Inventory of the Dorothy E. Roberts Papers, 1903-1993

Abstract

Dorothy Roberts worked in the Dept. of English's administration office from 1948 until her retirement in the late 1980's-early 1990's.

The collection includes correspondence, clippings, photographs, printed material and other items created and collected by Dorothy Roberts about the Dept. of English at Duke University. Files largely pertain to the history of the department, focusing heavily on departmental faculty. The collection ranges in date from 1903-1993.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: University Archives, Duke University
Creator: Roberts, Dorothy Elaine.
Title: Dorothy E. Roberts Papers, 1903-1993
Language of Material: English
Extent: 2.5 Linear Feet, approx. 2000 Items
Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

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Collection Overview

The collection largely consists of material compiled by Roberts, who functioned as historian of the Dept. of English. Of note are the various lists of faculty, Ph.D. candidates and staff of the department over a number of years. Also included are files she maintained on faculty members, which include correspondence and clippings as well as a file Roberts kept on herself regarding her career at Duke. She also provides her impressions of key departmental staff, namely the chairmen she worked for. In 1982, Roberts donated 14 letters between her and Guy Davenport, a Duke alumnus, regarding Paris and other European cities as well of Davenport's appreciation of James Joyce and Roberts' own love of traveling abroad. Roberts' friendship with Reynolds Price is represented in the collection. There are several folders on him which include correspondence, Christmas cards, photographs, clippings, and an envelope which holds locks of Price's hair. Of particular note is a sketch Price drew of Emily Dickinson that he gave to Roberts. There is also a caricature of Ph.D. candidates, including Price, from 1962.

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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(3 boxes)

Aiken, Ralph, 1958-1959, 1963

Box 1

Applewhite, James, 1977, 1983

Box 1

Armstrong, Joseph, 1903-1986

Box 1

Baum, Paull F., 1980-1986, undated

Box 1

Bevington, Helen, 1983 (includes black and white photo of 1965 Campus Club meeting with Reynolds Price)

Box 1

Blackburn, Roma, 1972, 1983

Box 1

Blackburn, William, 1973-1977, 1983-1985

Box 1

Boyce, Ben, 1962-1970, undated

Box 1

Brown, Frank C., 1977-1981

Box 1

Budd, Louis, 1982-1984

Box 1

Chappell, Fred, 1985

Box 1

Clubbe, John, mid-1960s-1978, undated

Box 1

Cunningham, John, undated

Box 1

Davenport, Guy, 1949

Box 1

Davenport, Guy, 1966, 1981-1986

Box 1

Dearlove, Judy, 1981

Box 1

Durden, Bob, 1944, undated

Box 1

Ferguson, Joanne, 1982-1983

Box 1

Ferguson, Oliver, 1959-1975

Box 1

Fish, Stanley, 1985-1986

Box 1

Fish, Stanley, 1987-1992 (2 folders)

Box 1

Gilbert, Allan, 1981-1982, 1987

Box 1

Gohdes, Clarence, 1960's-1980's

Box 1

Gohdes, Clarence, Pioneers in English at Trinity and Duke, 1987-1988

Box 1

Gopen, George, 1986

Box 1

Gurganus, Allan, 1978, 1989

Box 1

Hubbell, Jay B., 1970-1977, 1984

Box 1

Irving, W. H., 1953, 1979

Box 1

Jackson, David K., 1982

Box 1

Jordan, A. C., 1984

Box 1

Kaufman, Wally, 1961-1993

Box 1

Krueger, Robert, 1960's-1980's

Box 1

Lentricchia, Frank, 1966, 1984, 1988

Box 1

Mitchell, Frank, 1967

Box 1

Morgan, Mary, 1985-1986

Box 1

Patton, Lewis, 1972-1989

Box 1

Reardon, Kenneth, 1971, 1980

Box 1

Reiss, Ed, 1978, 1983, 1985

Box 1

Ryals, Clyde, 1981 Sept. 4

Box 1

Spivey, Robert, 1978, 1984, undated

Box 1

Stevenson, Lionel, 1970-1972, undated

Box 1

Styron, William, 1980, 1984

Box 1

Truesdale, J. (song), undated

Box 1

Tompkins, Jane, 1986, 1993

Box 1

Torgovnick, Marianna, 1983

Box 1

Turner, Arlin, 1962, 1981

Box 1

Tyler, Anne, 1986, 1991

Box 1

Voll, Daniel, 1986

Box 1

Ward, Charles E., 1967-1968

Box 1

White, Newman I., 1947-1948, 1979, undated

Box 1

Williams, Kenny J., 1982-1992

Box 1

Professorships, 1982

Box 1

English 103-104, 1960's-1980's

Box 1

English 106, 1974-1986

Box 1

Freshman English

Box 1

Major Requirements (history of)

Box 1

Accounts of Chairmen - English Dept., 1979-1984

Box 1

Full-time Staff, 1947-1985

Box 1

English Dept. Staff Lists

Box 1

Afro-American Studies - History

Box 1

Duke Press (history of) and American Literature (history of), 1951, 1982-1984

Box 1

THE ARCHIVE (history of)

Box 1

Awards

Box 1

Beginnings: Trinity and Duke

Box 1

Correspondence, 1982-1984

Box 1

Greatest Novels

Box 1

Letters of Commendation, 1950-1976, undated

Box 1

English Dept. Newsletter, 1983-1991/1992

Box 1

Distinguised Professors of Duke University, 1979

Box 1

Inauguration Program: H. Keith H. Brodie, 1985 Sept. 28

Box 1

Ph.D.'s Directed

Box 1

Anne Flexner Award, 1971-1980

Box 1

Freshman English

Box 1

English Dept. Seniority Lists, 1967-1986

Box 1

English Dept. Lists

Box 1

English Dept. Data (2 folders)

Box 2

Sketch of Emily Dickinson by Reynolds Price, 1950

Box 2

Caricatures of English Dept. Ph.D. Candidates, including Reynolds Price, by Marie C. Combs, 1962

Box 2

Reynolds Price Bibliography

Box 2

Reynolds Price: Correspondence, Notes from Gifts, 1980's

Box 2

Reynolds Price: List of 10 Greatest Novels, 1970 June

Box 2

Reynolds Price: Christmas Card,s 1969-1978

Box 2

Reynolds Price: Postcards

Box 2

Reynolds Price: Correspondence, 1961-1966

Box 2

Reynolds Price: Correspondence, 1967-1969, 1970's (2 folders)

Box 2

Reynolds Price: Clippings

Box 2

Reynolds Price: Photographs and Hair

Box 2

Dot Roberts, 1947-1983

Box 3

Notes on English Dept.

Box 3

Duke University Postcards

Box 3

Photograph: Chapel Drive, undated

Box 3

Clippings

Box 3

Printed Material

Box 3

Historical Note

Dorothy "Dot" Roberts was born in Crewe, Virginia and graduated from the University of Richmond with a major in history and a minor in English. She was hired by Duke University in 1948 to work as the office manager for the Dept. of English and was made administrative assistant in 1967. During her time with the department, Roberts worked for 12 different chairmen. She also established many long-lasting friendships with students and faculty during her time at Duke, including Reynolds Price for whom she typed many of his books, her favorite being "A Long and Happy Life." She retired from Duke in the late 1980's/early 1990's and passed away on Feb. 10, 2002.