This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice.
The Mary Yarbrough Papers (1825-2012) contains a variety of materials including correspondence, photographs, publications, music books, news clippings, photocopies, and artifacts, most of which document Yarbrough's life and career, as well as her family history.
Mary Elizabeth Yarbrough (1904-1984) was one of the first women to receive a graduate degree (M.S. in chemistry, 1927) from North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University). Mary Yarbrough served on the faculty of Meredith College for many years (1929-1972). In 1941 she received a Ph.D. and Phi Beta Kappa key at Duke University. At Meredith College she headed the chemistry and physics department, and she became an assistant director of the cooperative education program.
Mary Elizabeth Yarbrough (1904-1984) was born in Raleigh and later became one of the first women to receive a degree from N.C. State, obtaining a graduate degree (M.S. in Chemistry) in 1927. She received a B.A. from Meredith College (1926) and later received her Ph.D. and Phi Beta Kappa key from Duke University (1941). She also served as a faculty member and Chemistry professor at Meredith College for several years from 1929-1972. Three years after her passing in 1987, The Mary Yarbrough Courtyard located on N.C. State’s North campus behind Holladay Hall, was named and dedicated in her honor, largely as a result of efforts by Doris King (Doris Elizabeth King Papers, MC 00551).
Her father, Louis T. Yarbrough (873-1952), was an alum from the university’s very first graduating class (1893). Her mother, Martha Luvenia “Lula” Ellis (1875-1945), was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Ellis, a businessman and property owner near the college campus who was well-known among faculty and students. The collection also contains materials pertaining to other family members including her older sister, Catherine (later Katherine) Yarbrough (1901/1900-1983), as well as her maternal grandmother and step-grandmother, and maternal aunts (Mittie Ellis Henley and Alma Ellis).
Outside of her career, Mary Yarbrough was a dedicated Baptist Christian and participated in many religious community events and organizations in Raleigh. Yarbrough also harbored interest in gardening and floral arrangement, some of which is documented in the collection.
The Mary Yarbrough Papers contains materials pertaining to the life, history, and career of Mary Yarbrough, the first woman to receive a graduate degree from N.C. State University (M.S. in Chemistry, 1927). There are several documents which provide information on her family history and their connections to the University and city of Raleigh, as well as materials which detail her academic career and time working at Meredith College. Materials also include antique photographs of Mary and relatives as well as scrapbooks and sheet music dating back to the mid-late nineteenth century. The collection also includes alumni materials from both mary and Louis T. Yarbrough, her father whom was part of the university's first graduating class (1893).
The photographs, artifacts, family history files, and correspondence were left to Doris E. King according to the will of Mary Yarbrough. Doris King's research files on Yarbrough were created mainly after Yarbrough's death in 1984. In 2015 the entire collection was left to North Carolina State University by the will of Doris E. King.
Materials arranged in series: Yarbrough-Ellis Family Papers, Honorary and Professional Organizations, Publications, and Personal Papers.
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.
[Identification of item], Mary Yarbrough Papers, MC 00552 old, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Doris Elizabeth King Papers (MC 00551)
A collection of documents from Mary Yarbrough also exists at the College Archives at Meredith College.
Bequest of Doris E. King, 2015 (Accession 2015.0075)
Processed by: Emily Mandara, June 2024; Todd Kosmerick, 2015 April; machine-readable finding aid by: Todd Kosmerick, 2015 April.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance 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
[Identification of item], Mary Yarbrough Papers, MC 00552 old, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
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.