Collection ID: C276
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
William T. Patten Foundation
Abstract:
The William T. Patten Foundation was founded at Indiana University in May 1931 by Indiana University alumnus William T. Patten. The Foundation hosts scholars from various institutions and disciplines to give lectures in his/her area of expertise. This collection contains files on each scholar who has assumed the role of Patten Lecturer since 1968. The files include recommendations from IU faculty to the Patten Committee, programs, and correspondence, as well as some audio and video recordings of the lectures.
Extent:
13.4 cubic feet (14 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item], William T. Patten Foundation lectures records, Collection C276, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

The William T. Patten Foundation invites eminent and renowned scholars to lecture at Indiana University in an effort to afford students increased opportunities for varied intellectual discourse. Past lecturers have included Julian Huxley, George Sarton, George Luis Borges, Toni Morrison, Donna Haraway, Evelyn Fox Keller, Noam Chomsky, and Edward Said. The Foundation's campus-wide committee decides upon potential lecturers based on their contributions to scholarship and their ability to relate the importance of their studies to a lay audience. Lecturers originally visited campus for six weeks; lecturers today visit for one week at a time, visiting classes and giving two public lectures.

William T. Patten was born August 10, 1867, in Sullivan County, Indiana. During his undergraduate career at Indiana University, Patten served as associate editor for the student newspaper and competed in oratorical contests, in addition to pursuing other work to fund his education. He graduated in 1893 with an AB in history. Patten then moved to Indianapolis where he worked in real estate and politics and served as county auditor.

In 1931, Patten willed the bulk of his estate to Indiana University with the understanding that the University would utilize the funds to establish a distinguished interdisciplinary lecture series. He was particularly proud of Indiana University and the opportunities it presented to fellow Hoosiers and hoped his gift would help the University to further its intellectual reputation. Upon Patten's death in 1936, the University launched the William T. Patten Foundation and Lecture Series.

Scope and Content:

The William T. Patten Foundation lecture records, 1938-2009, is organized into four series: Administrative Files, 1968-2008, Lecturers, 1968-2009, Programs, 1942-2009, and Publications, 1938-1990.

The Administrative files, 1968-2008, include materials such as committee membership lists, correspondence and meeting files. Additionally, numerous lectureship nomination files which include recommendations were restricted and moved to the end of the collection.

Lecturers, 1968-2009, contains files on the speakers who actually presented a lecture or who were nominated as a potential speaker. The files are arranged alphabetically by surname. The files typically include biographical information on the individuals, correspondence related to the appointment, and lecture notes for some of the presentations. Some files also include a sample of the lecturer's writings, such as an essay or an extract from a novel or short story or audio reel, audiocassette, compact disc (CD), digital video discs (DVD) and VHS recordings of lectures he/she has given. Several files are comprised only of the audio or video recordings, and these files are noted as such in the folder list.

The Programs series, 1942-2013, is arranged chronologically by year. Each program includes a description of the lecturer, his/her scholastic and professional interests and achievements, and, in more recent programs, a photograph of the lecturer.

The Publications series, 1938-1990, contains books written by a few of the Patten Lecturers and is arranged alphabetically by author. Of particular interest is the publication by former IU President William Lowe Bryan.

Note: This collection will have regular accruals, and the finding aid will be updated periodically to reflect this. Please contact the University Archives staff for questions about most current records that may not be included in this folder list.

Acquisition information:
Accession Information: 2001/036, 2004/065, 0649, 0218, 2006/082, 2006/095, 2007/112, 2008/016, 2009/035 and 2011/080, 2014/060. Also interfiled are any publications found in the Archives' publications collection.
Appraisal information:

Financial records such as disbursement vouchers, purchase requisitions, invoices and payroll information were removed and destroyed.

Custodial history:

Transferred from Patten Foundation Committee, under the Dean of Faculties/Academic Affairs.

Processing information:

Processed by Sharity Nelson.

Completed in 2006

Additional accessions added by Carrie Schwier in 2011 and 2014.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into four series: Administrative files, Lecturers, Programs, and Publications.

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

The lecture nomination files that contain recommendations are closed to researchers (restrictions noted in the folder list).

Advance notice is required for access to the collection.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Copyrights for records originating with Indiana University administrative units, departments, and other offices are held by the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], William T. Patten Foundation lectures records, Collection C276, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu