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Collection Number: 40036

Collection Title: Kenan Convocation Records, 1980-1996

This collection has access restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.


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Size About 200 items
Abstract The Kenan Convocation was a gathering of Kenan-endowed professors held every two to three years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1980 to 1996. It featureed speakers and discussion on a topic determined by its Planning Committee. It was sponsored by the William Rand Kenan, Jr., Charitable Trust, which endows professorships at universities throughout the United States. The first Kenan Convocation was held in 1980; subsequent ones have been held in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1993, and 1996. The collection includes 19 audiocassette tapes and 18 reel-to-reel tapes of the proceedings of the 1982, 1984, and 1996 Kenan convocations. Topics of these convocations were "The State vs. Academe" (1982), "The Computer Revolution and Universities: The Effect of New Technologies on Teaching and Learning" (1984), and "The American South" (1996). Also included are general files related to the 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1989 convocations; these consist mainly of program brochures, correspondence, and press releases.
Creator Kenan Convocation.
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives.
Language English
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Information For Users

Restrictions to Access
Use of audio materials may require the production of listening copies.
Restrictions to Use
No usage restrictions.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Kenan Convocation Records #40036, University Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Special Projects (later the Office of University Events) in 1996 and 1998 (Records transfers 19960219.2, 19960709.1, and 19981112.2).
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Processing Information

Processed by: University Archives Staff

Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008

Updated because of addition, December 2017

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Historical Information

The Kenan Convocations were gatherings of Kenan Professors from around the nation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They were supported by a grant from the William Rand Kenan, Jr., Charitable Trust, which endowed the various Kenan chairs. As of the mid-1980s, there were some 110 Kenan Professors in over fifty universities nationwide. These included William Rand Kenan, Jr., Professors (of whom there were 85 in 1982 at 53 universities), Kenan Professors at the UNC-Chapel Hill, Sarah Graham Kenan Professors in the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, and Graham Kenan Professors in the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law.

The first Kenan Convocation was held 30 May-1 June 1980 in Chapel Hill and proved successful enough to merit the creation of a committee of Kenan Professors to arrange a second. Held 3-5 June 1982, the second convocation featured thematic speakers and group discussions on the topic of "The State vs. Academe." A third convocation was held 31 May-2 June 1984 on "The Computer Revolution and Universities: The Effect of New Technologies on Teaching and Learning." Subsequent convocations were held 23-25 October 1986, on "Citizenship, Education, and the Media," 19-21 October 1989, on "University/Industry Relations: New Alliances," 22-23 April 1993, on "The Modern University: Its Present Status and Future Prospects," and 26-27 April 1996, on "The American South."

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

Records are comprised of the audio recordings made during the 1982, 1984, and 1996 Kenan Convocations and general materials from the 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1989 convocations. There are 19 audiocassette tapes and 18 reel-to-reel tapes of the proceedings of the 1982, 1984, and 1996 convocations. Topics of these convocations were "The State vs. Academe" (1982), "The Computer Revolution and Universities: The Effect of New Technologies on Teaching and Learning" (1984), and "The American South" (1996). Also included are general files related to the 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1989 convocations; these consist mainly of program brochures, correspondence, and press releases.

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. 1980 Convocation, 1-3 June 1980

The first Kenan Convocation began with a discussion of the work of the Commission on the Humanities with particular attention to the humanities in the public schools. Dr. Richard Lyman, Chairman of the Commission on the Humanities, lead the discussion, supported by Dr. Jill Conway and Dr. Robert Lumiansky, both members of the commission. Discussion of the work of the National Humanities Center was led by Vermont Royster of UNC-Chapel Hill and Dr. William Bennett, President of the center. The convocation concluded with a speech by Dean Rusk, former United States Secretary of State.

Box 1

General, 1980

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2. 1982 Convocation: The State vs. Academe, 3-5 June 1982

This convocation began with a series of thematic speakers, then split into small groups for discussion and reconvened for a panel of representatives of the small groups. Edward Shils of the University of Chicago gave the opening address. Other participants included Clark Kerr, Donald Frederickson, Robert M. Lumiansky, and William Bevan. The reel-to-reel recordings cover the entire convocation; all except T-40036/11 and most of T-40036/12 are duplicated on cassette.

Box 1

General, 1982

Audiocassette C-40036/1

Thematic Speakers

Friday a.m. session.

Audiocassette C-40036/2

Thematic Speakers Friday a.m.

Friday a.m. session (continued).

Audiocassette C-40036/3

Thematic Speakers

Friday p.m. session.

Audiocassette C-40036/4

Natural Science Group

Friday p.m. session.

Audiocassette C-40036/5

Natural Science Group

Saturday a.m. session.

Audiocassette C-40036/6

Social Science Group

Friday p.m. session.

Audiocassette C-40036/7

Social Science Group

Saturday a.m. session.

Audiocassette C-40036/8

Humanities Group

Saturday a.m. session.

Audiocassette C-40036/9

Panel Discussion

Saturday a.m. session.

Audiotape T-40036/1

Thematic Speakers

Friday a.m. session.

Audiotape T-40036/2

Thematic Speakers

Friday a.m. session (continued).

Audiotape T-40036/3

Thematic Speakers

Friday a.m. session (continued).

Thematic Speakers

Friday p.m. session.

Audiotape T-40036/4

Thematic Speakers

Friday p.m. session (continued).

Audiotape T-40036/5

Natural Science Group

Friday p.m. session.

