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Inventory of the William Preston Few Records and Papers, 1814 - 1971 and undated (bulk 1911-1940)

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Descriptive Summary

Title
William Preston Few Records and Papers, 1814 - 1971 and undated (bulk 1911-1940)
Creator
Few, William Preston, 1867-1940.
Extent
70.0 Linear Feet,
69,000 Items
Repository
University Archives, Duke University
Abstract
William Preston Few (1867-1940) served as President of Trinity College from 1910-1924, and President of Duke University from 1924-1940. Few came to Trinity College in 1896 as Professor of English, was named Dean of the College in 1902, and President in 1910, succeeding John C. Kilgo. Few worked with James Buchanan Duke to establish the Duke Endowment. In 1924, Few directed Trinity College's transition to Duke University and remained as President of Duke University until his death in 1940. Few was an active layman in the Methodist Church and in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The William Preston Few Records and Papers contain correspondence from Few's office files as President of Trinity College and Duke University, reports, clippings, copies of speeches and manuscripts, memorandum books, bound volumes, index cards that catalog Few's office files, and other types of printed material. Major subjects include education; philanthropy; the development of Trinity College from its beginning in Randolph County, N.C., to Duke University; the development of the Duke Endowment; Trinity and Duke departmental operations; the school's relationship with the Methodist Church; and business of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Language
English.
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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
No restrictions except the Clipping File, Folders 1410-1412, is not immediately accessible because it requires further processing before use.
Use Restrictions
Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], William Preston Few Records and Papers, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The William Preston Few Records and Papers were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1964 (A64-60), with multiple earlier accessions, and later additions (A67-76) and (A72-68).
Processing Information
Processed by Linda Daniel
Completed December, 2003
Encoded by Linda Daniel, December 2003
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
            

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Biographical Note

Born in Greenville, S.C. on December 29, 1867, the son of Benjamin Franklin and Rachel Kendrick Few, William Preston Few attended Wofford College, Spartanburg S.C. (A.B., 1889), and Harvard University (A.M., 1893; Ph.D., 1896). Few came to Durham in 1896 as Professor of English at Trinity College. He was named Dean of the College in 1902, and President in 1910, succeeding John C. Kilgo. Few was President of Trinity College from 1910-1924.

On August 17, 1911, Few married Mary Reamey Thomas of Martinsville, West Virginia. They had five sons: William, Lyne Starling, Kendrick Sheffield, Randolph Reamey, and Yancey Preston.

Few worked with James Buchanan Duke to establish the Duke Endowment. In 1924, Few directed Trinity College's transition to Duke University and remained as President of Duke University until his death on October 16, 1940. In his thirty years as President of Trinity and Duke, Few oversaw the transformation of Trinity College into Duke University and assisted in the fulfillment of the concept behind the Duke Endowment.

An active layman in the Methodist Church, Few was often a delegate to the Church's General Conferences. Other activities included membership on a committee of the Harvard Board of Overseers (1911), President of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association (1913), Trustee of the Negro Rural School Fund (1918), and President of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (1932).

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Collection Overview

The William Preston Few Records and Papers contain correspondence from Few's office files as President of Trinity College and Duke University, reports, clippings, copies of speeches and manuscripts, memorandum books, bound volumes, index cards that catalog Few's office files, and other types of printed material. The files are arranged in six series. They include: Correspondence, Subject Files, Bound Volumes, Oversize Materials, Index Cards to Few Papers, and Additions.
Major subjects include education; philanthropy; the development of Trinity College, from its beginning in Randolph County, N.C., to Duke University; the development of the Duke Endowment; Trinity and Duke departmental operations; the school's relationship with the Methodist Church; and business of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The Correspondence makes up a large part of the collection. The bulk of this correspondence is from Few's office files as President of Trinity College and Duke University. The correspondence includes incoming letters to Few's office, copies of outgoing letters, reports, minutes, telegrams, newsletters, and other materials generated or received by the President's office. Among the correspondents are: William Hayes Ackland, Alice Mary Baldwin, John Spencer Bassett, Julian S. Carr, Robert D.W. Conner, Angier Buchanan Duke, Benjamin Newton Duke, James Buchanan Duke, John Carlisle Kilgo, and Edward R. Murrow. There is also some personal correspondence dating from 1885.
The Subject Files include a wide variety of materials collected by Few's office. They include correspondence, reports, clippings and other types of printed material. Major subjects include education; philanthropy; the development of Trinity College from its beginning in Randolph County, N.C., to Duke University; the development of the Duke Endowment; Trinity and Duke departmental operations; the school's relationship with the Methodist Church; and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Included are Few's speeches made at university functions, to community groups, and at funerals. There are a number of speeches that give Few's opinions about education and the development of Duke University while he was President.
The Bound Volumes include a manuscript arithmetic primer, dated 1814, written by Alston W. Kendrick, Few's grandfather; a trigonometry textbook used by Few; a Bible; class records, 1913-1929 and undated; an incomplete set of Few's memoranda books for the years 1922-1933; and several alumni reviews.
The Index Cards to Few's Papers were apparently created by Few's office and catalog the holdings in the office files. However, not all of the materials or names referenced on the index cards can be found in the William Preston Few Records and Papers.
The Oversize Materials include folders removed from the subject files, diplomas, and a bound volume. The Additions include some correspondence, and obituaries for Mrs. William Preston Few (Mary Reamey Thomas Few), that were incorporated into the collection after it was transferred to University Archives.
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Subject Headings

