Aleph Number:
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[Identification of item], Richard A. Preston Papers, University Archives, Duke University.
The Richard A. Preston Papers was received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1980 (A80-225), 1981 (A81-60), 1983 (A83-96), 1985 (A85-65), and 1988 (A88-0048).
Processed by Linda Daniel
Completed March, 2004
This collection is partially processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
Brittle newspaper clippings will need to be processed before use. Please consult University Archives staff.
De-accessioned: Photocopies of two maps from Box 14; 30 transparencies detailing troop movements at Gettysburg and 16 transparencies of troop movements at Chancellorsville from Box 15.
Encoded by Linda Daniel, March 2004
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
Born in 1910, in Middlesbrough, England, Preston was educated at the University of Leeds (B.A., 1931; M.A., 1932; diploma in education, 1933) and Yale University (Ph.D, 1936). Preston was appointed lecturer at the University of Toronto (1936); Assistant Lecturer at the University College, Cardiff (1938-1940); a member of the Royal Air Force (1940-1945), Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto (1945), Professor of History in the Royal Military College of Canada (1948-1965), and the William K. Boyd Professor of History at Duke University (1965-1980). Preston was the director of the Canadian Studies Program at Duke University (1973-1979).
Preston was a prolific writer of scholarly
articles and books. His works include:
Preston received a number of awards during his career. He received the Commonwealth Fund fellowship (1933-36); Nuffield summer travel award (1954); Duke University summer research scholarship (1957); City of Kingston Achievement Award (1957) for his television series and publications on the history of Kingston; Canada Council senior fellowship (1963-64); Social Science Research Council grant (1963); Canada Confederation Medal (1967); Guggenheim fellowship (1971-72); Donner Memorial Medal (1975) for promotion of Canadian studies in the United States; LL.D., Royal Military College of Canada (1977); and the Northern Telecom Gold Medal (1983) for the promotion of Canadian studies. Preston was named honorary professor of history, Royal Military College of Canada (1973).
Preston married Marjorie Ethel Fishwick in 1939, and had three children.
Collection includes correspondence, reports, course syllabi, printed matter, drafts, research notes, manuscripts, lectures, photographs, clippings, maps, and other papers.
The arrangement of the collection is by accession dates. These additions follow the order given in the collection file and are not presented in chronological order.
The 1981 Additions (A81-60) include extensive correspondence, numerous drafts and published articles and reviews, photocopies of primary sources, some research notes, and administrative papers dealing with the Duke University History Dept. The chief subjects include Canadian military affairs, general military history, military education, and Canadian Studies as a historical subdiscipline. There is a folder list for this addition that is part of the collection file.
The 1980 Additions includes printed material, correspondence, studies, reports, articles, drafts, proofs, outlines, lectures, syllabi, clippings, photos, maps, and other papers. Major subjects include Canadian history, especially military history and current military and defense concerns. The first major portion of this Addition is made up of correspondence about Preston's own research and writings of other scholars. Other materials include Preston's research notes; photocopies and typed copies of historical documents; and guides to historical collections. There are also administrative files about the History Dept. at Duke, and the Canadian Studies Program. There is a small amount of material about the alumni of the Royal Military College in Canada, where Preston taught for a number of years. The second major portion of this Addition focuses on various aspects of modern Canadian defense and external security, Canada and NATO, relations with the British Commonwealth, and Canadian domestic affairs.
These and related materials may be accessed under the following subject headings in the Duke University Libraries online catalog.
Includes extensive correspondence, numerous drafts and published articles and reviews, photocopies of primary sources, some research notes, and administrative papers dealing with the Duke University History Dept. The chief subjects include Canadian military affairs, general military history, military education, and Canadian Studies as a historical subdiscipline.
There is a folder list for the 1981 addition that is part of the collection file. Please consult University Archives staff.
Contains materials on appointments, commonwealth studies, university policies, graduate students, the History Department, letters of recommendation, the military history program at Duke, oral examinations, retirement, Shell fellowships, testimonials, the University Centers for Rational Alternatives, visitors, and grant proposals.
