Inventory of the Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Papers, 1947-1989

Abstract

Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans attended Duke University and graduated in the class of 1939. She later became a philanthropist and Duke trustee.

This collection contains printed matter, photographs, clippings, speeches and other memorabilia relating to Semans' time as trustee, her affiliation with the British American Festival of 1984, and other Duke related activities and events.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: University Archives, Duke University
Creator: Semans, Mary Duke Biddle Trent.
Title: Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Papers, 1947-1989
Language of Material: English
Extent: 3.7 Linear Feet, 250 Items
Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Series Quick Links

Container List 1947-1989

Collection Overview

This collection contains printed matter, photographs, clippings, speeches and other memorabilia relating to Semans' time as a Duke University trustee, her affiliation with the British American Festival of 1984, and other Duke-related activities and events.

Box 1 contains reports, programs, addresses and printed ephemera pertaining to matters and events at Duke University. These materials reflect Semans' activities as a university trustee as well as her support for the arts at Duke. These papers also include the transcript of a discussion on race relations at Duke and the takeover of the Allen Building from 1969, as well as minutes from the University Center Committee, the report of the Special Committee on the Functions and Organization of the Board of Trustees, and a summary report of the B.N. Duke Leadership Program.

This box also includes reports on fund raising at Duke and several reports that address salary levels and other issues faced by Duke faculty women and Semans' speech (with slides) given at the 100th Celebration of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church in 1986.

Box 2 holds a scrapbook containing clippings, correspondence and color snapshots relating to the 1984 North Carolina British-American Festival. There is also a a cassette tape of a recorded interview with Ian Hamilton, who composed "Raleigh's Dream" for the festival.

Oversize folders contain a newsletter from the Duke Class of 1939, Robert Ward's musical score for Music for a Great Occasion for Terry Sanford's inauguration, as well as chapel architectural drawings.

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.

Records of the University's Board of Trustees which have been in existence for at least fifty years are available for scholarly research with the permission of the University Archivist. Access to records which have been in existence for less than fifty years shall be granted only by special permission, in writing, from the Board of Trustees.

For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the office of origin and the University Archivist is required for use. After twenty-five years, records that have been processed may be consulted with the permission of the University Archivist.

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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Container List 1947-1989

3.7 Linear Feet (2 boxes, 1 Oversize Folder)

Files pretaining to Semans' activities with the Board of Trustees are restricted for 50 years from date of origin. Other administrative files including committee records are restricted for 25 years from the date of origin. Publicly distributed material is not restricted.

Printed matter, relating to trutsees, committees, speeches made by Seman and other records. See collection overview above for more information.

Box 1

Scrapbook, British-American Festival, 1984. See collection overview above for more information.

Box 2

There are several oversized items in this collection: (1) Blueprint, Duke Chapel accessibility study for physically handicapped, 22 August 1977, (2) Duke University newsletter Class of 1939, January 1966, and (3) Ward, Robert, Music for a Great Occasion commissioned by Dr. and Mrs. James Semans for the Inauguration of Terry Sanford fifth President of Duke University.

Oversize Folder 1

Historical Note

Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans was born in 1920, and attended Duke University, graduating in 1939. She became a philanthropist and supporter of the arts, a trustee of Duke University and of the Duke Endowment, as well as vice-chairperson of the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation.