Charles Horton Papers 1918-1980

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Size
27.22 linear feet (27 archival storage boxes, 2 cartons, 1 oversize flatbox, and 38 tubeboxes)
Call number
MC 00324

The Charles Horton Papers contain photographs, drawings, furniture catalogues, price lists, correspondence, and financial information related to Horton's career as a free-lance furniture designer in Statesville, North Carolina.

Charles M. Horton (1912 - 1987) was a furniture designer in Statesville, North Carolina. He graduated from Statesville High School and never studied furniture design in a formal setting. He began his career working with his brother and his father, Fred Horton. As his father's successor, he became a free-lance furniture designer in one of the most prosperous furniture manufacturing centers in the country. He designed individual pieces and suites for manufacturers throughout the Southeast. Among his clients were Lexington Chair Company and Burlington Furniture Company in North Carolina, Pulaski Furniture in Virginia, Trogdon Furniture in Georgia, and Williams Furniture Corporation in South Carolina.

Biographical/historical note

Charles M. Horton (1912 - 1987) was a furniture designer in Statesville, North Carolina. He graduated from Statesville High School and never studied furniture design in a formal setting. He began his career working with his brother and his father, Fred Horton. As his father's successor, he became a free-lance furniture designer in one of the most prosperous furniture manufacturing centers in the country.

Horton designed individual pieces and suites for manufacturers throughout the Southeast. Among his clients were Lexington Chair Company and Burlington Furniture Company in North Carolina, Pulaski Furniture in Virginia, Trogdon Furniture in Georgia, and Williams Furniture Corporation in South Carolina. Williams Furniture Corporation merged with Georgia-Pacific Corporation in 1967, becoming the Williams Furniture Division.

Horton's designs reflect the interests and taste of middle-income families after World War II, when many people were establishing and furnishing homes. He designed for a clientele who wanted the warmth and security of early American values -- solid wood, patterned fabrics, and stability. His contribution to the cultivation of this taste, pervasive in the 1960s, was seen in his design for pieces for every room of the house in his Village Square suite. Manufactured by Williams Furniture Company, the Village Square suite received national attention in major newspapers nationwide, and was featured on the gameshow The Price is Right for eleven weeks in 1961. Horton was credited with the shift in furniture taste to early American design. He was also called the poor man's friend for his affordable designs for the mass market.

Scope/content

The Charles Horton Papers contain photographs, drawings, furniture catalogues, price lists, correspondence, and financial information related to Charles Horton's career as a free-lance furniture designer in Statesville, North Carolina

Promotional materials in this collection include catalogs from more than 100 companies and include both furniture and furniture hardware. Some of the catalogs contain suites designed by Horton; others contain desgins that influenced his work. Most of the catalogs promote suites from Williams Furniture Corporation (which became the Williams Furniture Division of the Georgia-Pacific Corporation in 1967). Other companies include Bassick-Sack, Burlington Furniture Company, American Drew, Thomasville Furniture Company, Pulaski Furniture Company, and Keeler Brass Company. Price lists are available with some of the catalogs. There is also a Village Square scrapbook, which highlights the collection Horton designed for Williams Furniture Company. This scrapbook includes drawings, photographs, newspaper articles, correspondence, and references to the furniture's appearance as prizes on the game show The Price is Right in 1961.

Most of the drawings in this collection appear to be for South Carolina's Williams Furniture Corporation, but drawings for other companies, including Lexington Chair Company and Burlington Furniture Company of North Carolina and Pulaski Furniture Company of Virginia, are also included. Other drawings are from Williams Furniture Corporation's Ashley River,Casual Oak,Stoneleigh Manor,Vive La,Wedgefield Court,Village Square, and Bunk House lines.

The collection also contains books, including The Charm of Sovereign Wood, Then and Now in Furniture: Early American, Kensington Furniture, A History of American Furniture, and The Berkey & Gay Style Book.

Arrangement

This collection is divided into four series:

  • 1. Promotional Materials
  • 2. Business Transactions
  • 3. Drawings
  • 4. Books

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University 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.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Charles Horton Papers, MC 00324, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Source of acquisition

Donated by Briget Horton, of Raleigh, N.C.; Adelaide Horton of New York, N.Y.; and Martha Horton Hart of Raleigh, N.C.; September 2002.

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

The collection is organized into five principal series:

Promotional Materials (Series 1)
Size: 10 linear feet

This series contains furniture catalogs, reference catalogs for furniture hardware supplies and period ornaments, advertisements, and photographs from more than 100 furniture companies. Horton's The Village Square scrapbook is also included in this series.

