Charles Bennett Deane Papers
Charles Bennett Deane was an alumnus of Wake Forest College (1923), a lawyer from Rockingham, North Carolina, and U.S. Congressional representative. His papers contain Baptist files, 1938-1958; Congressional papers, 1948-1957; Meredith College trustee files, 1947-1958; personal papers, 1865, 1918-1923 and 1938-1970; speech files, 1931-1964; and Wake Forest College/Wake Forest University files, 1929-1969.
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Summary Information
- Repository
- Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
- Title
- Charles Bennett Deane Papers
- Date
- 1919-1978 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 36.4 Linear Feet / 28 record cartons
- ID
- MS146
Biographical and Historical Note
Charles Bennett Deane was born November 1, 1898, to John L. and Florence B. Deane in Ansonville Township, Anson County, North Carolina. At an early age, Deane moved with his family to the Pee Dee Mill Village in Rockingham, Richmond County, North Carolina His early education was at the Pee Dee Academy in Rockingham, and as a youth he worked in the Pee Dee (Textile) Mill. As a teen Deane left his hometown of Rockingham to attend Trinity Park School in Durham, N.C. He graduated from Trinity Park School in 1920 and he then enrolled at Wake Forest College. Deane earned an LL.B law degree (1923), after which he returned to his hometown and worked at Farmer's Bank and Trust until 1926. On October 15, 1927, Deane married Agnes Walker Cree, also from Rockingham, N.C.
Deane began his lifelong role as a devoted politician in 1926. He served in a variety of county, state, and federal government roles, including Register of Deeds for Richmond County, N.C. (1926-1934), U.S. Congressional Directory compiler (1935-1939), Richmond County Democratic Executive Committee chair (1932-1946), Attorney for the US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (1938-1939), and U.S. Congressman, 8th Congressional District serving as a member of the Appropriations Committee for National Defense (1946-1957).
In addition to Deane's political involvement, he was also a devoted community and church leader. He served as Trustee of Wake Forest College (awarded Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society 1951), Board of Trustees chair of Meredith College, Board of Deacons chair for his First Baptist Church (Rockingham, N.C)., and Director of American Red Cross (Rockingham Chapter). Deane also served as Recording Secretary for the N.C. Baptist State Convention of North Carolina for 25 years).
As a U.S. Congressman, Deane's refusal to sign the Southern Manifesto against school desegregation (1955) cost Deane his seat in Congress. Deane felt strongly that "racial segregation was unchristian." He died on November 25, 1969.
Collection Overview
His papers contain his Baptist files, 1938-1958; Congressional papers, 1948-1957; Meredith college trustee files, 1947-1958; personal papers, 1865, 1918-1923 and 1938-1970; speech files, 1931-1964; and his Wake Forest College/Wake Forest University files, 1929-1969.
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Processed by: John Woodard; machine-readable finding aid created by Apex
- Revision Description
- Revised by Nancy Sullivan, Finley Trent, and Stephanie Bennett, 2019
- Access Restrictions
- This collection is open for use.
- Copyright Notice
- Copyright for materials resides with the creators of the items in question or their descendants, unless otherwise designated. Users of this collection are responsible for using the materials in conformance with U.S. copyright law.
- Preferred Citation
- Charles Bennett Deane Papers (MS146), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.