Draper Manuscript on the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, 1876
Content Description
“The Mecklenburg Declaration: Its Origin, History, and Actors with a Bibliography of its Literature and Explanatory Documents” was published in 1876 and presented the history of what prompted the writing of the Mecklenburg Declaration. There are three sets of papers: The Mecklenburg Declaration: Its Origins, History and Actions; Bibliography of its literature; Explanatory documents. Materials are in fair condition and dated 1876.
Dates
- 1876
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to the public without restriction. The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to duplicate or publish material from this collection must be obtained from the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.
Biographical / Historical
The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is a historical document that was allegedly produced on May 20, 1775. The document enabled Mecklenburg County residents to declare themselves “free and independent people”. The declaration did not surface until 1819. The original document no longer exists, as it burnt in a fire in 1800. The text that has been published is from the memory of John McKnitt Alexander.
There is a lot of controversy that surrounds the Mecklenburg Declaration. The declaration was not widely discredited until the post-humous publication of Thomas Jefferson’s works that ultimately called the document a hoax in a letter to John Adams in 1819. What historians and scholars believe to have happened is that the declaration was a misconstruction of the Mecklenburg Resolves, written and published by newspapers on May 31, 1775. There have been endless historians and research committees that have looked into this controversial document in North Carolina history, but the mystery remains unsolved.
Extent
1.0 Linear Feet
0.32 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Lyman C. Draper, the Secretary of State Historical Society for the city of Wisconsin, authored “The Mecklenburg Declaration: Its Origin, History, and Actors with a Bibliography of its Literature and Explanatory Documents”. It was published in 1876 and presented the history of what prompted the writing of the Mecklenburg Declaration.This collection includes Draper's unbound manuscripts, dated 1876.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented by Mrs. George W. Graham on unknown date.
Bibliography
The Mecklenburg Declaration- History. Accessed April 2019. https://www.meckdec.org/declaration
Condition Description
Fragile.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of this collection was completed by Sydney Carroll, March 2019.
- Authors Subject Source: Local sources
- Charlotte Publications Subject Source: Local sources
- Draper, Lyman Copeland, 1815-1891
- Mecklenburg Declaration Subject Source: Local sources
- Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- North Carolina--History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Publications Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Draper Manuscript on the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, 1876
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sydney Carroll
- Date
- 2019-03-20
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Repository
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library-Main
310 N. Tryon Street
Charlotte NC 28202 USA
carolinaroom@cmlibrary.org
