“A Worthy Place”: Durham, Duke, and the World of the 1920s-1930s

Building and expanding Durham required construction resources from the surrounding area, and these networks connected Duke and Durham to a much broader building economy. Major buildings completed in the 1920s—such as the new headquarters for the NC Mutual Insurance Company or the Washington Duke Hotel—were impressive landmarks that found their way onto postcards and into photographs, boosting the city's image as a thriving center of commerce and attractive destination for future residents and visitors. These buildings relied not only on architects and patrons but also contractors, material fabricators, and of course building laborers. For example, the George A. Fuller Company was a major national contractor, known for building construction of prestige skyscrapers in Chicago and New York City. They also hired union labor only. Their arrival at Duke led to controversy between union and non-union factions, bringing national labor debates home to Durham. The tensions and possibilities inherent in world-building construction networks appeared here at the local level both at Duke and in Durham.

Brick with white glaze, 1923. Artifacts and Relics Collection, Box 20, Duke University Archives.