American History Books

Join author and educator Evelyn Scales Thompson, Ph.D. as she recounts the rich history of the black communities in and around Surry County, North Carolina

From slavery in the 1800s to freedom in the 1950s, Black America Series: Around Surry County traces the footsteps of African Americans through their transition from house servants and field hands to landowners, farmers, and successful small business proprietors. This detailed pictorial history celebrates and honors the strong faith, courage, and determination of the Surry County area's black community.

Gardner-Webb University is a leading regional Christian university with a distinguished history. In 1905, representatives from the Kings Mountain and Sandy Run Baptist Associations voted to create a high school in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The school opened in 1907, and a junior college program was added in 1928. By World War II, the high school program had been phased out. In 1942, the school changed its name from Boiling Springs Junior College to Gardner-Webb College in honor of former North
Carolina Gov. O. Max Gardner and his wife, Fay Webb
Gardner. The university is proud of its long line of successful presidents. Under the leadership of Dr. Philip L. Elliott, the institution's first long-term president, the student body grew, the campus was expanded, and the school joined the family of colleges supported by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Today, Gardner-Webb offers both undergraduate and graduate studies in an idyllic Southern setting.

One of Charlotte's early streetcar suburbs, the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood epitomizes the New South vision of Charlotte. Its history reflects the growing of the New South and the nation as a whole. Plaza-Midwood, known for its architectural and social diversity, has been through the years a proposed enclave for Charlotte's New South elite, an "at risk" inner city area, and ultimately an urban success story. Plaza-Midwood's current prosperity can be attributed to the strength and vision of its "citizens," who continue to preserve the character and history of their community. Plaza-Midwood owes its survival to a dedicated neighborhood organization. Through their efforts, much of the area has been declared an historic district.