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Richard F. Fenno Jr. papers

 Collection
Identifier: D.359

Biographical/Historical note

Richard F. Fenno Jr. was born on December 12, 1926 in Fwyche Winchester, Massachusetts. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Fenno attended Amherst College, and in 1948 received his Bachelor's degree. That same year he married Nancy Davidson. The couple had two children, Mark and Craig. Fenno pursued a PhD in Political Science from Harvard University and completed his degree in 1956. Two years before joining the University of Rochester's Political Science Department, he taught at Wheaton College and Amherst College. Fenno joined the University of Rochester's Political Science Department in 1957. In 1959, Fenno's PhD dissertation The President's Cabinet was published by Harvard University Press. Fenno served from 1970-1978 as the Don Alonzo Watson Professor of History and Political Science. In 1978, he was named the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester. In 1985, Fenno was named "Distinguished University Professor." In honor of Fenno's service to the University, in 2005, the Richard F. Fenno, Jr. Seminar Room was dedicated in Harkness Hall. In 2007, Fenno celebrated his fiftieth year teaching at the University of Rochester.

During his professional career, Fenno served on several national committees and received numerous awards and honors. Between 1975 and 1980, Fenno served as Chairman, Selection Committee and Advisory Committee, American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship Program. In 1974, he was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1976, Fenno was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. Fenno received two awards for his book, Home Style. In 1979, he won the Woodrow Wilson Foundation Award and the following year the D.B. Hardeman Prize, from the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library. Fenno was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1983. From 1984 - 1985 Fenno served as President of the American Political Science Association. In 1986, the American Political Science Association's Legislature Studies Section established the Richard F. Fenno Prize for best book on legislative studies. In 1989, he was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society. In 1994, Lewis and Nancy Kaplan established the Richard F. Fenno Fund to purchase material related to political science for the University of Rochester Libraries. In 2001, Fenno's book, Congress at the Grassroots won the V. O. Key Award for best book on southern politics.

Richard F. Fenno Jr. served as Distiguished University Professor Emeritus until his death in 2020.

Scope and Contents note

The Richard Fenno Papers include materials gathered from interviews Professor Fenno conducted with members of Congress beginning in the 1960s through the early 2000s. The boxes contain research notes, biographical materials and correspondence between Professor Fenno and his interview subject. Boxes 1-25 contain interview notes dating from the 1950s through the 1980s. Also included in the collection are research notes about Congress more generally, and drafts of book chapters. The collection also include lectures and talks that Professor Fenno gave during his career, both at the University of Rochester and as a speaker at other universities.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1940's-2014

Language of Materials

English

Extent

79 box(es)

Restrictions on Access

The Richard F. Fenno Jr. Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Restrictions on Use

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.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The papers were the gift of Richard F. Fenno Jr., 2006.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Richard F. Fenno Jr. Papers, D.359, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Accruals

Additional materials have regularly been added to this collection beginning in 2007.

Related Archival Materials note

Please note that additional information related to Richard F. Fenno Jr.'s career and legacy can be found here.

Title
Richard F. Fenno Jr. papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA