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Local figure

Moses Cimuel Burt

Moses Cimuel Burt was Orange County's agricultural extension agent for African American farmers from 1935 until he retired in September 1958, and he backed vocational agriculture programs in the county's public schools. A World War I veteran, he had earned a B.S. in agriculture at NC A&T in 1922 and studied at Hampton Institute and Cornell.

Source: NC State Historic Preservation Office: Ridge Road School, National Register nomination (OR1104), p. 17

2 works about Moses Cimuel Burt are indexed here.

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Life and Orange County connections

Dated events connected with this person, in date order. See these 26 dated events in the chronology →

  1. M. C. Burt begins work as the county's agent for Black farmers From 1935 Burt served Orange County's Black farmers as extension agent, for a time shared with Chatham County. Edwin P. Barnes became assistant county agent the same year. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · Lefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 214
  2. Orange County's Black farm neighborhoods are mapped and elect their own neighborhood leaders In March 1942 the neighborhood plan was carried to Black rural families: Black neighborhoods were laid out, leaders were elected and family lists drawn up. The report's map shows 27 Black neighborhoods, worked by county agent M. C. Burt and home agent Ruby Crews. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · U.S. Department of Agriculture Extension Service, Orange and Lee Counties, North Carolina, Demonstrate How Neighborhood Leaders Can Help in Securing Participation of Rural Families in Agriculture's Wartime Programs, Extension Service Circular 387 (1942), scan p. 5
  3. Black 4-H club members show their own beef heifers at the Hillsborough calf show Five Black 4-H club members in Orange County who owned grade Hereford heifers entered them in the calf show at Hillsborough in November 1943, and their heifers took second prize. M. C. Burt, county agent for Black farm families, wrote that this put them among the first Black 4-H members in North Carolina to own grade beef heifers and made them the first to show beef heifers at a county show; he credited the county agent's office, the Farmers Mutual Exchange and the Farm Security Administration with placing the animals. People: Don S. Matheson, John P. Ballard, Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 8, 1944, p. 7
  4. Hillsboro's Black Boy Scout troop is reorganized Hillsboro's Black Boy Scouts were reorganized as Troop 116 of the Occoneechee Council, sponsored by Mount Bright Baptist Church, with A. L. Stanback as scoutmaster, M. C. Burt as assistant, and H. W. Jones Sr., G. C. Fairbault and N. H. Walker as the troop committee. Three patrols were active, with a fourth planned to make a troop of 32. People: A. L. Stanback, Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 23, 1944, p. 1
  5. Black rural school districts more than double their Red Cross gifts A Red Cross drive among the county's rural Black residents, run through the rural schools by A. L. Stanback and county agent M. C. Burt, closed with $472.55 from 428 people, against $224 the year before. Ridge Road district, with Mrs. A. A. Burt as principal, gave $36.32. People: A. L. Stanback, Joe Bethel Brooks, Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), March 29, 1945, p. 6
  6. Orange County's Black home demonstration clubs hold their first Federation Day About 300 members of the county's Black home demonstration clubs met at the Hillsboro high school for Black students on June 8 for their first Federation Day. They heard each club's report and remarks from district home agent Dazelle F. Lowe, county agent M. C. Burt and Caswell County home agent Helen Payne, then a book review, a film on home drying of fruits and vegetables and a slip-cover demonstration. Council president Ella H. Trice presided. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 14, 1945, p. 6
  7. James T. Jeffries grows wilt-resistant tobacco at Carr to supply seed to his neighbors With county agent M. C. Burt and assistant state agent J. W. Jeffries, James T. Jeffries of the Carr neighborhood ran a demonstration of Oxford 26, a wilt-resistant tobacco, on two acres beside the Carr Negro School. He planned to grow enough certified seed for neighbors troubled by tobacco wilt.Search the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), July 26, 1945, p. 1 (Negro Farm News, by M. C. Burt)
  8. Nine Black farm families report their federal farm-purchase loans paid in full At the annual meeting of Black families buying farms in Orange County under the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, held at the Farmers Home Administration office, county supervisor B. E. Strickland announced that nine families had paid off their farm-ownership loans since July 1, 1946. Their records showed farm costs down to 32 cents of each dollar of income, with less bought feed and hired labor and more than 400 quarts of food canned per family. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), February 13, 1947, p. 7
