Duke University Anniversaries collection, 1937 - 2000

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Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. The collection is open for research, except box 100.19, labeled: "1939-2039. A collection of items...
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Summary

Creator:
Duke University. University Archives
Abstract:
Duke University has celebrated anniversaries of two major founding events: the establishment of continuous education at Brown's Schoolhouse in Randolph County, N.C., in 1838, and the creation of the Duke Endowment, which transformed Trinity College into Duke University in 1924. As a result, the institution commemorated the 100th Anniversary of its beginnings in Randolph County in 1938/1939, the 50th Anniversary of the Duke Endowment and founding of Duke University in 1974/1975, the 150th Anniversary of its beginnings in Randolph County in 1988/1989, and the 75th Anniversary of the Duke Endowment and founding of Duke University in 1999/2000. The Duke University Anniversaries Collection includes correspondence, clippings, photographs, printed matter, programs, speeches, a sound recording, a diary, acknowledgements from other institutions, a time capsule, and other materials relating to events commemorating the beginnings and founding of Duke University. Major subjects include events planning, fund raising, Duke University, Trinity College (Randolph Co., N.C. and Durham, N.C.), Normal College (Randolph Co., N.C.), Union Institute (Randolph Co., N.C.), and Brown's Schoolhouse (Randolph Co., N.C.). English.
Extent:
15 Linear Feet
12500 Items
Language:
English.
Collection ID:
UA.01.06.0001
University Archives Record Group:
01 -- General Information and University History
01 -- General Information and University History > 06 -- Campus-Wide Events and Anniversaries

Background

Scope and content:

The Duke University Anniversaries Collection is divided into four series, arranged by anniversary. 50th Anniversary (1924-1974) of the founding of Duke University series includes correspondence, planning materials, programs, meeting minutes, financial statements, printed matter, and clippings created by the 50th Anniversary Steering and Advisory Committees. Materials range in date from 1973 to 1975. The 75th Anniversary (1924-1999) of the founding of Duke University series includes logos, a commemorative mailing cancellation stamp, a press release, and a sound recording of a speech given by John Koskinen on the Y2K conversion. Materials range in date from 1999 to 2000.

The 100th Anniversary (1838-1938) of the beginnings of Duke University series includes printed materials, correspondence, Centennial Fund records, a diary, publications, invitation lists, congratulations from other institutions, and several complete packets of centennial celebration materials. Also included is a time capsule, labeled: "1939-2039. A collection of items presented to the President of Duke University at the Centennial Celebration, April 22, 1939; not to be opened until the occasion of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the institution." Materials range in date from 1937 to 1939. Finally, the 150th Anniversary (1838-1988) of the beginnings of Duke University series includes articles, printed matter, correspondence, clippings, subject files, photographs, programs, and financial materials. Major subjects include Sesquicentennial Celebration planning and events, the historical marker for Brown's Schoolhouse, and the plaque and maintenance of the Trinity College Memorial Gazebo in Randolph County. Materials range in date from 1988 to 2000 (bulk 1988-1989). The collection also includes a program from the Centennial Celebration of the relocation of Trinity College to Durham, 1992.

Biographical / historical:

Duke University, located in Durham, N.C., was established by James B. Duke in 1924, but it evolved from the following institutions in Randolph County, N.C.: Brown's Schoolhouse, 1838-1839; Union Institute, 1839-1851; Normal College, 1851-1859; and Trinity College, 1859-1892. In 1892, Trinity College relocated from Randolph Co. to the present location of Duke's East Campus in Durham, N.C. Because of this complex history, the University has celebrated anniversaries of two major founding events: the establishment of continuous education at Brown's Schoolhouse in 1838, and the creation of the Duke Endowment, which transformed Trinity College into Duke University in 1924. As a result, the institution commemorated the 100th Anniversary of its beginnings in Randolph County in 1938, the 50th Anniversary of the Duke Endowment and founding of Duke University in 1974, the 150th Anniversary of its beginnings in Randolph County in 1988, and the 75th Anniversary of the Duke Endowment and founding of Duke University in 1999.

In 1838, Methodist and Quaker families in rural Randolph County, N.C. employed Brantley York as a permanent teacher for their subscription school in Brown's Schoolhouse. One hundred years later, Duke University commemorated the 100th Anniversary of its humble beginnings during the 1938/1939 academic year. The Centennial Celebration, a three-day event featuring ceremonies, symposia, lectures, and performances, took place April 21-23, 1939.

During the 1974/1975 academic year, Duke University celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding. On December 11, 1924, James Buchanan Duke signed an Indenture of Trust creating the Duke Endowment, which established Duke University. The 50th Anniversary Celebration took place the weekend of April 11-13, 1975. Events included a film festival, concerts, convocation, reception, service of worship, and symposia.

Faculty, students, alumni and friends of Duke University travelled to Randolph County, North Carolina, in September 1988, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Duke's beginnings as a log schoolhouse about 75 miles west of Durham, N.C. Celebration events included a dedication of the Archdale-Trinity Historical Society Museum, birthday parties, tours, lectures, and a symposium.

During the 1999/2000 academic year, Duke University celebrated the 75th anniversary of James B. Duke's creation of the Duke Endowment -- the fund that transformed Trinity College into Duke University. The annual Founder's Day celebration, observed on Sept. 30, 1999, commemorated the Endowment with a series of events focusing on the University's ties to the Duke family.

Acquisition information:
The Duke University Anniversaries Collection was acquired by the University Archives from a variety of sources in 1972-2004, 2008.
Processing information:

Parts of this collection are unprocessed, and have been cataloged from accession records.

Encoded by Jill Katte, April 2005

Updated by Sherrie Bowser, June 2008.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials


Restrictions:

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

The collection is open for research, except box 100.19, labeled: "1939-2039. A collection of items presented to the President of Duke University at the Centennial Celebration, April 22, 1939; not to be opened until the occasion of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the institution."

Terms of access:

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.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Duke University Anniversaries Collection, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.