The University of North Carolina is widely praised for the beauty of its campus. The buildings clustered along Cameron Avenue form
the historic center of the campus. Visitors and members of the university community admire these buildings, but few consider them
as anything other than features on the landscape or locations of offices and classrooms. Yet each building has a past, and the
story of the buildings provides insight into the university's history.
Eight structures erected as university buildings between 1793 and 1860 survive—South Building, Old East, Old West, Person Hall, Gerrard
Hall, Playmakers Theatre (formerly Smith Hall), New East and New West. Two of these, Old East and Playmakers Theatre, are National Historic
Landmarks. Documents presented in this section make clear that it is a mistake to take the existence of these buildings for granted.
Attractive plans show the envisioning of a building, but contracts, bills, and reports reveal the difficult details of construction
and funding. Building materials were not always easy to come by, especially at a price that the university was able to pay. Many buildings
were begun without sufficient funding, and novel funding sources such as subscriptions and lotteries were used to supplement more
traditional sources. Once buildings were completed, they immediately began to suffer the effects of use, misuse, and the North Carolina
climate. Because of the existence of contracts, bills, and other documents, we know the names of the architects, builders, and suppliers
responsible for each building. Although they are not all named, we also know the contributions that slaves and free persons of color
made to the buildings we so admire.
The materials in this section of "The First Century of the First State University" bring to light several stories of special interest.
Three antebellum buildings that no longer exist—the Steward's Hall, the first President's House, and the Grammar School—are documented in
plans, contracts, reports, and letters. The long struggle to complete South Building can be followed through almost twenty years of documents.
Letters, plans, and reports reveal how the university came to be graced with some of the work of noted nineteenth-century architect Alexander
Jackson Davis.
The documents in this section are arranged chronologically within the subtopics.
Old East was the first university building. The cornerstone was laid on October 12, 1793, and the building was completed in January 1795 by James Patterson. Through its early years it functioned as both dormitory and classroom building. Read more about
Old East .
- No Author
Plan of Old East, July 19, 1793
1 page, 2 page images
- Patterson, James
James Patterson's Memorial to the Building Commissioners, December 25, 1793
1 page, 1 page image
- Davie, William Richardson, 1756-1820
Letter from William R. Davie to John Haywood, July 22, 1795
3 pages, 4 page images
- Patterson, James
Letter from James Patterson to John Haywood, August 18, 1795
2 pages, 3 page images
- White, John C.
John C. White's Bill for Labor of Negro Workmen, [1824?]
1 page, 1 page image
- Anderson, Walker, 1801-1857
Letter from Professor Walker Anderson to Charles Manly, October 8, 1834
4 pages, 4 page images
- Clement, Ralph A., and Hartwell, Charles P.
Letter from R. A. Clement and Charles P. Hartwell to Edmund T. Wilkins, February 20, 1839
1 page, 2 page images
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
List of Building Specifications and Costs, Compiled by Alexander J. Davis for David L. Swain, [1844?]
2 pages, 2 page images
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Letter from Alexander J. Davis to David L. Swain, April 17, 1844
3 pages, 4 page images
- University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Board of Trustees
Contract between the Board of Trustees and Collier & Waitt, December 20, 1844
4 pages, 4 page images
- Donaldson, James, 1802-1872, and Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Bibliotheca [James Donaldson's Architectural Plan for the Philanthropic Society Library in Old East, Between 1845 and 1860]
1 page, 2 page images
- Cosby, Dabney, 1779-1862
Letter from Dabney Cosby to Collier & Waitt and David L. Swain, February 25, 1845
2 pages, 3 page images
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Letter from A. J. Davis to David L. Swain, March 24, 1845
3 pages, 4 page images
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Letter from A. J. Davis to David L. Swain, December 5, 1845
3 pages, 4 page images
- Cosby, Dabney, 1779-1862
Letter from Dabney Cosby to David L. Swain, May 11, 1846
1 page, 2 page images
- Pettigrew, James Johnston, 1828-1863
Letter from James Johnston Pettigrew to David L. Swain, August 16, 1847
4 pages, 4 page images
- Day, Thomas, ca. 1801-ca. 1861
Correspondence Between Thomas Day and David L. Swain, November 17, 1847 and November 24, 1847
3 pages, 4 page images
- Day, Thomas, ca. 1801-ca. 1861
Letter from Thomas Day to [Benjamin S.] Guion, November 17, 1847
1 page, 1 page image
- Day, Thomas, ca. 1801-ca. 1861
Letter from Thomas Day to David L. Swain, December 6, 1847
1 page, 2 page images
- University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Board of Trustees. Building Committee
Report of the Building Committee, [1848?]
