MC 00288 Guide to the United States Weather Bureau, Raleigh Office Records, 1887-1972

Quantity

15.0 Linear feet

General Physical Description note

88 volumes

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Language

English

Processing

Processed by: Susan J. Erickson; machine-readable finding aid created by: Susan J. Eri

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of surface weather observations recorded by the Weather Bureau in Raleigh from 1887-1972. Barometric pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind, clouds, precipitation, dew point, frosts, and general weather observations were compiled monthly. For some years, daily records and annual summaries are included. Occasionally, newspaper clippings have been pasted into the volumes.

The collection is divided into two series. Meteorological Trends, 1887-1947 ns2:shows high, low, and normal temperatures over time. Data was graphically and numerically recorded on government forms that were adapted locally to ns2:show trends in temperature. Monthly Meteorological Reports, 1887-1972 gives surface weather observation data for Raleigh, with some years including daily records and annual summaries. Data was recorded on forms received from the United States government.

Historical Note

The United States Weather Bureau was created in 1870 as part of the Signal Service of the War Department. It was transferred to the Department of Agriculture in 1892 and then to the Department of Commerce in 1949. Today it is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The North Carolina State Weather Service was established in 1886 as part of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, which was opened on January 1, 1887.

W. O. Bailey was assigned by the Signal Service as station meteorologist and was followed by H. McP. Baldwin and then by C. F. von Herrmann. In 1896, the Experiment Station discontinued its weather service activities. From 1896-1908, observations were recorded at the Fisher Building at the corner of Fayetteville Street and Exchange Place and then at the Masonic Temple at the corner of Fayetteville and Hargett until 1940, when the location was moved to the municipal airport. For some years, there are additional observations taken at the Weather Bureau Office, 1911 Building, State College, Raleigh.

Controlled Terms

1. Clippings
2. Hardy, Al
3. Meteorology--Observations--North Carolina
4. North Carolina--Climate
5. United States. Weather Bureau.

Access to Collection

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

For more information contact us via mail, phone, fax, or our web form.

Mail

Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Telephone

(919) 515-2273

Fax

(919) 513-1787

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], United States Weather Bureau, Raleigh Office Records, MC 288, NCSU Libraries' Special Collections Research Center.

Access to Collection

The nature of the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NCSU Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.