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Collection Number: 03824

Collection Title: Gordon Gray Papers, 1919-1982

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.


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Size 47.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 24,000 items)
Abstract Gordon Gray (1909-1982) was a white lawyer, politician, public servant, newspaper publisher, radio and television station owner, and president of the University of North Carolina, 1950-1955. The collection consists of personal papers, office files, organizational records, photographs, and other material of Gordon Gray. Included is correspondence concerning Gray's newspaper, radio, and television interests in Winston-Salem, N.C.; his work with Wake Forest College, Bowman Gray Medical School, and the University of North Carolina system; his connections to President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration; the trial between Piedmont Publishing Company and Charles ("Buddy") Rogers and his wife, Mary Pickford; and family, civic, and other business matters. The collection is especially rich concerning Gray's interest in historic preservation. His work with the Young Democratic Clubs of North Carolina, the Commission on the Financing of Hospital Care, and his terms in the North Carolina state senate are also represented. There are also genealogical materials Gray's Jewish ancestry. Volumes include scrapbooks, letters of appreciation, and appointment books.
Creator Gray, Gordon, 1909-1982.
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Language English
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Restrictions to Access
No restrictions. Open for research.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Gordon Gray Papers #3824, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Special Collections Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received chiefly from Gordon Gray, with some material from other sources, 1969-1986; Judith Endelman in November 2015 (Acc. 102458); and the Gray family in December 2019 (Acc. 103764) and January 2020 (Acc. 20200228.1).
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Processing Information

Processed by: Karen Jackson; David Weber, 1975; January 1988

Encoded by: Kathryn Michaelis, August 2010

Revisions by: Nancy Kaiser, January 2020; Nancy Kaiser and Nicholas Graham, March 2020; Nancy Kaiser, January 2021; Dawne Howard Lucas and Nicholas Graham, July 2021

The original series structure of this collection has been dismantled.

Since August 2017, we have added ethnic and racial identities for individuals and families represented in collections. To determine identity, we rely on self-identification; other information supplied to the repository by collection creators or sources; public records, press accounts, and secondary sources; and contextual information in the collection materials. Omissions of ethnic and racial identities in finding aids created or updated after August 2017 are an indication of insufficient information to make an educated guess or an individual's preference for identity information to be excluded from description. When we have misidentified, please let us know at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subject Headings

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.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Biographical Information

Gordon Gray (1909-1982) was a white lawyer, politician, public servant, newspaper publisher, radio and television station owner, and president of the University of North Carolina, 1950-1955.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The collection consists of personal papers, office files, organizational records, photographs, and other material of Gordon Gray. Included is correspondence concerning Gray's newspaper, radio, and television interests in Winston- Salem, N.C.; his work with Wake Forest College, Bowman Gray Medical School, and the University of North Carolina system; his connections with President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration; the trial between Piedmont Publishing Company and Charles ("Buddy") Rogers and his wife, Mary Pickford; and family, civic, and other business matters. The collection is especially rich concerning Gray's interest in historic preservation. His work with the Young Democratic Clubs of North Carolina, the Commission on the Financing of Hospital Care, and his terms in the North Carolina state senate are also represented. There are also genealogical materials Gray's Jewish ancestry. Volumes include scrapbooks, letters of appreciation, and appointment books.

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Contents list

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. Papers, 1919-1969 and undated (Original Deposit)

About 21,000 items.

Arrangement: primarily chronological.

This series includes Gray's personal papers and office files as well as materials relating to the Young Democratic Clubs of North America, the North Carolina State Senate, the Commission on Financing of Hospital Care, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Folder 1-130