2 pages, 2 page images
- Donaldson, James, 1802-1872
Receipt for Marble Mantels Purchased in New York by James Donaldson, December 5, 1848
1 page, 1 page image
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Addition at North End, 40 by 42, to Each Dormitory Building at Chapel Hill, N.C., 1852
1 page, 1 page image
The first President's House was begun in 1794 and completed in 1795. Many university presidents and professors lived there, including Dr. David Ker, President Joseph Caldwell, and Dr. Elisha Mitchell. It was removed in 1913 to construct Swain Hall. Read more about
President's House (First) .
- Hopkins, Samuel; Cain, William; Ray, David; Thompson, Henry; and Lytle, William
Samuel Hopkins's Bond for Building the President's House, January 25, 1794
1 page, 1 page image
- University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Board of Trustees
Specifications for the President's House, January 25, 1794
3 pages, 3 page images
- No Author
Plan of President's House, January 25, 1794
2 pages, 2 page images
- Nichols, William
Account of Disbursements by William Nichols, September 1, 1826
3 pages, 4 page images
- Mitchell, Elisha, 1793-1857
Letter from Elisha Mitchell to Charles Manly, December 19, 1836
7 pages, 8 page images
Steward's Hall was begun in 1793 and completed in 1795. Steward's Hall served as the university commons, dining hall, and ballroom until 1816. It was then rented out to boarders until 1847 or 1848 when it was dismantled. Read more about
Steward's Hall .
- Patterson, James
James Patterson's Proposals for the Steward's House, [1793]
2 pages, 2 page images
- University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Board of Trustees. Building Committee
Board of Trustees Minutes Including a Report of the Building Committee, July 12, 1804
5 pages, 5 page images
- Waitt, Thomas A.
Thomas A. Waitt's Estimate for Repairing Steward's Hall, July 22, 1836
2 pages, 2 page images
Person Hall was begun in 1796 and completed in 1797 or 1798 (exact date is unknown). Person Hall was the university and village chapel, as well as the commencement hall and community gathering place. In 1837, Gerrard Hall replaced Person Hall as the university chapel, and Person Hall became a classroom building. Read more about
Person Hall .
- Caldwell, Joseph, 1773-1835
Letter from Joseph Caldwell [to John H. Hobart, November 8, 1796]
3 pages, 3 page images
- Davie, William Richardson, 1756-1820
Letter from William R. Davie to John Haywood, February 9, 1797
2 pages, 3 page images
- Davie, William Richardson, 1756-1820
Letter from William R. Davie to John Haywood, August 20, 1797
7 pages, 8 page images
In the antebellum university, South Building was the largest building on campus. It was begun April 1798, but lay unfinished until 1814. It was an all-purpose building housing dorm rooms, classrooms, the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies' halls and libraries, and faculty offices. Read more about
South Building .
The Preparatory School (or Grammar School) was created in 1795 in order to give unprepared university students remedial instruction. The first school was a rented building in Chapel Hill until a permanent structure was built by John M. Goodloe in 1801. Read more about
Preparatory School (Grammar School) .
Old West is the twin of Old East, built as another dormitory. It was begun on July 24, 1822, and completed by July 1823. Read more about
Old West .
- University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Board of Trustees. Building Committee
Settlement with Col. William Polk for Work on Old West, May 22, 1823
1 page, 1 page image
- Haywood, John, 1755-1827
Receipt to Stephen Haywood for Hire of Carpenters for Old West, May 26, 1823
1 page, 1 page image
- Clement, Ralph A., and Hartwell, Charles P.
Letter from R. A. Clement and Charles P. Hartwell to Edmund T. Wilkins, February 20, 1839
1 page, 2 page images
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Addition at North End, 40 by 42, to Each Dormitory Building at Chapel Hill, N.C., 1852
1 page, 1 page image
The cornerstone for Gerrard Hall was laid in 1822, but construction was sporadic until its completion in 1837. In its early days, the building was the university chapel and commencement hall. Read more about
Gerrard Hall .
