UNC A to Z

What Every Tar Heel Needs to Know about the First State University

By Nicholas Graham, Cecelia Moore

296 pp., 6 x 9, 59 halftones, bibl., index

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4696-5583-3
    Published: April 2020
  • E-book EPUB ISBN: 978-1-4696-5584-0
    Published: March 2020
  • E-book PDF ISBN: 979-8-8908-5473-5
    Published: March 2020
  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4696-8448-2
    Published: April 2025

Buy this Book

To purchase online via an independent bookstore, visit Bookshop.org
Covering everything from the Old Well to the Speaker Ban and more, UNC A to Z is a concise, easy-to-read introduction to the nation’s first public university, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Perfect for new students getting to know the campus or alumni who want to learn more about their alma mater, this richly illustrated reference contains more than 350 entries packed with fascinating facts, interesting stories, and little-known histories of the people, places, and events that have shaped the Carolina we know today.

With histories of campus buildings like Old East, gathering places like the Pit, and the many student traditions like the Cardboard Club, the Cake Race, and High Noon, UNC A to Z is the book every Tar Heel will want to keep close at hand.

About the Authors

Nicholas Graham is the university archivist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For more information about Nicholas Graham, visit the Author Page.

Cecelia D. Moore is the former university historian at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For more information about Cecelia Moore, visit the Author Page.

Reviews

"I love books full of interesting facts and little-known histories. . . . This one is a keeper! Even if I weren't a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill I would highly recommend this book."—WRAL

"A serious and compelling university portrait. . . . A book, not just for Carolina loyalists, but also for everyone who wants to understand the complex mix of attributes of our first state university."—D.G. Martin, One on One

"Bright and well-researched. . . . For died-blue-in-the-wool Tar Heel fans . . . UNC A to Z will be a delight."—Gaston Gazette

“Even if you think you’re a true Tar Heel, open this book to any page and you’ll learn something you didn't know, like the actual origin of the term “Tar Heel.” (It was nice to finally have that cleared up.) Wonderfully written, UNC A to Z gives us the nuts and the bolts of Carolina without losing any of its magic. It’s a beautiful achievement.”—Lewis Black, comedian, author, and UNC alum

“Logically organized and, frankly, brilliant. Deeply comprehensive for those who want a broader historical look at the university. I can envision alumni and those with a deep affinity for UNC reading it from start to finish.”—Art Chansky, author of Game Changers and UNC alum