Wilson Library has some wonderful primary material for your use, especially in the Southern Historical Collection (SHC). Here's what they have:
"... more than 16 million discrete original documents ... including, letters, diaries, maps, ledgers, oral histories, photographs, literary manuscripts, drawings, sound and moving image recordings, pamphlets, and printed ephemera." (according to http://www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/shc/instruction.html).
Further, the collection "...provides strong documentation of all periods of southern history and culture since the late eighteenth century. Topical strengths range widely, but especially prominent are plantation culture, the American Civil War, politics and political activism, race relations, religious experience, education, rural life, public health, southern writers, African American life, journalism, business, and family relations."
There are several options for discovering what is available at the SHC:
*What is a finding aid?
"...[a] description of a collection of archival material." At UNC, "[t]he finding aids ... describe collections held by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library. Unless otherwise noted, the online finding aid is the most detailed description of a collection."
More: http://www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv.html
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Everyone is welcome to use Wilson Library! Here's what to do if you want to use their resources:
Here is additional information for researchers at Wilson Library.
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@ Wilson Library (North Carolina newspapers)
Microfilm reader/copiers are available in the second floor reading room. One microfilm reader is available in the fourth floor reading room. Read more about using Wilson Library.
@ Davis Library (national newspapers)
The Davis Library microforms collection is on the Lower Level of Davis Library. They have helpful staff to get microfilm reels for you & show you how to use them. Check their hours before going over to Davis.