East Carolina University

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University Archives
Joyner Library
East Carolina University
East Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858-4353 USA
Phone: 252.328.6671
Fax: 252.328.0268
Email: University Archives Information Request Form
Home page: University Archives Home Page

©2004. J.Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. All rights reserved.

Subseries 1 Robert H. Wright Speech File 1907-1934

Transcripts, notes and other speech-related material from President Wright's speeches. The bulk of the material consists of chapel talks given to students from 9:30 to 10:25 six days a week. Chapel talks consisted of a reading from the Bible followed by Wright's thoughts regarding the passage or some other moral instruction for the students, along with any news, schedule changes, or other announcements. Topics range from specific incidents on campus and education of teachers to world events. Changes in culture, the affects of World War I and the Great Depression are often mentioned. Generally the chapel talks were transcribed after they were delivered. The sub-series also includes commencement addresses, newspaper articles and speeches given to various civic and professional groups. Most of these speeches are typed; a few are handwritten. The material is arranged chronologically and a brief description of each is given. Filders 3 -13 contain chapel talks unless otherwise noted. Undated materials are found in folders 14 and 15. Handwritten materials are identified with ms.

Box 1  

Folder 1   1907-1909

Thesis on psychology; commencement addresses, inaugural address , and speeches delivered to community groups regarding education.

Folder 2   1910-1918

Chapel Talks, convocations, notes for speeches, Training School Quarterly , commencements, obituaries of W.H. Ragsdale and Thomas J. Jarvis . Opening ceremony for 1911 ECTTS school year. .

Folder 3   1922-1923

Chapel Talks on topics obituary of C.W. Wilson , YWCA, American Education Week, immigrants, service, politics and voting.

Folder 4   1924-1925

Chapel Talks regarding funding for education, cooperation, Sam Underwood, Day Students, evolution , and education.

Folder 5   1926

Chapel Talks regarding need for teachers, success, failure, women's responsibilities , YWCA, North Carolina Teaching Certification system, World War I, and war.

Folder 6   1927

Chapel Talks regarding eight-month school year, politics, knowledge , movies, democracy, May Day Festival, race relations, history of ECTC , and fire at Greenville Grammar School.

Folder 7   1928

Chapel Talks regarding American Association of Teachers Colleges, Mother's Day, Education, YWCA, ECTTS, library rules, parking, voting, American Education Week, Armistice Day, citizenship, and religion.

Folder 8   1929

Chapel Talks regarding flu epidemic, O. Max Gardner, citizenship, NC General Assembly, National Education Association of Teachers Colleges, commencement, and religion.

Folder 9   1930

Chapel Talks regarding Masters program, money, student government, North Carolina Education Association, taxation, Memorial Day, commencement, and morals.

Folder 10   1931

Chapel Talks regarding depression, legislature, taxation, convocation, YWCA, and Thanksgiving.

Folder 11   1932

Chapel Talks regarding Y-Store , Genesis, convocation, Thanksgiving, and economy.

Folder 12   1933

Chapel Talks regarding influenza, school loan fund, Franklin D. Roosevelt, economy, prohibition, cheating, tuition, visitation regulations , Founder's Day, Teco Echo, and education.

Box 2  

Folder 1   1934

Chapel Talks regarding global culture, Franklin Roosevelt, socialism, capitalism, communism, automobiles on campus, student handbook , vandalism, and boys.

Folder 2   ca. 1894-1921

Speeches and chapel talks regarding education, New Bern Academy, Eastern High School commencement, Joyner School , Alaska, Normal schools, Roundtable Organization, German schools and school government.

Folder 3   ca. 1907-1934

Various materials related to speeches given by Robert Wright between 1907 and 1934, includes a list of vocabulary words and an anecdote regarding religion.