The Story of Early Raleigh Its Capitol and Its First Railroad

mc00030 Guide to the Charles McGee Heck Papers, 1922 - 1943 MC 00030 Finding aid prepared by Processed by: Laurence Gavin;machine-readable finding aid created by: Laurence Gavin Special Collections Research Center 2005 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2011-10-28T15:27-0400 Finding aid written in English. Charles McGee Heck Papers MC 00030 Special Collections Research Center 0.75 Linear feet 1 half box, 1 card box 1922 - 1943 The Charles McGee Heck Papers document Heck's life and work prior to and during his tenure as Professor and Head of the Physics Department at North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (later North Carolina State University), 1917 - 1946. The collection consists of bulletins, letters, a proposal, a testimonial, typescripts, and lantern slide plates. Charles McGee Heck (1881-1952) joined the Electrical Engineering Department at North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University) in 1913 to teach physics. He became Professor and Head of the Physics Department in 1917 and remained so until his retirement in 1946. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff. 1 half box, 1 card box Heck, Charles McGee, 1881-1952 Restrictions to Access

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.

Acquisitions Information

Donated by the Heck family in 1972 and 1977 (Accession 1972-0002, 1977-0002) and by Julian W. Bunn Jr. in 1981 (Accession 1981-0002).

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Charles McGee Heck Papers, MC 30, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

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Processing Information note

Processed by Laurence Gavin

Encoded by Laurence Gavin

Biographical Note

Professor Charles McGee Heck was born on May 28, 1881, in the family residence on Blount Street, between Lane and North, in Raleigh, North Carolina. At the age of fifteen he began his freshman year at Wake Forest College and received an A.B. in the year 1900. He continued as a graduate student at Columbia University where he parlayed previous research on the chemistry of alternating current, performed in his attic during preceeding summers, and received an M.A. in 1901.

After spending time in Berlin and China, Heck returned to the United States and took a position at the University of Nebraska as an Assistant Professor of Physics, 1905-1912. After a short period at Colorado College, Heck took a position under William Hand Browne in the fall of 1913 as Associate Professor of Physics in the Electrical Engineering Department at North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University). He achieved the title of Professor and Head of the Physics Department in 1917. During his tenure, Professor Heck designed the Physics half of the building that would later be named in honor of Josephus Daniels. He discovered the first known spiral crystal and devised the multiple radiator for meteorological reseach and weather forecasting. Upon his retirement in 1946, he was named Dean Emeritus.

In addition to his academic career, Heck spearheaded a relief effort to save millions of Chinese from starvation shortly after World War I. He also, as a result of his interest in the history and future of North Carolina, compiled materials for young students, to inspire "them to love Raleigh and their state and implant in their young minds a determination to be loyal to and serve this community..."

Heck was married to Maude Williams Heck. They had one son, Charles W. Heck. Charles McGee Heck died on November 23, 1952.

Scope and Content Note

The Charles McGee Heck Papers document Heck's life and work prior to and during his tenure as Professor and Head of the Physics Department at North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (later North Carolina State University), 1917 - 1946. As a physics professor, Heck discovered the first known spiral crystal and devised the multiple radiator for meteorological reseach and weather forecasting. The papers illuminate Heck's personal life as a child growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina, his relationship with his parents and siblings, thoughts about school and those who inspired him and developed his philosophies throughout his life and work. The collection consists of bulletins, letters, a proposal, a testimonial, and typescripts of The Story of Early Raleigh Its Capitol and Its First Railroad and a seventy-page autobiography.

Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized by type of document.

Related Material North Carolina State University College of Physical and Mathmatical Sciences website North Carolina State Archives - Charles M. Heck (1881 - 1952) Collection, Number 236. In the map collection is a bound volume of photostatic documents, dating from 1663 - 1887, which includes the original charter for the colony, early land grants for Raleigh and Wake County, land entries, deeds, maps of Wake County and North Carolina, plans of the city of Raleigh, census records, and letters. Heck, Charles McGee, 1881-1952 North Carolina State College. Dept. of Physics--History. North Carolina State University--Faculty--History. North Carolina State University. Dept. of Physics--History. International relief--Asia--History Lantern slides Physicists--China--Travel Physicists--Germany--Travel Physics--Study and teaching (Higher)--North Carolina Raleigh (N.C.)--History Weather forecasting--Technological innovations Papers MC 00030 series 1 0.25 Linear feet 1922-1943 Scope and Contents note

Papers of Charles McGee Heck include bulletins, letters, proposal, a testimonial, and typescripts.

Bulletins 1 1 1922, 1939 Scope and Contents note

Two articles from Alumni News published by North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering. The first, dated June 1922, documents an address given by Professor Heck accepting the Memorial To Nurses. The second, also from Alumni News, is a short biography and photo of Professor Heck dated 1939.

Letters 1 2 1938, 1940 Scope and Contents note

Two typed letters: the first to the Honorable Josephus Daniels regarding the Physics-Electrical Engineering Building at State College being named in his honor, the second is to "A Raleigh Teacher" in regard to a manuscript wriiten by Professor Heck entitled, The Story of Early Raleigh Its Capitol and Its First Railroad.

Proposal and Testimonial 1 3 1940, 1943 Scope and Contents note

A proposal written by Professor Heck entitled Suggested use of the Foundation of the Memorial Tower at State College as a Thousand-Year Repository for an Analysis of North Carolina's Present Condition and High Lights in History and a testimonial by an unknown author to Charles McGee Heck entitled, Raleigh As An Environment For Inspiration

Typescript 1 4 1940 Scope and Contents note

The Story of Early Raleigh Its Capitol and Its First Railroad by Charles M. Heck

Typescript 1 5 1940 March 5 Scope and Contents note

Contemporaneous Accounts of the Coming of the First Train to Raleigh, N.C. by Charles M. Heck

Typescript 1 6 1940s Scope and Contents note

The Autobiography of Charles McGee Heck

Lantern Slides MC 00030 series 2 1930s 1 card box Scope and Contents note

Pictures of snowflakes, meteorological graphs, and Heck with meteorological instruments.

Lantern Slide Plates 2 1 1930s Scope and Contents note

Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Lantern Slide Plates 2 2 1930s Scope and Contents note

Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Lantern Slide Plates 2 3 1930s Scope and Contents note

Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Lantern Slide Plates 2 4 1930s Scope and Contents note

Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Lantern Slide Plates 2 5 1930s Scope and Contents note

Snowflakes on 3 1/4" x 4" plate

Lantern Slide Plates 2 6 1930s Scope and Contents note