Existing comment:
State Geologist's Office: 1854-1865:
In November 1840, this room was assigned to the State Supreme Court. In early 1843, the Court and its law library relocated to the northwest suite on the first floor. No reason for the move is stated, but the long climb to the third floor may have been too strenuous for the three judges. This room was then used by legislative clerks.
In 1850, Governor David S. Reid authorized a "Geological, Mineralogical, Botanical, and Agricultural Survey of the State." Two years later, Dr. Ebenezer Emmons, a former geologist for the New York state survey, was appointed as the State Geologist. Dr. Emmons conducted his survey from 1852-1860 to determine both the scope of North Carolina's natural resources and their commercial potential.
Pour transportation prevented Dr. Emmons from fully documenting the entire state. In 1854, he was instructed by the legislature to prepare an exhibit for the examination to justify continued funding of the survey. Glazed display cases were moved (?) here in 1856 to house the collection from only (?) the Midland (Piedmont) counties.
Shortly before the peaceful surrender of Raleigh to Union troops on April 13, 1865, Governor Zebulon Vance requested that ":the Capitol with its library and museum" be spared. That did not prevent valuable mineral specimens from being plundered by soldiers in General Sherman's army.
In 1866, the remnants from the "Cabinet of Minerals" were transferred to the University of North Carolina and by 1868 the cabinets were removed from the room.
After the Civil War, this room became a State Library reading room and later, the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. |