The Accidental Archivist: J.G. de Roulhac Hamilton and the Creation of the Southern Historical Collection at Chapel Hill

There has been increasing interest expressed in the archival literature for an historical perspective on the profession. This study examines the case of the Southern Historical Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was approached both from the collection point of view and collector point of view, that of Dr. J.G. de Roulhac Hamilton. In the study, I attempted to connect some of the themes expressed in recent journal articles about the history of the archival profession. The result draws together the role of the individual who initiates a manuscripts collection, the institutional climate in which it occurs, and nature of collecting itself. Thus it is part geography of collector and collection, and part an examination of what drives the creation of collections of all sorts. I hope that the history provided will prompt a close look at the institutions archivists oversee and help develop a professional history that will enhance our profession.