Personal papers of Robert E. Hemenway
Overview
Robert "Bob" Hemenway was the sixteenth Chancellor at the University of Kansas. Materials in his collection include administrative documents from his time at KU and from previous posts at the University of Kentucky, the University of Wyoming, and the University of Oklahoma; his literary biography of Zora Neale Hurston; and his dissertation on Charles Brockden Brown, amongst other materials related to Hemenway's career.
Dates
- Creation: 1906 - 2008
Creator
- Hemenway, Robert E., 1941-2015 (Person)
Language of Materials
English; German; French; Spanish; Russian
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
Biography of Robert E. Hemenway
Robert Emery Hemenway was born on August 10th, 1941, in Nebraska. He earned a B.A. in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1963, an M.A from Kent State University in 1965, and his PhD, also from Kent State University, in 1966.
Hemenway's first teaching job was in the English Department at the University of Kentucky, 1966-1968. At the University of Wyoming from 1968-1973 he taught in the American Studies program, broadening his research into African American literature in general and Zora Neale Hurston specifically. He returned to the University of Kentucky in 1973, serving as the Chair of the English Department from 1981 until his departure in 1986.
In 1981 Robert Hemenway married Leah Renee Hattemer. Together they had 8 children: Gina, Robin, Jeremy, Karintha, Langston, Matthew, Zack, and Arna.
At the University of Oklahoma from 1986-1989, Hemenway served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He returned to the University of Kentucky from 1989-1995 again to serve as its Chancellor. In 1995, he was selected as the 16th Chancellor of the University of Kansas, retiring from that position in 2009 but continuing to teach at KU.
Robert E. Hemenway passed away July 31st, 2015 in Lenexa, Kansas.
Extent
30.75 Linear Feet (36 boxes + 5 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder, 1 framed object)
Scope and Contents
The Robert E. Hemenway collection includes graduate school course notes and papers, dissertation research, teaching materials and course evaluations, audio-visual material, photographs and slides, correspondence, microfilmed documents, and administrative documents.
The collection includes drafts and research material related to Hemenway's biography about author Zora Neale Hurston, as well as his research on early American novelist Charles Brockden Brown. There is information related to a variety of conferences and symposia in which Hemenway participated, as well as professional and academic associations including the National Association of State Unviersities and Land-Grant Colleges and the American Council on Education. There is also information regarding Hemenway's various travels, including his participation in the 2005 World Economic Forum meeting.
Physical Location
PP 487
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifts, Robert E. Hemenway, 2009; Mr. Stoner; Linda Orr.
Processing Information
Materials previously located at PP 386 have been processed into PP 487; some materials removed from this collection in 2017 and transferred to the Chancellor's Office record group (RG 2).
Subject
- Hurston, Zora Neale (Person)
- Brown, Charles Brockden, 1771-1810 (Person)
- Gordon, Taylor, 1893-1971 (Person)
- Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967 (Person)
- University of Wyoming (Organization)
- University of Kentucky (Organization)
- University of Oklahoma (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Robert E. Hemenway Collection
- Subtitle
- Personal papers of Robert E. Hemenway
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by lmb, 2010. Finding aid encoded by lmb, 2010. Finding aid revised by lmb, 2016; mwh, 2018.
- Date
- 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/8532423261
- Preferred citation
-
Personal papers of Robert E. Hemenway, PP 487, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository