%xmlchars; ]> RG0082 Guide to the American Studies Department records, 1953-1998 University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The Gelman Library, The George Washington University 2007

2130 H. St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20052 Phone: 202-994-7549 Email: speccoll@gwu.edu

Machine-readable finding aid derived from Re:discovery database program and converted into xml; Code template by Archives and Information Associates (http://archivesandinformation.com), Alexandria, Virginia . 2007 Finding aid written in English Guide to the American Studies Department records, 1953-1998 RG0082 University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The Gelman Library, The George Washington University

Washington, D.C.

Processed by Special Collections Staff, 2007 Encoded by Lyle Slovick, 2007

Descriptive Summary American Studies Department American Studies Department records, 1953-1998 RG0082 13.75 Linear feet Collection includes memos, syllabi, course descriptions, student papers, reports, by-laws, correspondence, meeting minutes, comprehensive exams, and newsletters. The George Washington University, The Gelman Library, University Archives, Special Collections Research Center

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English Information for Users Preferred citation

American Studies Department records, University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University.

Restrictions on Access

Some records may be restricted.

Acquisition InformationMaterials acquired through transfers from American Studies Department.

Restrictions on Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Historical or Biographical Note

Robert W. Bolwell founded what is now known as the American Studies Department in 1938. He had an A.B. degree from Case Western University, M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He was a professor of English and American Literature and taught at GW from 1920-57. In 1938 he established the American Thought and Civilization major, and for twenty-five years it resided as a special program with in the English Department. In 1968 American Studies left the English Department, to establish itself as a separate program with departmental status. In line with changing social as well as academic interests, the program's first director, Robert Walker, took the lead in recruiting the College's first black professor, J. Saunders Redding, who The New York Times once called "probably the most eminent Negro writer of nonfiction in the country." The program added affiliations with the Library of Congress and Smithsonian Institution.

In the 1970's professors Bernard Mergen, Howard Gillette, Letitia Woods Brown, and Frederick Gutheim brought with them interests in African-American studies, urban and social history, as well as popular and material culture and added courses which helped grow the program. In 1980, courses in folklore were expanded under the direction of John Vlach. The arrival of Marcus Cunliffe as University professor and the expansion of the program's journal "American Studies International" added further stature, and in the coming years both the undergraduate and graduate programs were strengthened.

The Department currently offers three degrees: B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. The faculty and students who make up the American Studies Department combine interests drawn from a variety of perspectives and methods of inquiry: history, folklife, cultural studies, literary analysis, as well as the study of art, architecture, and visual culture. However, most faculty and students find their intellectual pursuits intersecting at some point around questions of public culture and/or public history. Students at all levels develop individualized, interdisciplinary programs of study in consultation with faculty advisors.

Since 1975, George Washington University has offered a unique interdisciplinary Master's program in historic preservation through its departments of American Studies and History. The program affords a strong intellectual perspective on critical issues in the preservation and a sound practical training for the field.

The Department published the journal "American Studies International."

N.B. This history note was written in 2005

Collection Scope and Content

Materials in this collection include memos, syllabi, course descriptions, student papers, reports, by-laws, correspondence, meeting minutes, comprehensive exams, and newsletters. They range in date from 1953 to 1998, and were transferred to the University Archives by the Chair of the Department of American Studies. Note: Not all series are processed. Ask staff for assistance.

Collection Organization

Organized into eight series: American Studies program, six series of general files, artifacts.

Indexing Terms Individuals Bolwell, Robert Corporate Entities George Washington University George Washington University. American Studies Program Topics American Studies Department records George Washington University Geographic Locations Washington (D.C.) Foggy Bottom (Washington, D.C.) Detailed Description of the Records RG0082 Series 1 American Studies program, 1953-1998 0.25 Linear feet

This series includes syllabi, student papers, brochures, correspondence, and reports from the American Studies program. They range in date from 1953 to 1998.

1 1 American Studies program, 1953-1988 1 2 American Studies program - brochures, 1965-1985 1 3 American Studies program - diary of Robert Bolwell, founder of program, 1933 1 4 American Studies program - syllabi and student papers, 1972-1998 1 5 Telecommunications Department, 1960-1990 1 6 Telecommunications Studies, Center for, 1960-1984 RG0082 Series 2 General records, 1 Linear foot

This series contains historic preservation m.a. course development, GW campus plan and preservation, and course outlines.

1 1 PEARCE Report on Historic Preservation at GW, undated 1 2 National Trust: Survey of Preservation Education, undated 1 3 National Trust: Paul Sprague and Richard Haipt, undated 1 4 Committee for Program, undated 1 5 American Civilization 277: Spring Semester Outlines, undated 1 6 Historic Preservation and American Studies, undated 1 7 GW Campus Plan and Preservation, undated 1 8 Historic Preservation: GW MA course development, undated 1 9 Miscellaneous materials, undated RG0082 Series 3 Department files, 1966-1985 3 Linear feet

This series contains memos, schedules, syllabi, course descriptions, and historic preservation program. These records cover the dates 1966-85.

1 1 Orientation, 1984 1 2 Summer Sessions, 1984 1 3 Orientation, 1983 1 4 Orientation Fall, 1982 1 5 Job Vacancies, 1977 1 6 Departmental Memos, 1981-1982 1 7 Summer, 1981 1 8 Dept'l Memos, 1980-1981 1 9 Summer Schedule, 1980 1 10 Dept'l Memos, 1979-1980 1 11 Linton, Calvin, 1977-1980 1 12 Orientation, 1979 1 13 Summer School, 1979 1 14 Dept'l Memos, 1978-1979 1 15 Orientation -- Grad., Undergrad - Fall, 1978 1 16 Summer School, 1978 1 17 Orientation -- Grad., Undergrad - Spring, 1978 1 18 Correspondence, 1977-1978 1 19 Orientation -- Grad., Undergrad - Fall, 1977 1 20 Dept'l Memos, 1977-1978 1 21 Senior Seminar, 1977-1978 1 22 Dept'l Memos, 1976-1977 1 23 Summer School, 1976 1 24 Dept'l Memos, 1975-1976 1 25 Linton, 1975 1 26 Summer School, 1974-1975 1 27 Dept'l Memos, 1974-1975 1 28 Dept'l Memos, 1973-1974 1 29 High School Program, 1973 1 30 Dept'l Memos, 1970-1974 1 31 Dept'l Memos, 1970-1971 1 32 Col. Coll. - Linton, 1970-1976 1 33 Dept'l Business, 1968-1970 1 34 Brochure Announcement, 1969 1 35 Faculty Grant Proposals: Horton, Gillette, 1982-1983 1 36 Smithsonian Fellowship - NEH Proposals, 1976-1977 1 37 NEH Summer Institute, 1976 1 38 National Museum Act Grant, 1977-1978 1 39 National Museum Act - Appleton, 1978 1 40 National Museum Act, 1976-1977 1 41 National Museum Act, 1975-1976 1 42 NEH Proposal GW/LC, 1975 1 43 NEH Proposal - Fellowships, 1974 1 44 NEH Grants - Museum Related (Smithsonian Inst.), undated 2 1 Graduate Program, 1983 2 2 Graduate PhD Survey, 1979 2 3 Graduate Review, 1978 2 4 PhD Comprehensives, 1966-1968 2 5 Student Handouts, Past, undated 2 6 Undergrad AmStd Ad hoc Review Committee, 1985 2 7 Undergrad Review, 1977 2 8 Undergrad Majors, 1974 2 9 Memos: Undergrad Program, undated 2 10 UG COMPS (OLD), undated 2 11 AmCiv, 1970-1979 2 12 Am Civ, 1971 2 13 Anthro 163 Visual Comunication, undated 2 14 179-80 Senior Seminar, undated 2 15 AmCv 184 Contemporary America, undated 2 16 AmCiv/Hist 186 Urban History, undated 2 17 AmCiv 188 Urban Issues, undated 2 18 AmCiv 192, undated 2 19 AmCiv 255-256 American Seminar, undated 2 20 AmCiv 280 Urban History, undated 2 21 AmCiv 289, undated 2 22 AmCiv/U&RP 290 International Preservation, undated 2 23 290.20 Hist Res Bermuda, undated 2 24 AmCiv 701 Sport, Leisure & Play, undated 2 25 AmCiv 701 Am Conservatism, undated 2 26 Folklore Grant Proposal -- NEH, undated 2 27 LC Program: origins-66 Lib of Congress, undated 2 28 Course Annotations, undated 2 29 Syllabi -- Fall, 1983 2 30 Course Description - Spring, 1983 2 31 Course Syllabi - Fall, 1982 2 32 Course Listings - Spring, 1982 2 33 Syllabi - Fall, 1981 2 34 Syllabi - Spring, 1981 2 35 Fall - Syllabi, 1980 2 36 Syllabi - Summer, 1980 2 37 Syllabi - Fall, 1979 2 38 Spring Listings, 1979 2 39 Syllabi - Fall, 1978 2 40 Courses - Summer, 1978 2 41 Syllabi - Spring, 1978 2 42 Courses - Spring, 1977 2 43 Course Syllabi - Fall, 1977 2 44 Course Syllabi, 1975-1976 2 45 Course Syllabi, 1975 2 46 Letitia Brown, undated 3 1 Am Std Program/History, undated 3 2 Brochures-Part Copies/GWU, undated 3 3 Redding, J. Saunders, undated 3 4 Lenthall Houses, undated 3 5 Folklore Newsletter, undated 3 6 AmCiv/ExpHum 721: Neighborhood Theory &Practice - Spring, 1978 3 7 Folklore, 1980 3 8 Folklore - Summer, 1980 3 9 Historic Preservation, 1982-1983 3 10 Historic Preservation Report, 1981 3 11 HP Students Past & Present, undated 3 12 Data on HP Students Past & Present, undated 3 13 HP Careers, 1975 3 14 HP Careers, 1976 3 15 GW-LC Program, 1978-1979 3 16 Historic Preservation, 1978-1980 3 17 Historic Preservation, 1977-1978 3 18 Histtoric Preservation Program/NTHP, 1977 3 19 Historic Pres Conference, 1976 3 20 Historic Preservation Correspondence, 1975-1977 3 21 Historic Preservation Proposals, 1975-1977 3 22 Historic Preservation, 1973-1976 3 23 Historic District Preservation, undated 3 24 Historic Preservation Program, undated 3 25 Photography Tool, undated 3 26 National Trust Proposal, 1977-1978 RG0082 Series 4 General records, 1975-1999 2 Linear feet

