Hi Wetherington & affiliated surnames researchers,
Because some of our surnames are heavily associated with North Carolina,
I want to insure you know that NC records, particularly state records, have
apparently been consolidated, perhaps all electronically, in the MARS
collection:
http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/archives/arch/mars.htm
HOWEVER, even though the collection is new does not make it easier to
use. I have outlined some requirements below, including excerpts from the
site itself. You need to review it all to maximize your opportunity to
obtain value for your time & money (YES, there is a charge for some of the
info, see below).
Barry Wetherington
READ ON!
bw 1/31/2004
=====================
LogIn procedure:
North Carolina State Archives
Manuscript and Archives Reference System (MARS)
EXPLORE MARS!
Login as 'mars'
Password 'mars'
(When you click on 'EXPLORE MARS!' you will be prompted to login; type
'mars'. Then you will be prompted to give a password, which is also
'mars'.
This will connect you to the MARS database. Next you will be asked for a
terminal emulation. Most users will be 'vt100. Check your connection's
setting properties to see which terminal emulation will work best if vt100
does not work.)
(My experience here is, if you encounter a problem, to just continue on and
it may work its way out.
READ ON!
bw 1/31/2004)
Materials Described in MARS
=====================
http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/archives/arch/material.htm#MARS
North Carolina State Archives
Materials Described in MARS
Although there were over 400,000 descriptions in MARS at the end of
September 2003, these represent only a small portion of the Archives' total
holdings. The following is a list of records whose finding aids have been
entirely or partially entered into MARS.
Finding Aids in MARS
State Agency Records
County Records
Private Collections
Map Collection
Audiovisual/Iconographic Collection
Foreign Archives
=====================
Just in Demo, pls find below, towards the bottom, a list of Private
Collections papers collected in the Archives. This is just ONE illustrative
collection of the many such contained there. The MARS site has had problems
getting started, but it seems a bit more stable now.
READ ON!
bw 1/31/2004
The primary problem area has been/ was/ still may be the requirements &
procedure to Log On to the site:
-----------------------
LogIn procedure again:
READ ON!
bw 1/31/2004
Manuscript and Archives Reference System (MARS)
EXPLORE MARS!
Login as 'mars'
Password 'mars'
(When you click on 'EXPLORE MARS!' you will be prompted to login; type
'mars'. Then you will be prompted to give a password, which is also
'mars'.
This will connect you to the MARS database. Next you will be asked for a
terminal emulation. Most users will be 'vt100. Check your connection's
setting properties to see which terminal emulation will work best if vt100
does not work.)
Materials Described in MARS
Welcome to MARS! - A cosmic experience in records and information retrieval.
MARS...is the Manuscript and Archives Reference System.
MARS...is also Making Archives Research Simpler.
MARS...has been designed to help researchers locate records and documents in
Archives custody.
MARS...allows the indexed descriptions of different types of records to be
searched at the same time.
The Manuscript and Archives Reference System (MARS) is an on-line, USMARC
compatible, finding aids system. It was designed in 1984 by Dr. Arlon
Kemple, Information Resource Manager for the Dept. of Cultural Resources.
MARS is primarily a system for record location and retrieval, although
information retrieval is an important by-product. It also has certain
administrative and process control capabilities.
Because records in the Archives are arranged in hierarchical order,
descriptions in MARS reflect the five levels of arrangement and description:
record group, series, box, folder, and item. The system can be searched at
any level of description by using indexed fields, key-word searches, or
overnight textual searches. Each level is also linked so that the full
provenance of a record is always given. While MARS usually does not provide
the actual information the researcher is seeking, it will report the records
that contain the information, and the location of these records in the
Archives. Call slips can be printed automatically by the user.
Certain fields within MARS have been indexed for real time searches. These
fields include: TITLE, CALLNO., SOURCE/DONOR, AGENT, CREATOR, YEARS, INDEX,
AND FORM. With the exception of the title field, MARS cannot conduct word
searches in the same way a word processing program can. In order to narrow
searches, other techniques must be used. Related characteristics of a record
(Boolean connectors) are one way of narrowing searches. for example, a
search for "John Smith" yields many hits. This search can be narrowed with
additional information like "Franklin County" and "Wills". Searching
the
three elements as opposed to one, focuses the query and returns more
accurate information.
