Hugh Morton: An all-time Carolina great
Hugh Morton
Having risen through the ranks of the banking world to
become CEO of RBC Beloved Carolina alumnus Hugh Morton died
last year at his home in Linville. Morton worked to bring
the battleship USS North Carolina home to the state’s
shores and fought to preserve the beauty of Grandfather
Mountain. In celebrating the state’s icons, Morton
himself became an icon. He may be best known for the
photographs that chronicled his 60-year relationship with
UNC and the culture and natural beauty of our state.
His wife, Julia, recently donated his collection of more
than 500,000 photos to the University Library’s North
Carolina Collection (NCC). This astounding gift will add
tremendous depth and breadth to NCC’s photographic
holdings available for viewing, study and research.
Julia Morton has also established a professorship in the
UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication (JOMC) to
honor her husband’s legacy, and the professorship
fund has drawn an outpouring of memorial gifts from across
the nation.
To support the Hugh Morton Distinguished Professorship,
contact Speed Hallman, assistant dean for development in
the School of JOMC, at 919-962-9467 or speed_hallman@unc.edu.