The majority of the furniture catalogs come from Williams Furniture Corporation (which became the Williams Furniture Division of the Georgia-Pacific Corporation in 1967), but also includes companies such as Burlington Furniture, Henredon Furniture Industries, Inc., Drexel, Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc., American Drew, and Pulaski Furniture Corporation. Furniture suites designed by Horton include Burlington Furniture's Halifax Square and Wlliams Furniture Corporation's The Nordic Collection,San Simeon,Fenwick Hall,Carriage Mark,Sunset Pine,Casual Oak,Chavala,La Mancha,Country Life,King's Tree, and Village Square. Horton is perhaps best remembered for the the Village Square line. The Village Square scrapbook includes photographs, clippings, letters from distributors, photocopies of advertisements from newspapers nationwide, and newspaper interviews with Horton that record the significance of this line. Also included in the scrapbook are letters and pricelists pertaining to the use of the furniture as prizes on the gameshow The Price is Right in 1961.

Some of the companies included in this collection are closely related. For example, Henry T. Link split Dixie into four companies in the 1950s and 1960s: Link-Taylor, Young Hinkle, and Henry Link. These companies are now known as Lexington Home Brands.

Reference catalogs include Period Furniture Hardware by Keeler Brass Company, Carvings by John Walter & Sons, and brass hardware catalogs from Bassick-Sack.

