John Robert Bannerman, a charter member of the East Carolina board of trustees, served from 1907 until 1925, witnessing the school’s growth from its legislative creation into a four-year teachers college. Of the charter board members, only James Yadkin Joyner (1862-1954) and J. B. Leigh (1862-1943) served as long as did Bannerman. A Democrat from Pender County, Bannerman had earlier served his county in the state legislature in its 1901 session.
Bannerman, a native of Bannerman, near Burgaw, was born into a prominent landowning family, the son of John Player (1811-1887) and Eliza J. Bannerman (1815-1855). Even today the Bannerman family is known for its homeplace, the Bannerman House, a large two-story Greek Revival style frame house built around 1840. As the only son, John Robert Bannerman inherited his father’s extensive land holdings and the family home. In 1925, he sold his remaining interest in the Bannerman plantation to the Cooper River Timber Company. The house, then in a state of advanced neglect, was moved in 1973, from its original location to Old Maple Road in Pender County for restoration. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Sources:
- Bannerman Family Bible Records. State Archives of North Carolina. N. C. Family Records Collection identifier: fhp_400112359_bannerman_0001. North Carolina Digital Collections. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/digital/collection/p15012coll1/id/38943
- “Bannerman House, Pender County, NC.” Pender County Public Library Digital Archive. https://cdm16360.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15239qs/id/2192
- “Board of Trustees.” First Annual Catalogue of the East Carolina Teachers’ Training School, 1909-1910. P. 6. University Archives # UA45.03.03.03. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, North Carolina. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/6033
- “Eastern Training School: The Board of Trustees Named by Board of Education.” North Carolinian. March 28, 1907. P. 8.
- “National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form.” United State Department of the Interior, National Park Service. https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/PD0001.pdf
Citation Information
Author: John A. Tucker, PhD
Date of Publication: 9/14/2022