Online Exhibits
We have a new digital exhibit webpage! Look for digital exhibits, digitized panels from past programs (more coming soon), and opportunities for future community contributions to Wayne County History here.
Brief History of the Dewey Brothers Company Building on Center Street
A short history of this company by Local Historian, Marty Tschetter
Dewey Brothers: Documenting the Institutional Memory - Goldsboro, NC
As part of our ongoing series Harvesting Our History: Wayne County Agriculture, the Wayne County Public Library documented the institutional memory of the Dewey Brothers foundry exploring the agribusiness theme. Over the lifetime of the company they casted a wide range of items including metal parts for agricultural implements, gears, hinges, bridges, sewer grates, and manhole covers. They also built over 70 narrow-gauge locomotives in the early twentieth century from 1898 to 1928. This video tells the company’s story.
Eleanor Bizzell Powell
Eleanor Bizzell Powell: Journalist and Local Historian (Magazine Article)
This article in the March/April 2018 edition of Wayne Woman recounts the life and work of Eleanor Powell from her early days at Goldsboro Hi News.
Footage shared by Pat Powell Biggers shows Goldsboro and North Carolina from the perspective of a local family.
She Changed the World: A Look at Wayne County Women’s History
She Changed the World Part I: Gertrude Weil
Gertrude Weil Born in Goldsboro in 1879 to Henry and Mina Weil. Gertrude Weil was a lifelong activist and philanthropist focusing her efforts on women’s rights and civil rights. She was an active member of Goldsboro’s Jewish community and promoted social justice issues at the local, state, and national levels.
She Changed the World Part II: Ruth Whaley
Ruth Whitehead Whaley was born in Goldsboro in 1901 to Charles A. Whitehead and Dora Cox Whitehead. She was a graduate of Livingstone College, an educator, and lawyer. Whaley was active in politics and an advocate for women’s rights.
She Changed the World Part III: Dorothy Cotton
Dorothy Foreman Cotton was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1930, growing up in a house on Greenleaf Street. She would go on to graduate from Shaw University and Virginia State College and become the Director of Education for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Cotton was a close friend and colleague of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
She Changed the World (Digital Exhibit): https://create.passitdown.com/present/5fb402528281626724482d45/david
A brief history of three influential Wayne County Women told through virtual exhibit panels.
History Happens HERE: Sampling of Wayne County’s Black History
History Happens HERE: Highlights from Wayne County’s Black History (Article)
Explore key events in Wayne County’s history through important documents pertaining Wayne County’s African-American heritage.
Figures from Wayne County’s Black History: Biographies of Several Prominent Individuals (Digital Exhibit)
Link: https://create.passitdown.com/present/601477a57ebf0c0017229fbd/david
This digital exhibit expands on short biographies of the individuals featured on posters in our Children’s Department during February 2021. These individuals represent only a few of the many African-American individuals who contributed to Wayne County history and will grow over time as research and community contributions increase. This exhibit also features some of the resources on Ancestry and how they can be used to find out more information about a historical family. This exhibit is open for community contributions. If you would like to contribute an individual’s picture and biography, choose “Share your Story” and submit a picture, information about the picture and person, and a paragraph or more about their life. If this person is still living or recently deceased, please make sure that including them here is ok with the individual or their family.
Borden Manufacturing Company (Digital Exhibit)
This digital exhibit features panels from our past public history program on Borden Manufacturing Company.
The Borden Manufacturing Company Retrospective - Goldsboro, NC - Fall 2018 (Video)
Link: https://youtu.be/QBrwi8qtL3U
As part of the Duncan Public History Series, the Goldsboro branch of the Wayne County Public Library documented the institutional memory of The Borden Manufacturing Company. The project was made possible by a Community Connections LSTA Grant by the State Library of North Carolina. This video was shown at the beginning of our public program explore themes of public memory, cultural landscape, and this place we call HOME --- Wayne County. The film includes drone footage inside and outside of the property, captures old sounds, and weaves in vintage photographs merged with current viewpoints.
The Goldsboro Women’s Club: A History (Digital Exhibit)
Link: Goldsboro Women's Club: Pass it Down
This digital exhibit explores the history of the Goldsboro Women’s Club in the context of the larger women’s club movement and its contributions to local, state, and national history,
Title: Wayne County Memories - Goldsboro Women's Club
Link: https://youtu.be/vV0pzq__ByI
This virtual history program is the first video in our Wayne County Memories series. We will follow the thread that these powerful women wove through Goldsboro’s rich tapestry and their influence on Goldsboro’s cultural and civic atmosphere.
History of the Wayne County Public Library (Digital Exhibit)
Link: Pass it Down Link
This digital exhibit explores the growth of the Wayne County Public Library from its founding to present day.
Wayne County Memories - History of the Wayne County Public Library (Video)
Link: https://youtu.be/UShCOLoChls
This virtual program covers the history of the Wayne County Public Library and includes highlights from our Local History collection.
Wayne County Memories - Chautauqua The Apex of Wayne County Cultural Life in the Early 1900's
Link: https://youtu.be/FMEjldX2-UE
This virtual program covers the history of the Chautauqua movement in Wayne County in the early 20th Century.
Chautauqua (Digital Exhibit)
Link: Pass it Down Link
This digital exhibit expands on the history of the Chautauqua movement in Goldsboro using primary sources and in-depth research.
Historic Preservation Month
Link: https://youtu.be/Hk4glqVg7Hs
This short video program outlines the history of the historic preservation movement and Goldsboro’s place in that story.
Wayne County Memories: Places We Remember
Help us to preserve the memories and history of Wayne County’s historic structures with this community-created exhibit on the Places We Remember. Use the “Share your Story” button to submit and image, information, and memories or a brief history of a place in Wayne County that you remember.
Title: Wayne County Memories: The Business and Professional Women’s Club (Video)
Link: Youtube Link
On March 20, 1920 fifteen Wayne County women attended the first Goldsboro BPW meeting organized by Mrs. Lucille Boyd. March 20, 2021 marks the 101st anniversary of the first meeting of the Business and Professional Women’s Club in Wayne County. This organization would grow in Wayne County, expanding beyond Goldsboro and advocating for working women throughout Wayne County.
Wayne County Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (Digital Exhibit)
Link: https://create.passitdown.com/present/603413490835cb00175a4f59/timeline
This timeline uses items from the Business and Professional Women’s Club Collection in the Local History Room and newspaper articles to illustrate the growth of the BPW in Wayne County.
The Goldsboro Garden Club (Digital Exhibit)
Link: Pass It Down Link
This digital exhibit explores the growth of garden clubs in Goldsboro with highlights from the Goldsboro Garden Club Collection at Wayne County Public Library.
Garden Clubs in Goldsboro (Video)
Link: https://youtu.be/74HRIIw6a5k
This virtual history program outlines the history of garden clubs in Goldsboro in tandem with our digital exhibit.