Archival Materials

9.01 Linear Feet (19 Hollinger legal boxes; 1 half-Hollinger legal box; 1 flat box 12.5 x 10.5 x 3)

Unknown

John Selby Primrose (1874-1929) was an investment broker born in Raleigh, North Carolina. His nephew, William Primrose McPherson (1909-1998) of Raleigh, North Carolina, married Cornelia Austin (1924-2006). Cornelia worked on her husbands and her own genealogy, and the couple obtained Johns papers following the death of Johns sister, Williams mother, Helen Primrose McPherson in 1970.

The collection contains genealogical notes, family trees, correspondence, photocopies and actual copies of genealogy records, and photocopies of secondary sources.

The Primrose/McPherson Family Papers ranges in date from 1839 to 1998, with the bulk of the records dating from the 1890s to the 1990s. Much of the collection contains photocopies; however, while some are photocopies of secondary sources, there are copies of primary sources included, as well. The collection includes research into over one hundred family surnames, with varying degrees of work completed.

Original order has been maintained where possible; however, subseries have been divided by type of material found within, i.e. correspondence, clippings, etc. Also, genealogy notes consists of materials including either handwritten notes or collected information without a source. These do not include primary sources. Genealogy records includes those primary and secondary sources where materials were either original documents, photocopies of original documents, or photocopies of records from cited sources. The collection is arranged into two series as follows:

John Selby Primrose Papers, 1839-1969, involves the genealogical research conducted by John. Some of Johns notes are in shorthand. This series has been divided into subseries based on surname, and by individuals name if given.

William P. and Cornelia A. McPherson Papers, 1888-1998, comprise genealogy continuing and furthering Primroses earlier work on his family history. Cornelia also researcher her Austin lineage, which is also included in the collection. This series is also divided into subseries based on surname and includes mostly photocopied information; however, many photocopies are of primary as well as secondary sources.

Gift of Cornelia A. McPherson,May 1999,2004.009

John Selby Primrose was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1874, to William Stuart and Ella Parmly Williams Primrose. He was educated at the Peace Institute and the Raleigh Male Academy before relocating to Charleston, South Carolina to work for the First National Bank in 1890. In 1896, Primrose moved to New York City and was involved in financial interests. Primrose married Betty J.L. Sommer, born in Germany, in 1898. He was active in many societies, including several genealogy-related ones. Primrose died in 1929, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Florence Cornelia “Connie” Austin was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina, in 1924, to Joseph Cervera and Mae Massey Austin. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison College in 1945, and married William Primrose McPherson in 1948. Connie taught Home Economics and Special Education in the Wake County Public Schools until her retirement in 1986, and was a member of several societies, as well. Connie died in 2006, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and was buried in the Oakwood Cemetery.

William was John Primroses nephew, and when John died, his collection was inherited by his sister, Helen Primrose McPherson, who was also Williams mother. Following her death in 1970, William and Cornelia inherited the collection and continued the research.

Finding aid available at the Olivia Raney Local History Library.

Olivia Raney Local History Library ArchivesSpace digital finding aid available at: https://libraryarchives.wakegov.com/repositories/2/resources/10

b9ec387a-d7c2-ed75-c5d1-acf91ea0a38e