Narrative, Identity, and Sense of Place Discourse : Woman's Club of Fayetteville, North Carolina, 1906-1912

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the discourse (the narratives) used by members of the Woman's Club of Fayetteville in Fayetteville, North Carolina, from 1906 through 1912, as they (1) saved the Market House from destruction and then restored and rehabilitated the building and (2) pursued other restoration projects and civic improvement initiatives. The movement to save the Market House was the first preservation initiative in North Carolina, according to the City of Fayetteville's State Historic Preservation Officer. Archived artifacts are analyzed using David Boje's Quest Frame to identify the Call to Action, Journey, and Return Home for each narrative discussed. The analysis of the artifacts, some of which have not previously been available, reveals how the work of the Woman's Club through narratives altered the identity and sense of place in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and the surrounding Cumberland County community. Moreover, their contributions were noted by the Chamber of Commerce in 1913 as being an important part of the City of Fayetteville's progress. This analysis of a non-profit's historic narratives illustrates how the organization and its activities participated in the evolving creation of identity and sense of place for an historic building and its community.