'Explore Over 100 Scrapbooks Documenting Transylvania County' At State Digital Site

This week’s Picturing the Past article comes from the Digital North Carolina Blog by the staff of the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center which features highlights from the collections at DigitalNC, an online library of primary sources from institutions across North Carolina. 

This image from the 1958 Balsam Grove scrapbook is a good
example of the types of information and photos you might find;
it shows newly placed town signs.

The Transylvania County Library is fortunate to have numerous items available online through the website (digitalnc.org) including newspapers, photographs, high school annuals and Transylvania County architectural survey documents from 1990-91.

Their recent entry titled, “Explore Over 100 Scrapbooks Documenting Transylvania County Communities” featured our newest contributions.

From Balsam Grove to Brevard, we’ve recently added over 100 scrapbooks documenting communities and organization in Transylvania County.  These scrapbooks were scanned by the Transylvania County Library, which forwarded the scans to us for DigitalNC.  They represent a number of organizations, many focused on community development. 

·        Community Development Club of Balsam Grove (1954-2011)

·        Community Development and Home Demonstration Clubs of Cedar Mountain (1955-1974)

·        Community Development and Home Demonstration Clubs of Little River (1952-2011)

·        Community Development Club of Sapphire-Whitewater (1962-1983)

·        Fortnightly and Junior Women’s Clubs of Brevard (1919-1977)

·        Home Demonstration Club of Glady Branch (1955-1958)

·        Little River Band

·        Friends of the Transylvania County Library (1957-2006)

·        Transylvania County Library Children’s Department (1979-1998)

Community development scrapbooks from the 1950s-1960s are common throughout North Carolina.  These typically document efforts at beautification of homes and public areas, upgrading infrastructure like hospitals and sanitation, and fostering community spirit through local gatherings.  These scrapbooks include photographs, many with descriptions and captions, along with newspaper clippings, and ephemera from programs and events.  Search all of them along with other items from Transylvania County at the Transylvania County Library’s partner page, digitalnc.org/institutions/transylvania-county-library/ .

New items are regularly added to DigitalNC which covers communities statewide.  Another 60 scrapbooks have been sent from Transylvania County communities and organizations and will be added this fall.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.