The News & Observer Index,1926-1992, is now available online for the public to search and browse.
The N&O Index is an alphabetical list of names and subjects, with references to the newspaper articles in which they occur. It is not a database of articles; rather, it is a guide to help find articles with more information about a particular topic.
Indexes that date from 1978-1981 were published in book form and electronically. Over the next year those entries will likely be included as well.
Search the N&O Index yourself at http://statelibrarync.org/noi/