Special Collections & Archives

Benson Field Cole was a Wake Forest College alumnis (1856), who died in late 1856. This collection contains two items from Cole's time as a Wake Forest student: a photocopied diary and a notebook containing course notes for philosophy and chemistry courses taught by William Gaston Simmons. It also contains clippings about Cole from the .

Edwin Graves Wilson is Professor Emeritus of English and Provost Emeritus of Wake Forest University, as well as a former Dean of the College. This collection documents Wilson's work as a college professor and Dean of the College, as well as personal materials through 1968. Material types in the collection include clippings, correspondence, legal documents, meeting agendas and minutes, memorandums, pamphlets, programs, publications, and reports. A small amount of materials document Wilson's high school and college years, as well as his U.S. Navy service. Selected digitized materials from both Edwin G. Wilson record collections are available through Special Collections and Archives' .

George McLeod (Mac) Bryan was a Wake Forest alumnus, earning both his BA (1941) and MA (1944) from Wake Forest College. He continued his education at Yale Divinity School and earned his B.D. (1947) and Ph.D. (1951). Bryan was a faculty member of the Wake Forest Religion Department from 1956 until he retired in 1987 as professor emeritus. Materials in this collection include biographical and personal materials, correspondence and photographs, subject files, and personal and others' writings, dating from 1900 to 2011.

George Pennell was a Wake Forest College alumnus (1914) and Board of Trustees member. This collection documents Pennell's personal and professional interests. Materials document a variety of circuses and include legal documents, photographs, clippings, periodicals, posters, and correspondence.

John Charles McNeill (1874-1907) was a Wake Forest alumni and one of North Carolina's most celebrated poets. His published works include and , the latter of which was published posthumously. The McNeill papers contain personal correspondence, scrapbooks, unpublished poetry, newspaper clippings, and photographs.

This collection contains correspondence, professional materials, and writings of Julius H. Corpening, a graduate and employee of Wake Forest University. Corpening worked in the Office of Development from 1969 until his retirement in 2004. The collection spans from 1946 to 1969 and contains artifacts, biogrpahical information, correspondence, educational materials, sermons, subject files, and writings. Corpening died in 2014.

Matthew Tyson Yates was an alumnus of Wake Forest College (1845) and was appointed as the first Southern Baptist missionary to China from North Carolina, serving from 1846 to 1888. His papers consist of biographical information, correspondence, photographs of Yates, wife Eliza, and daughter Annie, clippings, and related materials.

Edgar Douglas Christman was a Wake Forest University alumnus (1950, 1953 LS) and long-time University Chaplain. Jean Sholar Christman was a Wake Forest University alumna (1951) who was a teacher as well as an active member of the Wake Forest College Club (later University Club). This collection contains biographical and family materials for as well as records of the Office of the Chaplain, including chapel, memorial service, and preaching materials, course materials, and faculty and office materials. Activities are documented with audiovisual materials, awards, biographical materials, certificates, clippings, course notes and papers, meeting minutes, memorandums, personal and professional correspondence, photographs, preaching and Sunday School notes, programs, reports, and subject files.

Edwin Graves Wilson was Professor Emeritus of English and Provost Emeritus of Wake Forest University, as well as a former dean of the College. This collection documents Wilson's work from the point of his selection as first Provost of the College in 1968 through later periods as Vice President of Special Projects and Provost Emeritus. Materials represented in the collection include audiovisual recordings of speeches and public appearances, clippings, correspondence, memorandums, meeting agendas and minutes, pamphlets, programs, and reports. Realia items include NCAA and ACC championship rings and watches, a puzzle related to a party for Dr. Maya Angelou, buttons, plaques awarded to Wilson, a custom painted football, and other Wake Forest memorabilia. Selected digitized materials from both Edwin G. Wilson record collections are available through Special Collections and Archives' .

This collection documents Olin T. Binkley's teaching career, administrative work, and personal life, including work at Wake Forest College, Southern Seminary, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the American Association of Theological Schools. His endeavors as a published author and a Board of Trustees member for the Baptist Children's Home of North Carolina are also documented. Materials in this collection include correspondence, course materials, writings, event materials, subject files, photographs, books, diaries, administrative reports, speeches, and biographical materials.

Roy Smith is an alumnus of Wake Forest College, Class of 1930. His papers consist of 20 scrapbook pages from his Wake Forest album containing photographs of the students and their activities, circa 1926-1932; a grade report, 1932; a varsity football certificate, 1929; a letter with enclosure from Prof. Joseph Hendron Gorrell about payments owed the Denmark Loan Fund, 1931; a letter of sympathy to Smith from A.C. Reid, 1931; and photographs of Wake Forest College Freshman "Buttoning" and the campus water tower.

Walter Eugene Daniel (1859-1932) was a lawyer from Weldon, NC. He was a graduate and trustee of Wake Forest College. The bulk of the collection consists of Walter's personal letters to Jeanette Snead while courting, as well as other letters between family members. Biographical materials include some family biographies and educational materials of their daughter Jeanette. The collection also includes one series of speeches written by Ashby Dunn, Daniel's son-in-law.

William Bailey Royall was an alumnus of Wake Forest College (1861), Commissary Sergeant in the 55th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, professor of Greek and bursar of Wake Forest College for sixty years, and a Baptist minister. His papers consist of biographical information, writings, photographs, subject files, and materials related to his time at Wake Forest College. The bulk of the collection consists of grade and attendance reports from Wake Forest College professors.

William Louis Poteat was a Wake Forest alumnus (1877), biology professor, and President of Wake Forest College (1905-1927). This collection documents Poteat's professional life as a professor and College president. Materials include biographical information and materials, article and news clippings, correspondence dated 1878-1947, diaries, glass laboratory slide images featuring biological samples, honorary degrees, photographs and negatives, scrapbooks, subject files, writings and speeches dated 1876-1937, and a 1928 memoir.

William Tell Brooks (1809-1883) was a native of Chatham County, North Carolina, and an alumnus of Wake Forest College (1839). This collection contains biographical and genealogical materials, sermons, notebooks, and his student diaries.