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Collection Number: P0094

Collection Title: William Starr Myers Images, circa 1840s-1915

This collection has access restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.

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 60 items 1.5 linear feet
Abstract The collection of white University of North Carolina Alum, William Starr Myers (1877-1956), consists primarily of images depicting William Starr Myers and his family, including portraits and outdoor group scenes. Also included is an ambrotype portrait of an enslaved Black man identified as "Jed (or Jerry?) last slave of the Morford family" holding a young white girl identified as Elizabeth Morford. The collection consists of daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, (modern) copy negatives, and photographic prints. Some copy prints and negatives were made of images that were discarded. The majority of the daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes are encased.
Creator Myers, William Starr, 1877-1956.
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives.
Language English
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Restrictions to Access
The items in this collection are extremely fragile due to their age, the materials used to make them, and the fact that they are all unique originals. Tintypes have no equivalent of a negative and cannot be physically reproduced. Researchers may be presented with a digital copy instead of original materials if the Photographic Archivist has determined the original should not be handled.
Restrictions to Use
No usage restrictions.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the William Starr Myers Images #P0094, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Special Collections Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received to the Southern Historical Collection from Mrs. Margaret Myers McLean, daughter of William Starr Myers, in 1988. Transferred to the North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives in June 1988.
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: North Carolina Collection and Tracy M. Jackson, February 2011

Encoded by: Tracy M. Jackson and Patrick Cullom, November 2014

Updated by: Patrick Cullom, August 2022

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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

William Starr Myers, son of J. Norris Myers and Laura Virginia Starr Myers, was born on 17 June 1877 in Baltimore, Md. In 1890, the Myers family moved to Asheville, N.C., where J. Norris Myers operated a shoe store. William Starr Myers received his A.B. degree from the University of North Carolina in 1897 and his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1900. At the University of North Carolina, Myers was a member of Beta Theta Pi and Phi Beta Kappa. He was editor of the university yearbook, the Hellenian, and of the newspaper, the Tar Heel. He also wrote the words for Hail to the Brightest Star, sung to the tune of an old college song, called Amici and performed for the first time by the University Glee Club in 1897. This song evolved into the University of North Carolina alma mater, Hark the Sound. Myers was a master at the Gilman School for Boys in Baltimore, Md., 1900-1906, and then was assistant professor and preceptor at Princeton University, 1906-1918. He was a professor at Princeton from 1918 until his death in 1956. William Starr Myers married Margaret Barr on 8 June 1910.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The images in this collection consist primarily of William Starr Myers and his family. Images of William Starr Myers include portraits as a child and as an adult, images of large and small groups including a large party outdoors, and portraits of William Starr Myers as a student with classmates. Images of extended family members include John Norris Myers, Laura Virginia Starr Myers, and Mary Rooker Norris, among others. Also included is an ambrotype portrait of an enslaved Black man identified as "Jed (or Jerry?) last slave of the Morford family" holding a young white girl identified as Elizabeth Morford. The collection consists of daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, and photographic prints. The majority of the daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes are encased.

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse William Starr Myers Images, circa 1840s-1915.

68 items.

Arrangement: subject.

Descriptions in quotation marks were transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Image Folder PF-P0094/1-8

PF-P0094/1

PF-P0094/2

PF-P0094/3

PF-P0094/4

PF-P0094/5

PF-P0094/6

PF-P0094/7

PF-P0094/8

Portraits of William Starr Myers, circa 1881-1915

12 images

Black-and-white photographic prints and negatives (copy)

Image Folder PF-P0094/9-24

PF-P0094/9

PF-P0094/10

PF-P0094/11

PF-P0094/12

PF-P0094/13

PF-P0094/14

PF-P0094/15

PF-P0094/16

PF-P0094/17

PF-P0094/18

PF-P0094/19

PF-P0094/20

PF-P0094/21

PF-P0094/22

PF-P0094/23

PF-P0094/24

Portraits of William Starr Myers with unidentified groups, circa 1887-1906

17 images

Black-and-white photographic prints and negatives (copy)

Images include portraits of William Starr Myers as a child standing with other children, as a student with classmates, outdoors with a large group of people, and seated with small groups.

