The North Carolina Collection
“Durham History Research Happens Here.”
The North Carolina Collection preserves and makes available materials related to the history of Durham city and county. The Collection also offers a wealth of materials for people interested in researching North Carolina-related topics.
You can contribute to the collection by donating Durham history-related materials. Contact staff for more information.
Common tasks
Did you know?
At the North Carolina Collection, you can:
- Browse all issues of the Durham Herald Sun on microfilm
- View old yearbooks from Durham schools
- Build your family tree using genealogy resources
…and more.
More about the North Carolina Collection
Staff
Lauren Panny
Head of the North Carolina Collection
Email: lpanny@dconc.gov
Lauren completed her Masters in Library and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh and studied archives and special collections. She is a certified archivist and has worked in several university special collections libraries before coming to Durham County Library in 2017. Lauren loves hiking, camping, biking, yoga, and spending time with her dog and cat.
Pronouns: she/her
Barbara Ilie
North Carolina Collection Librarian
Email: bilie@dconc.gov
Barbara attended library school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and worked there in special collections for over a decade before joining Durham County Library in 2017. She enjoys connecting people with primary source material, facilitating collection growth, and the opportunity to promote and work with state and local history resources every day. She lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, son, and green-cheeked conure. Her interests include volunteering at Horse & Buddy in New Hill, exploring the Mountain and Piedmont regions of North Carolina, and making simple and delicious food.
Pronouns: she/her
Heidi Dodson
North Carolina Collection Relief Librarian
Email: hdodson@dconc.gov
Heidi first became interested in archives and history as a teenager when she researched her family history. She has a master’s in library and information science from the University of Texas-Austin and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Illinois. She worked as an archivist and librarian at the Amistad Research Center and the University of Virginia before returning to graduate school. She moved to North Carolina to write her dissertation and worked as an oral historian at the Marian Cheek Jackson Center for Saving & Making History in Chapel Hill. After leaving the Triangle for postdocs, she decided to move back and make North Carolina her permanent home. She loves hiking, camping, traveling, trying new coffee shops, and spending time with her family, including a new puppy named Luna.
Pronouns: she/her
Beth Morris Weiss
North Carolina Collection Relief Librarian
Email: eweiss@dconc.gov
Beth Morris Weiss has a degree in library science in archives and records management from the University of North Carolina. Prior to working as a librarian, Beth worked as grant manager and museum educator at the Museum of Life and Science, researched exhibits for the Museum of Durham History, and managed data for the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice. Beth enjoys spending time with her husband and their two teenagers, creating photo collages, and taking dance breaks.
Pronouns: she/her
Emma Parker
North Carolina Collection Relief Librarian
Email: emmaparker@dconc.gov
Emma holds degrees in Folklore and Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before joining the North Carolina Collection, she worked at the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and for an oral history nonprofit. Emma enjoys learning as much as she can about North Carolina and Durham County history. When not at the library, she can be found baking bread, starting (but only rarely finishing) sewing projects, swimming, visiting roadside attractions, or hiking at Eno River State Park.
Pronouns: she/her