For many years Chapel Hill's only hotel, the Carolina Inn was built in 1923-1924 by John Sprunt Hill, a trustee and benefactor of the University of North Carolina. Hill operated the Inn as a private business until 1935, when he donated it to the University, which placed it administratively within its Business Organization (later the Division of Business and Finance). Until 1993, the manager of the Inn reported to the officer responsible for auxiliary enterprises. In accordance with Hill's gift, income from the Inn supported the Library's North Carolina Collection. The Inn was renovated in 1939 and 1969-1972. In 1993, the University hired Doubletree Hotels, Inc., of Phoenix, Ariz, to run the Inn, with the University using its share of the profits for library support. The collection includes administrative records relating to the operation of the Carolina Inn and oral history interviews (51 audiotapes and two videocassette tapes), photographs, and other materials assembled, 1989-1992, in preparation of a history of the Inn. The bulk of the administrative material dates from the 1950s and 1960s. Financial records include expense and revenue ledgers and employee pay records. There is also material relating to the Inn's food service, room rentals, and various renovations, and a series of logbooks kept by front desk clerks, 1987-1990. Material dated prior to the Inn's construction consists of photocopies of deeds and other documents pertaining to the property on which the Inn was built.
