#40081 RECORDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH in the University Archives and Records Service University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CB#3926 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514-8890 Revised 07/83 08/83 08/84 09/85 07/86 01/88 08/88 10/89 04/91 05/92 08/93 09/97 02/00 01/01 The English Department traces its origins to the earliest days of the university. Both the Samuel E. McCorkle (1792) and the William R. Davie (1795) "Plans of Education" include instruction in English grammar and literature. Through the first century of the university's history, this instruction was supplied by faculty members whose positions were variously titled "Professor of Languages;" "Professor of Rhetoric and Logic;" "Professor of English Literature and History;" or "Professor of Moral Philosophy and English Literature." Throughout the period English instruction was closely aligned with that of "languages," especially classical ones, and the curriculum reflected a pronounced philosophical perspective. Emphasis on rhetoric was a constant theme. With the reopening of the university in 1875, a "School of English Language and Literature" was included in the new "College of Literature." The next quarter of a century was marked by significant diversification of undergraduate courses, increases in teaching staff, and the initiation of a formal graduate program. In the twentieth century, the university and the Department of English (so named by the Board of Trustees in 1901) continued to expand. The department's activities included the Shakespeare Club (founded in 1886) and the publication of the Studies in Philology (1906), the proceedings of the Philological Club (established in 1892). The late 1880's witnessed the awarding of the first graduate degrees to a student of the department -- both to Stephen B. Weeks -- the A.M. in 1887 and the Ph.D. in 1888. The years 1914-1925, marking the tenure of Edwin A. Greenlaw as department chairman, were ones in which foundations were laid for the modern English Department. A program of freshman composition was organized. Courses in speech were expanded. An honors program was inaugurated. A comparative literature curriculum was offered. Courses in drama and play-writing were developed under Frederick H. Koch. Under Louis Graves, the department offered a certificate course in journalism. From these beginnings were to develop the Speech Division (granted departmental status in July 1977), the Comparative Literature Curriculum (1934), the Dramatic Art Department (1936) and the Carolina Playmakers (1918), and the School of Journalism (1926). In addition, the influence of the English Department upon general university administration, the Academic Affairs Division, the Graduate School, and the development of the general faculty has been very significant. Indeed, members of the department have served as President of the University (Edward Kidder Graham, 1913-1918), Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (Edward Kidder Graham, 1909-1913, and James F. Royster, 1922-1925), Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (Clifford P. Lyons, 1951-1953; C. Hugh Holman, 1953-1955; and James R. Gaskin, 1972-1978), Provost (C.Hugh Holman, 1966-1968), Dean of the Graduate School (Charles A. Smith, 1903-1909; Edwin A. Greenlaw, 1919-1925; James F. Royster, 1925-1929; and C. Hugh Holman, 1963-1966), and chairmen of faculty standing and special committees too numerous to mention. A more detailed history of the department is provided in Dougald MacMillan's English at Chapel Hill, 1795-1969. Collateral manuscript material on the department is available in the private papers of faculty members held by the Southern Historical Collection. Pertinent information will also be found in the following official university records held in the University Archives: Records of the Office of President Records of the Board of Trustees (UNC) Records of the Board of Trustees (Consolidated UNC) Records of the Office of Chancellor Records of the Office of Provost Records of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and General College Records of the Dean of the Graduate School Records of the eneral Faculty and Faculty Council Records of the University of Noreth Carolina Press Records of the Shakespeare Club Records of the Philological Club Names of the Chairmen and their tenures are as follows: C. Alphonso Smith 1901-1909 Edward Kidder Graham 1909-1914 Edwin Almiron Greenlaw 1914-1925 James Finch Royster 1925-1930 Howard Mumford Jones (Acting) 1930 George Raleigh Coffman 1930-1945 Administrative Committee 1945-1946 Clifford P. Lyons 1946-1952 