14 archival boxes

Arrangement note

Arrangement: alphabetical by company

Allan Keith
Legal box 1, Folder 1
American Drew
Oversize legal box 12, Folder 1
American Furniture Novelty Co.
Legal box 1, Folder 2
American of Martinsville
Oversize legal box 12, Folder 2
Astra Bent Wood Furniture Company
Legal box 1, Folder 3
Baker Furniture, Inc.
Legal box 1, Folder 4
The Bartley Collection, Ltd.
Legal box 1, Folder 5
Basic-Witz Corporation
Legal box 1, Folder 6
Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc.
Legal box 1, Folder 7
Bassick-Sack (1 of 4)
Legal box 1, Folder 8
Bassick-Sack (2 of 4)
Legal box 1, Folder 9
Bassick-Sack (3 of 4)
Legal box 1, Folder 10
Bassick-Sack (4 of 4)
Legal box 2, Folder 1
Bennington/Vermont of Winooski
Oversize legal box 12, Folder 3
Bernhardt Furniture Company (includes Hibriten)
Oversize legal box 12, Folder 4
Boynton Waddell Company
Legal box 2, Folder 2
B.P. John Furniture Corporation
Legal box 2, Folder 3
A. Brandt Company, Inc./Ranch Oak
Legal box 2, Folder 4
Brandt
Legal box 2, Folder 5
Broyhill Furniture Industries (includes Lenoir House)
Oversize legal box 12, Folder 5
Burlington Furniture (1 of 2)
Oversize legal box 12, Folder 6
Burlington Furniture (2 of 2)
Box 15, Folder 1
Carrollton Furniture Manufacturing Company
Legal box 2, Folder 6
Century Furniture Company
Legal box 2, Folder 7
Chautauqua Hardware Corporation (1 of 6)
Legal box 2, Folder 8
Chautauqua Hardware Corporation (2 of 6)
Legal box 3, Folder 1
Chautauqua Hardware Corporation (3 of 6)
Legal box 3, Folder 2
Chautauqua Hardware Corporation (4 of 6)
Legal box 3, Folder 3
Chautauqua Hardware Corporation (5 of 6)
Legal box 3, Folder 4
Chautauqua Hardware Corporation (6 of 6)
Legal box 3, Folder 5
Christmas Furniture Manufacturing Company
Legal box 3, Folder 6
Cochrane Furniture Company, Inc.
Legal box 3, Folder 7
Colony Tables Incorporated/Globe Furniture
Legal box 4, Folder 1
Conant Ball
Legal box 4, Folder 2
Consolidated Furniture Industries, Inc.
Legal box 4, Folder 3
Councill Craftsmen
Legal box 4, Folder 4
The Country Shop
Legal box 4, Folder 5
Currahee Furniture Company
Legal box 4, Folder 6
Davis Cabinet Company
Legal box 4, Folder 7
The Decorators Supply Company
Legal box 4, Folder 8
Dixie
Legal box 4, Folder 9
Drexel (1 of 2)
Legal box 4, Folder 10
Drexel (2 of 2)
Legal box 4, Folder 11
Emerson Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Legal box 4, Folder 12
Essex House Furniture
Legal box 4, Folder 13
Ethan Allen
Legal box 4, Folder 14
Exfer
Legal box 4, Folder 15
Federal Millwork Corporation
Legal box 4, Folder 16
Fort Harrison Products Corporation
Legal box 4, Folder 17
Frank Morrow Company
Legal box 5, Folder 1
Franklin Shockey Company
Legal box 5, Folder 2
General Interiors (A Portfolio of Great American Houses)
Legal box 5, Folder 3
General Interiors (Cushman Classics)
Legal box 5, Folder 4
General Interiors (Pennsylvania House)
Legal box 5, Folder 5
Gordon's, Inc.
Legal box 5, Folder 6
Habersham
Legal box 5, Folder 7
Harden Furniture
Legal box 5, Folder 8
Henkel-Harris
Legal box 5, Folder 9
Henredon Furniture Industries, Inc. (1 of 3)
Legal box 5, Folder 10
Henredon Furniture Industries, Inc. (2 of 3)
Legal box 5, Folder 11
Henredon Furniture Industries, Inc. (3 of 3)
Legal box 6, Folder 1
Henry Link
Legal box 6, Folder 2
Heritage
Legal box 6, Folder 3
Heywood-Wakefield
Oversize legal box 12, Folder 7
Hickory Chair Company
Legal box 6, Folder 4
Hooker Furniture Corporation
Legal box 6, Folder 5
Invincible Parlor Frame Company, Inc.
Legal box 6, Folder 6
Jamestown Lounge Company
Legal box 6, Folder 7
Jaycee
Legal box 6, Folder 8
John Shuler & Associates
Legal box 6, Folder 9
John Walker & Sons Limited
Legal box 6, Folder 10
Karges Furniture Company, Inc.
Oversize legal box 12, Folder 8
Keeler Brass Company (1 of 4)
Legal box 6, Folder 11
Keeler Brass Company (2 of 4)
Box 7, Folder 1
Keeler Brass Company (3 of 4)
Box 7, Folder 2
Keeler Brass Company (4 of 4)
Box 7, Folder 3
Keller Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Box 7, Folder 4
Kenlea Crafts, Inc.
Box 7, Folder 5
Kindel Furniture Company
Box 7, Folder 6
Kling
Box 7, Folder 7
Klise Manufacturing Company (1 of 2)
Box 7, Folder 8
Klise Manufacturing Company (2 of 2)
Box 7, Folder 9
Knapp & Tubbs
Box 7, Folder 10
Lane
Box 7, Folder 11
Lee Furniture Manufacturing Company
