Call Number:

UPT 50 A513

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center

Extent:

2.57 cubic feet (2 record cartons)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Herman Vandenburg Ames papers (1892-1935) UPT50 A513, University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center

Date:

1892-1935 (inclusive)

Creator:

Ames, Herman Vandenburg, 1865-1935

Form:

Correspondence, Journals (periodicals), Examinations, Lecture notes, Bibliographies, and Clippings

Abstract:

Herbert Vandenburg Ames (1865-1935), was a professor of American constitutional history and dean of the Graduate School at the University of Pennsylvania. His papers primarily contain his professional and academic correspondence from his time at Penn (1897-1935), as well as his course notes and examinations used in the classes he taught.

Herbert Vandenburg Ames (1865-1935), was a professor of American constitutional history and a dean of the Graduate School at the University of Pennsylvania. He was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts on August 7, 1865, to parents Marcus Ames and Jane Angeline nee Vandenburg. Ames graduated from Amherst College and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard. After studies in Leipzig and Heidelberg, Ames taught at the University of Michigan and Ohio State University before becoming an instructor in American history at Penn in 1897. He served as dean of the Graduate School from 1907 to 1928. In 1921, Ames was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society, and in 1925 he was awarded the honorary degree of Litt. D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ames developed an interest in archival theory during his time studying in Germany and he helped to influence the American Historical Association to undertake a nationwide survey of primary source documents held at American repositories. He was an active member of the Public Archives Commission of the American Historical Association for many years and served as its Chair from 1902 to 1912. Ames spent time in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, documenting the poor condition of state records there and co-authored a report that prompted the creation of the Pennsylvania State Archives in 1903.

Professor Ames was the author of a number of books and articles, including the book "Proposed Amendments to the Constitution of the United States," for which he received the Justin Winsor prize of the American Historical Association.

Herbert Vandenburg Ames was still working as a professor when he died at his home in Philadelphia on February 7, 1935.

The Herman Vandenburg Ames papers contains correspondence, course notes and examinations, bibliographies, student research papers, news clippings, and academic journals and other periodicals.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of professional and academic correspondence from his time at the University of Pennsylvania (1897-1935), reflecting his work as a professor and dean, as well as a set of notes and examinations from the variety of courses he taught. Some of these folders are clearly identified by subject, but others contain a variety of notes and exams from a range of courses on American history. One folder of correspondence is solely related to his work on the Public Archives Commission of the American Historical Association.

The collection also contains some news-clippings about, and articles and essays by, Francis Newton Thorpe (1857-1926), who was a fellow scholar of American constitutional history at Penn.

This collection is arranged alphabetically.