Posters & Pictures

Pirates were not just criminals, but people who terrorized sailors and communities along the coast. By examining these materials, viewers gain a deeper understanding of the terror pirates instilled and their history along the coast of North Carolina. This case explores the legacy of pirate culture, showcasing a diverse collection of posters and photographs that highlight the infamous world of piracy. The centerpiece of this case is Blackbeard, one of the most notorious pirate captains in North Carolina history. Through carefully selected images, viewers will encounter symbols of piracy, including iconic flags and images of pirates.

Blackbeard: North Carolina's most infamous pirate, Kenneth E Barnes

Blackbeard: North Carolina's most infamous pirate is a medium sized poster created by Barnes, Kenneth E featuring an image of the famous pirate, Blackbeard, posing by the sea. The date of creation is unknown and the lifetime of the creator is unknown. This source was accessed through Wilson Library Special Collections.

In the early eighteenth century, Edward Teach, popularly known as Blackbeard, rose to power as a ruthless pirate across the coast of eastern North America. Due to Blackbeard's reputation and popularity, it is sometimes challenging to detect the true facts about him versus fictional rumors. It is for this reason that there is a debate around Blackbeard's real name. Though many refer to him as Edward Teach, recent evidence suggests his last name may be Thatch. Historical records even spell his name both ways, leaving many confused about his true legal name. Much of his fame that ultimately contributed to his bemusing name stems from his pillaging in the Carolina's. This infamous figure is especially important to the coast of North Carolina because this is where Blackbeard's reign of terror came to a close. Blackbeard's ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, was attacked by Lieutenant Maynard and members of the naval fleet under order of Virginia's governor. Even today, rumors surrounding Blackbeard's death circulate around the coast of North Carolina, some even say they have seen Blackbeard's ghost wandering the ocean looking for his head.

Barnes, Kenneth E. Blackbeard: North Carolina's most infamous pirate. Accessed November 5 2024.

Blackbeard. North Carolina Historical Review. April 2018, p.147-185, EBSCOhost. https://login.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/loginurl=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspxdirect=true&db=aph&AN=131839479

&site=ehostlive&scope=site. Accessed November 13 2024.

Moore, David D. Captain Edward Thatch: A Brief Analysis of the Primary Source Documents Concerning the Notorious. Accessed November 13 2024

Slappey, Kellie. Blackbeard the Pirate. North Carolina History Project. 2024. https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/the

pirate-blackbeard/. Accessed November 13 2024.

Thalberg, Avery. Blackbeard: North Carolina's most infamous pirate. Accessed November 5 2024.

Pitzer, Pirate Flags.

Pirate Flags is a poster created by William Pitzer, depicting the various symbols used across the most famous pirates’ flags. Although the artist’s dates are unknown, the poster was published in The Charlotte Observer in 2002 and printed through the North Carolina Collection at Wilson Library on November 5, 2024.

This pirate flag poster illustrates a range of examples of the Jolly Roger, the infamous flag of piracy during the early 18th century. The Jolly Roger, often depicting skulls, crossbones, and swords, served as a psychological weapon to intimidate merchant ships and signal their identity as unconstrained outlaws. The term’s origins derive from the word “Roger” which, in that period, signified the devil. Featuring flags from notorious pirates like Blackbeard, Black Bart, and Calico Jack, it reveals how these symbols were designed to evoke fear and assert pirate identity. The display connects each flag to its origins, showing the seas from which pirates sailed and the specific meanings behind the imagery.

Each flag depicts specific elements tied to the pirate's persona and tactics, reinforcing the legend of piracy and its rebellious, lawless nature. By highlighting these symbols, the poster provides insight into piracy's role in maritime history and its lasting cultural impact. Blackbeard’s flag is the centerpiece of the poster, as his legacy drives the narratives of pirates from the Golden Age.