Box 7, Folder 12
Lexington Chair Company
Box 7, Folder 13
Link-Taylor
Legal box 8, Folder 1
Living Walls Inc.
Legal box 8, Folder 2
Ludlow Corporation (Forest Products)
Legal box 8, Folder 3
Maddox Colonial Reproductions
Legal box 8, Folder 4
Mengel
Legal box 8, Folder 5
MetaLoom Products
Legal box 8, Folder 6
Mobel, Inc.
Legal box 8, Folder 7
Moosehead Manufacturing Company/Colonial American Furniture
Legal box 8, Folder 8
Mount Airy Mantel & Table Company, Inc.
Legal box 8, Folder 9
Myrtle Desk! Library Division
Legal box 8, Folder 10
Newport Furniture Corporation
Legal box 8, Folder 11
Nichols & Stone Company
Legal box 8, Folder 12
Norman King & Son
Legal box 8, Folder 13
Ottens Products, Inc.
Legal box 8, Folder 14
Philadelphia Handle Company
Legal box 8, Folder 15
Pine Shop
Legal box 8, Folder 16
Pine-Tique Furniture Company
Legal box 8, Folder 17
Plymwood Furniture Corporation
Legal box 8, Folder 18
Pulaski Furniture Corporation
Legal box 8, Folder 19
Raymond E. Enkeboll
Legal box 8, Folder 20
Red Lion Table Company, Inc.
Oversize legal box 13, Folder 1
Romweber
Oversize legal box 13, Folder 2
Ronthor Reiss Corporation
Legal box 8, Folder 21
Schilling Furniture Company
Legal box 8, Folder 22
Schoolfield Furniture Industries
Legal box 8, Folder 23
Sherwin-Williams Company
Legal box 8, Folder 24
O. W. Slane Glass Company
Legal box 8, Folder 25
Sprague & Carleton
Oversize legal box 13, Folder 3
Stanley
Legal box 9, Folder 1
Sterlingworth Corporation
Legal box 9, Folder 2
Sun Glow Furniture Industries
Legal box 9, Folder 3
Superior Tables
Legal box 9, Folder 4
Temple-Stuart
Legal box 9, Folder 5
Tennesee Furniture Industries, Inc.
Oversize legal box 13, Folder 4
Thomasville Furniture Industries, Inc.
Oversize legal box 13, Folder 5
Trogdon Furniture Company
Oversize legal box 13, Folder 6
Unagusta Manufacturing Corporation
Legal box 9, Folder 6
Unique Furniture Makers
Legal box 9, Folder 7
United Furniture Corporation
Legal box 9, Folder 8
Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company, Inc.
Legal box 9, Folder 9
Vermont Furniture Company, Inc.
Legal box 9, Folder 10
Walker & Zanger, Inc.
Legal box 9, Folder 11
Wendell Fabrics Corporation
Legal box 9, Folder 12
Williams Furniture Corporation - Adventure (No. 4400)
Legal box 9, Folder 13
Williams Furniture Corporation - Apollo Collection (No. 8600)
Legal box 9, Folder 14
Williams Furniture Corporation - The Barony Oak (No. 2200)
Legal box 9, Folder 15
Williams Furniture Corporation - The "Belvedere" Group (No. K-7000)
Legal box 9, Folder 16
Williams Furniture Corporation - Brittany Cottage (No. P300, P700, P1400)
Legal box 9, Folder 17
Williams Furniture Corporation - Brittany Fair (No. 1800)
Legal box 9, Folder 18
Williams Furniture Corporation - Bunk House (No. 6500)
Legal box 9, Folder 19
Williams Furniture Corporation - Candlelight Pine (No. 5600)
Legal box 9, Folder 20
Williams Furniture Corporation - Carriage Mark (No. 1700) (1 of 2)
Legal box 9, Folder 21
Williams Furniture Corporation - Carriage Mark (2 of 2)
Box 15, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Casual Oak Collection (R3300) (1 of 2)
Oversize legal box 13, Folder 7
Williams Furniture Corporation - Casual Oak (2 of 2)
Box 15, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Casual Provincial Collection (No. D-1700, No. K-1800)
Legal box 9, Folder 22
Williams Furniture Corporation - Chavala (No. 1900)
Legal box 9, Folder 23
Williams Furniture Corporation - The Cherryvale Manor (No. 4200)
Legal box 9, Folder 24
Williams Furniture Corporation - Colonial Maple (No. N2600)
Legal box 9, Folder 25
Williams Furniture Corporation - Contemporary Modern
Box 15, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Country Life (No. 7200)
Legal box 9, Folder 26
Williams Furniture Corporation - Country Line U.S.A. (No. 2400)
Legal box 9, Folder 27
Williams Furniture Corporation - Desks
Legal box 9, Folder 28
Williams Furniture Corporation - Discotheque (No. 1700)
Legal box 9, Folder 29
Williams Furniture Corporation - The Elizabeth Rutledge (No. 3200)
Legal box 9, Folder 30
Williams Furniture Corporation - Fenwick Hall (No. 1600)
Legal box 9, Folder 31
Williams Furniture Corporation - The Fireside Collection (No. 2700)
Legal box 9, Folder 32
Williams Furniture Corporation - Forefathers (No. 7800)
