Up for sale is a compelling, original piece of early 20th-century North Carolina history: a handwritten draft of the Last Will and Testament of Martha A. Richardson, a resident of the City of New Bern, Craven County, NC. The document is dated April 1925.
This document is of exceptional historical and cultural significance due to the prominent figure chosen to handle the estate. The testator explicitly appoints Rev. Dr. James E. Shepard to serve as the sole administrator of her estate, instructing that he do so "without Bond."
Historical Significance:
• Dr. James E. Shepard (1875–1947) was one of the most vital African American educators and leaders in Southern history. A pharmacist and religious trailblazer, he famously founded the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua for the Colored Race in 1910, which eventually became North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham.
• This document provides an authentic, primary-source look into the trusted networks of North Carolina’s African American community in the 1920s, showing how a local New Bern resident personally entrusted her entire estate's care to Dr. Shepard.
• The will also names Rosa L. Kennedy as the sole beneficiary of her real and personal estate (including a house and lot), contingent upon providing a decent burial and headstones for Martha and her late husband.
Condition Report:
This is an authentic, antique paper document showing signs of age and its unique survival story. As seen in the photos, the right side and bottom edges of the paper are heavily singed and charred with some edge loss, though the vast majority of the central text remains entirely legible, bold, and clear. The paper is delicate and brittle along the burned margins. It will be shipped flat and secure to prevent any further flaking. Please review the high-resolution photos carefully to evaluate the condition.
An incredible addition to any collection focusing on North Carolina history, African American ephemera, Southern legal documents, or NCCU/James E. Shepard memorabilia.
Shipping: Shipped with extreme care, packed flat between heavy cardboard to preserve structural integrity.