Inventory of the A. Hollis Edens papers, circa 1850s-1975

Abstract

A. Hollis Edens served as President of Duke University from 1949-1960.

This collection includes material largely of a personal nature, including correspondence, photographs, printed material, clippings, and scrapbooks. The collection ranges in date from circa 1850s-1975.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: University Archives, Duke University
Creator: Edens, A. Hollis, 1901-
Title: A. Hollis Edens Papers, circa 1850s-1975
Language of Material: English
Extent: 7.5 Linear Feet, approx. 2500 Items
Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

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Container List

Collection Overview

The collection includes correspondence, speeches, Duke-related material, Emory-related material, clippings, printed material, scrapbooks, and photographs. The material relates not only to Edens' professional career, but also to his family history and to that of his wife. The majority of the collection consists of family photographs, many of which are unidentified and undated.

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 »

Access Restrictions

Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights 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 University Archives to use this collection.

Collection is open for research.

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

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(8 boxes)

Correspondence between Edens and his daughter, Mary Ann, 1943-1948, 1953

Box 1

Correspondence: General Education Board, 1947-1948

Box 1

Correspondence, 1948-1949

Box 1

Correspondence, 1954

Box 1

Correspondence, 1961

Box 1

Correspondence, 1962

Box 1

Correspondence: Edens Dormitory, 1970

Box 1

Sampling of Sympathy Letters re: Edens' death, 1968

Box 1

Duke University: Personal, 1948-1975

Box 1

Ward Pafford File

Box 1

Advisory Commission on Educational Exchange, 1954, 1961

Box 1

Emory University, 1937-1969

Box 1

J. D. Wingfield, Jr., and Family (includes correspondence), 1941-1966, undated

Box 1

Genealogy, undated

Box 1

University System of Georgia, 1947-1948

Box 1

Harvard University, 1943, 1949

Box 1

Tribute from Emory University, 1968 Sept. 9

Box 1

Inauguration Materials: Edens, 1949

Box 1

Resolution and Note of Appreciation from Duke, 1960

Box 1

Dedication of Edens Residence Hall, 1970 May

Box 1

Speeches and Addresses, 1949-1953

Box 1

Speeches and Addresses, 1954-1957

Box 1

Speeches and Addresses, 1958-1959

Box 1

Speeches and Addresses, 1960-1964

Box 1

Speeches and Addresses, 1965-1967

Box 1

Speeches and Addresses, undated

Box 1

Miscellaneous: Duke Related

Box 1

Miscellaneous: General

Box 1

Printed Material, 1949

Box 1

Printed Material, 1950, 1955, 1959, 1968

Box 1

Clippings

Box 1

Press Releases, Inauguration Prayers, and Bio Sketch, 1948-1949

Box 1

Photographs/Engravings

Box 1

Bible (with family records inside)

Box 1

Photographs

Box 2

Photographs

Box 3

Photographs (cased photographs and 1 rolled panoramic)

Box 4

Photograph Album, 1930-1941

Box 5

Loose Photographs

Box 5

Scrapbook of Edens' Career, 1937-1948

Box 5

Scrapbook of Edens' Career, 1948-1949

Box 5

Scrapbook of Edens' Career, 1949-1951

Box 5

Scrapbook on Mary Ann Edens, 1949-1951

Box 5

Oversize Clippings

Box 5

Diplomas, Certificates, Oversize Photographs

Box 6

Books

"A Rebel War Clerk's Diary," vols. 1-2

Box 7

Bible presented to Mary Ann Edens by Duke University upon her graduation in 1957

Box 7

Bible belonging to A. Hollis Edens

Box 7

"The Scarlet Letter"

Box 7

"Caesar's Gallic War"

Box 7

"Selections from Cicero"

Box 7

Vinyl Records, 33 1/3 RPM

Men's Glee Club with Perry Como, 1955 April 22

Box 8

Songs by the Chapel Choir

Box 8

Songs by the Men's Glee Club (2 LPs)

Box 8

Edens-Wingfield Wedding at Duke Chapel, 1959 Feb. 14

Box 8

Mrs. Kennedy's First Young People's Concert by the Transylvania Symphony Orchestra, 1961 Aug. 22

Box 8

Historical Note

Arthur Hollis Edens was born on February 14, 1901 in Willow Grove, Tennessee. He was the son of Everett C. Edens, a Methodist minister, and Barbara Ellen (Jolly) Edens. He attended Emory University from which he received the degrees of B.Ph. (1930) and M.A. (1938). He also received a Masters of Public Administration degree (1944) and a Ph.D. (1949) from Harvard University. Prior to coming to Duke, Edens worked as a teacher and administrator at the Cumberland Mountain School and Emory University. In 1946, he was named Dean of Administration at Emory and in 1947, he became Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. In 1948, he was appointed associate director of the General Education Board of the Rockefeller Foundation. In November 1948, the trustees of Duke University selected Edens to serve as president of the institution, a post he held until 1960.

After leaving Duke, Edens served as executive director of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation in Winston-Salem, N.C. Edens died in Atlanta, Georgia on August 7, 1968. He was survived by his wife, Mary Kathleen (Russell) Edens and his daughter, Mary Ann (Mrs. Jefferson D. Wingfield, Jr.).