Photos: Historic images from the 1939 Duke-Carolina rivalry game
By Scott Sharpe
Farm Security Administration photographer Marion Post-Wolcott photographed activity at and around the sold-out 1939 Duke-Carolina game played in Durham, NC.
The WPA project was part of FDR’s New Deal and the images now reside in the Library of Congress.
Check out the old campus scenes, the old cars, and wonder just what those men gathered around cars are doing.
Cars packed the parking lot around the football stadium on the Duke campus for the sold-out Duke-Carolina game in 1939. Duke Chapel is visible in the distance along with other Gothic-architecture buildings on the campus. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Drivers parked their cars on the narrow two-lane roads leading to the Duke campus and walked the rest of the way. Crowds packed the area with many not getting in to the sold-out stadium. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans watch the 1939 Duke-Carolina game in Durham, NC. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Men who couldn’t get a ticket to the sold-out Duke-Carolina football game in 1939 congregate around a gate to try to get a view of the rivalry game. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans at the 1939 Duke-Carolina game played in Durham, NC. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
A UNC fan wearing a “Beat Duke” button stands beneath a sign prohibiting drinking alcohol under the bleachers at the Duke-Carolina game played in Durham, NC in 1939. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans watch the 1939 Duke-Carolina game in Durham, NC. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans at the 1939 Duke-Carolina game played in Durham, NC. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans ringed the sidelines and famous bandleader Kay Kyser (right) and a UNC cheerleader lead the crowd in cheers at the 1939 Duke-Carolina game played in Durham, NC. UNC’s mascot “Rameses” can be seen just behind the cheerleader. Library of Congress; The Crowley
Fans ringed the sidelines and famous bandleader Kay Kyser (right) and a UNC cheerleader lead the crowd in cheers at the 1939 Duke-Carolina game played in Durham, NC. UNC’s mascot “Rameses” can be seen just behind the cheerleader. Library of Congress; The Crowley
Cars packed the parking lots around the stadium at the sold-out Duke-Carolina football game played in Durham, NC in 1939. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans who could not get tickets crowd outside a stadium gate in Durham, NC for the sold-out Duke-Carolina game in 1939. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans ringed the sidelines and famous bandleader Kay Kyser (right) and a UNC cheerleader lead the crowd in cheers at the 1939 Duke-Carolina game played in Durham, NC. Marion Post Wolcott Library of Congress
A capacity crowd heads into the stadium on the Duke campus for the sold-out Duke-Carolina game in Durham, NC in 1939. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans at the 1939 Duke-Carolina game played in Durham, NC. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans buy concessions at a stand covered with cigarette advertising signs at the Duke-Carolina game in Durham, NC. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans drinking at halftime of the Duke-Carolina game in Durham, NC in 1939. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
A capacity crowd heads into the stadium on the Duke campus for the sold-out Duke-Carolina game in Durham, NC in 1939. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Men cluster around a car with a radio in the parking lot of the Duke-Carolina game played in Durham, NC in 1939. The game was sold out, leaving many in the parking lot. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans who could not get tickets to the sold-out Duke-Carolina game in Durham, NC gather around a radio in the parking lot. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Cars packed the parking lots around the stadium at the sold-out Duke-Carolina football game played in Durham, NC in 1939. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
A boy sells pennants as NC Highway Patrol troopers file into the stadium before the sold-out Duke-Carolina game played in Durham, NC in 1939. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Cars packed the parking lots around the stadium at the sold-out Duke-Carolina football game played in Durham, NC in 1939. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Men who couldn’t get a ticket to the sold-out Duke-Carolina football game in 1939 congregate around a gate to try to get a view of the rivalry game. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
Fans who could not get tickets crowd outside a stadium gate in Durham, NC for the sold-out Duke-Carolina game in 1939. Marion Post-Wolcott Library of Congress
