William Archibald Dunning papers, 1781-1922

Collection context

Creator:
Dunning, William Archibald, 1857-1922
Extent:
6.5 linear feet (13 manuscript boxes)
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

Correspondence; miscellaneous letters, manuscripts, clippings, and printed material, 1867-1922, relating to the American Historical Association, the Centenary of Anglo-American Peace, and Dartmouth College; memorabilia, and photographs and postcards. Also, Dunning family correspondence and manuscripts, 1781-1915, including letters from Robert Kerr to W.A. Dunning; letters and post cards to Matilda A. Dunning; journals and diaries of William A. Dunning, 1873-1875 and undated, and Charlotte Dunning, 1899-1915; miscellaneous letters among family members; visiting cards; a composition written by Dunning while a boy; and letters relating to Dartmouth college. The collection also includes manuscript notes for lectures, articles, reviews, books, and chapters by Dunning. Some subjects include: "The British Empire and the United States", "Carl Schurz", "England and Ireland", and "Political Theory".

Biographical / historical:

William Archibald Dunning (1857-1922) was an American historian and political scientist at Columbia University noted for his work on the Reconstruction era of the United States. He founded the informal Dunning School of interpreting the Reconstruction era through his own writings and the Ph.D. dissertations of his numerous students. Dunning has been criticized for advocating white supremacist interpretations, his "blatant use of the discipline of history for reactionary ends" and for offering "scholarly legitimacy to the disenfranchisement of southern blacks and to the Jim Crow system." Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enacted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States and elsewhere within the United States.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); William Archibald Dunning papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:
Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
Contact:
rbml@library.columbia.edu