Cartwright, Mark. “The Jolly Roger & Other Pirate Flags.” World History Encyclopedia, UNESCO, 18 August 2021, https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1813/the-jolly-roger--other-pirate-flags/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Leeson, Peter T. “Pirational Choice: The Economics of Infamous Pirate Practices.” Journal of Economic Behavior &

Organization, vol. 76, no. 3, Dec. 2010, pp. 497–510. EBSCOhost, https://doi org.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/10.1016/j.jebo.20 10.08.015. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Pitzer, WM. Pirate Flags, 2003, North Carolina Collection(Wilson Library). Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Thalberg, Avery. Pirate Flags, 2003. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Blackbeard

This piece, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Dept. of Dramatic Art photographs and related materials, portrays a dramatic art depiction of the infamous pirate, Captain Blackbeard. The author and date of creation is unknown, however, it comes from a department of arts between the years of 1911 and the 1970s. This piece was accessed through the Wilson Library of UNC Chapel Hill.

This photograph depicts the infamous pirate, Blackbeard, during his time of feared piracy in the early 1700s. This dramatized portrait of the pirate depicted one of the most terrifying characteristics about Blackbeard himself, his looks. While this picture portrays his fearsome and haunting looks on a much lesser scale that he is described, often with “lit fuses in his long hair” as well as a waist-length “enormous black beard”, hence his well-known name. His appearance, both portrayed in this photograph, as well as the descriptions of the pirate are what made him so terrifying to others, making his piracy significantly more feared and well-known. The infamous pirate captain, Blackbeard, was feared among a wide range of people for many reasons including his terror streaks and piracy rampages. This piece gives a slight insight to the fear instilled in the people of the Carolina’s coasts by the startling and daunting Captain Blackbeard.

“Blackbeard: Edward Teach: Pirate.” Blackbeard | Edward Teach | Pirate | Royal Museums Greenwich, Royal Museums

Greenwich, www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/blackbeard-edward-teachpirate#:~:text=Blackbeard’s%20appearance,an d%20fiction%20blended%20into%20one. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

“Blackbeard.” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Dept. of Dramatic Art photographs and related materials, 1911-

1970s. Image Box IB-P0035/12. North Carolina Collection(Wilson Library) - Photo Archives, UNC.

Butler, Lindley S. “Blackbeard’s Terror”. American Heritage. vol. 61, no. 1, 2011, pp. 29-37.

https://login.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/ login.aspx

direct=true&db=aph&AN=73309646&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Thomas, Kaylee. Blackbeard. 5 Nov. 2024. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Dept. of Dramatic Art photographs and

related materials, 1911-1970s.

Blackbeard the pirate

This piece, titled Blackbeard the Pirate, is part of the collection, titled Photographs and Related Materials from the Department of Dramatic Art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It showcases a theatrical representation of the legendary pirate, Captain Blackbeard. While the creator and exact date of the work remain unidentified, the materials are thought to date from between 1911 and the 1970s, originating from the university’s Department of Dramatic Art. The collection was accessed through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Wilson Special Collections Library.

Blackbeard’s appearance was crucial to his power; this piece encapsulates the terror Blackbeard instilled in people during his reign of piracy in the early 18th century. Blackbeard, also known as Edward Teach, became one of the most feared pirates of the “Golden Age of Piracy” due to his tactics and use of terror. He sailed along the American coast, specifically North Carolina’s coast, seizing ships and intimidating sailors and civilians. This portrayal channels Blackbeard’s larger than life figure, emphasizing his wild, fearsome appearance. Blackbeard was known for his tall towering stature, black beard, and wild eyes, which are clearly visible in this portrait. Aside from his physique, Blackbeard always carried a sword and pistol. These weapons ensured he was ready for any surprise attacks. Together, his appearance, physique, and weapons are how he struck fear through his victims.

“Blackbeard the Pirate.” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Dept. of Dramatic Art photographs and related materials, 1911-1970s. Image Box IB P0035/12. North Carolina Collection (Wilson Library) - Photo Archives, UNC. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Butler, Lindley S. “Blackbeard’s Terror”. American Heritage. vol. 61, no. 1, 2011, pp. 29-37.

https://login.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx

direct=true&db=aph&AN=73309646&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

"Cutthroat Dogs." Current Events, vol. 96, no. 26, May 05, 1997, pp. 2a-2d. ProQuest, http://libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/magazines/cutthroat-dogs/docview/196406577/se-2. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Thomas, Kaylee. Blackbeard. 5 Nov. 2024. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Dept. of Dramatic Art photographs and

related materials, 1911-1970s.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse