Inventory of
the Robert R. Wilson Papers,
1921 -
1975
[
top]
Descriptive Summary
Title
Robert
R. Wilson Papers,
1921 - 1975.
Creator
Wilson, Robert
Renbert, 1898-
Extent
7.5 Linear Feet,
5000
Items
Repository
University Archives, Duke
University
Abstract
Robert Renbert Wilson served as a
professor of political science at Duke University from 1925
to 1975. He also acted as chair of the Dept. of Political
Science (1934-1948), Director of Graduate Studies
(1937-1947, 1949-1966), lecturer in the Law School
(1948-1966), and chair of the Commonwealth Studies Center
(1959-1966) at Duke University, and as an adviser on
commercial treaties to the U.S. State Department. The
Robert R. Wilson Papers primarily consist of
correspondence, but the collection also contains writings,
teaching materials, subject files, and photographs. Major
subjects include American politics and government,
treaties, international law, political theory, and the
American Journal of
International Law.
Language
English.
[
top]
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
In accordance with the Family Education Rights
and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits
students to inspect their education records and limits the
disclosure of personally identifiable information from
education records.
In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is
required for 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], Robert R. Wilson
Papers, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Robert R. Wilson Papers were received by the
University Archives as a transfer in 1977.
Processing Information
Processed by University Archives staff and Jill
Katte
Completed October 2004
Encoded by Jill Katte, October 2004
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
[
top]
Biographical Note
Robert Renbert Wilson: Born October 10, 1898, in
Hillsboro, Tex.; died April 29, 1975, in Durham, N.C.; son
of Edgar Thomas (a merchant) and Sophia (Richardson)
Wilson; married Marea Cappon Van Noppen, December 22, 1928;
children: Robert Renbert, Jr.
Education: Austin College, A.B., 1918; Princeton
University, M.A., 1922; Harvard University, Ph.D.,
1927.
Memberships: International Law Association,
American Society of International Law (president,
1957-1958), Southern Political Science Association (past
president), Cosmos Club.
Awards: Carnegie fellowship in international law
for graduate study, 1922-1923, 1924-1927; LL.D. from Austin
College, 1940.
Career: Austin College, Sherman, Tex., college
registrar, 1919-1921; Duke University, Durham, N.C.,
assistant professor, 1925-1927, associate professor,
1927-1929, professor of political science and international
law, 1929-1961, James B. Duke Professor, 1961-1966,
Emeritus James B. Duke Professor, 1966-1975, chair of
department of political science, 1934-1948, director of
graduate studies, 1937-1947, 1949-1966, lecturer in Law
School, 1948-1966, chair of Commonwealth Studies,
1959-1966. Visiting professor at University of Texas, 1926,
1928, 1935 (summers), Stanford University, 1939 (summer),
University of North Carolina, 1940; Fulbright professor,
University of Istanbul, 1951-1952. Adviser on commercial
treaties to U.S. State Department.
Writings:
International Law in
Treaties, Turkish Institute of International Law,
1949.
The United Nations
Organization and the Organization of American
States, Turkish Institute of International Law,
1952.
The International Law Standard
in Treaties of the United States, Harvard
University Press, 1953.
A Decade of New Commercial
Treaties, Lancaster, 1956 (Contributor).
Some Questions of Legal
Relations between Commonwealth Members, Lancaster,
1957 (Contributor). David R. Deener and R. Taylor Cole,
editors,
Commonwealth
Perspectives, Duke University Press, 1958 (With
others).
United States Commercial
Treaties and International Law, Hauser Press, 1960
(Contributor). Deener, editor,
Canada-United States Treaty
Relations, Duke University Press, 1963 (Editor and
contributor).
The International Law Standard
and Commonwealth Developments, Duke University
Press, 1966 (Editor and contributor).
International and Comparative
Law of the Commonwealth, Duke University Press,
1968 (Contributor).
A Decade of Legal
Consultation: Asia-African Collaboration, Center
for Commonwealth Studies, Duke University, 1968.
International Law and
Contemporary Commonwealth Issues, Duke University
Press, 1971. Member of board of editors,
American Journal of
International Law, beginning 1937.
[Biography Source:
Contemporary Authors
Online, Gale, 2002.]
[
top]
Collection Overview
The Robert R. Wilson papers are organized into
five series:
Correspondence,
Writings,
Courses,
Subject Files, and
Photographs. The majority of
the collection consists of
correspondence dealing with
Wilson's speaking engagements, professional associations,
books and publications, and students and colleagues in law
and political science at Duke and at institutions across
the United States. Major correspondents include the U.S.