MARS information retrieval is by VDT display, printed output, computer
output microfiche, or magnetic tape. No usage fees are assessed, but
printout charges for overnight searches are $5.00 for the first 25 pages and
25¢ per page thereafter, with a $5.00 minimum charge.
-----------------------
I'm not yet sure how much is collected online & how much requires some
type of on-site presence, and whether it is now working better, so hope
others more familiar can 'Reply All' to this message to help all of us.
Good Hunting,
Barry
http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/archives/arch/pclist.htm
Private Collections
Abercrombie, James, Letterbook, 1743-1750 (P.C.1651.1)
Adams and Partin Family Papers, 1847-1954 (P.C.1647.1)
Albright-Dixon Papers, 1812-1934 (P.C.58)
Alexander and Simonton Family Papers, 1800-1940 (P.C.1682.1)
Alston - DeGraffenried Family Papers, 1773-1970 )
Aman, John H. Collection, 1861-1944 (P.C.1734)
Andrews, Jr., Alexander Boyd (1873-1946), Collection, 1861-1945 (P.C.125)
Ashe, Samuel A'Court (1840-1938), Papers, 1735-1814, 1847-1940 (P.C.51)
Ashe, Samuel A'Court, Papers, 1728, [1735], 1778-1779, 1814, 1837, 1847-1940
(P.C.51)
Ashley, Samuel Stanford, Papers, 1863, 1975 (P.C.1664.1)
Atkins, James W., Collection, 1814-1909, 1947 (P.C.128)
Aycock, Charles Brantley (1859-1912), Collection, 1880-1959 (P.C.50)
Badger, George E. (1795-1865), Papers, 1822-1861 (P.C.52)
Bauer, Adolphus Gustavus, Papers, 1895-1898 (P.C.1707)
Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant (1818-1893), Papers, 1862-1869 (P.C.53)
Beckwith, B. C., Papers, 1808-1906 (P.C.92)
Bell-Pearsall Papers, 1795-1936 (P.C.1789.1)
Bernard, Allen Rodney, Diary, 1816-1817 (P.C.1645.1)
Biggs, Asa (1811-1878), Papers, 1830-1849 (P.C.110)
Blacknall, Oscar W. (1852-1918), Papers, 1861-1866, n.d. (P.C.101)
Blanton, C. H., Collection, 1803-1906 (P.C.77)
Bolles, Charles Pattison (1823-1909), Papers, 1845-1922 (P.C.44)
Bond, Tillie, Collection, 1690-1828 (P.C.16)
Bonner Family Papers, 1849-1951 (P.C.1725.1-6)
Boon, James (b. 1808), Papers, 1829-1854 (P.C.99)
Bost, Annie Kizer, Papers, 1930-1944 (P.C.1696.1)
Boyd, James E., Papers, 1899-1903 (P.C.1701.1-7)
Bradham, Caleb D., Papers, 1750-1880 (P.C.1745)
Brady, James Martin, Papers, 1945, 1950-1952 (P.C.1742)
Branch, Lawrence O'Bryan, (1820-1862), Papers 1805-1913 (P.C.25)
Branch, Mrs. Lawrence O'Bryan, (1817-1903), Papers 1770-1895 (P.C.26)
Brevard, Alexander (ca. 1755-1829), Papers, 1751-1911 (P.C.2)
Bridges, Henry L., Papers, 1952-1956 (P.C.1702.1-9)
Brown, George Carroll, Papers, 1917-1919 (P.C.1697)
Brown, John B., Papers, 1861-1865 (P.C.54)
Brown, W. Vance, Papers, 1779-1894 (P.C.121)