William Dougald MacMillan 1952-1958 C. Hugh Holman 1958-1963 George M. Harper 1963-1966 C. Carroll Hollis 1966-1971 James R. Gaskin 1971-1972 William R. Harmon 1972-1978 James R. Gaskin 1978-1981 Joseph M. Flora 1981-1991 Laurence Avery 1991-1996 Darryl J. Gless 1996-1998 William L. Andrews 1998- The archival records of the Department of English are arranged to reflect the department's administrative structure, its relationship to other university agencies and divisions, and its activities undertaken to fulfill its academic functions. SUBGROUP 1: ADMINISTRATIVE FILES SUBGROUP 2: UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM SERIES 1: FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE PROGRAM SERIES 2: MAJORS (UG) PROGRAM SERIES 3: HONORS PROGRAM SUBGROUP 3: GRADUATE PROGRAM SUBGROUP 4: COMPOSITION CONDITION LABORATORY (WRITING LABORATORY) SUBGROUP 5: STUDIES IN PHILOLOGY A more detailed inventory of each subgroup is provided on the following pages. SUBGROUP 1: ADMINISTRATIVE FILES This subgroup contains files on the internal administrative structure and programs of the department as well as those relating to the department's role in the greater university. The majority of the material consists of the chairman's correspondence with other members of the department, with other administrative officials, and with public and professional organizations. Files relating to professional organizations will be found at the end of the subgroup under the heading "Outside Organizations." Box 1: Administrative Correspondence, Announcements and Memoranda: Announcements and Bulletins, FY 1951/52-FY 1977/78 (mimeographed notices of departmental meetings and announcements of general departmental interest including department organization charts and staff lists) Correspondence, Administrative; (general information on departmental plans and programs as well as memoranda from university officials on policies and procedures) General Correspondence, 1914-1977; 1984 Chancellors' Office: House, R.B., 1931; 1938-1957 Aycock, W.B., 1957-1964 Sharp, P.F., 1964-1965 Sitterson, J.C., 1971-1972 Taylor, N.F., 1972-1974 Business and Finance Division: Vice Chancellor's Office 1940-1977 Contracts and Grants Reports, 1972-1977 Personnel Office, 1956-1975 Physical Plant, 1971-1977 Box 2: Academic Affairs Division: (including requests for funds; recommendations of promotions, distinguished professorships and leaves of absence; and correspondence with other departments and schools on cooperative appointments and course offerings) Provost, 1956-1977 College of Liberal Arts, 1932-1941 College of Arts and Sciences, 1970-1979 Chairman's Conference, 1974-1977 Travel Committee, 1974-1976 General College, 1940-1974 Schools, Institutes, Departments, Curricula and Programs: Afro-American Studies, 1974-1975 American Studies, 1975 Classics, 1940 Comparative Literature, 1971-1978 Dramatic Art, 1918-1974 Education, 1940-1976 Extension Division, 1917-1964; 1971-1977 Library, 1932-1977 Bull's Head Bookshop, 1933-1935 Peace, War and Defense, 1972-1975 Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures, 1967-1976 Summer Session, 1939-1974 War Training, College for: General, 1942-1943 Navy V-12, 1943-1944 Premeteorology, 1942-1944 Box 3: Graduate School, 1940-1978 Advanced Composition (Expository Writing Courses), 1932-1968 Affirmative Action, 1973-1977 Annual Reports, Department of English, 1969-1977 Awards (see Honors and Highest Honors in English, below; see also Prizes, Student Writing) Budget: General, EPA Staff, 1970-1977 Buildings, English Department, 1935-1977 (plans, etc., for Murphey, Bingham and Greenlaw Halls) Central Faculty Position Listing Service, 1974-1978 Committees, Departmental: Administrative Committee, 1945-1946 (assumed Chairman's functions after G.R. Coffman's resignation) Bureau of English Extension, 1950-1955 Committee on Course Numbers, 1950-1965 Curriculum, 1974-1976 Freshman Committee (see Subgroup 2, Series 1) Graduate Studies Committee (see Subgroup 3) Committee on Honors in English (see Subgroup 2, Series 3) Majors (Undergraduate) Committee (see Subgroup 2, Series 2 Committee on the Status of Instructors, 1940 Committees on Evaluation of Courses and Teachers, 1972-1974; 1977-1978 Committee on Rank and Tenure, 1970-1977 Communication Skills, Proposed Curriculum in, 1973-1976 Creative Writing Program, 1954-1961 (see also Honors Program) Box 4: Eliot, T.S., Centennial Celebration, 1988 English for Foreign Students, 1953-1978 Enrollment/Registration statistics, 1956-1964 Erickson, E.E. - Y.Z. Chang Exchange (China), 1934-1935 Faculty Meeting Minutes, Departmental, 1946-1983; 1985-1986 Five-Year Plan, Departmental, 1974-1976 Folklore Curriculum,. 1954-1976 Gaskin, James R., Memorial Service (Dec. 9, 1995), 1995 (includes nine photographs) Grade Distribution Reports, 1975-1977 Guide to the English Department, 1972-1975 Honorary Degrees and Special Awards, Faculty, 1971-1977 Honors and Highest Honors in English, 1972-2000 (lists of recipients) Paull, Michael, English 1 Disputed Theme Case, 1966 (includes student essays and report of special committee) Permanent Records of Courses, 1953-1973 Prizes, Student Writing: William Morrow & Company, 1959 G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1952-1954 Whitfield, James Lawrence, Prize, 1999 Renaissance Scholars Meeting (Chapel Hill), 1944-1950 Salaries, Faculty (see Budget: General, EPA Staff) Self-Study, Departmental, 1972-1974 Speaker and Visiting Scholar/Lecturer Program, 1972-1977 Speech Division: Administrative Correspondence, 1932-1977 Internal Evaluation of M.A. Program, May 1976 Study of Post-War Problems and Goals of the English Department, 1942-1944 Superior Students Program, 1954-1960 Teaching Load, Departmental, 1972-1976 Outside Organizations: Association of Departments of English (ADE), 1973-1977 Carolina Quarterly, 1973-1975 Folger Shakespeare Library, Institute of Renaissance and Eighteenth Century Studies, 1974-1977 College English Association (CEA), 1952-1972 Conference of College Composition and Communication (CCCC) of National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), 1918-1977 Linguistics Institute, 1971-1972 Modern Language Association (MLA), 1972-1977 North Carolina Committee for Continuing Education in the Humanities, 1972-1974 North Carolina English Composition Conference, 1976 North Carolina English Teachers Association (NCETA), 1977 South Atlantic Graduate English Cooperative Agreement (SAGE), 1967-1977 South Atlantic Modern Language Association (SAMLA), 1973-1977 SUBGROUP 2: UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM The English Department's undergraduate program consists of two main divisions: the Freshman/Sophomore Program and the Majors (Junior/Senior) Program. Each of these divisions is administered by a director assisted by a faculty committee. The department's undergraduate program also includes an honors program administered by a faculty committee. The organization of the department's archival records relating to the undergraduate program follows the divisions described above. SERIES 1: FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE PROGRAM This series contains files relating to the department's General College courses and curriculum. See also General College under Administrative Correspondence: Academic Affairs, Subgroup 1, and for information on remedial English programs, see Composition Condition Laboratory, Subgroup 4. Box 5: Administrative Correspondence, General, 1917-1983 Alumni Professorship- Freshman, 1973 (see also Budget: Trust Funds, Subgroup 1) Composition Staff, 1985 Enrollment/Registration Statistics, Freshman/Sophomore Courses, 1945-1971 (see also Annual Reports and Enrollment/Registration Statistics, Subgroup 1) Florida Theme Experiment (Freshman), 1961-1962 Freshman Committee, 1971-1987 (see also Administrative Correspondence, above) Freshman English Text Project, 1974-1975 Freshman Honors Program, 1973-1976 Freshman Staff Manual, 1980-1991 Freshman Syllabus (English 1 & 2), 1927-1968; 1982-1989 Guide to Freshman English, 1982-1989 Box 6: Guide to Freshman Composition, 1990-1991 Guide to Sophomore English, 1940; 1948 Large Section Experiment, English 2, 1960 Memos, General Departmental, 1980-1988 Progress Report: English 2 (n.d.) Reading Program, 1975-1987 Teaching Assistants: Orientation and Training, 1979-1987 Teacher/Course Evaluation Forms, 1972-1987 Visitation/Observation, 1980-1985 Undergraduate Program Committee, 1972-1974 SERIES 2: MAJORS (JUNIOR/SENIOR) PROGRAM This series contains information on the requirements for the department's undergraduate majors including curriculum planning and new course development. See also correspondence with the Provost and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences under Administrative Correspondence: Academic Affairs, Subgroup 1. Box 6: (cont.) Administrative Correspondence and Memoranda, General, 1957; 1971-1977 Majors Committee, 1973 (see also Administrative Correspondence and Memoranda, above) Enrollment/Registration Statistics, 1954-1960 (see also Annual Reports and Enrollment/Registration Statistics, Subgroup 1) SERIES 3: HONORS PROGRAM This series contains material on the development and administration of the department's "A" or honors sections. For information on the department's role in the