Frank J. Dowd Jr. (1924-1997) was from Winnetka, Illinois, where he attended New Trier High School. As a freshman at the University of Rochester during the 1942-1943 academic year, he was drafted into the United States Army. In active service from May 1943 until October 1945, he trained at Camp Wolters in Texas, and, as a soldier in the 102nd Infantry Division, he served in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and England. Wounded by shrapnel in his neck and arm, Dowd recovered at hospitals in England and Tacoma, Washington. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon (ETO Ribbon) for participation in the Rhineland Campaign, and Good Conduct Ribbon. The 13 July 1945
In 1945, Dowd returned to the University of Rochester. He was president of the Rochester chapter of Psi Upsilon fraternity, president of the Hellenic Council, and a founder and chairman of the National Student Association. In his senior year, he was awarded the Seth H. and Harriet S. Terry Prize for student leadership. After receiving his bachelor's in history with honors in 1948, he attended Harvard Law School for a year.
In 1949, Dowd began working in the Office of Admissions at the University of Rochester. He later served as Director of Men's Residence Halls, Executive Assistant to the Dean of the College of Arts and Science, Assistant Dean of Students, and Associate Dean of Students. In 1957, he received his master's in political science at the University of Rochester, where he also taught courses in American and comparative government. In 1961, Dowd left Rochester to become Vice President of Lincoln University, a historically black university in Oxford, Pennsylvania. He returned to the University of Rochester in 1968 and held, in succession, the positions of Dean of the University School of Liberal and Applied Studies, Associate Provost for Student Affairs, and Vice President for Student Affairs. He retired in 1980.
In 1949, Dowd married Janis C. Tremper, whom he met through the National Student Association. The Dowds had three children, Judith, Laura, and Allan. Dowd's family notes that he was active in civic life, taking part in the efforts of the Rochester Community Chest, Action for a Better Community, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, and the American Red Cross, among other organizations.
The Frank J. Dowd Jr. Papers are open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
The Frank J. Dowd Jr. Papers were donated in August 2011, with October 2014, November 2014, and September 2015 accruals, by his daughter Laura V. Dowd. A leather Purple Heart box containing military ribbons was donated by his sister Barbara Dowd Wright in November 2014.
A drawing by James D. Havens '22 of the Psi Upsilon chapter house was removed and placed within the Oversized University Photographs collection, in the box "Historical - Fraternities and Sororities."
Dowd's master's thesis, "A Legislative History of Amendments to the Natural Gas Act" (1957), is available as a cataloged item in Rush Rhees Library.
An interview with Dowd while he was serving as Vice President of Student Affairs appears in
Additional materials relating to Dowd's time at the University of Rochester as a student and administrator are available in the University Archives. Please contact the Archives (archives@library.rochester.edu) for more information.
[Item title, item date], Frank J. Dowd Jr. Papers, D.424, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
The Frank J. Dowd Jr. Papers reflect his service during World War II, his experiences at the University of Rochester as a student and administrator, and his interest in political buttons and other ephemera. His papers include correspondence written during his freshman year at the University of Rochester and while serving in the Army during World War II. In his letters, Dowd writes to his parents, Frank J. Dowd and Virginia R. Dowd; his sisters, Barbara, Carol, and Mavis (all three of whom also attended the University of Rochester); his aunt Winifred Dow, whom he called "Aunt Way Way," and his grandparents Caroline and Otto Rhein. Dowd describes his experiences as a freshman—including expenses, classes, campus food, activities, and fraternities. He writes about Rochester friends, including Richard Wade, who, like Dowd, came from the Chicago area and who later became a history professor at the University of Rochester. He observes classmates leaving for military service during World War II and reflects on his own upcoming service, expressing interest in the Army Specialized Training Program (A.S.T.P.). Once in the Army, he describes his experiences while stationed at Camp Wolters in Texas, Fort Dix in New Jersey, and other locations in the United States; while serving in Europe; and while recovering from shrapnel wounds in England and Washington state. Some of Dowd's correspondence is in the form of Victory Mail (V-Mail)—a system employed by the armed services during World War II to streamline mail delivery through the use of microfilm. While Dowd's correspondence from this time consists primarily of his own letters and postcards, it also contains some official correspondence to Dowd's parents from the University of Rochester and the War Department.
Dowd's papers also include World War II medals and ribbons, photographs, and other items relating to his experiences in the Army. These include writings by Dowd and other members of the 102nd Division, 405th Infantry, F Company about their experiences. In addition, the collection contains University of Rochester materials from the postwar period, including correspondence, photographs, Dowd's work as a master's student, and clippings.