  9. Black farm families hold their Farm and Home Achievement Day at the Hillsboro Negro high school Adult farmers and 4-H members put on a corn show, A. L. Stanback crowned two 4-H members king and queen of health, and county champions were named in corn, milk, swine and calf showmanship. County agent M. C. Burt reported the day for The News. People: A. L. StanbackSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 27, 1947, p. 1 (Achievement Day Is Held Negro School, by M. C. Burt)
  10. Black farm families of Orange County begin a long-time planning program at the court house County Negro agent M. C. Burt and home agent S. L. Lawson held the first meeting of a long-time planning program for the county's Black farm families at the court house, with charts on land use and livestock and a report that 19 Black-owned homes in the county were valued under $300; Congressman Carl T. Durham and state highway chairman A. H. Graham spoke. People: Carl T. Durham, Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), January 8, 1948, p. 1
  11. Orange County organizes a unit of the American Cancer Society Twenty-five people meeting at the health department in Chapel Hill organized the Orange County unit of the American Cancer Society, electing Dr. E. G. Patterson of Chapel Hill president, Beth Forrest of Hillsboro vice president, Mrs. C. H. Pender of Cedar Grove secretary and Gilbert W. Ray treasurer. Its committee included Black members M. C. Burt, Hubert Robinson and A. L. Stanback. People: Hubert Robinson, A. L. Stanback, Gilbert W. Ray, Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), February 12, 1948, p. 1
  12. Hillsboro's Black veterans of the Lewis Mayo American Legion post elect their officers Lewis Mayo Post No. 4429 of the American Legion, formed by Black veterans of both world wars in Hillsboro, met at the Community Center in early August 1948 and elected Dempsey D. Whitted commander for 1949, with J. L. Makins adjutant and Andrew Torian finance officer. District commanders W. W. Hardy and W. M. Mitchel attended. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 12, 1948, p. 7
Show all 26 dated events
  1. Black library committee moves to reopen the county's library for Black readers in the Hillsboro Community Center The Orange County library committee of the Black community, with Marinda McPherson presiding as library director, met in the principal's office at the Hillsboro school and decided to reestablish its library in the upstairs room of the Community Center once repairs were done. It also laid plans to raise money for a library building. People: A. L. Stanback, Moses Cimuel BurtThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 4, 1948, p. 7
  2. About 2,000 farmers watch the first Negro Soil Conservation Day on Oddie Lee Torian's farm Black farmers from seven counties watched eleven tractors, seven teams, a ditcher and a bulldozer demonstrate 17 soil and forestry practices in a day on the High Rock farm of veteran Oddie Lee Torian, improvements valued at $2,000 to $3,000. County Negro farm agent M. C. Burt led the event, which the paper called the first of its kind in the nation. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), March 17, 1949, p. 1
  3. Cedar Grove parents ask that Black educators help plan their new school A delegation from the Cedar Grove Parent-Teacher Association asked the county board to let Central High principal A. L. Stanback and M. C. Burt, the county's agricultural agent for Black farmers, take part in planning the new Cedar Grove school. People: A. L. Stanback, Moses Cimuel BurtNC State Historic Preservation Office: Cedar Grove School, National Register nomination (OR3044), p. 17
  4. M. C. Burt leads a pasture tour of farms from Carr County agent M. C. Burt led a tour that started at E. C. Compton's at Carr and visited ten farms, among them Oddie Lee Torian's, to press the need for at least one acre of pasture on every farm in the county.Search the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 8, 1950, p. 1
  5. M. C. Burt asks the commissioners for toilets for Black citizens at the courthouse Black county agent M. C. Burt told the county commissioners that the courthouse had no toilets for Black visitors or Black county employees and asked that some be built. The board called for a study by county officials and asked for cost estimates. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), July 5, 1951, p. 1
  6. A Black delegation led by M. C. Burt wins floor and paint money for the new Central school Acting on a request from a delegation headed by M. C. Burt, the Board of Education approved $3,200 for flooring and $1,500 for painting at Hillsboro's new elementary school for Black children, items cut from the plans to save money. The delegation also asked for a seven-member committee of Black citizens with power over the school, which the board held over with little chance of approval. People: Moses Cimuel BurtThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), October 4, 1951, p. 1
  7. Chapel Hill 4-H and FFA members start a strawberry plant chain Huggins Hardware Company of Chapel Hill gave 3,000 plants of the improved Massey variety, 300 each to ten white and Black club members in the Chapel Hill schools, who were to pass 300 crowns apiece to other members the next spring on the model of the county's pig chains. Vocational teacher R. B. Sizemore and assistant farm agent E. P. Barnes supervised the white members and county agent M. C. Burt the Black members. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), March 27, 1952, p. 1