These and related materials may be accessed under the following subject headings in the Duke University Libraries online catalog.
  • Duke, James Buchanan, 1856-1925.
  • Duke Endowment.
  • Duke University--Administration.
  • Duke University. Board of Trustees.
  • Duke University--History.
  • Duke University. President.
  • Duke University--Presidents.
  • Educational fund raising.
  • Few, William Preston, 1867-1940.
  • Methodist Church--North Carolina.
  • Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
  • Methodist Episcopal Church, South--Education.
  • North Carolina--Education.
  • Trinity College (Durham, N.C.)--History.
  • Trinity College (Randolph County, N.C.)--History.
  • Universities and colleges--United States.
  • Clippings.
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Related Material

Duke University Board of Trustees Records.
University Archives, Duke University.

Duke University Faculty Records.
University Archives, Duke University.

[Forms part of:] Duke University President Records.
University Archives, Duke University.

Robert L. Flowers Records.
University Archives, Duke University.

Marion Timothy Plyler Papers.
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.

Scrapbook of News Clippings on Dr. William P. Few.
University Archives, Duke University.

William Hane Wannamaker Collection.
University Archives, Duke University.

List of Series in Collection
Correspondence, 1885-1941 and undated
Subject Files
Bound Volumes
Oversize Materials
Index Cards to Few Papers
Additions
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Detailed Description of the Collection

