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Dexter Perkins papers

 Collection
Identifier: D.73

Biographical / Historical note

Dexter Perkins was born in Boston, graduated from Harvard in 1909 and earned his doctorate in philosophy there in 1914. He joined the Rochester Faculty that year as an assistant professor of history. He advanced to full professor in 1925, when he became head of the history department. Dr. Perkins was an official United States historian at the 1945 San Francisco Security Conference that preceded the organization of the United Nations. Later that year, he was the first to teach a new course on American History and Institutions at Cambridge University. He also taught at Uppsala University in Sweden and was instrumental in creating the Salzburg Seminar in American Studies in Austria, presiding over annual gatherings from 1950-1961. During his long association with the American Historical Association he served as both president and secretary. Dr. Perkins was the author of 17 books, many of them on the formation and conduct of America foreign policy. He was regarded by his contemporaries as a leading expert on the Monroe Doctrine, about which he wrote several volumes. After his retirement in 1954, he became the first John L. Senior Professor of American Civilization at Cornell University and held that chair until 1959. He also continued to write and lecture at institutions in this country and abroad. His memoirs, "Yield of the Years," appeared in 1969. He died in May, 1984 at the Brightonian Convalescent Care Center in Rochester. He was 94 years old.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of correspondence (personal and about book and articles published); outline of courses taught at the University of Rochester; subjects of interests; and some of his published articles and speeches.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1905-1975

Language of Materials

English

Extent

12 box(es)

Access

The Dexter Perkins 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.

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

The material was received from the President’s office on July 9, 1971. Correspondence received from Dr. Perkins on October 19, 1973.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Dexter Perkins Papers, D.73, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Title
Dexter Perkins papers
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