- No Author
Bill for Bacon, October 20, 1825
1 page, 1 page image
- Gaston, William, 1778-1844, and Badger, George Edmund
Report of William Gaston and George E. Badger, [June 25, 1833]
2 pages, 3 page images
- Mitchell, Elisha, 1793-1857
Letter from Elisha Mitchell to Thomas A. Waitt, January 2, 1836
3 pages, 4 page images
- Lewis, Kenelm Harrison, 1816-1866
Letter from Kenelm H. Lewis to Emma Lewis, February 28, 1836
3 pages, 4 page images
- Waitt, Thomas A.
Thomas A. Waitt's Bill for Labour Done March 13 to April 29, [1837], May 5, 1837
2 pages, 2 page images
- McPheeters, William, 1778-1842
Letter from William McPheeters to Marcellus McPheeters, August 10, 1837
2 pages, 2 page images
- McPheeters, William, 1778-1842
List of Payments by William McPheeters, Agent of the Executive Committee, to Thomas A. Waitt, [August 18-19, 1837]
2 pages, 2 page images
- Cosby, Dabney, 1779-1862
Dabney Cosby's Agreement for Repairs to the Chapel, April 1847
2 pages, 2 page images
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Gerrard Hall (Renovation), September 1856
8 pages, 8 page images
Smith Hall was begun in 1850 and completed in 1852. Its first incarnation was as the university library and sometimes-ballroom. It was renovated in 1925 and is now a theater. Read more about
Smith Hall (Playmakers Theatre) .
- Jones, William H.; Mallett, Edward J.; Scales, James P.; Iredell, Samuel Tredwell; and Dortch, William Baskerville, 1828-1882
Petition of a Committee of Students for the Erection of a Building, September 1, 1848
2 pages, 4 page images
- Swain, David L. (David Lowry), 1801-1868, and Battle, William H. (William Horn), 1802-1879
Letter from David L. Swain and William H. Battle to Charles Manly, February 6, 1849
4 pages, 4 page images
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Letter from Alexander J. Davis to David L. Swain, March 4, 1850
3 pages, 3 page images
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Letter from Alexander J. Davis to David L. Swain, May 31, 1850
1 page, 1 page image
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Letter from Alexander J. Davis to David L. Swain, July 5, 1850
4 pages, 4 page images
- Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892
Alexander J. Davis's Bill, November 16, 1850
1 page, 1 page image
- Swain, David L. (David Lowry), 1801-1868
Letter from David L. Swain [to Alexander J. Davis], April 12, 1851, Including John Berry's Bill of Materials
2 pages, 2 page images
New East and New West were completed in 1860 and were the last of the antebellum buildings. New East was built to house the students of the Philanthropic Society as well as provide space for their debating hall and library. Read more about
New East .
New West served the same purpose for the Dialectic Society and its students. Read more about
New West .
- Percival, William, and Grant, John, ca. 1817-?
Letter from William Percival and John Grant to the Building Committee, January 8, 1858
1 page, 1 page image
- Swain, David L. (David Lowry), 1801-1868
Letter from David L. Swain [to William A. Graham], January 27, 1858
4 pages, 4 page images
- Percival, William
Letter from William Percival to William A. Graham, September 5, 1859
2 pages, 2 page images
- Waterhouse & Bowes (Raleigh, NC)
Letter from Waterhouse & Bowes to William Percival, September 7, 1859
2 pages, 2 page images
- Swain, David L. (David Lowry), 1801-1868
Letter from David L. Swain [to William A. Graham], September 15, 1859
4 pages, 4 page images
- University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Board of Trustees; Cameron, Paul C., 1808-1891; Battle, Kemp P. (Kemp Plummer), 1831-1919; and Saunders, William L.
Report of the Committee on Repairs, Prepared by Paul C. Cameron, with Kemp P. Battle and William L. Saunders, [1875?]
8 pages, 8 page images
- Mickle, Andrew
Letter from Andrew Mickle to Paul Cameron, March 22, 1875
1 page, 1 page image