Correspondence, 1885-1941 and undated

The bulk of the correspondence is from Few's office files as President of Trinity College and Duke University. The correspondence includes incoming letters to Few's office, copies of outgoing letters, reports, minutes, telegrams, newsletters, and other materials generated or received by the President's office. Among the correspondents are: Alice Mary Baldwin, John Carlisle Kilgo, John Spencer Bassett, Angier Buchanan Duke, Benjamin Newton Duke, William Hayes Ackland, Julian S. Carr, Edward R. Murrow, and Robert D.W. Conner. There is also some personal correspondence dating from 1885.
Duke University Archives staff has created an index to a number of significant correspondents who have letters in the Few Records and Papers. The following people are noted to have significant autograph entries, as well as significant subject entries in this collection, on topics that concern Trinity's and Duke's administration, faculty, and trustees. There is an extensive listing of correspondents for other subject areas including the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Education; and Philanthropy. Please contact University Archives staff for further information about correspondence related to these topics.
  • Allen, George Garland
  • Anderson, Albert
  • Baldwin, Alice Mary
  • Boyd, William Kenneth
  • Branscomb, Bennett Harvie
  • Brown, Frank Clyde
  • Brown, Joseph Gill
  • Bruton, John Fletcher
  • Cannon, James, III
  • Davison, WIlburt Cornell
  • Edwards, Charles William
  • Ellwood, Charles Abram
  • Flowers, Robert Lee
  • Glasson, William Henry
  • Godbey, Allenn Howard
  • McDougall, William
  • Miller, Justin
  • North, Harry M.
  • Peacock, Dred
  • Peele, William Walter
  • Peppler, Charles William
  • Reynolds, William Neal
  • Rhine, Joseph Banks
  • Separk, Joseph Henry
  • Smith, Willis
  • Soper, Edmund Davison
  • Spence, Hersey Everett
  • Toms, Clinton White
  • White, Newman Ivey
Box 1
   Folder 1-9
1885-March 13, 1911
Box 2
   Folder 10-20
March 14-June 30, 1911
Box 3
   Folder 21-33
July-Dec., 1911
Box 4
   Folder 34-46
Jan.-May, 1912
Box 5
   Folder 47-56
June-Sept., 1912
Box 6
   Folder 57-72
Oct., 1912-March, 1913
Box 7
   Folder 73-85
April-Aug., 1913
Box 8
   Folder 86-101
Sept. 1913-Feb., 1914
Box 9
   Folder 102-114
March-July 17, 1914
Box 10
   Folder 115-127
July 18-Dec., 1914
Box 11
   Folder 128-141
Jan.-May, 1915
Box 12
   Folder 142-154
June-Dec., 1915
Box 13
   Folder 155-167
Jan.-May, 1916
Box 14
   Folder 168-180
June-Oct., 1916
Box 15
   Folder 181-191
Nov., 1916-Feb., 1917
Box 16
   Folder 192-202
March-May, 1917
Box 17
   Folder 203-215
June-Aug. 19, 1917
Box 18
   Folder 216-227
Aug. 20-Nov., 1917
Box 19
   Folder 228-242
Dec., 1917-April, 1918
Box 20
   Folder 243-255
May-Sept., 1918
Box 21
   Folder 256-266
Oct., 1918-Feb., 1919
Box 22
   Folder 267-278
March-July, 1919
Box 23
   Folder 279-289
Aug.-Nov., 1919
Box 24
   Folder 290-299
Dec., 1919-March, 1920
Box 25
   Folder 300-310
April-Sept., 1920
Box 26
   Folder 311-322
Oct., 1920-Feb., 1921
Box 27
   Folder 323-334
March-Aug., 1921
Box 28
   Folder 335-346
Sept.-Dec., 1921
Box 29
   Folder 347-357
Jan.-April, 1922
Box 30
   Folder 358-367
May-Sept., 1922
Box 31
   Folder 368-379
Oct., 1922-Jan., 1923
Box 32
   Folder 380-392
Feb.-June, 1923
Box 33
   Folder 393-402
July, 1923-Feb., 1924
Box 34
   Folder 403-416
March-Sept., 1924
Box 35
   Folder 417-430
Oct., 1924-Jan., 1925
Box 36
   Folder 431-443
Feb.-May, 1925
Box 37
   Folder 444-455
June-Sept., 1925
Box 38
   Folder 456-465
Oct.-Dec., 1925
Box 39
   Folder 466-477
Jan.-April, 1926
Box 40
   Folder 478-489
May-Sept., 1926
Box 41
   Folder 490-500
Oct., 1926-Jan., 1927
Box 42
   Folder 501-511
Feb.-April, 1927
Box 43
   Folder 512-522
May-Aug., 1927
Box 44
   Folder 523-533
Sept.-Dec., 1927
Box 45
   Folder 534-546
Jan.-April, 1928
Box 46
   Folder 547-557
May-Aug., 1928
Box 47
   Folder 558-567
Sept.-Nov., 1928
Box 48
   Folder 568-577
Dec., 1928-March, 1929
Box 49
   Folder 578-589
April-July, 1929
Box 50
   Folder 590-599
Aug.-Oct., 1929
Box 51
   Folder 600-608
Nov., 1929-Jan., 1930
Box 52
   Folder 609-617
Feb.-April, 1930
Box 53
   Folder 618-626
May-Aug., 1930
Box 54
   Folder 627-634
Sept.-Oct., 1930
Box 55
   Folder 635-642
Nov., 1930-Jan. 19, 1931
Box 56
   Folder 643-650
Jan. 20-March 18, 1931
Box 57
   Folder 651-661
March 19-May 17, 1931
Box 58
   Folder 662-671
May 18-Aug., 1931
Box 59
   Folder 672-680
Sept.-Nov. 21, 1931
Box 60
   Folder 681-691
Nov. 23, 1931-Jan., 1932
Box 61
   Folder 692-702
Feb.-March, 1932
Box 62
   Folder 703-713
April-May, 1932
Box 63
   Folder 714-722
June-Sept. 9, 1932
Box 64
   Folder 723-733
Sept. 10-Nov., 1932
Box 65
   Folder 734-742
Dec., 1932-Jan., 1933
Box 66
   Folder 743-750
Feb.-April 20, 1933
Box 67
   Folder 751-757
April 21-June, 1933
Box 68
   Folder 758-766
July-Sept., 1933
Box 69
   Folder 767-776
Oct.-Dec. 12, 1933
Box 70
   Folder 777-785
Dec. 13, 1933-Feb. 15, 1934
Box 71
   Folder 786-795
Feb. 16-April 16, 1934
Box 72
   Folder 796-806
April 17-June, 1934
Box 73
   Folder 807-817
July-Sept. 20, 1934
Box 74
   Folder 818-828
Sept. 21-Nov., 1934
Box 75
   Folder 829-838
Dec., 1934-Feb. 16, 1935
Box 76
   Folder 839-847
Feb. 18-April 12, 1935
Box 77
   Folder 848-857
April 13-June 12, 1935
Box 78
   Folder 858-868
June 13-Aug., 1935
Box 79
   Folder 869-878
Sept.-Nov. 9, 1935
Box 80
   Folder 879-886
Nov. 10, 1935-Jan. 10, 1936
Box 81
   Folder 887-895
Jan. 11-March 16, 1936
Box 82
   Folder 896-905
March 17-May 18, 1936
Box 83
   Folder 906-914
May 19-July, 1936
Box 84
   Folder 915-924
Aug.-Oct. 18, 1936
Box 85
   Folder 925-932
Oct. 19-Dec. 15, 1936
Box 86
   Folder 933-943
Dec. 16, 1936-Feb., 1937
Box 87
   Folder 944-952
March-May 21, 1937
Box 88
   Folder 953-962
May 22-Aug., 1937
Box 89
   Folder 963-970
Sept.-Oct., 1937
Box 90
   Folder 971-980
Nov., 1937-Jan. 24, 1938
Box 91
   Folder 981-990
Jan. 25-March, 1938
Box 92
   Folder 991-998
April-May, 1938
Box 93
   Folder 999-1007
June-Sept. 18, 1938
Box 94
   Folder 1008-1016
Sept. 19-Nov. 10, 1938
Box 95
   Folder 1017-1025
Nov. 11-Jan. 11, 1939
Box 96
   Folder 1026-1035
Jan. 12-March 15, 1939
Box 97
   Folder 1036-1045
March 16-May 17, 1939
Box 98
   Folder 1046-1053
May 18-Aug. 14, 1939
Box 99
   Folder 1054-1062
Aug. 15-Oct. 25, 1939
Box 100
   Folder 1063-1070
Oct. 26-Dec., 1939
Box 101
   Folder 1071-1078
Jan.-Feb., 1940
Box 102
   Folder 1079-1087
March-May 13, 1940
Box 103
   Folder 1088-1097
May 14-Aug. 25, 1940
Box 104
   Folder 1098-1107
Aug. 26-Nov., 1940
Box 105
   Folder 1108-1109
Dec. 3, 1940-Nov. 30, 1941, and undated

