People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge Records, ORG.5031

[Identification of item], ORG.5031, People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge Records, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, NC, U.S.A.

The People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge Records, 1973-1995 and undated, contains flyers, posters, prints, newspaper clippings, advertisements, signed petitions, donor records, and various ephemera produced by the non-profit People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge as part of their efforts to protect Jockey's Ridge from residential developers. All newspaper clippings are photocopies of the originals. Materials are arranged into two series: Public Awareness Memorabilia, 1973-1980, and Fundraising Materials, 1973-1995.

The People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge focused on raising public awareness of threats facing Jockey's Ridge and efforts being made to preserve it. The Public Awareness Memorabilia series contains signed petitions, sheet music and advertisements for Jockey's Ridge sing-along events, and newspaper clippings and magazines discussing the sand dunes' preservation. All newspaper clippings are photocopies of the originals. This series also contains hand-drawn and newspaper collage posters, mini-prints, and a postcard created to raise awareness of the group and Jockey's Ridge itself in the public consciousness. Materials date from 1973 to 1980, with the bulk dating from 1973 to 1975.

The People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge raised funds to aid efforts to preserve and lobby for Jockey's Ridge. The Fundraising Materials series contains flyers, pamphlets, posters, signs, and letters advertising fundraising events, donation drives, and sales, as well as records associated with the square foot sales project. This series also contains prints, bumper stickers, kite sails, and placemats sold by the group. Materials date from 1973 to 1995, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1973 to 1975.

Materials arranged alphabetically within series.

The People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge was a non-profit group founded by longtime Outer Banks resident Carolista Baum in 1973 in order to protect and preserve Jockey's Ridge. At more than 7,000 years old, Jockey's Ridge is the tallest existing natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States. The preservation of the sand dune had long been the subject of conversation among local conservation groups. Despite these efforts, developers began proceedings to destroy Jockey's Ridge to make room for a new residential area in the summer of 1973. But after hearing her children say that they had seen bulldozers beginning to flatten part of the sand dune, Carolista Baum planted herself in front of the machinery and refused to move. The construction team was forced to temporarily shut down operations.

In the aftermath of this event, Baum led the formation of the People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge. The group was focused on raising public awareness of both efforts to preserve and threats to the sand dune. Popular slogans used by the group included "SOS: Save Our Sand Dunes" and "Save Jockey's Ridge." They led petitions and appeals to state and local governments, including a more than 50,000 name petition that Baum brought directly to the state lawmakers in Raleigh. The People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge was also heavily involved in raising funds to aid directly in preservation efforts. They hosted events, sold commemorative memorabilia, and created an ongoing project in which locals and visitors alike could buy an honorary square foot on Jockey's Ridge.

Several prominent members of the Outer Banks community were part of the People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge. The original fifteen-member board of directors, for example, included writer and historian David Stick. Carolista Baum served as the group's president. She was personally involved heavily in the group's projects and actively solicited support from songwriters, filmmakers, and even poet Carl Sandburg.


Development of the sand dune was ultimately stopped entirely due to the efforts of the People to Preserve Jockey's Ridge, and Jockey's Ridge was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1974. In 1975, the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated funds to create Jockey's Ridge State Park. The park eventually grew to 426 acres under the preservation efforts of the later non-profit Friends of Jockey's Ridge.

1. Public Awareness Memorabilia, 1973-1980 (bulk 1973-1975) 1973-1975

2. Fundraising Materials, 1973-1995 (bulk 1973-1975) 1973-1975

Donated by Debo Cox, April 2011 and Jason Brown, May 2019.

Processed by McKenzie Long, May 2019.