A further component of the Dowd Papers is an extensive collection of political buttons and other ephemera, from an Abraham Lincoln/Hannibal Hamlin tintype (1860) to buttons from national and local elections in the 1990s. In addition to ephemera connected to political campaigns, the collection includes buttons and other items relating to World War II, international affairs, the Rochester area, the University of Rochester, organizations such as the American Red Cross, agriculture, and other topics.
Dates of letters generally refer to postmarked dates. Dates of composition have been used when they appear on correspondence; however, Dowd generally wrote the day of the week, rather than the date, on his letters. Envelopes have been placed after the letters to which they correspond. Empty envelopes have been interfiled with other letters.
This folder contains Dowd's description to his family of his arrival and first months at the University of Rochester. He writes about his room in Crosby Hall (with an accompanying sketch), the presence of the United States Navy on campus, expenses, campus food, attending a "college tea" in Rush Rhees Library, and the "fraternity question," among other topics.
Four clippings, probably from the
This folder includes a 5 October 1942 letter from Dowd to his father, in which he reflects on his choice of the University of Rochester and on military service when he turns 18.
This folder includes a letter postmarked 17 October 1942 in which Dowd refers to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech about the lowering of the draft age from 21 to 18.
This folder includes a 21 December 1942 letter from the University of Rochester to members of the College for Men indicating that "students in the Enlisted Reserve Corps of the United States Army will not be called to active duty until two weeks after the completion of the student's first academic term terminating after December 31, 1942. This means that Rochester students in the E. R. C. will not be called before May 8, 1943."
This folder includes a letter postmarked 14 January 1943 in which Dowd mentions having gone through his initiation for Psi Upsilon. In a letter postmarked 18 January 1943, he states that his "first two draft registrations have come"; and in another letter, postmarked 16 February 1943, he observes, "People are leaving at a rate of four a day and things are very confused. After mid-terms it is hard to tell who will be left."
This folder includes a 14 March 1943 letter in which Dowd discusses attending a press conference that Eleanor Roosevelt gave at the University of Rochester. A 12 May 1943 card from the War Department to Dowd's mother, Virginia Dowd, indicates that he "has been accepted for military service and sent to Camp Grant" in Illinois."
This folder includes descriptions of Dowd's experiences at Camp Grant in Illinois and Camp Wolters in Texas.
This folder includes discussion of Dowd's military training and his interest in the Army Specialized Training Program (A.S.T.P.). A letter to Dowd's grandmother, with "Thursday" in the date line and missing a page, has been placed after a letter postmarked 6 July 1943. In the undated letter, Dowd thanks his grandmother for teaching him about the constellations as this knowledge has helped him lead his squad during an exercise at night. Similarly, in the letter postmarked 6 July, Dowd writes, "We're leaving for a night tactical problem in about an hour and as usual I'm worried stiff that I'll get my squad lost." Following the letter to Dowd's grandmother are photographs of Dowd (1940s) and a 102nd Infantry Division card with his name (August 1954). These items were previously housed with the letter in a page from an album.
This folder includes discussion of Dowd's training at Camp Wolters and his interest in the Army Specialized Training Program (A.S.T.P.). A letter to Dowd's grandmother, undated and missing its first page, has been placed in this folder after a letter postmarked 26 July 1943. These two letters both discuss the possibility of Dowd taking part in an Army Specialized Training Program focused on engineering and therefore appear to have been written around the same time.
This folder includes a letter postmarked 7 September 1943 in which Dowd discusses training at Camp Wolters (for example, "live fire" exercises, "booby traps," and a "patience test"). It also includes letters from Camp Maxey in Texas, where Dowd was stationed after Camp Wolters.
This folder includes discussion of Dowd's time at Ball State College in Muncie, Indiana, where he studied math and science as a candidate for the Army Specialized Training Program (A.S.T.P.).
This folder includes a letter postmarked 10 April 1944 from Camp Swift, Texas, in which Dowd notes that he has moved to "'F' Company in the 405th Regiment."
This folder includes a letter postmarked 18 April 1944 in which Dowd notes that he is working as an ammunition handler. A letter to Dowd's grandparents, with "Sunday" in the date line, has been placed in this folder. The letter is written on "Company 'F', 405th Infantry" stationery and appears to be from Camp Swift, Texas, suggesting that it was written around the same time as other letters in this folder.
This folder includes letters Dowd wrote from Fort Dix, New Jersey.
This folder includes correspondence discussing Dowd's journey to Europe by boat and his time stationed in France. In a letter dated 1 October 1944, he describes a visit to a church that reminds him of his study of western architecture with Professor Arthur J. May at the University of Rochester.
