MenuInventory of the Bassett Affair Collection, 1903 - 2003
Abstract
The Bassett Affair is a celebrated case that helped establish the concept of academic freedom in higher education in the United States and is a benchmark incident in race relations in the South. John Spencer Bassett, a Trinity College professor, published a series of articles in the South Atlantic Quarterly (1903) that praised the accomplishments of African Americans and offered views on how to improve race relations. A campaign to remove Bassett from the faculty was thwarted by a vote of support for Bassett from the University's Board of Trustees on Dec. 2, 1903. The collection contains essays, articles, clippings, correspondence, reminiscences, and other published and unpublished matter including Bassett's article, Stirring Up the Fires of Race Antipathy (1903); a scrapbook, 1903-1904, kept by Trinity College officials with newspaper clippings documenting national coverage the case received; copies of letters by Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Wister (1906) commenting on the case and on Trinity; manuscripts of My Recollections of the Bassett Trial, by Robert Lee Durham (1936), The Bassett Affair: A Play in Six Acts, by Baird Straughan (1975), and Crisis at Trinity a play by John Merritt (1989); lists of related materials in other collections; various shorter articles and speeches including comments by Richard L. Watson and an address to the Academic Council by Terry Sanford; and materials from the centennial celebration of the Bassett Affair, collected by University Archives staff.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Bassett Affair Collection, 1903 - 2003.
- Creator
- Duke University. University Archives.
- Extent
- 2.0 Linear Feet, , 300 Items
- Repository
- University Archives, Duke University
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University.
- Language
- English.
Collection Overview
The collection contains essays, articles, clippings, correspondence, reminiscences, and other published and unpublished matter including Bassett's article, Stirring Up the Fires of Race Antipathy (1903); a scrapbook, 1903-1904, kept by Trinity College officials with newspaper clippings documenting national coverage the case received; copies of letters by Theodore Roosevelt to Owen Wister (1906) commenting on the case and on Trinity; manuscripts of My Recollections of the Bassett Trial, by Robert Lee Durham (1936), The Bassett Affair: A Play in Six Acts, by Baird Straughan (1975), and Crisis at Trinity a play by John Merritt (1989); lists of related materials in other collections; various shorter articles and speeches including comments by Richard L. Watson and an address to the Academic Council by Terry Sanford; and materials from the centennial celebration of the Bassett Affair, collected by University Archives staff.
Administrative Information
A majority of collections are stored off site and must be requested at least 24 business hours in advance for retrieval. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
No restrictions.
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.
Contents of the Collection
Browse List of Series
Collapse All
Expand AllThe centennial celebration of the Bassett Affair included a number of events held on the Duke University campus. This folder includes material collected by University Archives staff. It includes an article from the Herald Sun; a five part series of articles published in the Chronicle; a calendar of events; and speakers' notes from Robert Durden and William Chafe, who were part of a panel discussion entitled The Bassett Affair After a Century, sponsored by the History Dept.
Historical Note
The Bassett Affair is a celebrated case that helped establish the concept of academic freedom in higher education in the United States and is a benchmark incident in race relations in the South. John Spencer Bassett, a Trinity College professor, published a series of articles in the South Atlantic Quarterly (1903) that praised the accomplishments of African Americans and offered views on how to improve race relations. A campaign to remove Bassett from the faculty was thwarted by a vote of support for Bassett from the University's Board of Trustees on Dec. 2, 1903.
Subject Headings
- Academic freedom.
- Bassett, John Spencer, 1867-1928.
- College teachers--North Carolina.
- Daniels, Josephus, 1862-1948.
- Duke University.
- Durham, Robert Lee, 1870-1949.
- Freedom of speech--North Carolina.
- Historical drama, American--North Carolina--Durham.
- Racism--North Carolina.
- Trinity College (Durham, N.C.)
Related Material
- John Spencer Bassett Papers. (Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.)
- John Spencer Bassett Papers. (University Archives, Duke University. )
- B.N. Duke Papers. (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. )
- John C. Kilgo Papers. (University Archives, Duke University. )
- James Southgate Papers. (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. )
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Bassett Affair Collection, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Bassett Affair Collection was received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1979 (A79-39), 1996 (A96-2). University Archives staff added material about the centennial celebration of the Bassett Affair in 2003.
Processing Information
Processed by Linda Daniel
Completed July 21, 2003
Encoded by Linda Daniel, July 21, 2003
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.