Bryan, Charles S., Collection, 1707-1862 (P.C.108)
Bryan, John Heritage (1798-1870), Collection, 1716-1907 (P.C.6)
Brynes, A. J., Collection, 1800-1874 (P.C.97)
Burgwyn, William Hyslop Sumner (1845-1913), Papers, 1803-1960 (P.C.4)
Burke, Thomas (ca. 1747-1783), Papers, 1769-1794 (P.C.55)
Cantwell, John Lucus (1828-1909), Papers, 1856-1896 (P.C.22)
Carson Collection, 1780-1835 (P.C.1654.1)
Cataloochee Lumber Mill Company Collection, ca.1900 (P.C.1714.1)
Chamberlain, Hope Summerell (1871-1960), Collection, 1790-1818, 1940-1950
(P.C.45)
Clark, James F., Plantation Book, 1828-1861 (P.C.30)
Clark, Laura, Papers, 1934-1941 (P.C.1671.1)
Clark, Samuel, Carpentry Book, 1853-1869 (P.C.1768.1)
Clark, Walter (1846-1924), Papers, 1783-1920 (P.C.8)
Clinard, L. N., Papers, 1871-1884, 1904 (P.C.96)
Coble, Eli, Papers, 1807-1883 (P.C.1779.1)
Coulter, Dr. Victor Aldine, Papers, c. 1917-1970s (P.C.1705.1-6)
Cowles, Calvin J. (1821-1907), Papers, 1817-1885 (P.C.111)
Cox, Thomas, Letter Book, 1825-1828 (P.C.56)
Crittenden, John J., Papers, 1827-1863 (P.C.37)
Cutler, General Henry G., Papers, ca. 1800 - ca.1905 (P.C.1700)
Dameron, Martha Scott, Letters, 1941-1945 (P.C.1713.1-7)
Davidson, Theodore F. (1845-1931), Papers, 1769-1931 (P.C.100)
Davie, William Richardson (1756-1820), Papers, 1776-1817 (P.C.18)
Davis, Joseph Jonathan, Papers, 1861-1876 (P.C.1746)
De Vyver, Frank T., Papers, 1940-1955 (P.C.1692.1)
Devereux, John, Papers, 1712-1883 (P.C.34)
Devereux, Jr., Thomas Pollock, Letter Book 1863-1865, 1891 (P.C.33)
Dixon, William Leonard, Collection, 1862-1864 (P.C.1754)
Dobbs, Arthur (1689-1765), Papers, ca. 1730-1775 (P.C.91)
Dodge, Jr., James Philander, Papers, various dates (P.C.1684.1)
Duffy, William (d.1810), Papers, 1786-1809 (P.C.9)
Dula, Thomas, Collection, 1866-1868, 1966 (P.C.1272)
Duplin County Court Martial Minutes, 1784-1853 (P.C.1656.1)
Dwight, Peggy, Papers, 1933-1976 (P.C.1715)
Edwards, Weldon N. (1788-1873), Papers, 1825-1868 (P.C.43)
Emmet, Thomas Addison, Collection, 1757-1847 (P.C.38)
Estes, Russell Gordon, Papers, 1794-1885. (P.C.1743)
Faggart, Valentine and Elizabeth, Papers, 1787-1897 (P.C.1721.1)
Fanning-McCulloh Papers, 1752-1806 (P.C.57)
Ferrell, Ina, Papers, 1920-1957 (P.C.1703.1)
Fessenden, Reginald A., Papers, 1887-1935 (P.C.1140)
Fitzgerald, William P., Collection, 1862, 1864, 1886 (P.C.1695.1)
Fountain, Josephine G., Collection, 1836-1956 (P.C.1663.1)
Freedmen, Whedbee, Papers, 1854-1882 (P.C.1762.1)
Garfield, James A., Paper, 1872 (P.C.1642.1)
Gash, Mary A., Papers, 1816-1898 (P.C.59)
Gorman, Thomas M., Papers, 1863-1905 (P.C.103)
Graham, Joseph (1759-1836), Papers, 1782, 1813-1836 (P.C.60)