  8. Black farm families hold their Rural Progress Night at Cedar Grove School Several hundred people came to the Rural Progress Night of Orange County's Black farm families at the Cedar Grove School on November 13, 1952, to hear WDNC commentator Norfley Whitted and the year's reports. Jordan Grove won first place for community activities, ahead of Sunnyside, White Oak and Coolspring, and 4-H members received awards; later that month the county's Black program was named one of five state finalists. People: Don S. Matheson, Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 20, 1952, p. 8
  9. Orange is named North Carolina's County of the Year in Rural Progress among Black farm families State judges named Orange the County of the Year in Rural Progress in the Negro division, worth $500 from the Progressive Farmer, two months after its white farm families had won the $1,000 first prize. The News said this gave the county a clean sweep of the state's $1,500 in first prizes; Black and white farmers had worked in the same county program. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), February 11, 1954, p. 1
  10. Orange growers sell their aromatic tobacco at a sale at Aycock School More than 100 bales of aromatic tobacco grown in Orange County were weighed, graded and priced in the agriculture shop at Aycock School, bringing 60 cents to $1.25 a pound, with most selling at about 80 cents. The News called it the first sale of its kind ever held in that part of the state. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 1, 1956, p. 1
  11. Black farm families hold the Blue Ribbon Farm Program's annual meeting at Cedar Grove School The county's Black Blue Ribbon Farm Program held its annual meeting at Cedar Grove School, where 29 families won ribbons, 27 received honorable mention and twelve neighborhood leaders got merit certificates. The Cedar Grove community won the program's silver loving cup for the second year; Charles L. Davis of the Extension Service at A. and T. College urged the farmers to raise more poultry. People: Moses Cimuel BurtThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 28, 1957, p. 4
  12. The county commissioners name Sherman N. Shelton agent for Black farmers The Orange County commissioners confirmed Sherman N. Shelton, Richmond County's Black farm agent, to succeed Moses C. Burt as Orange's agent for Black farmers on October 1. The board also sent Burt, retiring in poor health after 24 years, a letter of thanks and later a formal resolution of appreciation. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), September 4, 1958, p. 1
  13. Moses Burt retires after 23 years as Orange County's agent for Black farmers Moses Cimuel Burt, a World War I veteran trained at NC A&T, Hampton and Cornell, retired as the county's African American extension agent in September 1958. Since 1935 he had backed farm programs in the county's Black schools and helped start 4-H clubs. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · NC State Historic Preservation Office: Ridge Road School, National Register nomination (OR1104), p. 17
  14. A Cedar Grove gathering honors M. C. Burt for 24 years as the county's agent for Black farmers Friends surprised the retired Negro county agricultural agent with a 'This Is Your Life' program at Cedar Grove Elementary School, and the people of the county gave him a plaque for 24 years of service. He had retired in 1958 after a long illness. People: Moses Cimuel BurtSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 26, 1959, p. 21

People named in the same events

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Indexed works

Works about or by Moses Cimuel Burt. Each links to the institution that holds or provides it. Background reading appears below.

North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service Annual Narrative Report, Orange County, NC

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service · 1946

The Orange County extension staff's 1946 annual narrative report to the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service, naming Katheryn Pritchett, Jessie Trowbridge, Cyrus A. Greene, Ed. P. Barnes and Don S. Matheson. It covers farm extension work, including work with African American farmers. Microfilm, part of Better Living in North Carolina.

Included because: Their name appears in the record.

DPLA

Combined Annual Report of County Extension Workers, Orange County, NC

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service · 1937

Combined 1937 annual report of Orange County's extension workers, naming Don S. Matheson, Ed P. Barnes, Katheryn H. Hamrick, Virginia Cathey and Dorothy S. Parrish. It covers agricultural extension work in the county, including work with African American farmers. Microfilm, part of Better Living in North Carolina.

Included because: Their name appears in the record.

DPLA

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Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Site locations from the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office survey, Open Orange, Orange County GIS, OpenStreetMap and a few other published sources named on each site’s page; town and community pins show approximate locations.

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