This folder includes a 17 October 1944 letter (probably from France) in which Dowd discusses searching for land mines. It also contains a photocopy of a letter from Holland and several letters from Germany. Dowd appears to have sent German coins to his family, possibly those currently located in box 9, tray 1. These coins were formerly housed in a separate envelope alongside Dowd's World War II correspondence.
This folder includes letters Dowd wrote from a hospital in England after being wounded.
This folder includes letters Dowd wrote from a hospital in England at Christmas and New Year's. In a 31 December 1944 letter, he reflects, "The year started in Indiana and continued through 3 visits home, Texas, New Jersey, New York, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and at last England. It's been the hardest year, the most horrible, and yet the most interesting."
This folder includes a letter postmarked 22 May 1945 in which Dowd writes from a hospital in Tacoma, Washington.
The German bills in this folder were previously housed alongside Dowd's World War II correspondence, inside the accompanying American Red Cross envelope.
Additional photographs of Dowd in the Army are located in box 1, folder 9.
This folder includes photographs of the Eastman Quad at the University of Rochester, with students, as well as a Carhart's High Hat Finish album containing photographs of Dowd and other students.
This folder consists mainly of letters to Dowd from students, faculty, and administrators at the University of Rochester. Letters relate to WRUR, Psi Upsilon fraternity (including discussion of the fraternity and race), the Athletic Committee, Dowd's decision to leave Harvard Law School, and an invitation to interview at the University, among other topics. The folder also contains a newspaper clipping featuring Dowd as a winner of the Terry Prize at the University of Rochester.
This folders contains facsimiles of the following papers and clippings, which Dowd had collected in a binder: Dowd, "Democratic Fundamentals and the Making of Foreign Policy," for Government 198, 12 May 1952; Dowd, "Constitutional Aspects of Discrimination against Negroes in Property and Education," July 1951; several pages of notes inserted within the previous paper; White, E. B., "The Morning of the Day They Did It,"
This draft of Dowd's thesis "A Legislative History of Amendments to the Natural Gas Act," composed earlier than the draft in folder 10, includes annotations by Dowd and another hand, perhaps John H. Millett of the Department of Government.
This is a reprint of an article by Colin Murray Turbayne, professor of philosophy at the University of Rochester. On the front cover Turbayne has written, "To Janis and Frank / with affectionate greetings / from Colin."
Dowd's father is the candidate on these cards.
This button, originally housed with the note, was moved to box 9, tray 5.
Three buttons, "I LIKE IKE," "Nixon," and "Nixon/Agnew" were attached to the McCarthy sticker in this folder. The buttons have been moved to box 9, trays 4 and 5.
One of the bumper stickers in this folder reads, "President Nixon. Now more than ever." The other two stickers have been altered to read, "I resent Nixon. Now more than ever."
Dowd's grandparents Otto Rhein and Caroline Meyer Rhein lived in Canton, Ohio.
Dowd's grandparents Otto Rhein and Caroline Meyer Rhein lived in Canton, Ohio.
Selected items in this tray include University of Rochester buttons; a Kappa Sigma fraternity pin; military pins and World War II-era buttons; Nazi-era German coins; agricultural exposition pins; Red Cross pins; and National Congress of Parents and Teachers pins. The bulk of the materials are from the 1930s. The German coins in this tray were formerly housed alongside Dowd's World War II correspondence. They may have been sent with a letter dated 20 November 1944 (see box 2, folder 5).
The bulk of the buttons in this tray relate to United States presidential elections, with several buttons promoting candidates for state and city races. The tray includes an Abraham Lincoln/Hannibal Hamlin ferrotype, which resembles a coin. It also contains celluloid buttons, including several for William McKinley and one that reads, "I'm for Crow! Are You?" Other politicians include William Jennings Bryan, Theodore Roosevelt, Charles E. Hughes, Gifford Pinchot, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, William Hale "Big Bill" Thompson, Brooks (Illinois), Warren G. Harding, Alf Landon/Frank Knox, Herbert Hoover, Earl Browder/James W. Ford (Communist Party 1940), and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The bulk of the buttons in this tray relate to United States presidential elections (1980s-1990s) and to elections in New York (circa 1940s-1970s). Candidates and potential candidates for presidential races include Steve Forbes, Al Gore, Jack Kemp, Richard Lugar, Dan Quayle, Ross Perot, and Colin Powell. Candidates for other races include Bella Abzug, Doug Call, Hugh Carey, Clark, Barber, Conable, Culver, Arthur Goldberg, Horner, Horton, Irving Ives, John J. LaFalce, Louis J. Lefkowitz, Levitt, McNutt, Frank D. O'Connor/Howard Joseph Samuels, Richard Ottinger, Nelson Rockefeller, Shapp, and Bob Wagner.
