N.C. Office of Archives and History
Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina
Marker Inscription
N.C. Office Of Archives And History. Organized as the N.C. Historical Commission in 1903; R. D. W. Connor, first secretary. Moved to this building, 1968.
Erected by North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
The Story
North Carolina's official memory-keeping began in 1903 with the creation of the state Historical Commission, led by its first secretary, R. D. W. Connor. Over the decades it grew into the Office of Archives and History, gathering and guarding the state's public records. It moved to this building in 1968.
Why it matters
The agency reflects the Progressive-era belief that a state should systematically preserve its own history as a public trust.
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Related people
- ยท R. D. W. Connor
Themes & tags
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