English
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
John Charles McNeill Papers
MS204
3.8 Linear Feet
1 record carton, 1 oversized box
circa 1894-1989, undated
John Charles McNeill (1874-1907) was a Wake Forest alumni and one of North Carolina's most celebrated poets. His published works include Songs of Merry and Sad and Lyrics From the Cotton Land, the latter of which was published posthumously. The McNeill papers contain personal correspondence, scrapbooks, unpublished poetry, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
Biographical Note
John Charles McNeill, one of North Carolina's most celebrated poets, was born on July 26, 1874 in Scotland County near Wagram. Charles was the youngest of five children born to Duncan McNeill and Euphemia Livingston McNeill. His father was one of the first graduates of Trinity College, now Duke University, and in addition to running a sizable farm was at various points of his life an editor, lecturer and writer. John Charles McNeill was first and foremost a student of nature and grew up hunting and fishing along the banks of the Lumber River. It was there that his love of his native land, so often referred to in his poems, was cultivated. John Charles McNeill began his formal education at Richmond Academy and stayed there until he was 17. In 1891 he moved to Whiteville, North Carolina and spent a year with his sister, Mary Catherine Memory, while attending Whiteville Academy. At the age of 18 McNeill accepted a teaching position at a one-room school near Statesboro, GA near where his sister Ella Caroline Watson lived.
In September 1894 John Charles McNeill entered Wake Forest College as a freshman. McNeill quickly distinguished himself by winning the Thomas Dixon Medal for an essay entitled
Causes and Results of the Crusades. It was at Wake Forest that Charles would meet Dr. Benjamin Sledd, the head of the English department. Dr. Sledd would spend many evenings with McNeill discussing poetry while "piles of compositions were forgotten as we talked the hours away over poets." While English was McNeill's major field of study, in 1897 he passed the bar exam and received a license to practice law in the state of North Carolina. He graduated from Wake Forest College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1898 and a Master of Arts in 1899. McNeill taught English at Wake Forest College while working on his Master's degree.Upon graduation Charles headed to Mercer University in Macon, Georgia to teach English grammar and composition. His stay there was short lived, and in 1900 he moved to Lumberton, North Carolina and began practicing law. McNeill purchased an interest in the local newspaper, the
Argus, for which he occasionally wrote editorials. He sold his interest in the paper in 1902, returned to Scotland County, and opened a law practice with Angus McLean in Laurinburg. During this time McNeill was elected to a one-term seat in the State Legislature.While his trade was practicing law, McNeill's life work and craft was dedicated to writing. In 1902 his poems began to appear in the
Century Magazine and the Youth's Companion. It was McNeill's sincere desire to make writing his career, and in 1904 he was given that opportunity when the city editor of the Charlotte Observer, H.E.C Bryant, offered him a job as a freelance writer for the newspaper. The editor of the Observer, J.P. Caldwell, gave McNeill complete freedom to "write whenever and whatever he pleases." His writings ranged from short stories and overheard conversations to intimate essays.In 1905 McNeill was honored as the first recipient of the Patterson Cup, an award given to honor a writer of "the highest literary skill and genius" in the state of North Carolina. President Theodore Roosevelt, who happened to be touring the state at the time, presented him with the cup. One year later his first volume of poems entitled
Songs of Merry and Sad was published. The book was a collection of poems previously published in the Observer, the Century Magazine, and the Youth's Companion. In 1907 McNeill's health began to fail and he was forced to return home to recuperate. On October 17, 1907 John Charles McNeill, at the age of 33, died suddenly from a bout with pernicious anemia. He is buried in Spring Hill, North Carolina. A second volume of his poetry entitled
Lyrics From the Cotton Land was published posthumously.
Collection Overview
The McNeill papers contain biographical material, personal correspondence, newspaper clippings, notebooks, photographs, scrapbooks, and unpublished poetry. A few items from McNeill's relatives are in the collection, such as a Psalm book belonging to his uncle, the Reverend Daniel White, and a diaray from Duncan and Euphemia McNeill, his parents. Also included are materials created and collected by David Kelly Jackson about McNeill.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into six series: Series 1. Correspondence; Series 2. David Kelly Jackson materials regarding McNeill; Series 3. General; Series 4. Manuscripts of poems and essays; Series 5. Pictorial materials; and Series 6. Scrapbooks and notebooks.
