This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | 1.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 180 items) |
Abstract | John Manning was a lawyer of Pittsboro, N.C.; U.S. representative from North Carolina; and professor of law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The collection includes correspondence, financial and legal items, drafts of speeches and articles, and teaching notes. Papers pertain to Manning's work as a lawyer, as receiver for the Confederate States of America, and as a law professor at the University of North Carolina, including his commentary on Blackstone, which he used in teaching; and to Manning's wife, Louise Hall Manning. |
Creator | Manning, John, 1830-1899. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
John Manning was born on 30 July 1830, at Edenton, North Carolina, the son of United States naval captain, John Manning. He was graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1850, was licensed to practice law in 1853, and settled in Pittsboro, North Carolina, where he married Louisa J. Hall in 1856. While serving as first lieutenant of the "Chatham Rifles" in 1861, Manning was elected delegate to the Secession Convention; he was appointed as a receiver of the Confederate States of America later that year.
In 1870, Manning was elected to the 41st Congress to complete the unexpired term of John T. Deweese. In 1880, he served in the state legislature, where he introduced the first bill to provide an annual state appropriation for the University of North Carolina. In 1881, Manning was elected professor of law at the University, a position he held, while maintaining a private law practice, until his death in 1899.
Among his seven children were: Issac Hall Manning, Dean of the University of North Carolina Medical School, 1905-1933, and James Smith Manning, N. C. Attorney General and Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court.
Back to TopMost of the collection consists of correspondence. Several letters are addressed to persons other than John Manning. These persons are sometimes, but not always, members of the Manning family. After 1899, the correspondence becomes almost exclusively letters from family members and merchants to Louisa Manning.
Several legal and financial items touch on slavery matters, while others are related to Manning's position as a receiver for the Confederate States of America.
The material on the University of North Carolina consists primarily of drafts and copies of letters, articles, and speeches by Manning refuting attacks on state funding for the University. There are also some items pertaining to the early days of the Law School.
The volumes contain Manning's commentaries on Blackstone, which were used in his law classes.
Back to TopArrangement: chronological.
Chiefly letters to John Manning or his wife. Among early items is a letter from John Pike of Ocracoke, NC, to Thomas Charleton (connection with Manning unknown) with justification for establishment of a lighthouse at Ocracoke (1840). Correspondence of Manning includes: two letters about war progress (1861); copies of two letters from John Manning to Englehard & Saunders about constitutional convention (1874); and copies of two letters from John Manning to Thomas Ruffin about Manning's running for judgeship.
Correspondence after 1899 consists of letters from various family members and merchants to Louisa Manning. These letters concern family life.
Letters relating to the University of North Carolina are in Series 3.
Folder 1 |
1829-1854 |
Folder 2 |
1861-1880 |
Folder 3 |
1885-1893 |
Folder 4 |
1895-1900 |
Folder 5 |
1903 |
Folder 6 |
1904 |
Folder 7 |
February - September 1905 |
Folder 8 |
October 1905 |
Folder 9 |
November 1905 |
Folder 10 |
December 1905, 1906, 1913 |
Folder 11 |
undated |
Arrangement: chronological.
Deeds, agreements, receipts and other items, including documents bearing on slave disputes (1856, 1859); a statement of fees for a doctor's services (1851-52); six items related to John Manning's work as receiver of the Confederate States of America (Pamlico or Albemarle district?), (1861, 1863-65); and five account books noting daily expenditures.
Folder 12 |
1833-1859 |
Folder 13 |
1861-1865 and undated |
Folder 14 |
Five small account books, 1858-1901 |
Arrangement: chronological.
Drafts and copies of letters, speeches, and articles refuting attacks on state funding for higher education (1894), Manning's annual Law Department reports to the University (1896, 1898), and other items.
Folder 15 |
1888-1899 and undated |
Bound typescripts of John Manning's commentaries on Blackstone, which were used in classes he taught at the University of North Carolina.
Folder 16 |
Volume 1: "On Blackstone," Books 1 and 4 |
Folder 17 |
Volume 2: "On Blackstone," Books 2 and 3 |
Folder 18 |
Volume 3: "On Blackstone," Books 2, 3, 4 |
Folder 19 |
Volume 4: "Notes on First Blackstone and Adams' Equity" copy owned and annotated by William W. Vass Junior(Note: Manning's notes on Blackstone, Book 1, have been published--Chapel Hill: The University Press, 1899.) |