The bulk of the buttons in this tray relate to elections in New York State; nine of these are Mario Cuomo buttons. The tray also includes Equal Rights Amendment buttons and a reproduction of a "Vote No on Woman Suffrage" button, a "Don't Tread on Me" People's Bicentennial Commission button, a "Gannett Won't Give" button, a "Wood Works" button, a button relating to "The Progressive Years," and New York pins unrelated to electoral politics. Politicians include Bob Abrams, Ramsey Clark, Mario Cuomo (including Cuomo/Stan Lundine and McCall/Cuomo/Burstein), Lindley, Morin, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, O'Dwyer, and Wheeler.
The bulk of the buttons in this tray relate to elections in New York State and in the Rochester area. The tray also includes buttons relating to voter registration, a New York State "JUROR" button, a Rochester Monroe County Bicentennial Committee button, an "I'm from Illinois" button, and a button urging revision of the Pennsylvania Constitution. Candidates include Mary Beth Albright, Bill Bristol, Sam Colombo, Nanette Dembritz, Joan M. Hensler, Charles Hynes, Nan Johnson, Mary Ellen Jones, Oliver Koppell, Lindsay Mains, Al Papalia, Willis, and Barbara Zartman.
Selected items in this tray include Rochester, New York, buttons relating to topics such as the city's downtown and Lilac Festival; buttons relating to labor issues; and buttons with positive or humorous messages such as "World's Best Dad" and "Frodo Lives."
This tray contains "Democrat" and "Republican" ribbons, as well as ribbons for the Canton Women's McKinley Club, the "14th Promenade Nationale" in St. Louis, Missouri, and political conventions in Illinois and New York State. Medals are attached to several ribbons. Nameplates on the Illinois delegate ribbons indicate that they belonged to Frank Dowd Jr.'s mother, Virginia Dowd.
Selected items in this tray include international buttons depicting Mikhail Gorbachev, Valentyn Moroz, and Yuriy Shukhevych, and relating to subjects such as Angolan independence and Solidarnosc (or "Solidarity") in Poland; a Chinese decorative piece with ancient coins attached; pins for youth activities such as Girl Scouts; elephant ornaments; and patches, including a United States Army Specialized Training Program patch.
Wendy Long, a student assistant in Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, identified the Chinese decorative item in this tray.
This tray contains buttons supporting Wendell Willkie and opposing Franklin Delano Roosevelt as presidential candidates. Anti-Roosevelt buttons feature slogans such as "No Crown for Franklin," "No Roosevelt Dynasty," and "Out! Stealing Third." Several buttons show images of Willkie and his running mate Charles L. McNary.
The bulk of the buttons in this tray relate to United States presidential elections. Politicians include Barton, Thomas E. Dewey (and Dewey/Earl Warren), Douglas (and Douglas/McAdams), Dwight Eisenhower (including Eisenhower/William O. Douglas/Americans for Democratic Action and Eisenhower/Richard Nixon), John Nance Garner, William Averell Harriman (including Harriman/Roosevelt/Congress of Industrial Organizations), Hughes, Douglas MacArthur, Robert Taft, Harry Truman (anti-Truman), Henry A. Wallace, and Wendell Willkie (including Charles Wayland Brooks/Willkie/Dwight Green).
This box contains three large political buttons, one for Robert Taft and two for Adlai Stevenson (one with the slogan "We Believe in Steve").
The bulk of the buttons in this tray relate to United States presidential elections. Politicians include Chester Bowles, Dwight Eisenhower, Hubert Humphrey, Estes Kefauver, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon (including Nixon/Spiro Agnew), Harold Stassen, and Adlai Stevenson (including Stevenson/Kefauver and Robert F. Wagner/Stevenson/Kefauver). Among the Adlai Stevenson items in this tray are two holographic buttons. The "Bowles for President" button in this tray was accompanied by a note to Dowd from George I. McKelvey; this correspondence is housed in box 6, folder 6.
The bulk of the buttons in this tray relate to United States presidential elections. Politicians include Jimmy Carter (including Carter/Walter Mondale), Michael Dukakis/Lloyd Bentsen, Gerald Ford ("Betty's Husband for President in '76"), Hubert Humphrey, Edward Kennedy, George McGovern, Walter Mondale (including Mondale/Geraldine Ferraro), Richard Nixon (including "Impeach Nixon" and Nixon/Spiro Agnew), and Ronald Reagan (anti-Reagan). Among the Walter Mondale items in this tray are a University of Rochester "Students for Mondale" button, a United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union button, and an International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers (IUE) button.