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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <?xml-model href="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/SAA-SDT/EAD3/master/ead3.rng" type="application/xml" schematypens="http://relaxng.org/ns/structure/1.0"?> <ead xmlns="http://ead3.archivists.org/schema/"> <control countryencoding="iso3166-1" dateencoding="iso8601" langencoding="iso639-2b" relatedencoding="marc" repositoryencoding="iso15511" scriptencoding="iso15924"> <recordid instanceurl="http://hdl.handle.net/10339/37374">MS25</recordid> <filedesc> <titlestmt> <titleproper>William Crenshaw Papers </titleproper> <author>Processed by Rebecca Petersen</author> </titlestmt> <publicationstmt> <publisher>Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives</publisher> <address> <addressline>PO Box 7777</addressline> <addressline>Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109</addressline> <addressline localtype="business">336 758-5755</addressline> <addressline> <ref href="http://zsr.wfu.edu/special/" linktitle="http://zsr.wfu.edu/special/" show="new">http://zsr.wfu.edu/special/</ref> </addressline> </address> <date>2012</date> <num>MS25</num> </publicationstmt> </filedesc> <maintenancestatus value="derived"/> <maintenanceagency> <agencyname>Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives</agencyname> </maintenanceagency> <languagedeclaration> <language langcode="eng">English</language> <script scriptcode="Latn">Latin</script> </languagedeclaration> <conventiondeclaration> <abbr>dacs</abbr> <citation>Describing Archives: A Content Standard</citation> </conventiondeclaration> <localcontrol localtype="findaidstatus"> <term>completed</term> </localcontrol> <maintenancehistory> <maintenanceevent> <eventtype value="derived"/> <eventdatetime>2025-07-11T15:23:05-04:00</eventdatetime> <agenttype value="machine"/> <agent>ArchivesSpace v4.1.0</agent> <eventdescription>This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on Friday July 11, 2025 at 15:23</eventdescription> </maintenanceevent> </maintenancehistory> </control> <archdesc level="collection"> <did> <unittitle>William Crenshaw Papers</unittitle> <unitid>MS25</unitid> <repository> <corpname> <part>Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives</part> </corpname> </repository> <langmaterial> <language langcode="eng">English</language> </langmaterial> <physdescstructured coverage="whole" physdescstructuredtype="spaceoccupied"> <quantity>7.71</quantity> <unittype>Linear Feet</unittype> </physdescstructured> <physdesc localtype="container_summary">1 legal half-document box, 5 oversize boxes</physdesc> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <daterange> <fromdate standarddate="1783">1783</fromdate> <todate standarddate="1876">1876</todate> </daterange> </unitdatestructured> <abstract id="aspace_14174924ea90111dc93fbdc19c8f437e">William Crenshaw was one of the first Trustees of Wake Forest Institute and the Institution's first Treasurer. Crenshaw's son John M. Crenshaw was the first student enrolled at the Wake Forest Institute, 1834. Crenshaw purchased and held in captivity a large number of enslaved peoples in the mid-1800s for use of their stolen labor, knowledge, and skills on his land. This collection contains land sale contracts, the will of William Jones, a deed of guardianship and receipts of childcare, and bills of sale for enslaved peoples. Three facsimilie account books, dated 1834 to 1876, are also included.