Graham, William Alexander (1804-1875), Papers, 1779-1918 (P.C.61)
Grant, Margaret, Collection, 1750-1844 (P.C.1672.1)
Grimes, Bryan (1828-1880), Papers, 1778, 1812-1912 (P.C.3)
Guion, Judge Owen Haywood, Collection, 1787-1937 (P.C.78)
Hackett, James Gordon, Collection, 1806-1887 (P.C.112)
Hale, Edward Jones (1802-1883), Papers, 1850-1867 (P.C.17)
Hamilton, W. H., Papers, 1856-1860 (P.C.1737)
Hamlin, Wood Jones, Papers, 1762-1835 (P.C.62)
Harris, Sybil Carr, Collection, 1789-1895, 1982 (P.C.1724)
Harrison, William Henry, Paper, 1795 (P.C.1641.1)
Harvard Business Library Collection, 1920s (P.C.1694.1-2)
Hawkins, Marmaduke James (1850-1920), Papers, 1809-1909 (P.C.106)
Hayes Collection, 1748-1806 (P.C.40)
Haynes, P. Henry, Papers, 1858-1868 (P.C.1644.1)
Heller, C. B., Collection, 1735-1923 (P.C.119)
Henderson, Thomas, Papers, 1810-1811 (P.C.19)
Hill, Buckner, L., Notebooks, 1824 (P.C.116)
Hill, Daniel Harvey (1821-1889), Papers, 1816-1945 (P.C.93)
Hill, Jr., Daniel Harvey (1859-1924), Papers, 1808-1967 (P.C.94)
Hill, Stuart H., Collection, 1738-1866, 1932 (P.C.126)
Hill, William (1773-1857), Papers, 1797-1867 (P.C.63)
Hines, Lovit, Collection, 1737-1914 (P.C.1759.1-2)
Hoch Family Collection, 1774-1951 (P.C.1683.1-12)
Hodges, Francis R. and Julia Daily, Collection, 1755-1920 (P.C.1720)
Hodges, Paul Arendall and Alma Dawson, Collection, 1772-1895 (P.C.1727)
Hofmann, Julius V., Papers, 1919-1948 (P.C.1699)
Hoke, Robert F. (1837-1912), Papers, 1852-1967 (P.C.64)
Holden, William Woods (1818-1892), Papers, 1852-1930 (P.C.65)
Holeman, James, Letters, 1846-1862 (P.C.1769.1)
Howell, Claude, Papers, ca. 1930s-1970s (P.C.1657.1-13)
Hoyt, William Henry (1884-1957), Collection, 1791-1960 (P.C.48)
James, Lawrence, Collection, 1762-1871 (P.C.1704.1)
James, Marion, Family Papers, 1868-1932, n.d. (P.C.1686.1)
Jeffreys, William Andrew (1817-1845) and Family, Papers, 1786-1883 (P.C.66)
Johnson, Charles E., Collection, 1685-1875 (P.C.67)
Johnson, Sr., Patrick H., Papers, ca.1920-1950 (P.C.1740)
Johnston, George Burgwin (1840-1864), Papers, 1862-1864 (P.C.46)
Johnston, Samuel (1733-1816), Papers, 1731, 1763-1803 (P.C.68)
Jones, Crabtree, Papers, 1771-1940 (P.C.105)
Jones, H. G., Papers, 1959-1969, n.d. (P.C.1681.1-18)
Jordan Family Papers, 1782-1886 (P.C.1719)
Kenan, Thomas S., Papers, 1861-1866 (P.C.129)
King, Richard Hugg (1767-1825), Papers, 1816-1862 (P.C.23)
Lee, Mrs. I. F., Collection, 1751-1875 (P.C.130)
Leventhorpe, Collett (1815-1889), Papers, 1847-1892 (P.C.41)
Lewis, William C., Diary, 1918-1919 (P.C.1739)
Liles, Jr., Luther C., Paper, 1692-1812 (P.C.1669.1)
Luten, John and William, Papers, 1751-1756, 1786 (P.C.1712)
Macon, Nathaniel (1758-1837), Papers, 1773, 1804-1848 (P.C.10)
