Historic archives moving to NC Central, Duke

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By ABC11

Friday, September 25, 2009

DURHAM NC Mutual is the nation's largest and oldest life insurance company with roots in the African-American community. It says its collection highlights the historic role the company has played locally and nationally in African-American commerce.

The documents will be housed in Duke's Library Service Center, an off-site location that serves both schools along with the UNC library. The collection will be referred to as "The North Carolina Mutual Collection."

It includes thousands of business documents, newsletters, commercials, photography, and books written about the company and its founders, books written by the company, government insurance publications, plaques and awards, promotional items, and historical information about the families of two company founders, John Merrick and Dr. Aaron M. Moore, as well as trailblazer and corporate icon Charles C. Spaulding.

A press release says the North Carolina Mutual Collection may contain the largest assemblage of African-American corporate material in the nation.

"Thanks to the diligence, attention to detail and dedication of employees for more than a century, North Carolina Mutual's history has been exceptionally well documented and preserved," said James H. Speed, Jr., President and CEO of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company.