Wilson County Negro Extension Agent Cecil A. Spellman did not stint. His two-part 1939 Annual Narrative Report is a 146-page treasure chest whose nuggets create a finely textured view of rural African-American life in the county just before World War II — home demonstration, community entertainment, school improvement, test farms, engineering activities, tobacco work, gardening, corn-growing, meat-cutting, 4-H clubs, camp, spelling matches, Negro Health Week, projects, spotlights on people, houses, and schools — including photographs — and more.

——

Jane Amos Boyd introduced a new extension activity — rural community entertainment. At the time of the report, the agents had organized entertainments at Rocky Branch and Turner Schools with proceeds split between the schools and their associated 4-H or home demonstration clubs. Hot dogs, cocoa, apples, sodas or other simple concessions were sold and, “where the adults do not object,” there was dancing to music played on a Victrola the agents brought with them.

Spellman reported that he worked to improve the grounds of two schools, Mitchell in the north side of the county and Minshew in the south.

Spellman also introduced award certificates to motivate adults. With no template, Spellman “drafted and mimeographed” certificates of merit.

The annual Test Farm Meeting was a popular summer event, and 75 people from Wilson County attended that year. Spellman forwarded a suggestion from men that field demonstrations for them start later in the day to allow them to attend to farm chores in the morning.

North Carolina County Agent Annual Narrative Report, Wilson County, N.C., North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, UA102.002, Special Collections Research Center at N.C. State University.