Rufus L. Edmisten Collection

Rufus L. Edmisten Collection

The Rufus L. Edmisten Collection consists of numerous scrapbooks detailing the life of Rufus Edmisten, from birth to the present. From Boone, NC originally, Rufus Edmisten is likely known for his prolific political career that included delivering the subpoena to President Nixon during the Watergate Investigation. This extensive collection will be added gradually over several years, with a corresponding finding aid released as new items are uploaded.

Rufus Lige Edmisten, the namesake of this collection, was born in 1941 at Watauga Hospital, now Founders Hall on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Edmisten was the fifth of six children born to Walter Farthing and Nell Hollar Edmisten. He attended Appalachian High School and then the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar, graduating in 1963. He was married to Jane Moretz the summer he graduated. (They remained married until 1981. He later married his current wife, Linda Harris.) Edmisten then moved to Washington DC where he worked with Senator Sam Ervin and his career began.

Parts of this collection were also given to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where they are being digitized. The Rufus Edmisten Papers, 1939-2009 can be viewed here: https://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/05528/

Series 1 is the first volume in this collection and titled "Birth-Appointment on Ervin's staff, Volume 1." The 265 items in this series begin with Edmisten as a young child and carry through his time on Sam J. Ervin's staff in the late 1960s. Many of these items were newspaper clippings from around North Carolina noting Edmisten's accomplishments.

Series 2 is 112 items from the scrapbook titled "High School (1955-1959)" detailing Edmisten's accomplishments at Appalachian High School in Boone, NC. Many of these items are letters from public figures such as Terry Sanford with the Wildlife Resources Commission and U. S. Representative Hugh Quincy Alexander. Notably in this series are the letters regarding Edmisten interviewing and being awarded the Morehead Scholarship.

Series 3 consists of 46 items, mainly letters to Rufus Edmisten from peers and mentors. Just a handful of photographs are part of this series. The scrapbook is labeled in gold marker on the front cover with the dates 1958-1959. A handwritten inscription inside cover reads, "Rufus Edmisten 1958-Senior Year, High School, 1959-Freshman Year, University."

Series 4 consists of 57 items detailing Rufus Edmisten’s college years. Of note are the newspaper clippings of student voting around segregation and the Vietnam War. This scrapbook is labeled "UNC-Chapel Hill 1960-1963 Rufus L. Edmisten."

Series 5 consists of 94 items detailing Rufus Edmisten’s education and early career. Of note are the newspaper clippings about Edmisten's work with Senator Sam Ervin Jr. This scrapbook is labeled "The GWU Years 1965-1969 Rufus L. Edmisten."

Series 6 consists of 112 items detailing Rufus Edmisten’s career in the 1970s. Of note are the newspaper clippings about Edmisten's work during the Watergate Scandal. This scrapbook is labeled "Washington Years 1970-1974 Rufus L. Edmisten."

Rufus Edmisten

Rufus Edmisten has shared these items with Digital Watauga through a digital use rights deed of gift. Any reprinting, redistribution, or other use of these images and materials outside of Digital Watauga requires written permission from Rufus Edmisten. Additional copyright restrictions may also apply. Contact Digital Watauga for additional details.