MANTEO – Marine Corps war correspondent David Stick returned from World War II and landed a job as cartoon editor for the “American Legion Magazine.” Little did he know that the personal library he would build would become an important regional and national resource. Stick turned into a bibliophile, collecting in his home anything he could find on North Carolina. Almost as passionately as he amassed his library, he sought a permanent home for it. That is how the Outer Banks History Center (OBHC) began.
In 2009, the History Center celebrates its 20th anniversary and honors Stick’s vision and contributions with several commemorative events. The N.C. Office of Archives and History opened the Outer Banks History Center in 1989 in a new building in the Roanoke Island Festival Park complex. Stick had donated what was deemed the second largest assemblage of North Caroliniana in existence to the state. The repository has benefitted thousands of researchers, historians and interested citizens since its inception.
The exhibit “Preserving Timeless Treasures: The Outer Banks History Center Turns 20” formally opens Feb. 27, and tells how Stick built his library and how the OBHC grew into the world class research center it is today. A free reception in the Outer Banks History Center Gallery from 5:30-7:30 p.m. will share treats created from recipes in the center’s cookbook collection among the light refreshments.
Treasures from the center’s stack rooms are revealed in “Staff Picks” in the exhibit that highlights some of the premier and lesser known items as well. “The Archivist’s Way” provides glimpses into how the expert staff assists with compiling family histories and conservation methods used to care for this valuable local collection. A timeline of OBHC milestones and vintage footage of a tour of the original collection in Stick’s home are other special features.
This exhibit and a full slate of 20th anniversary activities are made possible by grants from the Outer Banks Community Foundation’s Shirley and David Moran Memorial Fund and Frank Stick Memorial Fund, and additional support from the Outer Banks History Associates.
“Preserving Priceless Treasures; The Outer Banks History Center Turns 20” will be on display daily through Dec. 31. Hours change seasonally; call (252) 473-2655 or visit www.obhistorycenter.ncdcr.gov for details.
The Outer Banks History Center is part of the Office of Archives and History within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history, and culture. Visit www.ncculture 24/7 for podcasts and information.