Subject Files

The subject files include a wide variety of materials collected by the Few's office. They include correspondence, reports, clippings and other types of printed material. Major subjects include education; philanthropy; the development of Trinity College, from its beginning in Randolph County, NC, to Duke University; the development of the Duke Endowment; Trinity and Duke departmental operations; the school's relationship with the Methodist Church; and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The subseries on Few's speeches and writings is significant. The major subjects covered in this section include the development of Duke University, the role of religion in education, student development, and the contributions of the Duke family to education. Included are speeches Few made at university functions, to community groups, and at funerals. Some of the materials are organized by date, or by topic. There are a number of undated speeches, on a wide variety of topics, that mostly give Few's opinions about education and the development of Duke University while he was president.
The subject files include a wealth of material on Trinity College, the establishment of the Duke Endowment in 1924, and the transformation of Trinity into an undergraduate college of Duke University. Of note is a printer's proof from the Durham Herald of the first headline to use the term, "Duke University." Also included in the Subject Files are President's Reports; records of committees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; correspondence concerning the institution's relationship to the Methodist Church; and histories of Union Institute and Normal College. Certain materials received by the President's office in the course of business may have been considered important enough to warrant the attention of the Board of Trustees; thus, some records of the President's Office will be found in the Board's records.
Box 106
   Folder 1110-1111
Ackland, William Hayes
   Folder 1112
Alliance for Guidance of Rural Youth
   Folder 1113
American Association of Junior Colleges
   Folder 1114
American Council On Education
   Folder 1115-1116
Association Of American Colleges
[Folder 1116 removed to Oversize Materials, Box 130.]
   Folder 1117
Association Of American Medical Colleges
   Folder 1118
Athens, American University of, 1937
   Folder 1119
Cole (E.M.) Foundation
   Folder 1120
Duke, Angier Buchanan
   Folder 1121
Duke, Benjamin Newton

Duke, James Buchanan
   Folder 1122
Last Will And Testament

Superannuate Fund
   Folder 1123
Dec., 1916-Dec., 1917
   Folder 1124
Dec., 1918-Dec., 1919
Box 107
   Folder 1125
Dec., 1920-Dec., 1921
   Folder 1126
Dec., 19, 1922-Dec., 1923
   Folder 1127
Dec., 1934-Dec., 1935
   Folder 1128
Dec., 1936-Dec., 1937
   Folder 1129
Dec., 1938-Dec., 1939

