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William C. Friday and President John F. Kennedy at University Day, October 12, 1961; P0046_0013_0002, in the William C. Friday Photographic Collection (P0046), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Size | 1.75 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 375 items) |
Abstract | William Clyde Friday was born in 1920 in Raphine, Va., and grew up in Dallas, Gaston County, N.C. He graduated from the Law School of the University of North Carolina in 1948, after which he served as assistant dean of students and was named assistant to University President Gordon Gray in 1951. Friday was appointed secretary of the University in 1955, named acting president of the Consolidated University of North Carolina (North Carolina State College (Raleigh), the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), and Woman's College (Greensboro)) in 1956, and became president later in the year. In 1971, the General Assembly restructured higher education in North Carolina, and the Consolidated University became the University of North Carolina System. On 1 July 1972, Friday became president of the new system. He served in that capacity for 30 years, during which time the University System grew to 16 campuses. Friday retired in 1986, after which he became president of the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, guiding the philanthropy's support of educational endeavors. The collection consists of photographs, 1951-1980s, that relate to William C. Friday, primarily his activities as president of the University of North Carolina system. Topics include Friday's inauguration; the 1961 visit of President John F. Kennedy to the University of North Carolina; the UNC Board of Trustees; and Friday's television interview program, North Carolina People, which he began in 1971. Many well-known North Carolinians and other individuals are represented in the images. |
Creator | Friday, William C. (William Clyde) |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives. |
Language | English |
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William Clyde Friday was born on 13 July 1920 in Raphine, Va., the son of David L. and Mary E. Rowan Friday. The family moved to North Carolina. and Friday grew up in Dallas, GastonCounty. After attending Wake Forest College. he graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. degree in textile engineering in 1941.
Friday married Ida Howell on 13 May 1942 and served as a lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve from 1942 until 1946. He received the LL.B. degree from the Law School of the University of North Carolina. He then served as assistant dean of students at the University of North Carolina and was named assistant to University President Gordon Gray in 1951. He was appointed secretary of the University in 1955, named acting president of the Consolidated University of North Carolina (North Carolina State College (Raleigh), the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), and Woman's College (Greensboro)) in 1956, and became president later in the year. In 1971, the General Assembly restructured higher education in North Carolina, and the Consolidated University became the University of North Carolina System. On 1 July 1972, Friday became president of the new system. He served in that capacity for 30 years, during which time the University System grew to 16 campuses.
Friday chaired the American Council on Education in 1964, the President's Task Force on Education in 1966-1967, the Association of American Universities in 1971, and the Center for Creative Leadership in 1981. He served on the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, the Commission to Study the State University of New York, the Southern Regional Education Board, the Commission of White House Fellows (1965-1968), the National Committee for Bicentennial Era, the Commission of National Changes in Higher Education, the Governors Commission on Literacy (1987), the Regional Literacy Center Commission (1989-1990), the Southern Growth Policies Board, and the Knight Foundation National Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics (1989-1993). Friday received numerous honorary degrees from institutions of higher learning.
Following his retirement as UNC system president, Friday took a position as president of the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, guiding the philanthropy's support of educational endeavors. He retired from public service in 1999. As of 2011, Friday remains influential in North Carolina and serves as host of a public television talk show, North Carolina People, which he began in 1971.
Back to TopThe collection consists of photographs, 1951-1980s, that relate to William C. Friday, primarily his activities as president of the University of North Carolina system. Topics represented include Friday's 1957 inauguration, the 1961 visit of President John F. Kennedy to the University of North Carolina, the UNC Board of Trustees, and Friday's television interview program, North Carolina People.
Prominent individuals represented in the Collection include presidents John F. Kennedy, Richard M. Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, and Gerald R. Ford; North Carolina governors Luther H. Hodges, Terry Sanford, Dan K. Moore, James G. Martin, James B. Hunt and Robert W. Scott; Friday's wife Ida Howell Friday; C.D. Spangler, William B. Aycock, Robert B. House, Leo Jenkins, Frank P. Graham, Kay Kyser, David Brinkley, William J. Bennett, Tom Wicker, Skipper Bowles, Kay Yow, and James Broyhill.
Also included are a small number of copy negatives and original illustrations and political cartoons depicting Friday.
Back to TopArrangement: Chronological, with undated images at end.
Processed by: North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, 1992; Elizabeth Hull, 2011
Encoded by: Tracy M Jackson, Elizabeth Hull, 2010-2011
Updated by: Nancy Kaiser, October 2020; Patrick Cullom, March 2021
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