Preferred Citation
John Charles McNeill Papers (MS204), Special Collections and Archives, Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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.
Related Collections and Books
Collections:
Jasper Livingston Memory, Jr. Papers (MS253), Special Collections and Archives, Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Books:
McNeill, John Charles.
Songs Merry and Sad. University of North Carolina Press.
McNeill, John Charles. Lyrics From Cotton Land. University of North Carolina Press
Poe, Edgar Allan. Poe's Tales. World Library.
Processing Information
Processed by John Woodard. Encoded by Apex, December, 2004.
Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), with support provided through North Carolina ECHO.
Lawyers -- North Carolina
Poets, American -- North Carolina
McNeill, John Charles
Wake Forest College--Alumni and alumnae
Biographical materials by and aboutBachelor of Arts diploma from Wake Forest College258Biographical information11Bibliographies12Duncan and Euphemia McNeill diary154Engravings147Law certificate for state of North Carolina257Master of Arts diploma from Wake Forest College259McMillan, John Arch. "John Charles McNeill: The Sunburnt Boy," paper read to Winston-Salem's Torch Club1941 February161Newspaper clippings150Obituaries and remembrances149Poe's Tales by Edgar Allen Poe, JCM's personal copy156Postcard of JCM bust151Psalm book belonging to Reverend Daniel White155Publications featuring JCM153Railway passes152Report cards148Correspondence18941item115General noteLetter to JCM from W.J. Ferrell, the Treasurer of Wake Forest College Student's Aid Fund Association regarding his application for financial assistance. A lock of hair was found in the envelope containing this letter.
18951Item116General notePostcard from Benjamin F. Sledd, an English professor at Wake Forest, regarding financial assistance for following semester.
18982Items117General noteLetter from JCM to Bob, written on letterhead from Wake Forest College when McNeill was an instructor there. Letter from Walter Clark, Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
18995Items118General noteLetters from R. N. Simms a Raleigh lawyer and partner of JCM in branch office at Southern Pines in 1903; R. L. Paschal, Principal Fort Worth, Texas high school and brother of Wake Forest College historian G. W. Paschal; New York Press. Letter to William Moore, a black attorney, from McNeill at the request of Reuben Ross. Reuben Ross was an African-American man found guilty of rape and sentenced to death. There was some question as to his guilt and in the following letter JCM believes the Governor will commute his sentence. Ross requests money so McNeill can go to see the Governor on his behalf. Writing regarding Rueben Ross.
19004Items119General noteLetter from his brother Wayne. Letters from JCM's mother, father, and sister Dona. Two letters from Joseph Daniel, Editor of the Raleigh
News and Observer.19019Items120General noteLetter from Junior Class, Mercer University wishing JCM continued success in his literary career. McNeill briefly taught English at Mercer. Letter from Joe Adams detailing the "news" from Wake Forest College. Six letters from R.U. Johnson, Associate Editor of the
Century Magazine, regarding poems submitted for publication. Note from Robert N. Page, a friend of JCM and U.S. Congressman.19023Items121General noteLetter from J.W. Bailey, Editor of the
Biblical Recorder, good friend, classmate of JCM's and later on a U.S. Senator. Letter from W.L. Foushee, a former classmate of JCM's offering him a teaching position at the University of Richmond. Letter from R. W. Gilder, Editor of the Century Magazine. Enclosed was a poem entitled Watermillions.19031Item122General noteLetter from Mary Taylor's mother. Mary Taylor was the daughter of Charles E. Taylor, President of Wake Forest College.
