WHAT IS IT? A conference on significant political campaigns in North Carolina history.
WHEN IS IT? September 14-15, 2012
WHERE IS IT? Pleasants Family Assembly Room, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
SCHEDULE:
Friday
Presenter: Richard Starnes, professor of history, Western Carolina University
Presenter: Joe A. Mobley, lecturer in history at North Carolina State University and former administrator of the Historical Publications Section of the North Carolina Office of Archives and History
Presenter: Robert G. Anthony, curator of the North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Presenter: Julian M. Pleasants, professor emeritus of history at University of Florida
- 12:30 pm: Registration
- 1 pm: Welcome
- 1:10 pm: “He is killed, dead, now”: William A. Graham, the Election of 1852, and the Beginning of the End of the Whigs in North Carolina
- 2 pm: Contrasting Campaigns: Zebulon B. Vance and the North Carolina Gubernatorial Elections of 1862 and 1864
- 2:50 pm: Break
- 3:10 pm: “Next to Nebraska”: North Carolina and William Jennings Bryan’s 1896 Presidential Campaign
- 4 pm: A New Day for N.C.: Kerr Scott and the Gubernatorial Campaign of 1948
Saturday
Presenter: Karl E. Campbell, professor of history at Appalachian State University
Presenter: T. Evan Faulkenbury, PhD. candidate, Department of History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Paper written by Ned Cline, former managing editor of the GreensboroNews and Record. Paper presented by Martin H. Brinkley, attorney, Smith Anderson, Raleigh, N.C.
Presenter: John Blythe, special projects and outreach coordinator, North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- 8:30 am: Coffee
- 9 am: From Resurgence to Realignment: The Shelby Dynasty, Luther Hodges, and the Election of 1952
- 9:50 am: “Telenegro”: Reginald Hawkins, Black Power, and the 1968 North Carolina Gubernatorial Election
- 10:40 am: Break
- 11 am: Surprise of the Century: The 1972 Holshouser-Bowles Gubernatorial Campaign
- 11:50 am: The Little Old Lady Grabs the Mayor’s Shoes: Isabella Cannon, Neighborhood Activism and the 1977 Raleigh Mayoral Election
- 12:40 pm: Closing remarks
SPECIAL FRIDAY NIGHT EVENT (6 pm Reception, 7 pm Dinner): A moderated discussion between Republican strategist Carter Wrenn and Democratic political consultant Gary Pearce. The N.C. political veterans share insights about strategies for current races and swap war stories from past campaigns. Held at the Carolina Inn.
EXHIBIT: In conjunction with the conference, Wilson Library will feature “Who May Vote? Disenfranchisement in North Carolina, 1865-1900.” The exhibition will examine both systematic attempts to limit voting and instances of intimidation and political rhetoric that discouraged African-Americans, women and poor voters. Campaign literature, letters and political cartoons from the Southern Historical Collection and North Carolina Collection will be on view.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
- Registration/Check-in: 12:30 pm, Sept. 14 in lobby of Wilson Library
- Presentations: 1 pm-5 pm on Sept. 14 and 9 am-1 pm on Sept. 15. A schedule with exact times will be posted soon.
REGISTRATION: Conference fee is $10 per person. Friday night event is an additional $50 per person. Pre-registration required. Please address check to:
North Carolina Collection
P.O. Box 8890
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB#3930
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-8890
Please include an email address and phone number for confirmation of your registration and additional conference details. Registration forms are availablehere.
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS:
- The Carolina Inn is holding a small block of rooms for the evening of September 14. The special room rate is $179 (plus taxes). You can bookvia the web. Or, if you prefer, telephone the Inn at 800-962-8519 and request a room reserved for the UNC Library conference.
- Courtyard by Marriott, Chapel Hill is is also holding a small block of rooms for the evening of September 14. The rate is $109 (plus taxes). Rooms are available for booking via the web with a King-size bed and sofa or two Queen-size beds. You can also telephone the Courtyard at 919-883-0700 and ask for the “Historic Political Campaigns” block.
QUESTIONS? Telephone (919) 962-1172 or email jblythe@unc.edu
The conference is organized by the North Carolina Collection, with co-sponsorship by the Southern Historical Collection.