</abstract> </did> <bioghist id="aspace_5b576e47a0a0ea712697fbbfa4fb8ca8"> <head>Biographical Note</head> <p>William Crenshaw was born July 19, 1783, and was one of the first Trustees of Wake Forest College when it was known as Wake Forest Institute and the first Treasurer of the Institution. Crenshaw's son John M. Crenshaw was the first student enrolled at the Wake Forest Institute, 1834. In 1840, William Crenshaw resigned as College Treasurer and Trustee.</p> <p>He became a member of the Wake Union Church in 1830, was baptized by Rev. John Purefoy. In 1840, William Crenshaw resigned as Treasurer and Trustee at Wake Forest and became a deacon in 1842. Crenshaw purchased and enslaved a large number of enslaved peoples in the mid-1800s for use of their stolen labor, knowledge, and skills on his land.</p> <p>He married Sarah Bodie Martin on January 6, 1806. Crenshaw died July 16, 1861.</p> </bioghist> <scopecontent id="aspace_4185194cfe9dd98af997362b668384fd"> <head>Collection Overview</head> <p>This collection contains land sale contracts in Wake County, N.C., the will of William Jones, a deed of guardianship and receipts of childcare, and bills of sale for enslaved peoples. Three ledgers, facsimiles of originals from Crenshaw family descendents, detail the plantation's accounts from 1834 to 1876.</p> </scopecontent> <scopecontent id="aspace_5a853c0c86994e8d96dafeb2c55fd768"> <head>Sensitive Materials</head> <p>This collection contains materials related to enslavement. Proceed with care.</p> </scopecontent> <prefercite id="aspace_ff1de0a211110520716b1e76154c6912"> <head>Preferred Citation</head> <p>William Crenshaw Papers (MS25), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA</p> </prefercite> <accessrestrict id="aspace_faf6f99485ef228097dbaba30b9f104b"> <head>Access Restrictions</head> <p>This collection is open for use. Some materials are fragile and damaged.</p> </accessrestrict> <userestrict id="aspace_99b147843bb343c0a7b2ab5fe59cc653"> <head>Copyright Notice</head> <p>The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.</p> </userestrict> <relatedmaterial id="aspace_1ad45868d202b64815610bb22d716433"> <head>Related Materials</head> <p>Related materials in Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and ARchives include the Samuel and Sarah Wait Papers (MS117), and Treasurer's Office Account Books (RG25.1). Digitized materials from this collection are available in the <ref actuate="onrequest" href="https://wakespace.lib.wfu.edu/handle/10339/94114" show="new">William Crenshaw Papers Digital Collection</ref> within ZSR Library Digital Collections.</p> <p>The State Archives of N.C. holds PC.2016, Crenshaw Family Papers, 1833-1944, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, N.C., USA.</p> </relatedmaterial> <dsc> <c id="aspace_ref3_zc3" level="file"> <did> <unittitle> <ref actuate="onrequest" href="https://wakespace.lib.wfu.edu/handle/10339/94114/search?query=bills+of+sale" show="new">Bills of sale for enslaved peoples</ref> </unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <daterange> <fromdate standarddate="1822">1822</fromdate> <todate standarddate="1844">1844</todate> </daterange> </unitdatestructured> <container altrender="Half document box" id="aspace_1b9de7b5e7884f2f60d2ed538561ec8c" label="Text" localtype="box">1</container> <container id="aspace_7cfa56705a7a8acb225e9c8cfaca22fd" localtype="folder" parent="aspace_1b9de7b5e7884f2f60d2ed538561ec8c">7</container> </did> <scopecontent id="aspace_70862608a3f721cd0f7922d8c0ce76ad"> <head>Scope and Contents</head> <p>Named enslaved peoples include: Allen, Augustine, Beauford, Betsy, Cain (2), Candace, Charles, Daniel, Dara, Dodd, Ginney, Governor, Govines, Gurmy, Henderson, Henry, Huldy, Jack, Jane, Jacob, Jeff, Jude, Judy, Lauren, Lender, Leonard, Lindy, Loise, Lucinda, Lucy (3), Madison, Mariette, Meldon, Miranda, Nancy, Ned, Phil, Ransom, Scuder, Silas, Squire, Tyler, Washington, and Wright.