university-wide honors program, see Arts and Sciences under Administrative Correspondence: Academic Affairs, Subgroup 1. See also Creative Writing Program and Superior Students Program, Subgroup 1. Box 6 (continued): Administrative Correspondence and Memoranda, General, 1974-1977 Committee on Honors in English, 1938; 1964-1966 SUBGROUP 3: GRADUATE PROGRAM The department's graduate program is administered by the Director of Graduate Studies, assisted by the Graduate Studies Committee. The Director and Committee supervise the graduate admissions process, the development of degree requirements, the preparation of course schedules, the awarding of fellowships and assistantships, and the scheduling of M.A. and Ph.D. examinations. For information on graduate course approvals and appointments to the graduate faculty, see Graduate School under Administrative Correspondence, Subgroup 1. On recruitment of faculty, see also Chancellor's Office under Administrative Correspondence as well as Affirmative Action, Subgroup 1. Box 6: (cont.) Administrative Correspondence and Memoranda, General, 1916-1977 Enrollment/Registration Statistics (see Enrollment/Registration Statistics, Subgroup 1 Graduate Course Offerings, 1971-1973 (see also Annual Reports and Permanent Record of Courses, Subgroup 1) Graduate Studies Committee, 1932; 1952; 1967-1975 (see also Administrative Correspondence and Memoranda, above) Graduate Students: Directories, 1971-1974 English Club: (see also Speakers and Visiting Scholars/Lecturers, Subgroup 1) General, 1971-1977 Newsletter, 1980-1986 Graduate English Women, 1970 Placement Service, 1952-1968 SUBGROUP 4: COMPOSITION CONDITION LABORATORY (WRITING LABORATORY) The Composition Condition Lab was established in the Fall of 1935 as a remedial program administered by the faculty standing Committee on English Composition through the English Department. Initially a majority of freshman students were assigned to the Laboratory by examination, but later assignments were made by instructors in any General College course. Removal of the "cc" or "Composition Condition" was a requirement for completion of the General College curriculum and/or graduation. In 1965, the title was changed to Writing Laboratory. The archival records of the Laboratory include material on the Committee on English Composition, correspondence of the Laboratory's director, and reports of student assignments and program completions. See also Records of the Committee on English Composition under the Faculty Affairs Division in the Archives. Box 6: (cont.) Administrative Corespondence, Memoranda and Reports, 1931-1977 SUBGROUP 5: STUDIES IN PHILOLOGY Studies in Philology, published by the Philological Club, first appeared in 1906. Although not officially recognized as a program of the English Department, the Studies has always been closely associated with the department and the editors have always been members of the department's staff. As the title indicates, the journal was dedicated to the study of literature in the broadest sense. In 1910 an interdepartmental committee was created to assist the editor. This committee was the predecessor of the later Editorial Board. Until 1915 the Studies appeared irregularly. Under Edwin A. Greenlaw's editorship it was published quarterly and circulation markedly increased. Later a fifth volume including Renaissance Bibliography was added. The University of North Carolina Press and the Furst Company handled printing and distribution. Names and tenures of the editors are given below. C. Alphonso Smith 1906-1908 James F. Royster 1910-1913 (Chairman of Committee) Edwin A. Greenlaw 1915-1925 James F. Royster 1925-1929 Norman Foerster 1929-1930 (Chairman of Committee) George R. Coffman 1930-1950 Dougald MacMillan 1950-1965 O. B. Hardison 1966-1969 Ernest Talbert 1969-1974 Albrecht B. Strauss 1974- The archival records of the journal consist of the editors' correspondence, files on or about the Editorial Board and financial records from the UNC Press and the Furst Company. Collateral information will be found in the following archival groups: Records of the University of North Carolina Press Records of the Philological Club Box 7: Administrative Correspondence and Memoranda: General, 1914-1966 Contributor Correspondence, 1955-1966 Box 8: Contributor Correspondence, 1966-1968 Editorial Board, 1937-1968 Finance and Budget: UNC Press: Correspondence, 1945-1958 Statements, 1942-1960 Furst Company: Statements, 1930-1960 Special Volumes of Studies in Philology: Coffman, George R., Volume (July 1951), 1950-1951 Nitchie, Mathilda, 1959-1960 Renaissance Bibliography, 1945-1956 Sesquicentennial (UNC) Volume, 1943-1946