Duke Endowment
   Folder 1130
General Information
   Folder 1131
Hospital and Orphan Section
   Folder 1132-1133
Rural Church Fund
   Folder 1134
Duke Memorial
   Folder 1135
Duke Memorial Methodist Church
Box 108

Duke University
Few was President of Duke University from 1924-1940. Many important changes in the structure and implementation of the university's educational goals occurred during this time. Major subjects include university development; departmental business; the development of the Forestry School, the Law School; the Medical Center; various aspects of student life; and building on campus.
   Folder 1136
Architecture
   Folder 1137
Attendance Regulations
   Folder 1138-1139
Board of Trustees
   Folder 1140
Bulletin
   Folder 1141-1142
Centennial Celebration
   Folder 1143
Chanticleer
   Folder 1144
Chapel Committee, 1936-1938
   Folder 1145
Chapel Sermons
   Folder 1146
Chemistry Dept.
   Folder 1147
Commencement Exercises
   Folder 1148
Curriculum, 1936
   Folder 1149
Committee on the Promotion of Student Scholarship, 1936-1937
   Folder 1150
Degree Requirements
Box 109
   Folder 1151-1152
Engineering Division
   Folder 1153
English Dept.
   Folder 1154-1155
Faculty Committees
   Folder 1156
Forestry School
   Folder 1157
Flowers Collection
   Folder 1158
Fraternities and Sororities
   Folder 1159
Freshman Advisory Council
   Folder 1160
Graduate School
Box 110
   Folder 1161
Historical Material
Includes a printer's proof from the Durham Herald of the first headline to use the term, "Duke University."
   Folder 1162
Honors Courses
   Folder 1163
Jewish Students
   Folder 1164
"The Vision of King Paucus," [1933?]
A one-act play in three scenes.
   Folder 1165-1166
Law School
   Folder 1167-1168
Medical Center
   Folder 1169
Men's Student Government Association
[Folder 1169 removed to Oversize Materials, Box 130.]
   Folder 1170
Miscellaneous Duke University Material
   Folder 1171
Names of Buildings
   Folder 1172
Philosophy Dept.
   Folder 1173
Physical Education for Men
   Folder 1174
Physical Education for Women
   Folder 1175
Physics Dept.
   Folder 1176
President's Report
Box 111
   Folder 1177
Printed Material
   Folder 1178
Program of Cooperation with the University of N.C.
   Folder 1179
Report on the Administration of the Curriculum

Research Committee
   Folder 1180
1931
   Folder 1181
1932
   Folder 1182
Rural Church Institute
   Folder 1183
Sabbatical Leave
   Folder 1184
School of Religion
   Folder 1185
Social Sciences
   Folder 1186
Social Science Research Institute
   Folder 1187
Sociology Dept.
   Folder 1188
Statistics
   Folder 1189
Student Health Dept.
   Folder 1190
Student Life Division
   Folder 1191
Student Publications Council
   Folder 1192
Student Religious Activities
Box 112
   Folder 1193
Student Revolt of 1934
   Folder 1194
Summer School
   Folder 1195
Tuition Fees
   Folder 1196
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
   Folder 1197
Duke University Day
   Folder 1198
Woman's College
   Folder 1199
Zoology Dept.
   Folder 1200
Duke University Press
   Folder 1201
Duke, Washington. Monument
   Folder 1202
Durham Shakespeare Tercentenary Celebration
   Folder 1203
Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced German Scholars
   Folder 1204
Emory University
   Folder 1205
Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America
   Folder 1206
Few, Ellie
   Folder 1207
Few, Mary Reamey Thomas

Few, William Preston
   Folder 1208
Baccalaureate Addresses, 1931-1940
   Folder 1209
Biographical and Genealogical Material
   Folder 1210-1211
Death of William Preston Few
[Folder 1211 removed to Oversize Materials, Box 130.]
Box 113
   Folder 1212-1213
Inauguration as President of Trinity College, 1910
   Folder 1214
Twentieth Anniversary as President
Includes newspaper clippings.