Mahlum, Helen, Papers, 1972-1985 (P.C.1749.1-11)
Mangum, Willie Person (1792-1861), Papers, 1705-1916 (P.C.69)
Mann, Julian S., Collection, 1688-1886 (P.C.118)
Massey, Hardy, Papers, 1794, 1837-1900 (P.C.98)
McDowell, Charles, Papers, 1782 (P.C.29)
McEachern, Archibald, Papers, 1748-1859 (P.C.120)
McKay, Woodrow, Papers, 1894, 1917-1944 (P.C.1685.1)
McMillan, Archibald S., Collection, 1846, 1848, 1903 (P.C.1676)
McNeil, Alexander Hamilton, Papers, 1861-1865 (P.C.1761.1-1 3)
Michaux-Randolph Papers, 1745-1902 (P.C.95)
Miller, Glennie Tomlinson, Collection, 1885-1889, 1893 (P.C.1763.1-4)
Miller, Robert Johnston (1758-1834), Papers, 1799, 1813-1831 (P.C.11)
Milner, Robert S., Collection, 1925-1982 (P.C.1722.1-16)
Miscellaneous Papers, 1689-1912 (P.C.21)
Mitchell, John F., Papers, ca. 1895-ca. 1940 (P.C.1757.1-10)
Mitchener, Mrs. J. Samuel, Papers, 1953-1978 (P.C.1698.1-6)
Moore, Jeanelle Coulter, Papers, 1964-1975 (P.C.1751.1-.25)
Morgan, Mrs. Virgil R., Collection, 1939-1947 (P.C.1709)
Morton, Matilda Lamb, Memoirs, 1861-1865 (P.C.1770.1)
Murfree, William, Tax Receipt Book, 1768-1770 (P.C.1801)
Murphey, Archibald Debow (1777-1832), Papers, 1797-1852 (P.C.12)
Murray, James (1713-1781), Papers, 1760-1786 (P.C.71)
Myers, A. C., Papers, 1862-1864 (P.C.114)
Nash, Frederick (1781-1858), Papers, 1757-1864 (P.C.72)
Nichols, Laurie C., Collection, 1899-1901 (P.C.1755)
Norcom, Dr. James (1778-1850), Papers, 1805-1873 (P.C.73)
O'Briant, T. L., Collection, 1798-1892 (P.C.115)
Olds, Fred A. (1853-1935), Papers, 1721-1934 (P.C.74)
O'Rorke, John, Papers, 1793-1877 (P.C.79)
Page Family Papers, 1794-1918 (P.C.1718)
Paige, Hiland and R. E. D., Papers, 1850, 1865-1866 (P.C.1710)
Parker, Frank M., Papers, 1861-1865 (P.C.42)
Parrott, W. T., Jr., and Marion A., Collection, 1740-1786 (P.C.107)
Patrick, John Menan, Papers, 1810-1818, 1823, 1871-1878 (P.C.117)
Patterson Papers, 1748-1925 (P.C.104)
Patterson, Jane Smith, Papers, 1960-1986 (P.C.1748)
Pearce and Hix Family Papers, 1800-1950s (P.C.1706)
Pearse, Forestine Devine, Papers, 1945-1955 (P.C.1667.1)
Pettigrew Papers, 1722-1912 (P.C.13)
Pittman, Thomas Merritt (1857-1932), Collection, 1747-1934 (P.C.123)
Polk, Lucy Williams (1826-1906), Papers, 1730-1897 (P.C.75)
Polk, William (1758-1834), Papers, 1721-1829 (P.C.47)
Pollock, Thomas, Papers, 1708-1859 (P.C.31)
Pollock-Devereux Papers, 1730-1866 (P.C.32)
Powell, John H., Papers, 1842-1876 (P.C.1732)
Pratt, Joseph Hyde (1870-1942), Papers, 1684-1921 (P.C.14)
Proprietary Concessions Relating to the Lower Cape Fear, 1663, 1663
(P.C.1655.1)
Ray, Arthur C., Papers, 1796-1909 (P.C.124)
Reid, David S. (1813-1891), Papers, 1803-1880 (P.C.1)