Folder 1

Folder 2

Folder 3

Folder 4

Folder 5

Folder 6

Folder 7

Folder 8

Folder 9

Folder 10

Folder 11

Folder 12

Folder 13

Folder 14

Folder 15

Folder 16

Folder 17

Folder 18

Folder 19

Folder 20

Folder 21

Folder 22

Folder 23

Folder 24

Folder 25

Folder 26

Folder 27

Folder 28

Folder 29

Folder 30

Folder 31

Folder 32

Folder 33

Folder 34

Folder 35

Folder 36

Folder 37

Folder 38

Folder 39

Folder 40

Folder 41

Folder 42

Folder 43

Folder 44

Folder 45

Folder 46

Folder 47

Folder 48

Folder 49

Folder 50

Folder 51

Folder 52

Folder 53

Folder 54

Folder 55

Folder 56

Folder 57

Folder 58

Folder 59

Folder 60

Folder 61

Folder 62

Folder 63

Folder 64

Folder 65

Folder 66

Folder 67

Folder 68

Folder 69

Folder 70

Folder 71

Folder 72

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Folder 74

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Folder 76

Folder 77

Folder 78

Folder 79

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Folder 82

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Folder 87

Folder 88

Folder 89

Folder 90

Folder 91

Folder 92

Folder 93

Folder 94

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Folder 96

Folder 97

Folder 98

Folder 99

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Folder 101

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Folder 104

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Folder 108

Folder 109

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Folder 111

Folder 112

Folder 113

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Folder 115

Folder 116

Folder 117

Folder 118

Folder 119

Folder 120

Folder 121

Folder 122

Folder 123

Folder 124

Folder 125

Folder 126

Folder 127

Folder 128

Folder 129

Folder 130

Personal papers and office files, 1919-1947

Folder 131-186

Folder 131

Folder 132

Folder 133

Folder 134

Folder 135

Folder 136

Folder 137

Folder 138

Folder 139

Folder 140

Folder 141

Folder 142

Folder 143

Folder 144

Folder 145

Folder 146

Folder 147

Folder 148

Folder 149

Folder 150

Folder 151

Folder 152

Folder 153

Folder 154

Folder 155

Folder 156

Folder 157

Folder 158

Folder 159

Folder 160

Folder 161

Folder 162

Folder 163

Folder 164

Folder 165

Folder 166

Folder 167

Folder 168

Folder 169

Folder 170

Folder 171

Folder 172

Folder 173

Folder 174

Folder 175

Folder 176

Folder 177

Folder 178

Folder 179

Folder 180

Folder 181

Folder 182

Folder 183

Folder 184

Folder 185

Folder 186

Personal papers and office files, September 1947-1955

Folder 187-246

Folder 187

Folder 188

Folder 189

Folder 190

Folder 191

Folder 192

Folder 193

Folder 194

Folder 195

Folder 196

Folder 197

Folder 198

Folder 199

Folder 200

Folder 201

Folder 202

Folder 203

Folder 204

Folder 205

Folder 206

Folder 207

Folder 208

Folder 209

Folder 210

Folder 211

Folder 212

Folder 213

Folder 214

Folder 215

Folder 216

Folder 217

Folder 218

Folder 219

Folder 220

Folder 221

Folder 222

Folder 223

Folder 224

Folder 225

Folder 226

Folder 227

Folder 228

Folder 229

Folder 230

Folder 231

Folder 232

Folder 233

Folder 234

Folder 235

Folder 236

Folder 237

Folder 238

Folder 239

Folder 240

Folder 241

Folder 242

Folder 243

Folder 244

Folder 245

Folder 246

Personal papers and office files, 1956-January 1961

Folder 247-311

Folder 247

Folder 248

Folder 249

Folder 250

Folder 251

Folder 252

Folder 253

Folder 254

Folder 255

Folder 256

Folder 257

Folder 258

Folder 259

Folder 260

Folder 261

Folder 262

Folder 263

Folder 264

Folder 265

Folder 266

Folder 267

Folder 268

Folder 269

Folder 270

Folder 271

Folder 272

Folder 273

Folder 274

Folder 275

Folder 276

Folder 277

Folder 278

Folder 279

Folder 280

Folder 281

Folder 282

Folder 283

Folder 284

Folder 285

Folder 286

Folder 287

Folder 288

Folder 289

Folder 290

Folder 291

Folder 292

Folder 293

Folder 294

Folder 295

Folder 296

Folder 297

Folder 298

Folder 299

Folder 300

Folder 301

Folder 302

Folder 303

Folder 304

Folder 305

Folder 306

Folder 307

Folder 308

Folder 309

Folder 310

Folder 311

Personal papers and office files, 1961-1969

Folder 312-329

Folder 312

Folder 313

Folder 314

Folder 315

Folder 316

Folder 317

Folder 318

Folder 319

Folder 320

Folder 321

Folder 322

Folder 323

Folder 324

Folder 325

Folder 326

Folder 327

Folder 328

Folder 329

Personal papers and office files, miscellaneous and undated

Folder 330-421

Folder 330

Folder 331

Folder 332

Folder 333

Folder 334

Folder 335

Folder 336

Folder 337

Folder 338

Folder 339

Folder 340

Folder 341

Folder 342

Folder 343

Folder 344

Folder 345

Folder 346

Folder 347

Folder 348

Folder 349

Folder 350

Folder 351

Folder 352

Folder 353

Folder 354

Folder 355

Folder 356

Folder 357

Folder 358

Folder 359

Folder 360

Folder 361

Folder 362

Folder 363

Folder 364

Folder 365

Folder 366

Folder 367

Folder 368

Folder 369

Folder 370

Folder 371

Folder 372

Folder 373

Folder 374

Folder 375

Folder 376

Folder 377

Folder 378

Folder 379

Folder 380

Folder 381

Folder 382

Folder 383

Folder 384

Folder 385

Folder 386

Folder 387

Folder 388

Folder 389

Folder 390

Folder 391

Folder 392

Folder 393

Folder 394

Folder 395

Folder 396

Folder 397

Folder 398

Folder 399

Folder 400

Folder 401

Folder 402

Folder 403

Folder 404

Folder 405

Folder 406

Folder 407

Folder 408

Folder 409

Folder 410

Folder 411

Folder 412

Folder 413

Folder 414

Folder 415

Folder 416

Folder 417

Folder 418

Folder 419

Folder 420

Folder 421

Young Democratic Clubs of North America materials

Folder 422-440

Folder 422

Folder 423

Folder 424

Folder 425

Folder 426

Folder 427

Folder 428

Folder 429

Folder 430

Folder 431

Folder 432

Folder 433

Folder 434

Folder 435

Folder 436

Folder 437

Folder 438

Folder 439

Folder 440

North Carolina State Senate materials

Folder 441-456

Folder 441

Folder 442

Folder 443

Folder 444

Folder 445

Folder 446

Folder 447

Folder 448

Folder 449

Folder 450

Folder 451

Folder 452

Folder 453

Folder 454

Folder 455

Folder 456

Commission on Financing of Hospital Care materials

Folder 457-525

Folder 457

Folder 458

Folder 459

Folder 460

Folder 461

Folder 462

Folder 463

Folder 464

Folder 465

Folder 466

Folder 467

Folder 468

Folder 469

Folder 470

Folder 471

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Folder 476

Folder 477

Folder 478

Folder 479

Folder 480

Folder 481

Folder 482

Folder 483

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Folder 486

Folder 487

Folder 488

Folder 489

Folder 490

Folder 491

Folder 492

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Folder 494

Folder 495

Folder 496

Folder 497

Folder 498

Folder 499

Folder 500

Folder 501

Folder 502

Folder 503

Folder 504

Folder 505

Folder 506

Folder 507

Folder 508

Folder 509

Folder 510

Folder 511

Folder 512

Folder 513

Folder 514

Folder 515

Folder 516

Folder 517

Folder 518

Folder 519

Folder 520

Folder 521

Folder 522

Folder 523

Folder 524

Folder 525

National Trust for Historic Preservation materials

Oversize Volume SV-3824/1

Volume 1: Oversize scrapbook

Oversize Volume SV-3824/3

Volume 3: Oversize scrapbook

Oversize Volume SV-3824/5-7

SV-3824/5

SV-3824/6

SV-3824/7

Volumes 5-7: Oversize scrapbooks

Oversize Volume SV-3824/9-13, 15

Volumes 9-13, 15: Oversize scrapbooks

Box 27

Volumes 2, 4, 8, 14, 16-20

Primarily materials relating to Gray's publishing ventures, including Piedmont Publishing Company, the Winston-Salem Journal , and the Twin City Sentinel .

