Main content

Sheldon Hackney research notes on African American history, civil rights, and folk songs

Notifications

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
Ms. Coll. 964
Repository:
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Extent:
1 linear feet (2 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Sheldon Hackney research notes on African American history, civil rights, and folk songs, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania
Date:
1943-2006 (inclusive) and 1970-1997 (bulk)
Creator:
Hackney, Sheldon
Form:
Tape reels, Research notes, and Audiovisual materials
Abstract:
Sheldon Hackney (1933-2013) was a historian of the American south, an academic administrator, and the chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities during the Clinton administration. This collection consists of a very small number of papers created by Sheldon Hackney and includes research notes and audio recordings relating to his research on African American history, the Civil Rights Movement and folk life and folk song.

Sheldon Hackney (1933-2013) was a historian of the American south, an academic administrator, and the chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities during the Clinton administration. Born December 5, 1933 to Cecil Fain Hackney and Elizabeth Morris Hackney, Francis Sheldon Hackney (known as Sheldon Hackney) received his bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University, and his master's and doctorate degrees from Yale University in 1963 and 1966 respectively. Between earning his bachelor's and master's degrees, Hackney served in the United States Navy.

With a focus on history of the American south since the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, Hackney began his academic career at Princeton University, where he taught American history from 1965 to 1972. He then moved into academic administration; serving as provost of Princeton from 1972 to 1975, and president of Tulane from 1975 to 1980. From 1981 to 1993, Hackney served as president of the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1993, Hackney was appointed by President Clinton to serve as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. After stepping down as chairman in 1997, Hackney returned to the University of Pennsylvania to continue teaching history.

He is the author of Populism to Progressivism in Alabama (1969), Populism: The Critical Issue (1971), Politics of Presidential Appointment: A Memoir of the Culture War (2002), and Magnolias without Moonlight: The American South from Regional Confederacy to National Integration (2005).

Hackney married Lucy Durr and was the father of Fain, Virginia, and Elizabeth. He died on September 12, 2013.

This collection consists of a very small number of papers created by Sheldon Hackney and includes research notes and audio recordings relating to his research on African American history, the Civil Rights Movement and folk life and folk song. The collection is arranged first by topic, and then alphabetically within the topic. Scholars interested in Hackney's research or the topics of his research will find this collection to be interesting; however, there is probably very little unique material in this collection. The originals of almost all material can be located elsewhere; the vast majority of the contents of this collection is photocopies or reproductions of originals.

Transferred from Sheldon Hackney's office, 2011.

Subject
Place

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Finding Aid Author
Holly Mengel
Finding Aid Date
2014 March 25
Access Restrictions

The bulk of this collection is open for research use; however, access to original audio/visual materials and computer files is restricted. The Kislak Center will provide access to the information on these materials from duplicate master files. If the original does not already have a copy, it will be sent to an outside vendor for copying. Patrons are financially responsible for the cost. The turnaround time from request to delivery of digital items is about two weeks for up to five items and three to seven weeks for more than five items. Please contact Reprographic Services (reprogr@upenn.edu) for cost estimates and ordering. Once digital items are received, researchers will have access to the files on a dedicated computer in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center. Researchers should be aware of specifics of copyright law and act accordingly.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Collection Inventory

Request to View Materials

Materials can be requested by first logging in to Aeon. Then, click on the ADD button next to any containers you wish to request. When complete, click the Request button.

Request item to view

Chronologies of historical events from 1954 to 1974 (used for History GH 018b), after 1975.
Box 1 Folder 1
Excerpts from "New South" to "No South?" The Southern Renaissance and the Struggle with Southern Identity, by James C. Cobb, 1999.
Box 1 Folder 2
Newspaper clippings and book reviews on the Civil Rights Movement, 1970-1971, 1997.
Box 1 Folder 3
Notes and publications regarding the Civil Rights Movement (with an emphasis on violent and non-violent protests), circa 1970s.
Box 1 Folder 4
Reel-to-reel audio recordings of programs about African American history [RESTRICTED], circa 1970s.
Box 2 Item 14-20
Social Justice, the Church and Counter-Culture, photocopies from Temple University's Urban Archives and notes, 2006.
Box 1 Folder 5
The Way it Was, audio cassette [RESTRICTED], 1960s.
Box 2 Item 1

Afro-American Spirituals, Work Songs, and Ballads, audio cassette from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, circa 1970s.
Box 2 Item 2
American Rock, audio cassette [RESTRICTED], circa 1970s.
Box 2 Item 3
Anglo-American Songs and Ballads, audio cassette from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, circa 1970s.
Box 2 Item 4
Ballad Hunter, Parts V-X, audio cassettes from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, circa 1970s.
Box 2 Item 5-7
Folk life and folk song: Publications and lists regarding recordings from the Library of Congress Archives and Folk Culture and Archive of Folk Song, 1943-1989.
Box 1 Folder 6
Negro Religious Songs and Services, audio cassette from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, circa 1970s.
Box 2 Item 8
Negro Blues and Hollers, audio cassette from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, circa 1970s.
Box 2 Item 9
Sacred Harp Singing, audio cassette from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, circa 1970s.
Box 2 Item 10-11

Letters (mostly personal) to Sheldon Hackney (Correspondents include Cynthia Koch, Don Henley, Claudia McBride Sklar, Bill Waddell, and Sidney Werkman), 1997.
Box 1 Folder 7
Justice Talking, audio cassette [RESTRICTED], circa 1970s.
Box 2 Item 12
National Museum of American History Board Dinner (Marilyn Zoidis's presentation), audio cassette [RESTRICTED], 2002 February 21.
Box 2 Item 13

Print, Suggest