If you thought you saw someone walking around campus dressed in colonial clothes and looking like they belonged in the 1700s on Wednesday — you probably did.
UNC celebrated Hinton James Day on Feb.12 to honor its first student, Hinton James.
Each year to kick off the celebration, a student dresses up as James himself and hands out Bojangles' biscuits to the residents of Hinton James Residence Hall, referred to as “HoJo” by students.
As part of an annual tradition, Chase Dining Hall hosted a themed dinner in James’ honor as well. The menu included items that James may have eaten during his time at UNC, including country-fried steak, johnnycakes and Southern biscuits.
While many students were aware of the day’s festivities, not all knew who James really was.
“I do not know who Hinton James is,” Janey Krehnbrink, a first-year student majoring in pharmacy, said. “I guess I know he was an important figure at UNC at some point if a building is named after him, but in terms of what he did for the University, I’m not entirely sure.”
About one month after the opening of the University in 1795, James arrived to campus on Feb. 12 and became the first student to enroll. He came from a prosperous family in what is now known as Pender County, University Archivist Nicholas Graham said.
Graham said not much is known about James' time at UNC, but there is one letter he wrote in 1838 that provides some insight. In the letter, James talked about professors and other students — and made one comment concerning a dress code, which Graham said didn't exist.
By James’ report, he was the only student on campus for at least a couple of weeks.