Box 28

Volumes 21-26, 1950-1955

One volume per year, 1950-1955, containing Gray's itineraries for out-of-town engagements.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1A. Papers, 1939-1982 (Additions received after 1976).

About 3,000 items.

Arrangement: by subject.

These files, arranged according to subjects assigned by Gray, contain correspondence with influential individuals and with researchers interested in Gray's memories of the Truman and Eisenhower administrations, as well as material relating to various awards and honors. This material also reflects Gray's activities as a member or chair of several corporate and advisory boards and as a trustee of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Historic preservation is a particularly prominent concern in these files, documented by material relating both to Gray's association with the National Trust and to his interest in the restoration of historical landmarks. Also well represented is Gray's involvement in organizations and projects commemorating the history of American government, especially of the United States Army, during the period in which he was a prominent figure.

Most items in this series are letters, but printed material, speeches, photographs, and newspaper clippings are also included. Many of the clippings predate the bulk of this accession.

Folder 526

Alfalfa Club

Folder 527

American Cause

Folder 528

American Institue of Architects

Folder 529-531

Folder 529

Folder 530

Folder 531

Archives

Correspondence with various archival institutions regarding depositing Gray's papers.

Folder 532

Atlas Powder Company Luncheon, 5 December 1949

Folder 533

Avalon Foundation

Folder 534-537

Folder 534

Folder 535

Folder 536

Folder 537

Bowman Gray School of Medicine

Folder 538

Omar N. Bradley Foundation

Folder 539

Christ Church Parish Bicentennial Committee

Folder 540-544

Folder 540

Folder 541

Folder 542

Folder 543

Folder 544

Clippings

From various newspapers (particularly Winston-Salem and Washington, D.C.), these clippings chronicle many of the notable events in Gray's public and private life, from the late 1930s, when he formed Piedmont Publishing and was first elected state senator from Forsyth County, to his philanthropic years, the 1970s and early 1980s.

Folder 545

"Communist Party, USA": Federal Bureau of Investigation memo, 24 June 1949

These files contain letters of thanks and congratulations; letters from researchers and current government figures asking for memories and opinions regarding past and present issues of national security; letters seeking Gray's recommendation for entrance into a club, school or office; letters relating to the many projects and groups with which he was involved during these years, but which were not given separate subject files; and other correspondence of a predominately private nature.

Folder 546

Correspondence: 1969-1973

Folder 547

Correspondence: 1974-1975

Folder 548

Correspondence: 1976-1977

Folder 549

Correspondence: 1978

Folder 550

Correspondence: 1979-1980

Folder 551

Correspondence: 1981-1982

Folder 552

Council for Basic Education

Folder 553-554

Folder 553

Folder 554

Crusade for Freedom, 1952

Folder 555-557

Folder 555

Folder 556

Folder 557

Crusade for Freedom, 1953

Folder 558

Dedication, Bowman Gray School of Medicine

Folder 559

DeKE Fraternity, 1951-1952

Folder 560

DeKE Fraternity, 1954-1955

Folder 561

Eisenhower Monument Committee

Folder 562

Federal City Council

Folder 563

Georgetown Waterfront

Folder 564

Frank Porter Graham

Folder 565

George C. Marshall Foundation

Folder 566

Miscellaneous

This file contains non-correspondence that is appropriate to no other subject file: certificates, programs, copies of printed material, and biographical information.

Folder 567

National Academy of Public Administration

Folder 568

National Council of Churches

This file owes its existence to the NCC's support for a national minimum wage, which Gray opposed, but it owes its noteworthiness to the glimpse it provides of certain conservative elements, particularly within the South, in 1965.

Folder 569

National Gallery of Art

Folder 570

National Infantry Museum Association

Folder 571

National Manpower Council, 1951

Folder 572

National Manpower Council, 1952-1955

Folder 573-576

Folder 573

Folder 574

Folder 575

Folder 576

National Trust for Historical Preservation

Folder 577

National Trust for Historical Preservation: "A History of the National Trust"

Folder 578

North Carolina Tuberculosis Association

Folder 579

Old Salem

Folder 580

Oral history interview about years under Truman, 1947-1951

Folder 581

Portrait by Ike

Photocopy, negative, and information about a sketch of Gray made by Dwight D. Eisenhower during a National Security Council meeting.

