William H. Barnhardt papers

Collection — Box: SFC2 [F09.090.02.02], Folder: 204

Identifier: MS0206

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection relates primarily to Cornelia Wearn Henderson's Early Charlotte and Mecklenburg County for Children (Charlotte: Crabtree Press, 1968), which she wrote for use in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System. Barnhardt donated copies of the book to colleges and high schools in Charlotte. Other material relates to the Research Triangle Park, evangelist Grady Wilson (a colleague of Billy Graham), and the Cotswold area of Charlotte.

Dates

1959, 1966, 1968-70, undated
1966 - 1969

Creator

Barnhardt, William Horace (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

William Horace Barnhardt was born on February 3, 1903 in Cabarrus County, N.C. to Sarah Eliza McClellan and John Addison Barnhardt. He enrolled in the School of Textiles at North Carolina State College at the age of 16 and was graduated with a B.E. degree in 1923. After stints with Cannon Mills, DuPont, and Celanese, he and his brother Charlie formed Barnhardt Brothers Company in 1930 in order to produce specialty yarns and novelty products and, in 1938, the Tryon Processing Company for the production of space dyed yarns. Among the numerous companies he served as an officer and board member were Barnhardt Elastic, Barnhardt International, Novelty Yarns, Southern Webbing Mills, American Textile, and American Realty. After World War II, Barnhardt led efforts to raise money to purchase land for what is now Freedom Park in Charlotte. He was one of the original incorporators of the UNC Charlotte Foundation, for which he was honored in 1975 with the dedication of a lecture hall in his name in the W. Hugh McEniry Earth Life Sciences Building. Barnhardt married Margaret McLaughlin in 1927 and they had four children. He died in Charlotte on April 25, 1985.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Overview

Primarily non-business related correspondence of a Charlotte textile industrialist, civic leader, and philanthropist. The bulk of the collection relates to Barnhardt's donation of copies of Cornelia Wearn Henderson's Early Charlotte and Mecklenburg County for Children (1968) to local schools and colleges.