Image Folder PF-P0094/32

Tintype photograph album of Myers and Starr families, circa 1890s

17 images

Tintypes

Descriptions in quotation marks were transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Images include portraits of William Starr Myers and other family members. Inside front cover has note that reads "Thomas M. Myers from Mamma."

Image Folder PF-P0094/33

Portrait of William Starr Myers, circa 1887

1 image

Tintype

Housed in original paper sleeve; 1/4 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/34

"Uncle Jed (or Jerry) and Elizabeth Morford," circa 1852-1880

1 image

Ambrotype

Title transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Original notes indicated the Black man depicted in image was enslaved at one point in his life. Original notes read "Uncle Jed (or Jerry?) last slave of the Morford family holding Elizabeth Morford daughter of Jarrell and Catherine (Crawford). New Jersey."

Encased; 1/4 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/35

"John Norris Myers," circa 1851

1 image

Daguerreotype

Title transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Original notes read "Born Nov. 17th, 1842. Aged at this picture 9 years. Taken in N.Y. at Crystal palace (?) 1851. Died July 27, 1929."

Encased; 1/6 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/25-28

PF-P0094/25

PF-P0094/26

PF-P0094/27

PF-P0094/28

"John Norris Myers," circa 1860-1891

4 images

Black-and-white photographic prints and negatives (copy)

Title transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Three portraits of John Norris Myers and one image of group including John Norris Myers. Some additional information on verso.

Image Folder PF-P0094/36

"Katherine Myers," circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Daguerreotype

Title transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Original notes indicated "Katharine Myers is the sister of Rev. Thomas Myers (1813-1894). They were the children of John Myers and Charlotte (Miller) Myers."

Encased; 1/4 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/37

"Mary Rooker Norris," circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Daguerreotype

Title transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Original notes indicated image depicts "Grandmother of J. Norris Myers, Jr. (1785-1868)."

Encased; 1/9 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/38

"Abram Osborn," circa 1856-1900

1 image

Tintype

Title transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Original notes indicated image depicts "Father of Mary Osborn Morford."

Encased; 1/4 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/39

"Ann C. Starr," circa 1852-1880

1 image

Ambrotype

Title transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Original notes indicated image depicts "Ann Catherine Starr (1840-1898)" and "Aunt Kate"

Encased; 1/4 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/40

"Wesley Starr," circa 1859

1 image

Ambrotype

Title transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Original notes indicated image depicts "Mr. Wesley Starr (Oct. 3, 1789 - May 9, 1866) of Baltimore, MD, a cousin of my grandfather, Oliver Starr of Deerfield(?). Taken about 1859 at Cambridge, Mass."

Encased; 1/2 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/41

"William M. Starr," circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Daguerreotype

Title transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Encased; 1/4 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/29-31

PF-P0094/29

PF-P0094/30

PF-P0094/31

Group portraits of Starr and Myers family members, circa 1890-1899

3 images

Black-and-white photographic prints and negatives (copy)

Descriptions in quotation marks were transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Original notes indicated image depicts "Laura Virginia Starr Myers" and a group image including Kate Starr, "Grandma Starr," and Norris and Tom Myers." Some images include additional information written on verso.

Image Folder PF-P0094/42

Portrait of unidentified white man, circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Daguerreotype

Encased; 1/6 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/43

Portrait of unidentified white man and woman, circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Daguerreotype

Encased; 1/6 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/44

Portrait of unidentified white man and woman, circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Daguerreotype

Encased; 1/6 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/45

Portrait of unidentified white man, circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Ambrotype

Encased; 1/6 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/46

Portrait of unidentified white woman, circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Ambrotype

Encased; 1/6 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/47

Portrait of unidentified white woman and two white girls, circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Ambrotype

Encased; 1/6 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/48

Portrait of unidentified white man, circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Tintype

Descriptions in quotation marks were transcribed from original captions or notes found with materials.

Encased; 1/6 plate.

Original notes indicated image depicts "Barr family."

Image Folder PF-P0094/49

Portrait of unidentified white woman, circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Tintype

Encased; 1/6 plate.

Image Folder PF-P0094/50

Portrait of unidentified white woman and two white boys, circa 1840s-1860

1 image

Tintype

Encased; 1/4 plate.

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