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Whalehead Preservation Trust Records


The Whalehead Preservation Trust was established in 1993 as a non-profit 501 (C) (3) organization charged with safeguarding Currituck County's cultural heritage by preserving the Whalehead Club at Currituck Heritage Park in Corolla, North Carolina. The Whalehead Club was the hunt club and vacation home of industrialists Edward and Marie Louise Knight of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built between 1922 and 1925 in the art nouveau style, which was popular at that time. The club was sold and changed hands many times and served in various capacities. By 1992, the property was in a neglected state. The Whalehead Club was purchased by Currituck County. The Whalehead Trust was formed to ensure ... (more below)

Title

Whalehead Preservation Trust Records

Collection Number

33MSS-84

Date(s)

1992 - 2009

Language

English

Physical Description
Cubic feet
1.19
Physical Description
Boxes
3.00
Folders
82.00
Abstract

The Whalehead Preservation Trust was established in 1993 as a non-profit 501 (C) (3) organization charged with safeguarding Currituck County's cultural heritage by preserving the Whalehead Club at Currituck Heritage Park in Corolla, North Carolina. The Whalehead Club was the hunt club and vacation home of industrialists Edward and Marie Louise Knight of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built between 1922 and 1925 in the art nouveau style, which was popular at that time. The club was sold and changed hands many times and served in various capacities. By 1992, the property was in a neglected state. The Whalehead Club was purchased by Currituck County. The Whalehead Trust was formed to ensure that the 21,000 square foot building would be restored.

This collection contains correspondence, financial papers, meeting minutes, by-laws, blueprints, maps, and ephemera.

Physical Location

For current information on the location ofthese materials, please consult the Outer Banks History Center.

Creator

Whalehead Preservation Trust

Repository

Outer Banks History Center


This collection is divided into five main series: Meeting Minutes and Agendas, Financial, Currituck Heritage Park Grounds and Buildings, Organizational Papers, and Maps and Blueprints.


Available for research.


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.


Processed by Kelly R. Grimm, October, 2009

Encoded by Kelly R. Grimm, October, 2009


This collection contains two folders of separated materials, located in Map Drawer 17. The folder contains blueprints for the Whalehead Hunt Club Restoration and maps of the Whalehead Hunt Club Property.


The Whalehead Preservation Trust was established in 1993 as a non-profit 501 (C)(3) organization dedicated to safeguarding Currituck County, North Carolina's cultural heritage.

The Whalehead Club was the hunt club and vacation home of industrialists Edward and Marie Louise Knight of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Knight built the home for his wife, an outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed hunting and horseback riding. The Knights not only used the club as their own private retreat, but to entertain their friends and relatives.

The formidable home was built between 1922 and 1925 in the art nouveau style, which drew upon nature as a design element. Door handles molded in the shape of a duck's head and flowering wainscoting and wall sconces are examples of art nouveau elements found within the Whalehead Club. Originally called "Corolla Island" by Mrs. Knight, the name was changed to Whalehead Club by the second owner, Ray T. Adams.

Adams leased the property to the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. The club changed ownership and was a boy's school and later a solid rocket fuel-testing base. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

In 1992 Currituck County purchased the Whalehead Club (which had begun to deteriorate) and the remaining 40 acres of land. The Whalehead Preservation Trust was formed to oversee a major restoration of the mansion, boathouse and grounds that began in the spring of 1999. Today the organization offers tours of the mansion with revenues generated devoted to maintaining the Whalehead Club.


The Whalehead Preservation Trust was established in 1993 as a non-profit 501 (C)(3) organization dedicated to safeguarding Currituck County, North Carolina's cultural heritage.

The Whalehead Club was the hunt club and vacation home of industrialists Edward and Marie Louise Knight of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Knight built the home for his wife, an outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed hunting and horseback riding. The Knights not only used the club as their own private retreat, but to entertain their friends and relatives.

The formidable home was built between 1922 and 1925 in the art nouveau style, which drew upon nature as a design element. Door handles molded in the shape of a duck's head and flowering wainscoting and wall sconces are examples of art nouveau elements found within the Whalehead Club. Originally called "Corolla Island" by Mrs. Knight, the name was changed to Whalehead Club by the second owner, Ray T. Adams.

