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Personal papers of Charles Stansifer

 Collection
Call Number: PP 589

Overview

Charles Stansifer was a long-time faculty member of the University of Kansas' History Department with a focus in Latin American Studies. This collection consists of Stansifer's professional records of his research, service, and teaching, as well as material regarding Stansifer's personal life and interests.

Dates

  • Creation: 1910-2012 (bulk 1963-2012)

Creator

Language of Materials

Mostly English; some Spanish.

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 Charles Stansifer

Charles "Charley" Lee Stansifer was born December 13, 1930, in Garden City, Kansas. After earning both bachelor's and master's degrees in History from Wichita State University, he completed his doctorate at Tulane University in 1959, joining the University of Kansas faculty in 1963 as part of a large group of new History instructors.

Stansifer served as Director of the Center of Latin America Studies from 1975 to 1989 and as Chair of the History Department from 1993 to 1996. Specializing in Central America, especially Costa Rica, he also had a year's study in Chile, and was very active in the Kansas/Paraguay Partnership, an international volunteer organization devoted to people-to-people exchanges between Kansas and Paraguay.

As part of his work in Costa Rica, Stansifer devoted many years to the Grupo de Kansas Study Abroad program there. His efforts helped KU Libraries acquire one of the best collections of Costa Rican material in the world. He also served on election monitoring commissions in Nicaragua.

Stansifer retired as Professor Emeritus in 2004. He passed away February 4, 2016 in Lawrence, KS.

Extent

39 Linear Feet (39 boxes + 4 oversize folders, 7 oversize boxes)

Scope and Contents

This collection has been arranged into six series: Research, Service, Teaching, Personal, William J. Griffith papers, and Oversize materials. Some materials, including correspondence, are in Spanish. Stansifer's papers have been minimally processed, but records related to indivdiually identifiable students have been removed whenever possible. Duplicative materials may remain in the collection, and materials related to a particular topic or correspondent may appear in more than one location in the collection.

Though focused on his years as a professor at the University of Kansas, as well as stints as visiting professor in China, Costa Rica, and Alabama, this collection also includes some materials related to Stanisfer's own education dating back to high school and college.

Physical Location

PP 589

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts, Charles Stansifer, 2013, 2015, uncertain year (accessioned in 2018).

Title
Guide to the Charles Stansifer Collection
Subtitle
Personal papers of Charles Stansifer
Author
Finding aid prepared by lmb. Finding aid encoded by lmb.
Date
2018-01-03
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/4709897648
Preferred citation
Personal papers of Charles Stansifer, PP 589, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334