The Captain Henry Clark Bridgers Jr. Collection is arranged topically with some record groups arranged chronologically or alphabetically.

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 Courtney Clarke.

Encoded by Tama Creef, July, 2008 and Stuart Parks II, December, 2008

Captain Henry Clark Bridgers, Jr., (1913-1981) graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1935 after which he entered the Navy and graduated from flight training school in 1936 as an aviator. He joined Patrol Squadron 7 in San Diego, California, and in 1939 became an instrument training instructor at Pensacola, Florida. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific as operations officer of Fleet Air Wing One, receiving the Legion of Merit for combat operations in the Solomon Islands. In 1945, he commanded Fighter Squadron 42 and then Carrier Air Group 42 aboard the USS Sicily. After training at the General Line School and the Naval War College, Bridgers became navigator of the USS Midway (1952). He achieved the rank of captain in 1963 and took command of the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range. Bridgers suffered a heart attack in 1965 that forced his retirement from the Navy.

Returning to his native Edgecombe County, N.C., he became a well-known local historian who wrote about railroads, banking and steamboats in eastern North Carolina. At the time of his death in 1981, Bridgers had spent years researching and writing a manuscript  Steamboats on The Tar that remains unpublished to this day.

Captain Henry Clark Bridgers, Jr., (1913-1981) graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1935 after which he entered the Navy and graduated from flight training school in 1936 as an aviator. He joined Patrol Squadron 7 in San Diego, California, and in 1939 became an instrument training instructor at Pensacola, Florida. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific as operations officer of Fleet Air Wing One, receiving the Legion of Merit for combat operations in the Solomon Islands. In 1945, he commanded Fighter Squadron 42 and then Carrier Air Group 42 aboard the USS Sicily. After training at the General Line School and the Naval War College, Bridgers became navigator of the USS Midway (1952). He achieved the rank of captain in 1963 and took command of the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range. Bridgers suffered a heart attack in 1965 that forced his retirement from the Navy.

Returning to his native Edgecombe County, N.C., he became a well-known local historian who wrote about railroads, banking and steamboats in eastern North Carolina. At the time of his death in 1981, Bridgers had spent years researching and writing a manuscript  Steamboats on The Tar that remains unpublished to this day.

[Identification of item], 33MSS-99, The Captain Henry Clark Bridgers, Jr., Steamboats of the Tar (River) Papers, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, N.C., U.S.A.

The research materials and  Steamboats of the Tar manuscripts by Captain Henry Clark (Harry) Bridgers, Jr. came to the Outer Banks History Center through historian, author, and founding benefactor of the Outer Banks History Center, David Stick. He obtained the work after the death of Captain Bridgers in July, 1981 through Bridgers' family. After having met David Stick and sought his input regarding his research and unpublished manuscript, Captain Bridgers left instructions with his wife that the materials be turned over to Stick. Bridgers hoped that Stick would either publish an edited manuscript or turn it over to another qualified person who would. While Stick had the collection at his home in Kitty Hawk, he added several books, reports and monographs to the collection along with additional research notes and indexes that he completed. Stick retained the documents until August 2000, when he turned them over to historian and author Lindley S. Butler with the understanding that they would be donated to the Outer Banks History Center when Butler was finished researching and writing a book. By 2003, Butler had changed his research focus, and turned the still unpublished materials over to the Outer Banks History Center.

Additional information on topics found in this collection may be found in the Manuscript and Archives Reference System (MARS)  http://www.ncarchives.dcr.state.nc.us.

1. Captain Henry Clark Bridgers, Jr. Collection, East Carolina University, Joyner Library, North Carolina Collection

The collection consists of two versions of Bridger's manuscript  Steamboats of the Tar, including two copies of the 2nd draft, one of which was reviewed by Marie D. Moore, North Carolina Division of Archives and History. Extensive research materials used in writing the manuscript make up the rest of the collection.

Microfilm printouts from eight newspapers reporting on steamboats in North Carolina waters from 1824 to 1912, along with photocopies and clippings from other published works on this topic are included. There is a folder of handwritten research notes including charts, lists, and a hand drawn map pertaining to the presence of steamboats in North Carolina waters. A separate folder pertains to Civil War boats. Bridger created a chronology of North Carolina steamboat history compiled from various newspapers. Information has been organized into charts from documents that were required for steamboat operation in N.C. waters. There are approximately 300 photographs and postcards depicting steamboats. Oversized items include photocopies of original Certificates of Enrollment and maps of the Tar/Pamlico River.

The Captain Henry Clark Bridgers Jr. Collection is arranged topically with some record groups arranged chronologically or alphabetically.

The collection consists of two versions of Bridger's manuscript  Steamboats of the Tar, including two copies of the 2nd draft, one of which was reviewed by Marie D. Moore, North Carolina Division of Archives and History. Extensive research materials used in writing the manuscript make up the rest of the collection.

Microfilm printouts from eight newspapers reporting on steamboats in North Carolina waters from 1824 to 1912, along with photocopies and clippings from other published works on this topic are included. There is a folder of handwritten research notes including charts, lists, and a hand drawn map pertaining to the presence of steamboats in North Carolina waters. A separate folder pertains to Civil War boats. Bridger created a chronology of North Carolina steamboat history compiled from various newspapers. Information has been organized into charts from documents that were required for steamboat operation in N.C. waters. There are approximately 300 photographs and postcards depicting steamboats. Oversized items include photocopies of original Certificates of Enrollment and maps of the Tar/Pamlico River.