Adams leased the property to the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. The club changed ownership and was a boy's school and later a solid rocket fuel-testing base. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

In 1992 Currituck County purchased the Whalehead Club (which had begun to deteriorate) and the remaining 40 acres of land. The Whalehead Preservation Trust was formed to oversee a major restoration of the mansion, boathouse and grounds that began in the spring of 1999. Today the organization offers tours of the mansion with revenues generated devoted to maintaining the Whalehead Club.


[Identification of item], 33MSS-84, Whalehead Preservation Trust Records, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, N.C., U.S.A.


Donated by Barbara Snowden


Additional information on topics found in this collection may be found in the Manuscript and Archives Reference System (MARS)  http://mars.archives.ncdcr.gov/.

  1. 33MSS-59-1: National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - The Whalehead Club 33PER-1315:  The Whalehead Window 33BOK-0-9945:  The Whalehead Club: Reflections of Currituck Heritage by Susan Joy Davis, 2004

This collection contains correspondence, financial papers, meeting minutes, by-laws, blueprints, maps, and ephemera. There is also information regarding exhibits, collections and accessions policies, and documents relating to the Whalehead Hunt Club restoriation projects.

This collection is divided into five main series: Meeting Minutes and Agendas, Financial, Currituck Heritage Park Grounds and Buildings, Organizational Papers, and Maps and Blueprints.


This collection contains correspondence, financial papers, meeting minutes, by-laws, blueprints, maps, and ephemera. There is also information regarding exhibits, collections and accessions policies, and documents relating to the Whalehead Hunt Club restoriation projects.


  • Whalehead Club (Corolla, N.C.)
  • Whalehead Preservation Trust
  • Historic preservation--North Carolina--Corolla
  • Corolla (N.C.)

Physical Description
3 boxes, 82 folders
Physical Description
Boxes
3.00
Folders
82.00

Folder: 1:1.1  
Finding Aid

Folder: 1:2.1  
Introduction to Whalehead Preservation Trust

Folder: 1:3.1  
Correspondence

8407
Meeting Minutes and Agendas

Folder: 1:4.1  
Currituck County Board of Commissioners Meeting Agendas
1999
Folder: 1:4.2  
Education Committee Meeting Notes
2007
Folder: 1:4.3  
Administrative Committee Meeting Minutes
2007
Folder: 1:4.4  
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
2003-2008
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Folder: 1:4.5  
1993-1998
1993-1998
Folder: 1:4.6  
1999-2002
1999-2002
Folder: 1:4.7  
2003-2009
2003-2009
Folder: 1:4.8  
Annual Meeting Minutes and Agendas, ,2008
2004
Folder: 1:4.9  
Board of Directors Retreat
2006

8418
Financial Papers

Folder: 1:5.1  
Proposed Budget
1999-2009
Folder: 1:5.2  
Budget Reconciliation Reports
1996-1999
Folder: 1:5.3  
Analysis of Tour Counts
1999-2004
Folder: 1:5.4  
"Under the Oaks" Art Festival Accounting Summary
2004
Folder: 1:5.5  
Monthly Financial Reports
Sept.-Oct. 2008
Folder: 1:5.6  
Whalehead Club Accounts and Descriptions
Folder: 2:5.7  
Account Balance Sheets
1999-2004
Folder: 2:5.8  
Financial Report, Fiscal Year
2007-2008
Financial Statements
Folder: 2:5.9  
1997-1998
1997-1998
Folder: 2:5.10  
1999-2000
1999-2000
Folder: 2:5.11  
2003-2004
2003-2004
Folder: 2:5.12  
2006-2007
2006-2007
Folder: 2:5.13  
2008
2008

8433
Currituck Heritage Park Grounds and Buildings

Folder: 2:6.1  
Whalehead Club Property Layout
Folder: 2:6.2  
Whalehead Club Restoration Phase I Cost Estimates
1999
Folder: 2:6.3  
Investigation Report by Rodriguez, Ripley, Maddox, and Motley Architects, of the Whalehead Club Chimneys and Decks
2003
Folder: 2:6.4  
Currituck Heritage Park Grounds Layout by Rodriguez, Ripley, Maddox, and Motley Architect Firm
2003
Folder: 2:6.5  
Mechanical Room Inspection
2004
Folder: 2:6.6  
Whalehead Club Preliminary Condition Assessment
2006
Folder: 2:6.7  
Whalehead Club Planned Site Improvement Projects
2007
Folder: 2:6.8  
Whalehead Club Goals
2005-2008
Folder: 2:6.9  
Design Development Cost Estimates for Site Improvements, Whalehead Club Restoration
Folder: 2:6.10  
Project Estimates for Whalehead Club Photographic Documentation
Folder: 2:6.11  
Estimates for Shingles