Foreign Service, the U.S. Dept. of State, the American
Journal of International Law, the Commonwealth Studies
Center, and university presses.
Writings include articles,
book reviews, addresses, and other pieces written by Wilson
about obligatory arbitration, treaties, African American
suffrage, international law, public law, international
organization, World War II, the British Commonwealth, the
United Nations, and U.S. foreign relations. The
Courses series includes
syllabi, exams, class case studies, and other materials
relating to Wilson's classes in American politics and
government, and in international law.
Subject Files include
reports, articles written about Robert R. Wilson, students'
evaluations of Wilson's courses, and other materials.
Photographs include a group
photo of the Intercollegiate Model Disarmament Conference
(Bucknell University, Dec. 4-6, 1931); an unidentified,
undated group photo; and an unidentified, undated portrait
of a female subject.
[
top]
Subject Headings
These and related materials may be accessed under
the following subject headings in the Duke University
Libraries online catalog.
[
top]
Related Material
Dept. of Political Science
Records.
University Archives, Duke
University.
Commonwealth Studies Center
Records.
University Archives, Duke
University.
[
top]
Detailed Description of the Collection
Correspondence,
1932-1975
Correspondence consists of letters written and
received by Wilson relating to his speaking engagements,
professional associations, books and publications, and
students and colleagues in law and political science at
Duke and at institutions across the United States. Major
correspondents include the U.S. Foreign Service, the U.S.
Dept. of State, the American Journal of International Law,
the Commonwealth Studies Center, and university presses.
Arranged chronologically.
RESTRICTIONS: Series contains correspondence relating to
student letters of recommendation and coursework. In
accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits students to
inspect their education records and limits the disclosure
of personally identifiable information from education
records.
Box 1
1932-1943
Box 2
1944-Mar.
1954
Box 3
Apr. 1954-Nov.
1960
Box 4
Dec.
1960-1968
Box 5
1969-1975 and
undated
Writings,
1921-1975
and undated
Writings include articles, book reviews,
addresses, and other pieces written by Wilson while a
student at Princeton University and as a faculty member of
the Political Science Dept. at Duke University. Major
subjects include obligatory arbitration, treaties, African
American suffrage, international law, public law,
international organization, World War II, the British
Commonwealth, the United Nations, and U.S. foreign
relations.
Arranged chronologically. An index of Robert
Renbert Wilson's publications is available for use in the
repository.
Box 5
Writings
Courses, circa
1930-1970
The Courses series includes syllabi, exams,
class case studies, and other materials relating to
Wilson's classes in international law, constitutional law,
politics, government, and political theory taught at Duke
University. The majority of the course materials deal with
American politics and government, and international law.
Arranged by course number.
Box 5
Course 2 - American Government and
Politics
Political Science 8 - Constitutional
Law
Economics 9 - American State
Government
Government 16, Political Science
25-27 - International Law, Constitutional Government,
History of Political Theory
Government 34 - American
Government
Political Science 53 - Political
Panaceas
Political Science 101-102 - American
Government
Political Science 141-142 -
International Law and Organization
Political Science 207-208 - American
Constitutional Law
Political Science 221 -
International Public Organization
Political Science 222-224 -
International Organization, Political Theory, Political
Thought
Political Science 227-228 -
International Law
227 Syllabi
228 Syllabi
Class case study
exercises
Exams
Final exams
Political Science 328 -
International Law
International Law
Preliminary exams
Subject Files,
1951-1972
Subject Files include reports, articles
written about Robert R. Wilson, students' evaluations of
Wilson's courses, and other materials.
Box 5
Commonwealth Studies,
1955-1962
Dept. of Political Science,
teacher/course evaluations,
1959-1972
International Law,
1954,
1969 and
undated
Writings about Wilson,
1951-1970 and
undated
Photographs,
1931 and
undated
Photographs include a group photo of the
Intercollegiate Model Disarmament Conference (Bucknell
University, Dec. 4-6, 1931); an unidentified, undated group
photo; and an unidentified, undated portrait of a female
subject.
Box 5
Photographs
[
top]
Bibliography
David R. Deener
(editor).
De lege pactorum : essays
in honor of Robert Renbert Wilson,
Durham, N.C.:
Duke University Press,
1970
.