Risco, Miller V., Papers, 1673 (P.C.70)
Roan, The Reverend John, Account Book, 1745-1775 (P.C.1689.1)
Robson Family Papers, 1807-1834, 1886 (P.C.1717)
Rodman, William Blount (1817-1893), Papers, 1820-1893 (P.C.76)
Roney, Sr., Ben E., Papers, 1937, 1948-1954 (P.C.1733.1-7)
Rouse, Jordan K., Papers, 1943-1945 (P.C.1774.1)
Saunders, William Laurence (1835-1891), Papers, 1729-1891 (P.C.27)
Schenck, David (1835-1902), Papers, 1772-1894 (P.C.35)
Scott, Osborne W., Papers, 1955-1970 (P.C.1674)
Servier, Mary Virginia, Papers, 1840-1976 (P.C.1646.1-6)
Shaw, Colin, Papers, 1735-1883 (P.C.20)
Smith, Benjamin (1756-1826), Papers, 1789-1803 (P.C.80)
Smith, William, Papers, 1793-1817 (P.C.81)
Smithwick, Edmund and Family, Papers, 1728-1876, 1900 (P.C.113)
Spencer, Cornelia Philips (1825-1908), Papers, 1857-1905 (P.C.7)
Spotswood, Alexander (1676-1740), Papers, 1710-1712 (P.C.24)
Stauber, William E., Papers, 1964-1972, n.d. (P.C.1680.1)
Steele, John (1764-1815), Papers, 1777-1831 (P.C.5)
Steward, George Alton, Collection, 1924-1978 (P.C.1752.1-2)
Stokes, Montfort (1762-1842), Papers, 1785-1819 (P.C.102)
Stone, David (1770-1818), Papers, 1793-1942 (P.C.82)
Stringfield, William Williams (1837-1923), Papers, 1860-1914 (P.C.109)
Sumner, Jethro (1733-1785), Papers, 1760-1784 (P.C.83)
Swain, David L. (1801-1868), Papers, 1763-1895 (P.C.84)
Swepson, George W. (1819-1883), Papers, 1852-1874 (P.C.85)
Talley, Mary Colvert, Collection, 1789-1902 (P.C.1670.1)
Thomas, Abishai, Papers, 1789-1795 (P.C.86)
Thomas, J. J., Papers, ca.1840-1921 (P.C.1744)
Thorpe, John H., Papers, 1865-1930, 1981 (P.C.1653.1-2)
Tobacco Papers, 1895 (P.C.1649.1)
Tull, Rowena Hill, Collection, 1795-1860, 1858-1895 (P.C.1767.1-2)
USS Monitor Collection, 1978 (P.C.1652)
Van Buren, Martin (1782-1862), Papers, 1824-1858 (P.C.39)
Vance, Zebulon Baird (1830-1894), Papers, 1827-1903 (P.C.15)
Vann, John (1768-1850), Papers, 1757-1938 (P.C.122)
Waddell, James Iredell (1824-1886), Papers, 1775-1919 (P.C.87)
Walker, William, Papers, 1805-1951 (P.C.1643.1)
Way, Joseph Howell, Collection, 1890-1923 (P.C.1650.1)
Webb, James (1774-1855), Papers, 1781-1846 (P.C.127)
Webb, Randolph, Papers, 1814-1869 (P.C.88)
Weil, Lionel, Papers, 1918-1919 (P.C.1728)
Whitaker, Stephen, Papers, 1853-1898 (P.C.36)
Whitefield, William, Family Papers, 1858-1880 (P.C.1777.1)
Whitford, John D. (1825-1910), Papers, 1770-1910 (P.C.89)
Wiley, Calvin H. (1819-1887), Papers, 1757-1925 (P.C.28)
Williams, Kate Middleton Pearsall, Papers, 1877-1946 (P.C.1787.1-2)
Wilson, T. A., Papers, 1929-1945 (P.C.1723.1-1 9)
Winslow, Caleb (1824-1895) and Family, Papers, 1712-1941 (P.C.90)
Worth, Jonathan (1802-1869), Papers, 1831-1889 (P.C.49)