Speeches, Writings, and Lecture Notes, 1910-1940 and undated
The major subjects covered in this section include the development of Duke University, the role of religion in education, student development, and the contributions of the Duke family to education. Included are speeches Few made at university functions, to community groups, and at funerals. Some of the materials are organized by date or by topic. There are a number of undated speeches on a wide variety of topics that mostly give Few's opinions about education and the development of Duke University while he was President.
   Folder 1215-1216
Speeches, Writings, and Lecture Notes, 1910-1927
   Folder 1217
"How Education and Religion Can Work Together," 1929
   Folder 1218-1219
Speeches, Writings, and Lecture Notes, 1928-1931
   Folder 1220-1221
Speeches, Writings, and Lecture Notes, 1932-1933
Box 114
   Folder 1222
Writings on Trinity, Duke, and Education, 1933-1939 and undated
   Folder 1223
Speeches, Writings, and Lecture Notes, 1934-1935
   Folder 1224
Speeches, Writings, and Lecture Notes, 1936-1938
   Folder 1225-1226
Speeches, Writings, and Lecture Notes, 1939-1940
   Folder 1227
Education, Funeral Eulogies, Duke Family, and other topics
Box 115
   Folder 1228-1235
Speeches, Writings, and Lecture Notes, undated
   Folder 1236
"Dangers and Disadvantages of our System of Common School Education," n.d
Includes printed material.
Box 116
   Folder 1237-1244
Speeches, Writings, and Lecture Notes, undated
   Folder 1245
Speeches, Writings, and Lecture Notes, 1920-1939 and undated

"The Beginnings of an American University"
   Folder 1246-1247
"In the Beginning"
Includes chapters on "The Founding," "The Law School," "The Co-ordinate College for Women," "The Medical School," "Forestry," "The Duke Undergraduates and their Colleges," "Education and Religion," "The Building," "The Inaugural Address," "Washington Duke, " and "The Launching of Duke University."
Box 117
   Folder 1248
"The Beginnings of an American University," 1932 and undated
Includes chapters on "The Launching of Duke University," "Contributions of the Duke Family to Education," "Personal Statement," "Undertakings of Duke University and the Spirit that Prompted Them," and "An Old College and a New University."
   Folder 1249
"An Old College and a New University"
   Folder 1250
"In the Beginning"
   Folder 1251
"Founding of the University"
   Folder 1252
"Duke Divinity School"
   Folder 1253
"The Graduate School"
   Folder 1254
"The Law School"
   Folder 1255
"The Medical School"
   Folder 1256
"A North Carolina Medical School"
The controversy of 1922 and 1923 as reported by the newspapers.
   Folder 1257
"Colleges-- Coordinate and Engineering"
   Folder 1258
"Forestry"
   Folder 1259
"Trinity College"
   Folder 1260
"Government and Administration"
   Folder 1261
"Education and Religion"
   Folder 1262
"Building"
   Folder 1263
"Inaugural"
   Folder 1264
"Washington Duke"
   Folder 1265
"Appendix"
   Folder 1266-1268
"Shakespeare"
Includes manuscript on the writings of Shakespeare and their relation to modern life.
   Folder 1269
Writings for the Duke Chronicle
   Folder 1270
Florida Southern College
Box 118
   Folder 1271
"Freak" Letters
Includes unusual letters received by Few while he was president.
   Folder 1272
Hart, Julian Deryl
   Folder 1273
Hazen Foundation
   Folder 1274
Institute on Southern Regional Development and the Social Sciences
   Folder 1275
International Council of Religious Education
   Folder 1276
Junaluska School of Religion
   Folder 1277
Kilgo, John Carlisle

Lake Junaluska Methodist Assembly, 1936-1940
Includes copies of correspondence received by the Lake Junaluska Methodist Assembly staff, certificates of incorporation, correspondence with Few, printed matter, and other materials pertaining to the Assembly.
   Folder 1278-1285
Lake Junaluska Methodist Assembly, 1936-1939
Box 119
   Folder 1286-1287
Lake Junaluska Methodist Assembly, 1938-1940
   Folder 1288
Lincoln Memorial University
   Folder 1289
Masaryk, Thomas G.
   Folder 1290
McDougall, William
   Folder 1291
Medical College for North Carolina, 1922-1923
   Folder 1292
Methodist Board of Publication, 1923-1939
[Folder 1292 removed to Oversize Materials, Box 130.]

Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1921-1938 and undated
Includes material on the development of Christian education; correspondence about the organization and daily business of the district of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; printed matter collected by Few about religious education; and Few's activities related to his membership on the Board of Education and the Board of Lay Activities. Much of the correspondence is addressed to Prof. F.S. Aldridge, District Lay Leader, and to Few, Conference Lay Leader. Printed material includes Stewardship Manual for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Handbook of the Wesley Brotherhood, 1924; and small pamphlets published by the Church.
   Folder 1293
Board of Education
   Folder 1294
Christian Education Movement
   Folder 1295-1296
General Board of Christian Education
Box 120