19045Items123General noteLetter from J.W. Bailey. Letter from R. U. Johnson. Letter from R. N. Simms. Letter from Edwin Mims, friend and English professor at Trinity College (now Duke University). Two newspaper clippings are included. Letter from Governor Aycock in which he asks JCM to write a poem on
The Return of the Pardoned Prisoner and he will allow Reuben Ross to go home.190519Items124General noteLetter from
McClure's Magazine. Letter from friend Patte James. Letter from Clarence H. Poe, Secretary-Treasurer of the Literary and Historical Association of North Carolina, Editor and Manager of The Progressive Farmer, friend of JCM and for many years the Vice-President of the Wake Forest College Board of Trustees. Letter from James Scherer, President of Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina; Letter from J.M. Johnson, an attorney from Southern Baptist Convention, one-time U.S. Secretary of Commerce and a cousin of JCM. Letter from R.B. Glenn, Governor of North Carolina. He chose JCM as a traveling companion on a railway trip over the U.S.A., and a photo taken on this trip is in this collection. Another letter from Governor Glenn admonishing JCM for not having been in touch since their train trip. Glenn also "invites" him to spend the night at the mansion and breakfast with the President the following morning before McNeill is presented with the Patterson Cup by Theodore Roosevelt. Letter of congratulations from Alphonso Smith, an English professor from University of North Carolina. Smith voted for McNeill for the Patterson Cup and wrote the biographical sketch of him in the Southern Literature Encyclopedia. Congratulations from Robert N. Page. Letter of congratulations from Charlton G. Ogburn, a Savannah lawyer whom JCM taught at Wake Forest College. Letter of "congratulations" from Clarence H. Poe. Letter of congratulations from Governor Glenn. The Governor was not able to entertain McNeill the night before his Patterson Cup award because his brother had died. Letter from Edwin Mims, as Editor of the South Atlantic Quarterly. Congratulations from R.U. Johnson of the Century Magazine. Another letter from R.U. Johnson thanking JCM for the accounts he sent regarding his award. Johnson wants to know if any of the Century contributions had anything to do with JCM winning the Patterson Cup. Words of congratulation and encouragement from John Spencer Boshere. Letter from Mack Patterson, a cousin of JCM. Letter from William N. Harken. Letter from Charles Lee Smith, President of Mercer University, and good friend of JCM's. Smith donated his personal library to Wake Forest University Rare Books and Manuscripts.19065Items125General noteUnknown, Letter from E.W. Timberlake, a judge who taught JCM at Wake Forest College. Letter from Benjamin Sledd. Letter from Mrs. Oscar Richardson [?]. Letter from a child, Elizabeth Miller, whom JCM wrote about.
19077Items126General noteLetter from Alphonso Smith. Note from JCM to his niece Kate. Letter from J.P. Caldwell, Editor of the Charlotte
Observer to Ella Watson, JCM's older sister, regarding McNeill's failing health. Telegraph from J.P.Caldwell. Request to speak at Elizabeth College and Conservatory of Music for Women from Charles B. King. Letter of condolence from Edward E. Bomar, Pastor of JCM at Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church, to Duncan McNeill. Letter to Duncan McNeill from Stone and Barringer Company regarding the second printing of John Charles McNeill's Songs of Merry and Sad19081Item127General noteLetter of condolence to Wayne McNeill from his cousin Gerald Johnson.
19141Item128General noteLetter to Wayne McNeill from Archibald Henderson.
undated4Items129General noteLetter from JCM to his brother whom he nicknamed Parson. Letter from J.W. Bailey. Letter from Bob Gray. Letter from Robert C. Lawrence, a Lumberton lawyer and one of McNeill's best friends
David Kelly Jackson materials regarding McNeillcirca 1930-1989Correspondence regarding JCM1933156Jackson, David K. "McNeill Again," The Archive, vol. 45, no. 71933157Jackson, David K., writings about JCMundated, 1980s158Notes possibly by Jacksonundated159Newspaper clippingscirca 1930s, 1974160Manuscripts of poems and essaysSome Notes on the Life Reverend Daniel White13Causes and Results of the Crusades189714Washington's Case Reviewed, typescript15Stockholders Trip to Wilmington16Untitled (missing pages 5 and 6)(2items)17The Scotsman [The Rejected Scotsman]18Requiem19Oh, Ask Me Not110Select Prose of John Charles McNeill by Jasper L. Memory111Columns written for the Charlotte Observer112Acceptance speech for Patterson Cup113Unpublished and published poems, transcribed by Jasper Memory114Pictorial materialsPortrait taken at Hord's Studioundated130Portraitundated131Birthplace photographundated132Restored birthplace photographundated133Tombstone photographundated134Family photograph, including JCMundated135Photograph of JCM and unidentified womanundated136Train trip photograph with Governor Glenn1905 September 17137Scrapbooks and notebooksScrapbook of newspaper clippings following McNeill's death140Wake Forest College student notebook141Scrapbook1905142Wake Forest College scrapbook1896143Wake Forest College grade bookcirca 1896-1898144Wake Forest College expense notebookcirca 1894145Scrapbook items146