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Moravian Archives, Winston-Salem, NC

since 1753, documenting
our churches, our families, our communities

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Early Salem and Winston City Directories

Pilot Mountain looms over the northwestern Piedmont of North Carolina
From our website’s March 2010 descriptive note:

City directories can be useful resources for researchers, whether statisticians, genealogists, or general historians. The best directories tell an individual’s occupation, spouse, place of business or residence, and neighbors. In addition, accompanying advertisements bring to life the time period, showing the latest inventions, services, and fashion styles. Often early directories make for lively reading.

The Moravian Church community of Salem, North Carolina, and the neighboring county seat of Winston were described in the 1860’s and ’70’s by several directories of varying detail, which we present here. The directory of 1879-80 especially gives an in-depth description of Salem, Winston, and nearby Greensboro, along with listings (beginning page 141) for surrounding communities of Belew’s Creek Mill, Bethania, Five Forks (Stokes County), Flat Branch, Friedberg, Kernersville, Lewisville (Louisville), Mount Tabor, Old Richmond, Old Town (Bethabara), Salem Chapel, Sedge Garden, Tobaccoville, Vienna, Walkertown, White Road, Brick Church, Brown’s Summit, Center, Colfax, Company Mills, Deep River, Freeman Mills, Friendship, Gibsonville, Gilmer’s Store, High Point, Hillsdale, Jamestown, Liberty (Store), McLeansville, Monticello, New Garden, Oak Ridge, Pleasant Garden, Shaw’s Mill, Summerfield, and Westminster.

Accompanying these directories is a map showing the streets of Salem and Winston, circa 1876.

In addition, an 1878 Guidebook to Northwestern North Carolina gives, as the title page states, several historical sketches of the Moravians, plus a “description of the country and its industrial pursuits.” The territory covered by the guidebook includes Forsyth County, Stokes County, Surry County, Wilkes County, Alleghany County, Ashe County, Watauga County, Caldwell County, Catawba County, Burke County, Mitchell County, Alexander County, Iredell County, Yadkin County, Davie County, Davidson County, Rowan County, Guilford County, Rockingham County, and Caswell County.

  • Directory, Salem, Winston, 1869
  • Directory, Salem, Winston, 1873
  • Directory, Salem, Winston, 1879-1880
  • Guide to Northwest North Carolina, 1878
  • Salem & Winston map, 1876

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Support our Annual Giving – Rev. Dr. C. Daniel Crews Friends Fund

Give to our Technology Fund

Monies will purchase new computers and software allowing the Archives to better access and share its holdings. We have reached our initial goal, but will still accept donations. More info here.




Visiting Us

We are currently closed to visitors until the new Assistant Archivist is hired in the new year. Meanwhile, please feel free to email your research questions, and we will help as we are able.

Parking is in the northwest corner of the lot at the western end of SR 4326 (Rams Drive) off Salem Avenue. The same street serves as entry to the Elbertson Fine Arts Center at Salem College. When we reopen, our hours will be Monday-Friday (excepting holidays), 10:00 a.m. – noon, 1:00-4:00 p.m. by appointment only. We invite you to contact us to plan your visit.

Contact Us

Moravian Archives
457 S. Church Street
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101

Phone: (336) 722-1742
Email: sparchives@mcsp.org

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