Correspondence
   Folder 1297
1921-1925
   Folder 1298
1925-1927
   Folder 1299
1927-1930
   Folder 1300
Printed Material
Box 121
   Folder 1301-1306
General Board of Lay Activities
   Folder 1307
Laymen's Missionary Movement
   Folder 1308
Miscellaneous Methodist Church Material
Includes printed material about theological schools, the educational council of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the aldersgate commemoration; a manuscript on the "History of New Hope Church" ; and correspondence.
   Folder 1309
North Carolina Conference
Box 122
   Folder 1310-1317
Union with Northern Church
In 1937, the members of the annual conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, voted on the Plan of Union for the unification of the Methodist Protestant Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Methodist Epicopal Church, South. The final vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the union, but there ensued a movement to block the union of these three Methodist groups. Included are correspondence, questionnaires, printed matter, and reports about this unification.
   Folder 1318
Western North Carolina Conference
   Folder 1319
Morehead-Mebane Foundation
   Folder 1320
Newbold, Nathan Carter
   Folder 1321
New England Society, Charleston, S.C.
   Folder 1322-1323
North Carolina College Conference
Box 123
   Folder 1324
North Carolina College Conference
   Folder 1326
North Carolina Commission on Interracial Cooperation
   Folder 1327
North Carolina Council of Churches
   Folder 1328
Pastors' School
   Folder 1329
Peabody (George) College for Teachers, Nashville, Tenn.
   Folder 1330
Presidential Election, 1928
   Folder 1331
Printed Material
   Folder 1332
Rosenwald Fund
   Folder 1333
Seashore Summer School
   Folder 1334-1336
Southern Asso. of Colleges and Secondary Schools
   Folder 1337
Southern Conference
   Folder 1338
Southern Council on International Relations
   Folder 1339-1340
Southern Education Foundation
   Folder 1341
Southern University Conference
   Folder 1342
Teaching, Freedom of
   Folder 1343
Thomas, James Augustus
   Folder 1344
Toms, Clinton White

Trinity College
Includes specifications for materials and building plans for several buildings and structures on campus, including the East Campus wall; copies of Trinity College Admission Requirements, 1916-1917; correspondence; departmental records; Presidents' Reports; materials from different societies and clubs on campus; survey cards sent to alumni to determine their support for the football program; and other printed materials.
   Folder 1345
Administration Building Specifications
   Folder 1346
Admission Requirements
   Folder 1347-1348
Alumni Association
   Folder 1349
Alumni Memorial Gymnasium Fund
Box 125
   Folder 1350
Athletics
   Folder 1351
Arera Bible Lectures
   Folder 1352
Bassett Affair
   Folder 1353
Bell Tower Specifications
   Folder 1354
Benefactors' Day
   Folder 1355
Biblical Literature Dept.
   Folder 1356
Biology Dept.
   Folder 1357
Board of Trustees
   Folder 1358
Budget
   Folder 1359
Calendar, 1924
   Folder 1360
Catalog
   Folder 1361
Chemistry Dept.
   Folder 1362
Choir
   Folder 1363
Columbian Literary Society
   Folder 1364
Coordinate College for Women
   Folder 1365
Debate
   Folder 1366
East Dormitory Specifications
   Folder 1367
Engineering Dept.
   Folder 1368
English Dept.
   Folder 1369
Faculty Publications, 1915-1916
   Folder 1370
Faculty Salaries
   Folder 1371
Fire, 1911
   Folder 1372
Flowers Lecture
   Folder 1373
Football Club Survey Cards, 1914
Postcards sent to alumni to survey their opinions about whether there should be football at Trinity College.
[Folder 1373 removed to Oversize Materials, Box 130.]
   Folder 1374
Fraternities and Sororities
   Folder 1375
Glee Club
   Folder 1376
Greater Trinity Club
   Folder 1377
Greek Dept.
   Folder 1378
History Dept.
   Folder 1379
Law School
   Folder 1380
Libraries
   Folder 1381
Methodist Summer School
   Folder 1382
News Service
   Folder 1383
9019
   Folder 1384
Physics Dept.
   Folder 1385
Miscellaneous Trinity College Material
Box 126
   Folder 1386
President's Reports, 1911-1924
   Folder 1387
President's Residence Specifications
   Folder 1388
Printed Material
   Folder 1389
Research Committee
   Folder 1390
Reserved Officers Training Corps
   Folder 1391
Sabbatical Leave
   Folder 1392
Statistics
   Folder 1393
Southgate Memorial Campaign
   Folder 1394-1395
Students' Army Training Corps
   Folder 1396
Students' Cooperative Dining Association
   Folder 1397
Summer School
   Folder 1398
Sunday School Extension Work
   Folder 1399
Trinity Alumni Register
Box 127
   Folder 1400
Wall
   Folder 1401
West Dormitory Specifications
   Folder 1402
Women's Student Government Association
   Folder 1403
Trinity Park School
   Folder 1404
U.S. Federal Emergency Relief Administration
   Folder 1405
U.S. National Youth Administration
   Folder 1406
Vanderbilt University
   Folder 1407
Watts Hospital, Durham, N.C.
   Folder 1408
Wofford College, Spartanburg, S.C.
   Folder 1409
Writings of Others
Includes synopis of "Practical Idealism" by James Cannon, III; synopsis of "American Democracy" by B. W. Ruark; synopsis of "America and Evangelism" by E.C. Durham; synopsis of "Southern Industialism" by J.R. Davis; and poem by Mary Heath Lee about the restoration of the Constitution House, 1919.
   Folder 1410-1412
Clipping File
Brittle newsprint may need to be reformatted for use. Please contact University Archives staff before use.

