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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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Collection Overview
| Size | 0.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 150 items) |
| Abstract | Alexander H. Graham of Hillsborough, N.C., began his public career in the North Carolina House of Representatives in 1921, becoming speaker in 1929. He chaired the committee that hired Frank Porter Graham as president of the University of North Carolina in 1930. He was lieutenant governor, 1933-1937, and head of the State Highway and Public Works Commission, 1945-1949 and 1953-1957. The collection includes correspondence and related papers, 1920-1939, of Alexander H. Graham and ledgers, 1879-1912, of his father, John Washington Graham. Correspondence, 1920-1939, is chiefly between Alexander H. Graham and relatives in Raleigh, N.C., focusing on taxes, property, and finances. Graham's interest in roads can be seen in his efforts to develop the streets around property held by his sister-in-law. Correspondence, February 1930-May 1930, relates to Graham's activities as chair of the committee that hired Frank Porter Graham as president of University of North Carolina in 1930. Correspondence, 1928-1930, concerns North Carolina political campaigns. There are also constituent letters from Graham's tenure in the North Carolina House of Representatives and a signed affidavit from Graham's swearing in as executive counsel. One ledger contains two accounts for which Graham's father, John Washington Graham, was trustee: the Sinking Fund of the North Carolina Railroad Company, 1879-1889; and an account relating to John Washington Graham's first wife, Rebecca Beneham Cameron Anderson Graham, and to the estate of her father, Paul C. Cameron, 1891-1910. The other ledger contains financial information for two accounts of John Washington Graham as guardian for his children, 1895-1912. |
| Creator | Graham, Alexander H., 1890-1977. |
| Curatorial Unit | Southern Historical Collection |
| Language | English. |
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Information For Users
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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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Biographical Information
Alexander H. Graham ("Sandy") was born in Hillsborough, N.C., the only child of the second marriage of his father, Major John Washington Graham, to Maggie Forrester Bailey. He had five older siblings (Paul Cameron, Isabella Davidson, William Alexander, Joseph, and Annie Cameron) from his father's first marriage to Rebecca Bennehan Cameron Anderson. Graham was married to Kathleen L. Long on 28 August 1917 and had two sons, A. H. (Sandy), Jr., and John W. Graham.
Alexander H. Graham's father was a five-time state senator. His grandfather, William Alexander Graham, had served as governor, United States senator, and secretary of the navy. His great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary War. Alexander H. Graham also distinguished himself in public life, serving as lieutenant governor of North Carolina, 1933-1937, among other positions and appointments. The following list outlines Graham's career:
| 1913 | Received law degree from Harvard University |
| 1917 | Volunteered for Army |
| 1919 | Discharged from Army as a captain. Elected chair of Orange County Democratic Party |
| 1921 | Elected to North Carolina House of Representatives |
| 1927 | Chair of House Finance Committee |
| 1929 | Speaker of the House |
| 1930 | Chair of presidential search committee for University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
| 1931 | Executive counsel |
| 1933-1937 | Lieutenant governor |
| 1937 | Placed third in Democratic Party primary for governor |
| 1945-1949 | Appointed head of State Highway and Public Works Commission |
| 1953-1957 | Appointed head of State Highway and Public Works Commission |
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Scope and Content
Correspondence and related papers. 1920-1939, of Alexander H. Graham and ledgers, 1879-1912, of his father, John Washington Graham. Correspondence, 1920-1939, is chiefly between Alexander H. Graham and his half-sister, Annie Graham Smallwood (Mrs. Robert F. Smallwood) of Raleigh, N.C., focusing on taxes, property, and finances. Graham's interest in roads can be seen in his efforts to develop the streets around her property. Correspondence, February 1930-May 1930, relates to Graham's activities as chair of the committee that hired Frank Porter Graham as president of the University of North Carolina in 1930. Correspondence, 1928-1930, concerns North Carolina political campaigns. There are also constituent letters from Graham's tenure in the North Carolina House of Representatives and a signed affidavit from Graham's swearing in as executive counsel.
One ledger contains two accounts for which Graham's father, John Washington Graham, was trustee: the Sinking Fund of the North Carolina Railroad Company, 1879-1889; and an account relating to John Washington Graham's first wife, Rebecca Beneham Cameron Anderson Graham, and to the estate of her father, Paul C. Cameron, 1891-1910. The other ledger contains financial information for two accounts of John Washington Graham as guardian for his children, 1895-1912.
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Papers, 1879-1939.
Correspondence and related papers, 1920-1939, of Alexander H. Graham and ledgers, 1879-1912, of his father, John Washington Graham.
Correspondence and Related Papers:
1920-1939. Letters chiefly between Alexander H. Graham and his half-sister, Annie Graham Smallwood (Mrs. Robert F. Smallwood), focus on taxes, property, and finances. Property taxes on land she owned off Oberlin and Peace streets in Raleigh, N.C., forced her to take out loans and sell parcels. Graham's interest in roads can be seen in his efforts to develop the streets around the property.
February 1930-May 1930. Correspondence documenting nominations, interviews, and decisions made by Graham as president of the search committee to hire the new president of the University of North Carolina. Of particular interest are positive and negative letters regarding the nomination of Frank Porter Graham and a telegram from him refusing to be considered for the presidency as late as May 1930. Frank Porter Graham was hired in 1930 as president.
1928-1930. Correspondence concerning North Carolina political campaigns. There are also constituent letters from Graham's tenure in the North Carolina House of Representatives and a signed affidavit from Graham's swearing in as executive counsel.
Ledgers:
Ledger, 1879-1910, One ledger, 170 p. Contains financial details from two separate accounts for which Graham's father, John Washington Graham, was trustee. The first concerns the Sinking Fund of the North Carolina Railroad Company, 1879-1889. It includes an 1879 judgment regarding the fund. The second account concerns the "Children of R. B. Graham" (Rebecca Beneham Cameron Anderson Graham), John Washington Graham's first wife, and the estate of her father, Paul C. Cameron, with transactions, 1891-1910.
Ledger, 1895-1912, 25 p. Contains financial information for two accounts of John Washington Graham as guardian for his children. The first involves William A. Graham, Joseph Graham, and Annie C. Graham and details transactions between 1895 and 1899. The second account is for Annie C. Graham, with transactions from 1895 to 1912. Enclosures are a bank deposit slip and tax receipts found in this ledger.
| Folder 1 |
Correspondence, 1920-1939 |
| Folder 2 |
Correspondence, 1930 |
| Folder 3 |
Correspondence, 1928-1930 |
| Folder 4 |
Ledger, 1879-1910 |
| Folder 5 |
Ledger, 1895-1912 |
| Folder 6 |
Enclosures from ledger, 1895-1912 |