contents

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 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