</p> </scopecontent> </c> <c id="aspace_f169ca5f691faf79a18be9040992012e" level="file"> <did> <unittitle> <ref actuate="onrequest" href="https://wakespace.lib.wfu.edu/handle/10339/3/browse?value=Receipts+(Acknowledgments)&type=subject" show="new">Deed of guardianship and childcare receipts</ref> </unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <datesingle standarddate="1825">1825</datesingle> </unitdatestructured> <container altrender="Half document box" id="aspace_954aaaa55dd5fb5bffe22edcd82f95e1" label="Text" localtype="box">1</container> <container id="aspace_50407b390071869b8afe80be243baeb5" localtype="folder" parent="aspace_954aaaa55dd5fb5bffe22edcd82f95e1">5</container> </did> </c> <c id="aspace_ref4_du7" level="file"> <did> <unittitle>Land sale contracts</unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <daterange> <fromdate standarddate="1783">1783</fromdate> <todate standarddate="1866">1866</todate> </daterange> </unitdatestructured> <unitdate datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive">circa 1783-1866</unitdate> <container altrender="Half document box" id="aspace_8f83302cb241ddece1b606299be0a1cc" label="Text" localtype="box">1</container> <container id="aspace_4c56651e6fb8a8a661e931250dc01c72" localtype="folder" parent="aspace_8f83302cb241ddece1b606299be0a1cc">1-3</container> <container altrender="Half document box" id="aspace_6fbb0b7e20e874cd4e25d4190fe1eb5d" label="Text" localtype="box">1</container> <container id="aspace_e4bb69155a7ef7c1309accd8a5dd75c9" localtype="folder" parent="aspace_6fbb0b7e20e874cd4e25d4190fe1eb5d">6</container> </did> </c> <c id="aspace_ref2_z96" level="file"> <did> <unittitle> <ref actuate="onrequest" href="https://wakespace.lib.wfu.edu/handle/10339/94115" show="new">Last will and testament of William Jones</ref> </unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <datesingle standarddate="1829">1829</datesingle> </unitdatestructured> <container altrender="Half document box" id="aspace_23b25cb6936fd56c800ece4cad3174b9" label="Text" localtype="box">1</container> <container id="aspace_8a1d8d2ced2c7d0c6570216863b0abe8" localtype="folder" parent="aspace_23b25cb6936fd56c800ece4cad3174b9">4</container> </did> </c> <c id="aspace_4f7f296bbd8ca10556dd7b3451057b5a" level="file"> <did> <unittitle><ref actuate="onrequest" href="http://hdl.handle.net/10339/102678">Plantation and institute ledger</ref>, digital reproduction of State Archives of N.C. holding</unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <daterange> <fromdate standarddate="1833">1833</fromdate> <todate standarddate="1839">1839</todate> </daterange> </unitdatestructured> </did> <scopecontent id="aspace_807f623ec65d3bc39502eefe3e665d0e"> <head>Scope and Contents</head> <p>Only available online. Original is part of PC.2016, Crenshaw Family Papers, 1833-1944, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, N.C., USA.</p> </scopecontent> </c> <c id="aspace_e565ae70cad7e11c3225f3fbade5be6a" level="file"> <did> <unittitle><ref actuate="onrequest" href="https://wakespace.lib.wfu.edu/handle/10339/102693" show="new">Plantation ledger and index</ref> (facsimile)</unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <daterange> <fromdate standarddate="1834">1834</fromdate> <todate standarddate="1862">1862</todate> </daterange> </unitdatestructured> <container altrender="1.5' print box" id="aspace_ff99d1c94c8ae6c618c9eb9d1d7d4956" label="Mixed Materials" localtype="box">3</container> <container id="aspace_ad1ed7ad08bb54d59a10e0b531a980a7" localtype="volume" parent="aspace_ff99d1c94c8ae6c618c9eb9d1d7d4956">1</container> </did> </c> <c id="aspace_20f8db58ce8f46b06ff5b3ce758bfcfd" level="file"> <did> <unittitle>Plantation