W.A. Kennedy papers

Collection

Identifier: MS0040

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection documents Kennedy's participation in the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce's Education Committee as chair of the Subcommittee on College Improvement, the Education Committee of the Charlotte Engineer's Club, and the Advisory Board of Charlotte College. Also reflected are the efforts of these groups to gain community and state wide support for the college.

Dates

Creation: 1941 - 1958

Creator

Kennedy, W. A. (Woodford Armstrong) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

Woodford Armstrong (Woodie) Kennedy was born in Wilmington, N.C., on April 14, 1895. Orphaned at an early age, he worked his way through preparatory school and North Carolina State College. During World War I, he served with the 81st (Wildcat) Division at Fort Jackson, S.C., and in France. After the war, he studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. While there, he married Lucette Bresson. Returning to the United States, he sold textile machinery and organized WAK Industries and affiliated companies, The W. A. Kennedy Company and Kennedy Investment Company, for which he served as president and treasurer. He died in Charlotte on May 11, 1958. Kennedy was instrumental in the development of Charlotte College, beginning in its days as an emergency educational center for returning World War II veterans (1946-49). His involvement continued throughout its operation as a community college under the Charlotte Board of School Commissioners until it became part of the North Carolina Community College System in 1958. Kennedy died shortly before the appointment of the first Board of Trustees of the Charlotte Community College; yet his influence extended throughout the college's attempt to secure four year status, which was granted in 1963.

Extent

1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Papers of a Charlotte businessman and engineer relating to his role in promoting Charlotte College as a community college and technical institute and in securing for it status as a four year, state supported college. Includes minutes, reports, and recommendations of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Education Committee; correspondence with the State Advisory Budget Commission, other state government officials, and individuals in the University of North Carolina system; statistical and research information; and publicity material.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into three series, with several files that do not belong to any series. The three series are:

Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Statistics and research information and Publicity regarding the development of Charlotte College.