Articles by Sara Riggins

North Carolina state Christmas tree: Fraser Fir

1664-1775

In 2005, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation making the Fraser Fir the official Christmas tree of North Carolina.

North Carolina’s State Blue Berry

1664-1775

In 2001, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill declaring the blueberry as North Carolina’s official blue berry.

North Carolina State Beverage: Milk

1664-1775

North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation in 1987 that made milk the official state beverage.

North Carolina State Flower: Dogwood

1664-1775

In 1941, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation making dogwood the official state flower.

Education

Annie Lowrie Alexander (1864-1929)

1836-1865

Annie Alexander has a unique place in history: the first female licensed to practice medicine in the South. Annie was strongly influenced by her father, a physician himself, who determined that she should become a doctor after one of his female patients died after refusing medical attention out of fear of being examined by a man. When Dr. Alexander told his wife of his desire to have Annie become a doctor, Mrs. Alexander fretted over bearing the cost of medical training, only to have Annie marry and forgo a career as a physician. Dr. Alexander’s response was blunt: "She must never marry. She'll serve humanity".  

Education

Campbell University

1866-1915

On January 5, 1887, James Archibald Campbell founded Buies Creek Academy, which would later become Campbell University, in a one-room school with twenty-one students.