Hornell Hart

Hornell N. Hart (1888-1967) was a Professor of Sociology here from 1938 to 1957. In 1951 he wrote a 39 page pamphlet titled "McCarthy versus the State Department" which he described as an "impartial factual analysis" of Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigation into purported Communists in the U.S. State Department.

In the course of his research, Hart sent drafts of his work to several people, including the Senator. In October of 1951, McCarthy wrote two letters to Arthur Hollis Edens, Duke's President. In the first he noted that he would "hold the University legally accountable for the publication of this document." In his next letter, he demanded to know what steps the University had taken to have Hart's statements retracted.

Unfortunately, these letters have not been located, and are known only by references to them in other documents.

Cover page of "McCarthy versus the State Department"

In defending academic freedom, President Edens issued a statement saying that "It is axiomatic in University circles that a Professor has the right to pursue research investigations of his choice. So far as Professor Hart's work is concerned, it will have to stand on its own merits and be measured by the rigid standards of truth, accuracy, sound scholarship and good taste, to which the works of all scholars are subjected."

McCarthy decided against taking legal action and called the pamphlet an example of "typical Communist smear tactics."  News of his threat, however, reached the media and Duke received widespread coverage for its stand. The Duke Chronicle ran two editorials on what came to be known around campus as "The McCarthy Controversy."

February 1, 1952

February 8, 1952