Oversize legal box 13, Folder 8
Williams Furniture Corporation - Gallery Twenty One (No. 2100)
Legal box 9, Folder 33
Williams Furniture Corporation - The Green Valley Pine (No. 2200)
Legal box 10, Folder 1
Williams Furniture Corporation - Hacienda Oak (No. R-9000)
Legal box 10, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - High Country Oak (No. 9300) (1 of 2)
Legal box 10, Folder 3
Williams Furniture Corporation - Italian Casual (No. 8800) (1 of 2)
Legal box 10, Folder 4
Williams Furniture Corporation - Italian Casual (2 of 2)
Box 15, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - King's Tree
Legal box 10, Folder 5
Williams Furniture Corporation - La Mancha Collection (No. 7500)
Legal box 10, Folder 6
Williams Furniture Corporation - Legend Oak (No. 4700) (1 of 2)
Legal box 10, Folder 7
Williams Furniture Corporation - Legend Oak (2 of 2)
Box 15, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - LindaVista (No. 7900)
Legal box 10, Folder 8
Williams Furniture Corporation - Maple (No. K-3800)
Legal box 10, Folder 9
Williams Furniture Corporation - Maple Series (No. T4800)
Legal box 10, Folder 10
Williams Furniture Corporation - Middleton Collection
Box 15, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Nordic Oak Collection
Box 15, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Oxford Oak (No. 4800) (1 of 2)
Legal box 10, Folder 11
Williams Furniture Corporation - Oxford Oak (2 of 2)
Box 15, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Peaches and Cream
Box 15, Folder 3
Williams Furniture Corporation - Plastic Tops (No. 2300)
Legal box 10, Folder 12
Williams Furniture Corporation - Rio Grande
Legal box 10, Folder 13
Williams Furniture Corporation - The Roger Williams Group (No. 8700, No. 84700)
Legal box 10, Folder 14
Williams Furniture Corporation - Rural French (No. 2500)
Legal box 10, Folder 15
Williams Furniture Corporation - San Lorenzo (No. 9100)
Legal box 10, Folder 16
Williams Furniture Corporation - San Simeon (No. 9800)
Legal box 10, Folder 17
Williams Furniture Corporation - Savannah Inn
Box 15, Folder 3
Williams Furniture Corporation - Sectional Modern
Box 15, Folder 3
Williams Furniture Corporation - Show Off (No. 5300)
Legal box 10, Folder 18
Williams Furniture Corporation - The Sketchbook Series - Casual American
Legal box 10, Folder 19
Williams Furniture Corporation - Slumber Party (No. 5400)
Legal box 10, Folder 20
Williams Furniture Corporation - Spanish Elegance (No. 9000)
Legal box 10, Folder 21
Williams Furniture Corporation - Spice Box (No. 2100)
Legal box 10, Folder 22
Williams Furniture Corporation - Stoneleigh Manor (No. 8200)
Legal box 10, Folder 23
Williams Furniture Corporation - Sunset Oak (No. 7000)
Oversize legal box 13, Folder 9
Williams Furniture Corporation - Today's Life (No. 3300) (1 of 2)
Legal box 10, Folder 24
Williams Furniture Corporation - Today's Lifestyle (2 of 2)
Box 15, Folder 3
Williams Furniture Corporation - Tuvara Collection (No. 9500)
Legal box 10, Folder 25
Williams Furniture Corporation - "Urban" Modern Oak Collection (No. H3700)
Legal box 10, Folder 26
Williams Furniture Corporation - Village Square (1 of 2)
Legal box 10, Folder 27
Williams Furniture Corporation - Village Square (2 of 2)
Box 15, Folder 3
Williams Furniture Corporation - "The Village Square" Scrapbook
Box 14
Williams Furniture Corporation - Whistle Stop
Box 15, Folder 3
Williams Furniture Corporation - Village Square Pine (No. 6400, No. 8100)
Legal box 10, Folder 28
Williams Furniture Corporation - Vive La (No. 7600)
Legal box 10, Folder 29
Williams Furniture Corporation - Wedgefield Court (No. 5000)
Legal box 10, Folder 30
Williams Furniture Corporation - Young Miss (No. 1200)
Legal box 10, Folder 31
Williams Furniture Corporation - Unidentified
Legal box 10, Folder 32
Williams Furniture Corporation - Wonderful World of Plastic
Box 15, Folder 3
Williams Furniture Corporation - Unidentified
Box 15, Folder 4
Winter Products Company
Legal box 10, Folder 33
Wood Bros. Limited
Legal box 11, Folder 1
Young-Hinkle
Legal box 11, Folder 2
Unidentified
Legal box 11, Folder 3
Unidentified
Legal box 11, Folder 4
Unidentified price lists
Legal box 11, Folder 5
Magazine clippings
Legal box 11, Folder 6
Newspaper clippings
Legal box 11, Folder 7
Business Transactions 1932-1979 and undated (Series 2)
Size: 0.25 linear feet