8445
Policies, Procedures, and Activities Papers

Folder: 2:7.1  
Whalehead Preservation Club Policies and Procedures
Folder: 2:7.2  
Whalehead Preservation Trust Accessions Policy
Folder: 2:7.3  
Whalehead Preservation Trust Collections Policy
Folder: 2:7.4  
Whalehead Club Archive Inventory
Whalehead Preservation Trust By-laws
Folder: 2:7.5  
1991
1991
Folder: 2:7.6  
1993
1993
Folder: 2:7.7  
2007
2007
Folder: 2:7.8  
Whalehead Preservation Trust Board Members, ,2006-2007
2004
Folder: 2:7.9  
Whalehead Preservation Trust Memorandum of Understanding with Currituck County
2007
Folder: 2:7.10  
Whalehead Preservation Trust Winter Work Plans
Folder: 2:7.11  
Whalehead Tour Guide
Folder: 3:7.12  
Whalehead Club Gun Room Exhibit
Folder: 3:7.13  
Whalehead Trust Lease Agreement Proposal to Currituck County Commissioners
Folder: 3:7.14  
Whalehead Preservation Trust Accomplishments
1999
Agreement Between Whalehead Preservation Trust and Currituck Wildlife Museum
Folder: 3:7.15  
1993
1993
Folder: 3:7.16  
1994
1994
Folder: 3:7.17  
Whalehead Club Volunteers
1999
Folder: 3:7.18  
Whalehead Club Docents
1998
Folder: 3:7.19  
Whalehead Preservation Trust Research Update
2002
Folder: 3:7.20  
Whalehead Boat Ramp
Folder: 3:7.21  
Development Committee of the Whalehead Preservation Trust: Responsibilities and Activities
Folder: 3:7.22  
Currituck Wildlife Museum
Folder: 3:7.23  
Currituck Wildlife Museum Organization and Funding Plan
Folder: 3:7.24  
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education Concept Summary
1999
Folder: 3:7.25  
First Draft of a Proposal for Whalehead Club Preservation Society and Currituck Wildlife Museum Foundation
Folder: 3:7.26  
Currituck Wildlife Education Center and Whalehead Club Interpretive Framework Outline
1999
Folder: 3:7.27  
Currituck Wildlife Guild Collection
Folder: 3:7.28  
Strategic Plan Six Month Progress Report
2008
Folder: 3:7.29  
Currituck Heritage Park Policies and Procedures: General Information
Folder: 3:7.30  
Currituck Heritage Park, "A Day of Celebration,"
2002
Folder: 3:7.31  
Organizational Self-Assessment Check List
Folder: 3:7.32  
Fundraising
Folder: 3:7.33  
Knight's Ball
Folder: 3:7.34  
Knight's Ball, Missing Auction Items List
Folder: 3:7.35  
Whalehead Club Schedule of Events, ,2006-2007
2004
Folder: 3:7.36  
"Restoring the Corolla Channel in the Currituck Sound,"
2008
Folder: 3:7.37  
Ephemera
Folder: 3:7.38  
National Park Service NAGPRA Grants
2001
Folder: 3:7.39  
Whalehead Window, Newsletter for Whalehead Preservation Trust
2000-2008
Folder: 3:7.40  
Federation Bulletin, Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies Newsletter
1999
Folder: 3:7.41  
Whalehead Club Employees Handbook
Folder: 3:7.42  
Whalehead Club Job Descriptions
Folder: 3:7.43  
Whalehead Club Executive Director Recruitment Guidelines, Schedule and Interview Questions
Folder: 3:7.44  
Resumes, Employees and Potential Employees
Folder: 3:7.45  
Whalehead Club History, incomplete, missing pages

8493
Blueprints and Maps, Separated Materials

Folder: 4:8.1  
Maps and Blueprints, Whalehead Hunt Club Property and Whalehead Hunt Club Restoration