Perry, Oliver Hazard

by Maury York

1819–3 Jan. 1885

Oliver Hazard Perry, state librarian, held that office from March 1854 until 1868. In that capacity he compiled two catalogues of the state library and one catalogue of the supreme court library. As the first published guides of the two collections, they provided increased organization of and access to the books.

Perry had a variety of other interests, including service from 1855 until 1859 as deputy clerk of the state supreme court. In 1860 O. H. Perry and Company of Raleigh republished the 1714 edition of John Lawson's History of Carolina . Perry also served as supervising agent for the North Carolina State Life Insurance Company. An avid Baptist, he wrote numerous articles for the Raleigh Biblical Recorder and in 1875 penned Truth Vindicated, With Reference to the Book of Job , also published by the Biblical Recorder. Perry died in Raleigh and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.