Audiotape T-40036/6

Natural Science Group

Friday p.m. session (continued).

Audiotape T-40036/6

Natural Science Group

Saturday a.m. session.

Audiotape T-40036/7

Natural Science Group

Saturday a.m. session (continued).

Audiotape T-40036/8

Social Science Group

Friday p.m. session.

Audiotape T-40036/9

Social Science Group

Friday p.m. session (continued).

Audiotape T-40036/10

Social Science Group

Saturday a.m. session.

Audiotape T-40036/11

Humanities Group

Friday p.m. session.

Audiotape T-40036/12

Humanities Group

Friday p.m. session (continued).

Humanities Group

Saturday a.m. session.

Audiotape T-40036/13

Humanities Group

Saturday a.m. session (continued).

Audiotape T-40036/14

Panel Discussion

Saturday a.m. session.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 3. 1984 Convocation: The Computer Revolution and Universities: The Effect of New Technologies on Teaching and Learning, 31 May-2 June 1984

This convocation, unlike its predecessor, consisted only of a series of speakers before the whole group. Both the reel-to-reel and cassette recordings cover the entire convocation.

Box 1

General, 1984

Audiocassette C-40036/10

Friday a.m.

Audiocassette C-40036/11

Friday a.m. (continued)

Audiocassette C-40036/12

Friday p.m.

Audiocassette C-40036/13

Friday p.m. (continued)

Saturday a.m.

Audiocassette C-40036/14

Saturday a.m. (continued)

Audiotape T-40036/15

Friday a.m.

Audiotape T-40036/16

Friday a.m. (continued)

Friday p.m.

Audiotape T-40036/17

Friday p.m. (continued)

Saturday a.m.

Audiotape T-40036/18

Saturday a.m. (continued)

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 4. 1986 Convocation: The Media, Citizenship and the University, 23-25 October 1986

Speakers addressed the impact the media has had on the people of the United States and how universities can prevent the possible development of a subliterate people unfit to manage their own democratic institutions. Featured speakers included, Ben H. Bagdikian of the University of California, Berkeley; Benjamin M. Compaine of Harvard University; Marlene Sanders, CBS News correspondent; Dr. Henry Geller of the Washington Center for Public Policy Research; Philip Meyer of UNC-Chapel Hill; Alfred R. Schneider of the American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.; Alvah H. Chapman of Knight-Ridder, Inc.; Hanna Holborn Gray of University of Chicago; and William C. Friday, President Emeritus of UNC-Chapel Hill.

Box 1

General, 1985-1987

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 5. 1989 Convocation: University/Industry Relations: New Alliances, 19-21 October 1989

Distinguished speakers addressed the issue of universities and industry working together to seek solutions to common problems such as international competition and labor and education crisis. The interrelationship was addressed from the perspective of both the humanities and the sciences. Featured speakers included, Frank Carrubba of Hewlett-Packard Laboratories; Frank H. T. Rhodes, President, Cornell University; Michael Useem of Boston University; J. Irwin Miller of Cummins Engine Company, Inc.; Robert Hollander of Princeton University; and George Sternlieb of the State University of New Jersey. The convocation concluded with a panel discussion by invited Kenan Professors on the "Prospects for the Future."

Box 1

General, 1989-1990

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 6. 1993 Convocation: The Modern University: Its Present Status and Future Prospects, 22-24 April 1993

Speakers at the 1993 Kenan Convocation included Ernest L. Boyer of the Carnegie Foundation, James L. Axtell of the College of William and Mary, Steven M. Cahn of the City University of New York, and W. Robert Connor of the National Humanities Center. This series includes a letter sent to attendees of the convocation and programs from convocation events.

RT 20171219.1.

Box 1

General, 1993

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 7. 1996 Convocation: The American South, 26-27 April 1996

Speakers at the 1996 Kenan Convocation included Hodding Carter III of the University of Maryland; John Shelton Reed and John Kasarda of UNC-Chapel Hill; Dan Carter and Merle Black of Emory University; David Levering Lewis of Rutgers University; William Winter, former Governor of Mississippi; Juanita Kreps, former United States Secretary of Commerce; Lanty Smith of Precision Fabrics Group, Inc.; Alan Murray of the Wall Street Journal; and Odessa Woolfolk of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

Audiocassette C-40036/15

Keynote Session General Announcements

Keynote Session Address by Hodding Carter III

Keynote Session: Address by John Shelton Reed

Session I: The South Since World War II: Address by Dan Carter

Session I: The South Since World War II: Address by David L. Lewis

Audiocassette C-40036/16

Session I: The South Since World War II: Address by David L. Lewis (continued)

Session I: The South Since World War II: Address by William Winter

Session I: The South Since World War II: Questions and Answers

Audiocassette C-40036/17

Session II: The South in the World Economy: Address by Juanita Kreps

Session II: The South in the World Economy: Address by John Kasarda

Session II: The South in the World Economy: Address by Lanty Smith

Session II: The South in the World Economy: Questions and Answers

Audiocassette C-40036/18

Session II: The South in the World Economy: Questions and Answers (continued)

Session III: The South in National Politics: Address by Odessa Woolfolk

Session III: The South in National Politics: Address by Alan Murray

Audiocassette C-40036/19

Session III: The South in National Politics: Address by Alan Murray (continued)

Session III: The South in National Politics: Address by Merle Black

Session III: The South in National Politics: Questions and Answers

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