Student papers, by-laws, course information, syllabi, correspondence (Clarence Mondale, Robert Walker, departmental, etc.), Cafritz foundation, meeting minutes, Frederick Gutheim obits, newsletters, comprehensive exams, etc., 1975-1999.

1 1 Assorted final papers by American studies undergraduate majors, 1999 1 2 Proposed courses, course changes, and alterations to program, 1980 ca. 1 3 National Endowment for the Humanities, 1980 ca.

Project, curriculum review

1 4 Historic Preservation program, 1980 ca.

Handouts and information

1 5 American Studies faculty and students, 1980-1990

News clippings

1 6 Review of MA Program, 1988

Correspondence and moemoranda

1 7 Dr. Bernard Mergen, 1970 ca.

Various syllabi

1 8 Vernacular Architecture Program, 1979

Featuring American Studies faculty

1 9 Undergraduate requirements, 1980 ca. 1 10 Registration sheets, 1970 ca.

Includes course information and number of students enrolled per course

1 11 PhD graduate information, 1980 ca. 1 12 Departmental newsletters, undated

Miscellaneous

1 13 Departmental memoranda, 1982-1983

Miscellaneous subjects

1 14 Masters degree information, 1985

Proposed changes and modifications to program

1 15 Folklore, 1979-1980

Course information, joint programs, and correspondence

1 16 Library of Congress affiliated doctoral program, undated

Memoranda, letters, and handwritten notes pertaining to formation, existence, and abolition of joint program in American Civilization sponsored by Library of Congress and the department

1 17 Major program review, 1989

Documentation of existing courses, support for renewal of major, memoranda, and correspondence

1 18 Comprehensive tool exam requirements, 1955 ca. 1 19 Dr. Bernard Mergen correspondence, 1981-1983 1 20 Robert H. Walker Lonely Hearts Club Band: Graduate Student organization, 1970 ca. 1 21 90 hour degree program, undated

Miscellaneous

1 22 Meeting minutes, undated

Miscellaneous

1 23 Graduation banquet and guest books, 1988-1990 1 24 Miscellaneous papers, departmental reviews, and course offerings, undated 1 25 Dr. Howard Gillette correspondence, 1975-1980 1 26 Frederick Gutheim, Historic Preservation founder, 1975-1980

