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Inventory of the Robert M. Lester Papers, 1879-1969

Abstract

Teacher; foundation administrator and consultant.

Correspondence, speeches, writings, clippings, and pictures, all related to the life and career of Robert Lester. Correspondence and clippings cover every facet of his career: teacher and superintendent of schools in Mayfield, Ky.; service in the Army in World War I, library, teaching, and administrative positions at Columbia University; his involvement with Duke University and with major fundraising organizations such as the Carnegie Corporation, and the Council of Southern Universities, where he was director of the Southern Fellowship Fund. One volume of memoranda from the Southern Fellowship Fund includes a 1966 proposal for faculty development among predominantly Afro-american colleges and universities. Lester's addresses and speeches chiefly concern education, philanthropy, and library issues. Collection also includes papers relating to other Lester family members, and to Lester's Chapel in Shelby County, Alabama.

Descriptive Summary

Repository
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
Creator
Lester, Robert M. (Robert MacDonald), 1889-1969.
Title
Robert M. Lester Papers, 1879-1969
Language of Material
English
Extent
3.0 Linear Feet, 2329 Items
Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Series Quick Links

Collection Overview

Correspondence, speeches, writings, clippings, and pictures, all related to the life and career of Robert Lester. Correspondence and clippings cover every facet of his career: teacher and superintendent of schools in Mayfield, Ky.; service in the Army in World War I, library, teaching, and administrative positions at Columbia University; his involvement with Duke University and with major fundraising organizations such as the Carnegie Corporation, and the Council of Southern Universities, where he was director of the Southern Fellowship Fund. One volume of memoranda from the Southern Fellowship Fund includes a 1966 proposal for faculty development among predominantly African American colleges and universities. Lester's addresses and speeches chiefly concern education, philanthropy, and library issues. Collection also includes papers relating to other Lester family members, and to Lester's Chapel in Shelby County, Alabama.

Administrative Information

Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »

warning Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

warning Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Contents of the Collection

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Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Information folder
Box 1
Addresses, 1930-1962
(3 folders)
Box 1
American Libraries Association
(2 folders)
Box 1
Awards, degrees, certificates
Box 1
Baldwin papers
Box 1
Birth certificate, passport
Box 1
Carnegie, Louise W.
Box 1
Carnegie Corporation, 1926-1968 and undated
Box 1
Century Association
Box 2
Chestnut family/Marrs family
Box 2
Clippings
Box 2
Columbia University
Box 2
Cosmos Club
Box 2
Covington, Tennessee Public Schools
Box 2
Duke University
Box 2
Financial papers and tax returns, etc.
(5 folders)
Box 2
Genealogy
Box 2
General correspondence
Box 2
Legal papers
Box 2
Lester, Memory A.
Box 3
Lester, Ann U.
Box 3
Lester, Robert M., Jr.
Box 3
Lester, Samuel Robert
(4 folders)
Box 3
Lester family
Box 3
Libraries and Librarians
(2 folders)
Box 3
Mayfield, Kentucky
Box 4
Mexico City College
Box 4
Milam, Carl
Box 4
Miscellany
Box 4
Moving correspondence
Box 4
Pictures/Photographs
Box 4
Printed materials, 1927-1967
(2 folders)
Box 4
Schwing family
Box 4
Southern Fellowship Fund
Box 4
Smith family and Watkins family
Box 4
Stingray Conference: S.L. Smith
Box 4
University of Michigan
Box 4
United Methodist Church
Box 4
Vanderbilt University
(3 folders)
Box 4
Volume: Memoranda
Box 5
Volume: Autobiographical references in speeches by R.M. Lester
Box 5
Woodall family
Box 5
Yellow Leaf Creek
(5 folders)
Box 5
Young, Bert E.
Box 5
Zimmerman, J.F.
Box 5

Historical Note

Robert MacDonald Lester (1889-1969) was an author, teacher and employee of the Carnegie Institute of New York. His published works include Forty Years of Carnegie Giving (1941). Lester was also the recording secretary of the Council of Southern Universities and executive director of the Southern Fellowships Fund.

Subject Headings

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Robert M. Lester Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Provenance

The Robert M. Lester Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 1971.

Processing Information

Processed by Rubenstein Library Staff, date unknown

Encoded by Meghan Lyon, April 2011

This collection is minimally processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.