ledger and index (original)</unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <daterange> <fromdate standarddate="1834">1834</fromdate> <todate standarddate="1862">1862</todate> </daterange> </unitdatestructured> <container altrender="1.5' print box" id="aspace_8afe41d183b3295b40f1876ca999172a" label="Mixed Materials" localtype="box">4</container> <container id="aspace_ef601f39b171d10f2f1a97f4831a0099" localtype="volume" parent="aspace_8afe41d183b3295b40f1876ca999172a">1</container> </did> </c> <c id="aspace_0ef08bf87539960d7024b8aef4260715" level="file"> <did> <unittitle><ref actuate="onrequest" href="http://hdl.handle.net/10339/102680" show="new">Plantation ledger and index</ref> (facsimile)</unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <daterange> <fromdate standarddate="1861">1861</fromdate> <todate standarddate="1870">1870</todate> </daterange> </unitdatestructured> <container altrender="1.5' print box" id="aspace_24256d7cbe86e81cd7792c126a5ccd16" label="Mixed Materials" localtype="box">2</container> <container id="aspace_60446da191f088f0e85b43384d0a77ae" localtype="volume" parent="aspace_24256d7cbe86e81cd7792c126a5ccd16">1</container> </did> </c> <c id="aspace_5f4ada70253469724ae3db5a8c79211c" level="file"> <did> <unittitle>Plantation ledger and index (original)</unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <daterange> <fromdate standarddate="1861">1861</fromdate> <todate standarddate="1870">1870</todate> </daterange> </unitdatestructured> <container altrender="1.5' print box" id="aspace_15487f659f3283dbe4c6fcc6453a1b19" label="Mixed Materials" localtype="box">5</container> <container id="aspace_688bc34f0a510028581c65ff1de61b59" localtype="volume" parent="aspace_15487f659f3283dbe4c6fcc6453a1b19">1</container> </did> </c> <c id="aspace_ee7a460e4f9722e734c76aaa5ee1a865" level="file"> <did> <unittitle>Plantation ledger and index (original)</unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <daterange> <fromdate standarddate="1869">1869</fromdate> <todate standarddate="1876">1876</todate> </daterange> </unitdatestructured> <container altrender="1.5' print box" id="aspace_423c6e016189fa0187b7b94299efd0fb" label="Mixed Materials" localtype="box">6</container> <container id="aspace_be879851d9f17e10f3ae3ecc28962d4b" localtype="volume" parent="aspace_423c6e016189fa0187b7b94299efd0fb">1</container> </did> </c> <c id="aspace_64641186708dffeb8b4b1b4ef9f1c916" level="file"> <did> <unittitle><ref actuate="onrequest" href="http://hdl.handle.net/10339/102698" show="new">Plantation ledger and index</ref> (facsimile)</unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <daterange> <fromdate standarddate="1869">1869</fromdate> <todate standarddate="1876">1876</todate> </daterange> </unitdatestructured> <container altrender="1.5' print box" id="aspace_a4ec8524d91e6f696e624b6bfc56955d" label="Mixed Materials" localtype="box">2</container> <container id="aspace_ebf872b0ce69d17cdf3dc451478559c3" localtype="volume" parent="aspace_a4ec8524d91e6f696e624b6bfc56955d">2</container> </did> </c> <c id="aspace_938d1f7ac0d926af96f14ea21770a5d9" level="file"> <did> <unittitle>Wake County, N.C., enslavers ledger (facsimile)</unittitle> <unitdatestructured datechar="creation" unitdatetype="inclusive"> <datesingle standarddate="1860-06-19">1860 June 19</datesingle> </unitdatestructured> <container altrender="Half document box" id="aspace_975f774da9b61fe149a0f189e86ff2e3" label="Mixed Materials" localtype="box">1</container> <container id="aspace_ea303040a6d850a5a844f7ad5cde6112" localtype="folder" parent="aspace_975f774da9b61fe149a0f189e86ff2e3">8</container> </did> </c> </dsc> </archdesc> </ead>
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