There are a small number of letters in the folder entitled
Some material in this box is RESTRICTED. Please consult University Archives staff.
Includes correspondence, newsletters, brochures, and printed material from historical societies and other organizations to which Preston belonged.
Includes materials on conferences, seminars, lectures, proposals, reports, syllabi, and other printed material about the Duke Canadian Studies program and other non-Duke programs.
Includes printed material, speeches, correspondence, and brochures.
Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by last name.
Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by last name.
Some material in these boxes is RESTRICTED: Student Records. Please consult University Archives staff.
Includes correspondence concerning Preston's ideas, drafts, and printed material used to write speeches and articles for publication. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by title of publication or by topic. Some folders include manuscripts.
Includes reviews by Preston or written about Preston's work (1961-1980), historical enquiries (1956-1976), lectures (1952-1979), research notes and printed material (1948-1976).
Includes research notes, reports, photocopies, indices, lists, bibliographies, articles, maps, manuscripts, and correspondence (ca. 1964-1976).
Preston researched the War of 1812, with the thought of writing a book on this topic for the
Includes drafts of papers, articles, and reviews written by Preston. Some are unpublished.
Includes brochures, training manuals, correspondence, research notes, reports and meeting agendas.
Includes notes, maps, course outlines, lectures, and printed material about Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, the U.S. Civil War, the Battle of El Alamein, and other battles and aspects of military history.
Includes printed material, maps, photograph of the Royal Military College, correspondence, and other materials.
Includes printed material, correspondence, studies, reports, articles, drafts, proofs, outlines, lectures, syllabi, clippings, photos, maps, and other papers. Major subjects include Canadian history, especially military history and current military and defense concerns. The first major portion of this Addition is made up of correspondence about Preston's own research and writings of other scholars. Other materials include Preston's research notes; photocopies and typed copies of historical documents; and guides to historical collections. There are also administrative files about the History Dept. at Duke, and the Canadian Studies Program. There is a small amount of material about the alumni of the Royal Military College in Canada, where Preston taught for a number of years. The second major portion of this Addition focuses on various aspects of modern Canadian defense and external security, Canada and NATO, relations with the British Commonwealth, and Canadian domestic affairs.
Of special interest is a file containing clippings and correspondence about an anti-American article which appeared in a Canadian newspaper.
Includes scholarly papers, reports, correspondence, news articles, notes, and government publications.
Includes notes, manuscripts, photographs, correspondence, clippings, and reports on a wide variety of topics that concern Canadian military history, politics, nationalism, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and others. Of special interest is a file containing clippings and correspondence about an anti-American article which appeared in a Canadian newspaper.
Includes notes and course syllabi for courses taught by Preston.
Includes information about individual speakers invited by Preston to speak on campus.
Includes correspondence, newsletters, notes, scholarly papers, articles from the
This group of material was placed in six folders.
Includes mostly papers on Preston's sabbatical projects and travels for a study of the teachings of Canadian history in U.S. schools. Also includes grant applications, reviews, and evaluations.
The folder on Kessinger is RESTRICTED: Personnel records.
Includes mostly Canada-related correspondence, Canadian Studies at Duke, and Canadian Studies in the U.S. Contains one folder on the speaker, Frances Halpenny, who spoke at the 1985 Friends of the Library dinner.
Includes mostly correspondence and drafts of articles concerning Canadian military history and modern defense matters.
Includes correspondence, reprints, notes, forms, and other printed material concerning the Canadian Studies program at Duke and at other schools.
Includes correspondence about faculty appointments and copies of the
Includes correspondence and printed material about appointments at Duke, grant and job applications, job offers, sabbaticals, salary, and retirement.
Some of this material is RESTRICTED. Please consult University Archives staff.
Includes correspondence and printed matter about workshops and conferences; Duke Canadian and Quebec Studies; materials for Canadian Studies in the U.S.; the N.C. Social Studies Council; and President Carter's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies.
Contains survey materials on Canadian studies in the U.S. published as