This series consists of correspondence and financial documents.

Correspondence from the 1940s includes letters between Horton and A. F. Lenart of Lee Radio Manufacturing Corporation in New York City; Bonner Thompson of Thomason Plywood Corporation in Fayetteville, North Carolina; Abe Mann of Abe Mann Furniture Sales Agency in New York City; and John S. Creech of Unique Furniture Makers of Winston-Salem, North Carolina Also included is a letter from Turner Manufacturing Company's J. M. Wagner to Jimmy Horton.

Correspondence from the 1950s includes letters between Horton and Joseph Brunner of Wholesale Furniture in New York City; Abe Mann and Max Levy of Abe Mann Furniture Sales Agency; C. A. Troutman of Universal Company in High Point, North Carolina; F. P. Shockey of Shockey Company in Lexington, North Carolina; Ray Trogdon and Corbin Smith of Trogdon Furniture Company, in Toccoa, Georgia; W. E. Covington of Williams Furniture Corporation; and Margaret Hammersley of Home Furnishing Industry Committee. There are also many letters written to W. E. Covington regarding Williams Furniture Corporation's Casual Oak suite (No. R-3300).

Correspondence from the 1960s includes letters between Horton and Dean of North Carolina State College's School of Desgin Henry L. Kamphoefner; and J. Clyde Hooker, Sr. of Hooker Furniture Corporation in Martinsville, Virginia; as well as a letter from Leonard Eisen of Interior Product Design to Fred Stanley of Pulaski Furniture Company.

Correspondence from the 1979 and 1980 includes letters to Horton from Stanley DuBose of the Georgia-Pacific Corporation in Sumter, South Carolina; as well as memos from Royce A. Jones of Jackson, Mississippi to DuBose.

Undated correspondence includes a letter from Horton with drawings for the Spanish Provincial suite. Also included are office memos mentioning the Casual Oak and Today and Tomorrow suites.

Financial documents include a ledger dated from 1932 to 1934, as well as invoices and estimates dated from 1949 to 1977. There are numerous Companies mentioned in these documents, including Webb Furniture Company in Galax, Virginia; Conover Furniture Company in Conover, North Carolina; and Forest Furniture Company in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

0.5 archival boxes

Furniture part identification
Legal box 11, Folder 8
Correspondence 1946-1949
Legal box 11, Folder 9
Correspondence 1951-1959
Legal box 11, Folder 10
Correspondence 1962-1966
Legal box 11, Folder 11
Correspondence 1979
Legal box 11, Folder 12
Correspondence and memos, undated

includes drawings

Legal box 11, Folder 13
Ledger 1932-1934
Legal box 11, Folder 14
Financial information 1949-1977, undated
Legal box 11, Folder 15
Drawings (Series 3)
Size: 11 linear feet

The majority of the drawings in this collection appear to be for South Carolina's Williams Furniture Corporation, but drawings for other companies, including Lexington Chair Company and Burlington Furniture Company of North Carolina and Pulaski Furniture Company of Virginia,are also included. Drawings from Williams Furniture Corporation include the Ashley River,Casual Oak,Stoneleigh Manor,Vive La,Wedgefield Ct.,Village Square, and Bunk House suites.

Drawings in this collection typically are in pencil and do not have any color; however, Horton added color to many. Colored drawings are typically done brown colored pencil, with yellow and red added to some. Most of the drawings are originals, altough a few are reproductions.

Many drawings are labeled, making it clear which suite they belong to. Of these drawings, some can be matched with furniture pictured in catalogs. Of the drawings that cannot be matched to catalogue picutres, some were either discontinued or not included in the suite.

Other drawings, however, are either not labeled at all or have not been clearly identified with any furniture suites. Some include suite numbers, but do not appear to clearly match photographs in the furniture catalogs. These drawings have been labeled as unidentified.

11 archival boxes

C. B. Atkin Company
Box 18, Folder 1
Burlington Furniture - The Philpott Collection
Box 19, Folder 1
Furniture, Inc.
Box 18, Folder 3
[Imperial Furniture Company?]
Box 18, Folder 4
Pulaski Furniture Corporation
Box 18, Folder 5
Sears Sargent
Box 18, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Ashley River Collection
Box 17, Folder 1
Williams Furniture Corporation - Bunkhouse (No. 6500)
Box 18, Folder 6
Williams Furniture Corporation - Candlelight Pine
Box 16, Folder 1
Williams Furniture Corporation - Carriage Mark
Box 16, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Casual Oak (R-3300) (3 of 6)
Box 16, Folder 3
Williams Furniture Corporation - Casual Oak (R-3300) (4 of 6)
Box 16, Folder 4
Williams Furniture Corporation - Casual Oak (No. R-3300) (5 of 6)
Box 17, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Casual Oak (6 of 6)
Box 19, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Country Life (No. 7200)
Box 16, Folder 5
Williams Furniture Corporation - Country Line U.S.A. (No. 2400)
Box 17, Folder 3
Williams Furniture Corporation - Computer Desks
Box 16, Folder 6
Williams Furniture Corporation--Forefathers (No. 7800) undated
Tube 11
Williams Furniture Corporation - French Casual Oak
Box 19, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - La Mancha Collection (No. 7500)
Box 17, Folder 4
Williams Furniture Corporation - Legend Oak (No. 4700)
Box 16, Folder 7
Williams Furniture Corporation - Rural Elegance (No. 2400)
Box 17, Folder 5
Williams Furniture Corporation - Savannah Inn
Box 16, Folder 8
Williams Furniture Corporation - Spanish Elegance (No. 9000)
Box 17, Folder 6
Williams Furniture Corporation - Spice Box
Box 18, Folder 8
Williams Furniture Corporation - Village Square (1 of 2)
Box 16, Folder 9
Williams Furniture Corporation - Village Square (2 of 2)
Box 18, Folder 9
Williams Furniture Corporation -Vive La (1 of 2)
Box 18, Folder 10
Williams Furniture Corporation - Vive La (2 of 2)
Box 19, Folder 2
Williams Furniture Corporation - Wedgefield Court (No. 5000) (1 of 3)
Box 17, Folder 5
Williams Furniture Corporation - Wedgefield Court (No. 5000) (2 of 3)
Box 17, Folder 6
Williams Furniture Corporation - Wedgefield Court (No. 5000) (3 of 3)
Box 17, Folder 7
Williams Furniture Corporation - "Williams Current"
Box 17, Folder 8
Williams Furniture Corporation - Wonderful World of Plastic
Box 16, Folder 15
Williams Furniture Corporation - No. D-200
Box 15, Folder 7
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] - M200
Box 16, Folder 11
Williams Furniture Corporation - No. S110
Box 16, Folder 10
[Lexington or Williams Furniture Corporation?] - Caribbean Casual
Box 18, Folder 7
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] -[Casual & Contemporary?]
Box 18, Folder 11
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] - [Country Life (No. 4700), Legend Oak (No. 1700), Casual Oak (No. 3300)?]
Box 16, Folder 16
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] - [Rural French (No. 2500)?]
Box 17, Folder 9
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] - Unidentified (No. 1600)
Box 16, Folder 13
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] - Unidentified (No. 1800)
Box 17, Folder 10
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] - Unidentified (Nos. 1600 and 7800)
Box 17, Folder 11
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] - Unidentified (No. 7800)
Box 17, Folder 12
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] - No. 8300
Box 17, Folder 13
Williams Furniture Corporation - Unidentified
Box 15, Folder 8
Williams Furniture Corporation - Unidentified
Box 19, Folder 2
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] - Unidentified
Box 16, Folder 12
[Williams Furniture Corporation?] - Unidentified
Box 16, Folder 14
Unidentified
Box 19, Folder 3
Unidentified
Box 19, Folder 4
Unidentified
Box 19, Folder 5
Unidentified
Box 20, Folder 1
Unidentified
Box 20, Folder 2
Unidentified
Box 20, Folder 3
Unidentified
Box 20, Folder 4
Unidentified
Box 20, Folder 5
Unidentified
Box 20, Folder 6
Unidentified
Box 20, Folder 7
Unidentified
Box 21, Folder 1
Unidentified
Box 21, Folder 2
Unidentified
Box 21, Folder 3
Unidentified
Box 21, Folder 4
Unidentified
Box 21, Folder 5
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 1
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 2
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 3
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 4
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 5
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 6
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 7
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 8
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 9
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 10
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 11
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 12
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 13
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 14
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 15
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 16
Unidentified
Box 22, Folder 17
Unidentified
Box 23, Folder 1
Unidentified
Box 23, Folder 2
Unidentified
Box 23, Folder 3
Unidentified
Box 23, Folder 4
Unidentified
Box 23, Folder 5
Unidentified
Box 23, Folder 6
Unidentified
Box 23, Folder 7
Unidentified
Box 23, Folder 8
Unidentified
Box 23, Folder 9
Unidentified
Box 23, Folder 10
Unidentified (Native American influence)
Box 24, Folder 1
Unidentified (pull sketches)
Box 24, Folder 2
Unidentified
Box 24, Folder 3
Unidentified
Box 24, Folder 4
Unidentified
Box 24, Folder 5
Unidentified
Box 24, Folder 6
Unidentified
Box 24, Folder 7
Unidentified
Box 24, Folder 8
Unidentified
Box 24, Folder 9
Unidentified
Box 24, Folder 10
Unidentified
Box 24, Folder 11
Unidentified
Box 24, Folder 12
Bedroom suites - Unidentified
Box 25, Folder 1
#510-530 - Unidentified
Box 25, Folder 2
Beds and Dressers - No. 100-A - No. 116-P - Unidentified
Box 25, Folder 4
[Currahee Furniture Company?] - No. 16
Box 25, Folder 5
Specials 10-14 - Unidentified
Box 25, Folder 6
Panel beds and dressers - Unidentified
Box 25, Folder 7
Beds and dressers - Unidentified
Box 25, Folder 8
Bedroom Suite: Dresser

Sketches.

Tube box 1
Bedroom Suite: Bedframe

Blueprints.

