The legacy of civil rights activist John Hope Franklin will live on in the form of his manuscripts, lists, diaries and other documents that the University has recently acquired.
In 1983, Franklin became the James B. Duke professor of history. He was well-regarded for his work with racial relations and, in 1995, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his civil rights efforts.
The recent acquisition of more than 300 boxes of Franklin’s papers will broaden the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library’s collection. The documents have brought both students and faculty from outside universities to Duke’s campus, said William Chafe, Alice Mary Baldwin professor of history.
“These papers are a gold mine,” Chafe said. “Not only are they luminous and covering an extraordinary number of areas, but they also are a magnet because they already have attracted a large number of other collections from historians around the country who are not part of Duke’s community but people who want to be associated with John Hope Franklin and his library collection.”
Franklin’s papers run the gamut from his daily journal to conversations recorded with John F. Kennedy, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other famous political and activist figures. The acquisition provides opportunities for undergraduate research, said Naomi Nelson, director of the Rubenstein Library. Nelson said she was most excited about the idea of student involvement with the collection. If faculty and staff succeed in communicating to students the importance and scope of Franklin’s papers, students will appreciate him and access his work.
“[The papers] are wide open to students,” she added. “[The Rubenstein Library] is among the leaders in seeking out opportunities for undergraduates to use primary materials. It is very much an extension of the learning at Duke.”
Although Franklin’s papers are a real asset to the University, his work cemented his legacy and significance at the school.
Chafe, who worked closely with Franklin during his time in Duke’s history department, spoke to his influence on race relations amongst faculty and students.
“He was important in having an impact on policy for the administration and faculty. He helped to encourage a very significant number of black faculty,” he said.
Franklin also had a reputation around campus for his warm and endearing manner, said Benjamin Reese, vice president for institutional equity.
“I miss him every day,” Reese said. “We [were] friends, and I have lots of memories. One I have is the way in which, every time we got together, he would remember details of our last conversation.”
Franklin’s esteemed standing in the activist world was instrumental in bringing notable guests to Duke’s campus, Chafe added.
“He was really important in terms of attracting distinguished scholars to come to Duke because he was here,” he said. “If he weren’t here, they might have gone somewhere else, but he was here and, therefore, this was the place to come.”
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.