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May 20, 1975 - President Gerald Ford draws a crowd estimated near 100,000 when he speaks at Charlotte's Freedom Park. He has come to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Long a topic of controversy, some believe the Meck Dec never existed.
February 7, 1977 - Elvis Presley shakes, rattles and rolls his hips as he performs at Charlotte's coliseum. Presley's 1950s recordings that combined blues, gospel and country music made him one of the pioneers of rock and roll.
Pictured here is an article advertising free railroad fare to Charlotte for the Mecklenburg Declaration festivities in exhange for purchasing property in the city.
Charlotte Daily Observer 5/20/1906, p.15
September 26, 1780 British commander Lord Charles Cornwallis and his Legion march into Charlotte expecting to be greeted by loyal followers of the Crown. Instead, he is met by Major William Davie and a band of 150 soldiers who are hiding around the courthouse on East Trade Street.
ID Number: H_2000_01_353_27.jpg
Image Year: 1960
Physical Description: 8x10
Category: Hornet's Nest
Format: Black and White
Image Negative: 1
Print: 1
Donor: Unknown
Copyright: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Publisher: Unknown
Many of the people whose names appear in this history no longer frequent the busy thoroughfares. Had they not lived, there would probably be no book, certainly not one of such dimensions. Gravestones are constant reminders of the debts we owe for today's blessings.
SINCE its birth two hundred years ago the crossroads village that was once known as Charlottetown or Charlotteburg has grown into the largest city in the Carolinas and one of the most important industrial and distribution centers in the nation.
In 1944 the Charlotte News established its Man of the Year Award as a tribute to the person who had made notable contributions to the community in the year under consideration.
A video in the Carolina Room collection has been digitized and made publicly available.
Dr. Tom Hanchett traces the surprising history of how Charlotte became a city of distinct neighborhoods, based on his award-winning book Sorting Out the New South City (UNC Press, 1998).
The Washington Post of June 16, 1901, carries an article by William Hugh Robarts entitled "Our National Weapon-Rise and Development of the American Rifle" which reads:
Religious life plays an important role in the daily lives of most Charlotteans. Below is an estimate of the number of churches, both black and white, by denomination.
This float for a 1920 parade was sponsored by J&D Tires, a Charlotte company. Physical Description: 8x10 glossy, 4x5 negatives - 2 copies Publisher: Unknown
Women Changing Charlotte. March is Women’s History Month, a great time to see how women have moved into leadership roles — from TV news to non-profit management to politics — especially in the 1970s - 1980s. Please share your own memories!
The city leaders worked with the owners of the Louise and the Chadwick Hoskins Mills to create a vocational school to provide day and evening classes in woodworking, home economics, bookkeeping and other practical subjects.