Obituaries, clippings, essays in tribute

1 27 International American Studies center, 1970 ca. 1 28 National Endowment for the Humanities joint program renewal, undated 2 1 American studies program brochures, undated 2 2 700 series courses and special course offerings, undated 2 3 Faculty travel to and presentations at conferences in the field, 1980 ca. 2 4 Special summer programs, undated 2 5 Vernacular architecture, undated

Alumni, information, and miscellaneous

2 6 United States Information Agency, 1970 ca.

Papers and correspondence

2 7 Urban Planning program, undated

Syllabi, brochure, correspondence, and requirements

2 8 Undergraduate majors, 1980 ca. 2 9 Undergraduate comprehensive exams, 1960 ca. --1980 -- --ca. 2 10 Dr. Clarence Mondale correspondence, undated 2 11 Dr. Robert H. Walker correspondence, undated 2 12 Part-time faculty, 1991 2 13 Friends of Raoul Wallenberg, undated

Organization information

2 14 American studies building: Photographs, undated

Includes photo of Dr. Howard Gilette giveing walking tour in 1984

2 15 GWU Alumni College, 1980 ca.

American Studies courses and information

2 16 AMCV, Anthropology, and History 197 Syllabi, 1970-1984 2 17 Joint GW-Library of Congres program information, 1970-1980 2 18 Alumni contributions, 1987-1988 2 19 American Studies requirements, 1980 ca. 2 20 American Film Institute correspondence, 1970-1980 2 21 Five year plan, 1987

Correspondence, forms, and memoranda

2 22 Graduate Student club: Correspondence with other American Studies clubs, undated 2 23 Cafritz Foundation, undated

Documentation, memoranda, and correspondence

2 24 Columbian College--American Studies Department correspondence, 1968-1984 2 25 Departmental reviews, 1978-1988 2 26 Comprehensive exams, 1970 ca. 2 27 American Studies program bylaws, 1970 ca. 2 28 MA Committee information, 1988 2 29 Library of Congress program: James H. Billington, undated 2 30 MA comprehensive exams, 1980-1998 RG0082 Series 5 General records, 1970-1986 3.5 Linear feet

This series contains correspondence, business records, memos, etc. Relating to the American Studies International magazine (edited by Bernard Mergen). This material dates from 1970-86.

RG0082 Series 6 General records, 1959-1988 0.5 Linear feet

This series contains correspondence and newsletters regarding the 50th anniversary of the American Studies Pogram, notes from Robert Bolwell's class (1959). These records cover the dates 1987-88.

1 1 Correspondence--incoming to Howard Gillette, 1987-1988 1 2 Correspondence--outgoing from Howard Gillette, 1987-1988 1 3 Correspondence--miscellaneous, undated 1 4 American Studies 50th Anniversary Convocation--participant RSVP sheets, room rental sheet, etc., 1988 1 5 American Studies 50th Anniversary Convocation--preliminary/organizing materials, 1988 1 6 American Studies 50th Anniversary Convocation--speeches of panelists/lecturers, 1988 1 7 American Studies 50th Anniversary Convocation--press clippings, programs, 1988 1 8 Guest book, signed by participants of 50th Anniversary Convocation, undated 1 9 Notes from Robert Bolwell's class, Fall, 1959 RG0082 Series 7 General records, 1971-1991 2.0 Linear feet

Materials in this series include the Historic American Buildings Survey report, student papers, etc., and range in date from 1971-91.

RG0082 Series 8 Memorabilia, 1970 1.5 Linear feet

This series contains memorabilia and artifacts relating the the American Studies department.

1 1 Gas mask, 1970 ca.

This gas mask belonged to Professors of American Studies and was used during the anti-Vietnam War protests. The legend goes that in the summer of 1970, Professor Howard Gillette rushed down from the roof of the American Studies building on G Street in order to stop Police from arresting one of his students during an anti-war rally. Professor Gillette wore this gasmask to protect himself from the tear gas employed by DC Police to handle crowds. In the process Gillette himself was almost arrested. Gas mask was donated to the University Archives by Professor of American Studies Barney Mergan in 2006.