Bound Volumes

Includes an arithmetic primer written by Alston W. Kendrick, Few's grandfather, 1814; a trigonometry textbook used by Few; a Bible; class records, 1913-1929 and undated, an incomplete set of Few's memoranda books for the years 1922-1933; and several alumni reviews.
Box 128
   Folder 1413
Arithmetic Book, 1814
Hand written arithmetic primer by Alston W. Kendrick, grandfather of William Preston Few.
[Folder 1413 removed to Oversize Materials, Box 131.]
   Folder 1414
Trigonometry Textbook
Textbook apparently used by Few during his sophomore year at Wofford College, 1886-1887.
   Folder 1415
Holy Bible
Copy apparently received by Few upon his graduation from Wofford College, June 11, 1889.

Class Books, 1913-1920 and undated
Includes names of students and some grades.
   Folder 1416
Class Book, 1913-1915
   Folder 1417
Class Book, 1915-1918
   Folder 1418
Class Book, 1919-1920
   Folder 1419
Class Book, undated
   Folder 1420
Alumni Reviews, 1923-1926
Includes three copies of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, (Oct. 4, 1923, Dec. 31, 1925, and Jan. 7, 1926) and one copy of the Williams Alumni Review, (March, 1926).
Box 129

Memorandum Books, 1912-1933
Leather appointment books. Many dates are blank.
   Folder 1421
Memorandum Book, 1912
   Folder 1422
Memorandum Book, 1922
   Folder 1423
Memorandum Book, 1923
   Folder 1424
Memorandum Book, 1925
   Folder 1425
Memorandum Book, 1926
   Folder 1426
Memorandum Book, 1927
   Folder 1427
Memorandum Book, 1928
   Folder 1428
Memorandum Book, 1933

Oversize Materials

Oversize  130

Legal-sized Folders
Legal-sized folders separated from subject files.
Association of American Colleges
[Folder 1116, removed from Box 106.]
Duke University. Men's Student Government Association
[Folder 1169, removed from Box 110.]
Few, William Preston. Death of.
[Folder 1211, removed from Box 112.]
Methodist Board of Publication, 1923-1939
[Folder 1292, removed from Box 119.]
Trinity College. Football Survey Cards, 1914.
[Folder 1373, removed from Box 125.]
Oversize  131
Arithmetic Book
[Folder 1413, removed from Box 128.]
Map_Cabinet  24

Diplomas
A.B., Wofford College, Spartanburg S.C., 1889
Ph.D., Harvard University, 1896

Index Cards to Few Papers

Includes index cards apparently created by Few's office that catalog the holdings in the office files. Not all of the materials, or names, referenced on the index cards can be found in the William Preston Few Records and Papers.
Box 132
Card_File  1
A-E, - 1938
Card_File  2
F-McB, - 1938
Card_File  3
McC-Sti, - 1938
Card_File  4
Sto-Zz, - 1938
Box 133
Card_File  5
A-K, 1939-1940
Card_File  6
L-Zz, 1939-1940

Additions

Papers, [A67-76]
Includes letters, addressed to Few from William Garrott Brown, incorporated into the correspondence series.
Obituaries for Mrs. William Preston Few (Mary Reamey Thomas Few), [A72-68]
Includes newspaper articles and editorials from the Durham Morning Herald and the Durham Sun, Jan. 8-9, 1971, incorporated into the Subject Files, Folder 1207.
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Bibliography

Duke University. The Inauguration of William Preston Few as President of Trinity College. [Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1910?].


Woody, Robert. The Papers and Addresses of William Preston Few. Durham, N.C.: Duke Press, 1951.