Tube box 1
Bedroom Suite: Mirror

Blueprints.

Tube box 2
Bedroom Suite: Chest and Night-stand

Blueprints.

Tube box 2
Bedroom Suite: Table

Blueprints.

Tube box 4
Bedroom Suite: Chair

Blueprints.

Tube box 3
Desks (1 of 6)
Tube box 4
Desks (2 of 6)
Tube box 8
Desks (3 of 6)
Tube box 23
Desks (4 of 6)
Tube box 30
Desks (5 of 6)
Tube box 31
Desks (6 of 6)
Tube box 38
Dressers and Mirrors (1 of 6)
Tube box 8
Dressers and Mirrors (2 of 6)
Tube box 25
Dressers and Mirrors (3 of 6)
Tube box 25
Dressers and Mirrors (4 of 6)
Tube box 26
Dressers and Mirrors (5 of 6)
Tube box 31
Dressers and Mirrors (6 of 6)
Tube box 38
Dressers (1 of 2)
Tube box 15
Dressers (2 of 2)
Tube box 23
Mirrors (1 of 2)
Tube box 11
Mirror (2 of 2)
Tube box 30
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (1 of 14)
Tube box 5
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (2 of 14)
Tube box 6
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (3 of 14)
Tube box 7
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (4 of 14)
Tube box 16
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (5 of 14)
Tube box 17
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (6 of 14)
Tube box 18
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (7 of 14)
Tube box 19
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (8 of 14)
Tube box 20
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (9 of 14)
Tube box 27
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (10 of 14)
Tube box 29
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (11 of 14)
Tube box 28
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (12 of 14)
Tube box 35
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (13 of 14)
Tube box 36
Armoir, Hutch, Chest (14 of 14)
Tube box 37
Chairs and Table

Sketches.

Tube box 1
Tables(1 of 7)

Includes plans for nightstands.

Tube box 4
Tables(2 of 7)
Tube box 14
Tables (3 of 7)
Tube box 15
Tables (4 of 7)
Tube box 24
Tables(5 of 7)
Tube box 30
Tables(6 of 7)
Tube box 33
Tables(7 of 7)
Tube box 38
Beds(1 of 9)
Tube box 9
Beds(2 of 9)
Tube box 12
Beds(3 of 9)
Tube box 13
Beds (4 of 9)
Tube box 21
Beds (5 of 9)
Tube box 21
Beds (6 of 9)
Tube box 22
Beds(7 of 9)
Tube box 32
Beds(8 of 9)
Tube box 34
Beds (9 of 9)
Tube box 38
Chairs(1 of 6)
Box 25, Folder 3
Chairs(2 of 6)
Tube box 7
Chairs (3 of 6)
Tube box 10
Chairs (4 of 6)
Tube box 24
Chairs(5 of 6)
Tube box 30
Chairs(6 of 6)
Tube box 31
Older drawings, numbered - Unidentified
Box 25, Folder 9
Older drawings, unnumbered - Inidentified
Box 25, Folder 10
Chairs and couches - Unidentified
Box 25, Folder 11
"Country Beautiful" furniture sketches; Graph of 1974 Sales 1974
Tube box 9
#3 undated
Tube 1
#300 undated
Tube 2
#669 undated
Tube 12
#1500 undated
Tube 3
#2400 undated
Tube 4
#3100 undated
Tube 5
#4800 undated
Tube 6
#5000 undated
Tube 7
#5600 undated
Tube 8
#6700 undated
Tube 9
#7600 undated
Tube 10
Books 1918-1936 and undated (Series 4)
Size: 2 linear feet

The books in this collection are The Charm of Sovereign Wood: Volume II (Memphis: Hardwood Manufacturers' Institute, 1918); Then-and Now in Furniture: Early American (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Waddell Manufacturing Co., 1928); The Berkey & Gay Style Book (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Berkey & Gay Furniture Co., 1929); A History of American Furniture (East Stroudsburg, Penn.: The Towse Publishing Company, 1936); and the Kensington Furniture (New York: Kensington Mfg. Company)

2 archival boxes

Then and Now in Furniture
Box 26, Folder 1
Kensington Furniture
Box 26, Folder 2
The Charm of Sovereign Wood, Volume II
Box 26, Folder 3
A History of American Furniture
Box 26, Folder 4
Berkey & Gay Style Book
Box 27, Folder 1
Unprocessed Material
Unprocessed drawings
Oversize flat box 28
Unprocessed drawings
Carton 29
Unprocessed drawings and publications
Carton 30
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Access to the collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.

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

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Charles Horton Papers, MC 00324, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

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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.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.