Folder 582

Rhodes Tavern

Folder 583

Speeches

Folder 584-585

Folder 584

Folder 585

Speech on Newspaper Topic, 23 October 1961

Folder 586

Summitt Communications, Inc.

Folder 587-588

Folder 587

Folder 588

Sylvanus Thayer Award

Folder 589

Harry S. Truman Library Foundation

Folder 590

United Givers Fund

Folder 591-594

Folder 591

Folder 592

Folder 593

Folder 594

University of North Carolina

Folder 595-596

Folder 595

Folder 596

University of North Carolina: Dr. Friday correspondence

Folder 597

University of North Carolina: 50th Reunion

Folder 598-599

Folder 598

Folder 599

White House Historical Association

Folder 600

Woodberry Forest School

Oversize Paper Folder OPF-3824/1

Diploma and various certificates of recognition

Extra Oversize Paper Folder XOPF-3824/1

Certificates of recognition

Includes a placard presented in tribute to Gray's entry into military service, signed by employees of Piedmont Publishing Company, and a certificate dated 14 March 1957, signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, appointing Gray Director of the Office of Defense Mobilization.

Image Folder PF-3824/1

Twelfth Session BCIU Training Program, circa 1960s

From left to right: Esther Cole Franklin, Gordon Gray, Harold M. Randall, Ambassador Loy Henderson, and Mrs. Randall

George C. Marshall Foundation, circa 1960s

From left to right: Gordon Gray, an unidentified individual, Robert A. Lovett, General Omar Bradley, and James Bruce

Gordon Gray, circa 1960s

Federal City Council during Gordon Gray's presidency, circa 1961-1962

Extreme left: G. Yates Cook

Orientation visit of Patrick Coyne and Gordon Gray to United States Army Intelligence School at Fort Holabird, circa 1960s(?)

Left: Major General Richard Collins, Commandant

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, circa 1970s-early 1980s

From left to right: Robert R. Garvey, Gordon Gray, and William J. Murtagh

Extra Oversize Image Folder XOP-PF-3824/1

Oil portrait of Gordon Gray, approximately 2'x 5', undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1A. Papers, 1956-1957 (Addition of December 2019).

6 items.

Acquisitions Information: Accession 103764

Letters to Gordon Gray from Robert House, Harry Truman, Kenneth C. Royall, Luther Hodges, Bill Friday, and Mamie Eisenhower.

Box 32

Letters, 1956-1957

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1A. Papers, 1950s-1982 (Addition of January 2020).

100 items.

Acquisitions Information: Accession 20200228.1

Materials created or acquired by Gordon Gray documenting different aspects of his career. Includes reports, invitations, photographs and other materials related to Gray's term as president of the University of North Carolina system and his work with the President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration. Personal materials include honorary degree certificates, clippings, and records of corporate board and private club memberships. Other topics include hereditary organization and the Gray family-owned Piedmont Publishing sale of Triangle Broadcasting Corporation, an NBC affiliate in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Box 31

Identification cards

Box 33

Papers, 1950s-1982

Oversize Paper Folder OPF-03824/2

Oversize papers

Image Box IB-03824/1

Photographs

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2A. Genealogical Research Materials, 1976-1980 (Addition of November 2015).

100 items.

Acquisitions Information: Accession 102458

Correspondence, genealogical charts, and research documentation related to Gordon Gray's Jewish ancestry. From the late 1970s through early 1980s, Gray employed Judith Endelman and other researchers and genealogists to look into his recently-discovered Jewish ancestry. Includes photocopies of original documents in Hebrew and German, family trees, and related materials, as well as a full draft of "The Paternal Ancestry of Nathalie Fontaine Lyons" by Dorothee Caruso.

Box 32

Genealogical research materials, 1976-1980

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Microfilm.

9 items.
Reel M-3824/1-9

M-3824/1

M-3824/2

M-3824/3

M-3824/4

M-3824/5

M-3824/6

M-3824/7

M-3824/8

M-3824/9

Microfilm

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Items Separated

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