MacNeill, Ben Dixon, 1889-1960

Author and journalist of Buxton on Hatteras, N.C.

From the description of Ben Dixon MacNeill papers, 1937-1960 (bulk 1951-1960) [manuscript]. WorldCat record id: 27183610

Ben Dixon MacNeill was born in 1889 in Laurinburg, N.C., the son of Alexander Benjamin and Flora MacKinnon MacNeill. He worked as a journalist for several North Carolina newspapers, including the Wilmington Star-News and the Raleigh News and Observer. MacNeill also had an interest in photography and began photographing events for news stories, as well as scenes and people around North Carolina.

An author as well as a journalist, MacNeill won the Mayflower Award in 1958 for the book The Hatterasman (1958). MacNeill also served as Director of Publicity for the Lost Colony outdoor drama in Roanoke, N.C., during the 1940s and 1950s. He died at Buxton-on-Hatteras in 1960.

From the guide to the Ben Dixon MacNeill Photographic Collection, 1911-1960, (bulk circa 1920s-1960), (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives.)

1899 Born in Laurinburg, Scotland County, N.C., son of Alexander Benjamin and Flora MacKinnon MacNeill

circa 1903 Attended Bingham School for Boys

circa 1907 Worked for Fayetteville Observer

circa 1910 Worked for Wilmington Morning Star

1919-1960 Worked for the Raleigh News and Observer

1937 Went to the Outer Banks as publicity director for the Lost Colony

1941-1945 Lt. Col., U.S. Army public information corps

1958 Won Mayflower Award for The Hatterasman

1960 Died at Buxton-on-Hatteras

From the guide to the Ben Dixon MacNeill Papers, 1937-1960, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)