Private Collection Microfilm Scavenger Hunt

Did you know that the State Archives of North Carolina has private collections on microfilm, many of which are available for viewing in the self-service microfilm room in Raleigh, NC? 

These private collections are a combination of microfilmed pre-existing private collections held by the Archives or private materials that were microfilmed and returned to the donor. Combined with the State Archives’ holdings in public records, organization records, maps, and audiovisual materials, these collections constitute a valuable resource for those conducting study and research in many diverse areas of North Carolina and regional and national history. The Archives seeks collections that illuminate the history and culture of North Carolina from colonial times to the present day. 

The private collections on microfilm range in date, content, and record type. There are recipes from the 1700s, journals from the 1800s, photograph collections from the 1930s, diaries and letters from various wars, and scrapbooks from the 1960s… It is truly an adventure to explore these collections! 

Use this scavenger hunt to familiarize yourself with our microfilmed private collections and our catalog, Discover Online Catalog (DOC)!

Scavenger Hunt Questions

  • 1

    Question 1

    John W. “Jack” Scott, a pitcher from Warren County, played for the Durham Bulls, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants, and Philadelphia ________ throughout his career. 

    Tip: Try narrowing down the search to just Private Collections and searching for the baseball teams in the question.

    The answer is one word and eight (8) letters long. 

  • 2

    Question 2

    What is the name of the Madison County folk musician who organized several folk music festivals in Western North Carolina and is the great-grandson of one of the founders of Mars Hill College?

    Clue: This musician was known as the “Minstrel of the Appalachians.”

    The answer is two words, six (6) and eight (8) letters long.

  • 3

    Question 3

    This private collection made up of “cookery receipts” was acquired as a volume by what historic site, originally built for a governor of the same name?

    Clue: The volume once was part of the library at the now demolished Tixall Hall in Staffordshire.

    The answer is two words, five (5) and six (6) letters long.

  • 4

    Question 4

    In 1799, a nugget of gold was found by a twelve-year-old Conrad Reed in Cabarrus County. How many pounds was the gold nugget?

    Tip: The subsequent gold mine, and private collection, was named after the family that discovered the gold.

    The answer is one word and nine (9) letters long. 

  • 5

    Question 5

    This individual served as the Governor of North Carolina from 1961 to 1965, married Margaret Rose Knight, and served the president of Duke University. What was his middle name, and the name by which he was commonly known?

    Tip: Try searching for the name of his wife. 

    Clue: This collection is made up of scrapbooks. 

    The answer is one word and five (5) letters long. 

  • 6

    Question 6

    In 1828, Dr. George F. Wilson traveled southward from Yates County, NY, hoping to settle in South Carolina. What town did Dr. Wilson actually end up settling in?

    Clue: Today this town is in Forsyth County, but when Dr. Yates settled there it was part of Stokes County. 

    The answer is one word and eight (8) letters long.

  • 7

    Question 7

    This private collection made of genealogical sketches includes familial information on which former president of the United States?

    Tip: The collection was compiled by Mrs. Fannie B. Richardson of Greenwood, IN, in 1977. Try searching her name!

    The answer is three words, six (6), one (1) and ten(10) letters long.

  • 8

    Question 8

    The Army and Navy “E” Award was presented to what Stanly County company in January 1943?

    Clue: The company was owned by the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA).

    The answer is two words, eight (8) and eight (8) letters long.

  • 9

    Question 9

    What women’s clothing store in Raleigh’s Village District (formerly known as Cameron Village) advertised in local newspapers and collected a scrapbook of all the advertisements printed from 1959-1962?

    Clue: The store was owned and operated by William and Nancy Burton.

    The answer is one word and nine (9) letters long.

     

  • 10

    Question 10

    Sanders V. Hudson, Jr., collected and took aviation photographs, including wreckage and aerial photos. What North Carolina city did Hudson reside in, according to his photo albums?

    Tip: Try searching for the name given. 

    Clue: The city is part of the Triangle region. 

Search Tips

To limit search results to only Private Collections, navigate to the left side of DOC and select "Private Collections" under the Collection heading.

Microfilmed private collections are organized with the identifier "MfP.###." An example is the John W. Scott Collection, which uses the identifier "MfP.241." To further narrow down a search for microfilmed private collections, try adding "MfP." (including quotations) to your search!

When perusing DOC, microfilm that is available in the Search Room is distinguishable from other records by the “MF-“ that precedes the container ID. “Physical Access” notes that indicate if Search Room microfilm is contained within that collection are also present.

Need more help searching DOC? Check out Online Catalog FAQ and DOC Search Guides. 

Use Restrictions

The State Archives of North Carolina does not hold the copyright for all private collection microfilm material. For records where this is the case, a Use Restrictions note should accompany the collection in the Discover Online Catalog (DOC) detailing the copyright and any use restrictions. Materials available in the Search Room are available for research but some may not be able to be sold. Please consult reference staff if you have any questions while using the materials onsite. Visit Permissions and Citations for more information. 

Viewing and Ordering Microfilm

Find something that you want to learn more about? Copies of microfilm may be ordered via the Correspondence Unit (copyright permitting) and/or can be viewed in person in the State Archives' Search Room. Visit Services and Visit Us for more information. 

Answer Key

  1. Phillies
    1. John W. “Jack” Scott played for the Philadelphia Phillies. Learn more about his life and career in the John W. Scott Collection (MfP.241).
  2. Bascum Lunsford
    1. Bascom Lamar Lunsford helped organize several festivals, such as the Lunsford Festival, and was the great-grandson of Thomas Shepard Deaver. Learn more about Lunsford and his family in the Bascom Lunsford Scrapbook (MfP.213).
  3. Tryon Palace
    1. Cookery Receipts: An Eighteenth-Century Manuscript Cookbook (MfP.287) was initially acquired by Tryon Palace, named for Royal Governor William Tryon. Check out the collection for hundreds of eighteenth-century recipes for alcohol, medicinal cures, desserts, preserves, breads, soups and stews, and meats.
  4. Seventeen
    1. Conrad Reed found a seventeen-pound nugget of gold at the location that would later be called the Reed Gold Mine. This is known as the "first" documented gold find in the United States (by colonists). See Reed Gold Mine Papers (MfP.205) for more information about this discovery!
  5. Terry
    1. James Terry Sanford was the 65th Governor of North Carolina. You can learn more about his life, career, and wife in the Terry Sanford Scrapbook (MfP.278).
  6. Bethania
    1. Dr. George F. Wilson settled down in Bethania, NC! Read more about his travels southward in the Dr. G. F. Wilson Journal (MfP.240).
  7. Dwight D. Eisenhower
    1. Mrs. Fannie B. Richardson's records detail the family history of former president Dwight D. Eisenhower. Read more about the "Isenhours" (and their various name spellings) in the Dr. H. E. Isenhour Papers (MfP.207)!
  8. Carolina Aluminum Co.
    1. The Carolina Aluminum Company was awarded the Army and Navy "E" Award in 1943. Learn more about the company and award ceremony in the Alcoa "E" Awards Collection (MfP.258).
  9. Burton's
    1. Burton's was a women’s clothing store that was once located in the Village District in Raleigh, NC. To see advertisements from Burton's from 1959 to 1962, check out Burton's, Inc. Advertising Scrapbooks (MfP.306)
  10. Durham
    1. Sanders V. Hudson, Jr., resided in Durham, NC. To learn more about Hudson and see his aviation photography, check out Sanders V. Hudson, Jr., Photograph Collection (MfP.250).