Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives
- Title
- Roy A. Taylor Scrapbooks and Photographs Collection
- ID
- M2021.02
- Date [inclusive]
- 1986-2016
- Extent
- 5 Linear feet
- Description note
- Contains scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, political ads, telegrams and letters from constituents, official correspondence, flyers and promotional information from regional events, and other materials, as well as two notebooks of photographs and a notebook of letters and correspondence.
- Location note
- Located in Special Collections, Row 3, Section 5
- Language
- English
- Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Roy A. Taylor Scrapbooks and Photographs Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville 28804
Biographical Note
Roy Arthur Taylor was born in Vader, Washington on January 31, 1910. Not long after Taylor’s birth his family moved to Buncombe County, where he was educated in the county’s public schools. He began his higher-education at Buncombe County Junior College (a predecessor of UNC Asheville), becoming a member of the first graduating class in 1929.
Taylor subsequently attended Maryville College, Tennessee, and after graduating, became a teacher at Black Mountain High School. While still teaching. he studied law and after passing the bar, began practicing law in Asheville. Taylor’s political career began in 1947 when he was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly.
In the spring of 1960, North Carolina Congressman David M. Hall died while in office, and Taylor was elected to take his place. Taylor served out the term as the 12th District Representative, and was elected for eight Congresses after that as the 11th District Representative. In total, he was in the House of Representatives from June 25, 1960 until January 3, 1977. In Congress, he served on the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, and was chairman of the National Parks and Recreation Subcommittee.
Roy Taylor had a long association with UNC Asheville, and its predecessor schools. As noted above, he attended Buncombe County Junior College, and he subsequently served as a trustee of Asheville-Biltmore College, founded the first alumni association, was the university’s first valedictorian, and he established the annual Roy A. Taylor Public Speaking Contest. In recognition of his service, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1986, and received the Chancellor’s Medallion in 1991.
Roy Taylor died March 2, 1995.
Scope and Contents
Contains scrapbooks, binders, and folders containing newspaper clippings, photographs, political ads, telegrams and letters from constituents, official correspondence, flyers and promotional information from regional events, and other materials documenting Taylor’s career. The newspaper clippings document local, national, and international events, including Taylor’s legislative actions that affected Western North Carolina, the Vietnam War, national elections, the Watergate hearings, and other events. Also includes two notebooks of official U.S. Congress photographs and a notebook of letters sent to Taylor upon his retirement from Congress in 1976, when he did not seek reelection.
Administrative Information —
Publication Information
UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives
Ramsey Library, CPO # 1500
One University Heights
Asheville, North Carolina, 28804-8504
828.251.6645
speccoll@unca.edu
Access note
The collection is available for research.
Custodial History
Donated by Downtown Books & News, who obtained them as part of a larger purchase of books from the Roy Taylor estate.
Accruals note
No additional accruals are expected.
Processing Information
Processed by Michael Dennis and Gene Hyde
Related Materials
See the Papers of Congressman Roy Arthur Taylor (1958-1977), M77
Collection Inventory
Scrapbooks:
Scrapbook 1: Photographs, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and more from 1968-1972
Scrapbook 2: Photographs, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and more from 1976
Scrapbook 3: Photographs, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and more from 1963-1968
Scrapbook 4: Photographs, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and more from 1960-1963
Scrapbook 5: Photographs, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and more from 1972-1973
Scrapbook 6: Photographs, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and more from 1931-1966
- Scrapbook 6 includes personal photos of Taylor in high school and college, service with the local Lions club, and photos from Taylor’s service in the US Navy in World War II, including several photos of Taylor at the Nagasaki atomic bomb site.
Boxes:
Box 1: Photograph albums and retirement letters
- Item 1: Notebook of letters congratulating Roy Taylor on his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives, 1976
- Item 2: Notebook of official congressional photos
- Item 3: Notebook of official congressional photos
- Item 4: “The Electrical Membership Corporations of the Eleventh Congressional District Salute Congressman Roy A. Taylor,” 1966
Box 2: Photographs and documents
- Folder 1: Roy in Europe, Washington Roy, Forestry Roy, Roy at home
- Folder 2: Roy Goes to the Middle East, Roy in unspecified locations, Roy at Lake Powell Rainbow Bridge
- Folder 3: Roy in Hawaii, Roy in Colorado and Montana, Roy in Florida
- Folder 4: Roy Campaigns, Roy with the Vetust club of Asheville, Loose photos of Roy
- Folder 5: Saints and sinners luncheon, Brevard waterfall, photos of the Capitol, National Christmas tree 1971, Roy and Ottinger, Roy and “photo phone,” Thomas Wolfe house, R.A.T and King Juan Carlos
- Folder 6: Loose letters and papers addressed to Roy Taylor, President’s Council on Physical Fitness
- Folder 7: Hale Boggs disappearance letter, official congressional correspondence
- Folder 8: Apollo 11 photos and luncheon letter, house of representatives newspaper report, White House Dinner menu, 20th National Prayer breakfast speakers and schedule
Box 3: Photographs and documents
- Folder 1: Dwight D. Eisenhower funeral program, Letter, photographs, and Roy Taylor Obituary
- Folder 2: NC Democratic Club banquet 1974
- Folder 3: Rafting trip photo, and assorted personal photos
- Folder 4: Congressional photos, Roy Taylor with Colonel Sanders, Congressional golf tournament, USS Forrestal visit
- Folder 5: Roy Taylor. And LBJ, Forestry service letter, Roy Taylor with constituents
- Folder 6: 1971 Mayday Vietnam protests by national parks police
- Folder 7: Roy Taylor with JFK, Apollo 8 letter and medallion, house of representatives menu,various headshots
- Folder 8: Assorted photos of Roy Taylor
Box 4: Binders containing photographs and documents
- Binder 1: Congratulation letters to Evelyn Taylor upon her election to president of the Congressional Club
- Binder 2: National Park Service historical record with photos and laws
- Binder 3: Visit to Taiwan, Cuyahoga valley field hearing, various speeches and family photos
Box 5: Binders containing photographs and documents
- Binder 4: Letters to Roy Taylor
- Binder 5: Photos of Roy Taylor with constituents and other politicians
- Binder 6: Family and Congressional photos
Box 6: Evelyn R Taylor scrapbook
Box 7: Congressional Club Scrapbook
Box 8: Family and Reelection scrapbook
- Binder 7: Roy Taylor at National parks service dedication ceremony
- Binder 8: Random photos