Margaret Reaves McGregor Coleman Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0199

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection documents the life of Margaret Elizabeth Reaves McGregor Coleman. The collection includes correspondence, school materials from the North Carolina College for Women, address books, calendars, photographs, and financial materials.

Of note are a 1929 North Carolina and United States Constitutions book, a 1916 Beta Theta Pi Constitution and Laws book, a Hardeman County, Tennessee road map, and an original edition of the Rocky Mount newspaper documenting America's entrance into World War II.

Dates

1889 - 1995

Creator

Coleman, Margaret Reaves (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information. Please see our Sensitive Materials Statement.

Biographical / Historical

Margaret Elizabeth Reaves McGregor Coleman was born in Bolivar, Tennessee, to Edmund Hugh Reaves and Emily Mae Moore Reaves. The Reaves family were prominent in Bolivar, as Margaret's grandfather, John Rufus Reaves, founded the Bolivar Free Press and served as a State Legislature representative.

Before moving to Rocky Mount, Margaret spent a portion of her childhood in Bolivar, Tennessee, Jackson, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended Rocky Mount High School and the North Carolina College for Women (now UNC Greensboro) from 1925-1929.

After graduating from the North Carolina College for Women, Margaret began her teaching career in Enfield, North Carolina. She returned to Rocky Mount and taught in the Rocky Mount school district for the majority of her career.

In 1932, Margaret married Howard "Mack" Irwin McGregor, who died nine months after their marriage. In 1959, she married Joseph Witt Coleman, Jr., who died in 1986. Margaret Reaves McGregor Coleman passed away in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, on July 3, 1995.

Extent

5.34 Linear Feet (3 Hollinger boxes, 2 gray boxes, and 1 oversized folder.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection includes materials from Margaret Reaves McGregor Coleman, documenting her time as a student at the North Carolina College for Women from 1925-1929, her marriage to Howard Irwin McGregor and Joseph Witt Coleman, Jr., and her family history. The collection includes correspondence, school notebooks, address books, calendars, photographs, and financial materials.

Margaret Elizabeth Reaves McGregor Coleman was born in Bolivar, Tennessee, to Edmund Hugh Reaves and Emily Mae Moore Reaves. The family moved to Rocky Mount, North Carolina during Margaret’s childhood. She attended Rocky Mount High School and the North Carolina College for Women (now UNC Greensboro) from 1925-1929.

After graduating from the North Carolina College for Women, Margaret worked as a teacher in the Rocky Mount school district for many years. In 1932, Margaret married Howard "Mack" Irwin McGregor, who died nine months after their marriage. In 1959, she married Joseph Witt Coleman, Jr., who died in 1986. Margaret Reaves McGregor Coleman passed away in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, on July 3, 1995.

Arrangement

Series 1: Correspondence Subseries 1: Correspondence to Margaret Coleman Subseries 2: Correspondence to Others Series 2: Audiovisual Materials Series 3: Personal Materials Series 4: Family Materials Series 5: School Materials Series 6: Newspaper Clippings Series 7: Financial Materials

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of John C. Sykes, III, and Priscilla Sykes in 1998.

Related Materials

The Reaves Family Papers may be found at UNC-Chapel Hill.

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