Patton, James Welch, 1900-1973

James Welch Patton (1900-1973) was the director of the Southern Historical Collection, 1948-1967, and history professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1948-1973. The papers contain correspondence and manuscripts of published and unpublished writings, 1948-1973.

James Welch Patton (1900-1973) grew up in Tennessee. He was graduated from Vanderbilt University and received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He taught history at Georgia State Women's College, 1925-1927; the Citadel, 1929-1930; Wittenberg College, 1930-1931; Converse College, 1931-1942; and North Carolina State University, where he was the head of the History Department, 1942-1948. In 1948, Patton returned to the University of North Carolina. He served as the head of the Southern Historical Collection until 1967; he taught history until he retired shortly before his death in 1973.

Patton authored and edited numerous publications, including The Messages, Addresses, and Public Papers of Luther H. Hodges, Governor of North Carolina, 1954-1961 (1960-1963) and Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmonston, 1860-1861 (1979). He was active in the Southern Historical Association, serving as president in 1956. Patton also served as president of the South Carolina Historical Association, the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, and the Historical Society of North Carolina. He was also a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists.