Richard A. Preston papers, circa 1745-1987 (bulk 1956-1987)

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Summary

Creator:
Preston, Richard Arthur
Abstract:
Richard Arthur Preston (b. 1910), a leading British Commonwealth scholar, was appointed the William K. Boyd Professor of History at Duke University in 1965. Major subjects of the collection include Canadian history, especially military history; the Department of History; and the Canadian Studies program at Duke. Materials include correspondence, reports, course syllabi, printed matter, manuscripts, clippings, photographs, and other papers. English.
Extent:
36 Linear Feet
36000 Items
Language:
English.
Collection ID:
UA.29.02.0065
University Archives Record Group:
29 -- Papers of Faculty, Staff, and Associates
29 -- Papers of Faculty, Staff, and Associates > 02 -- Individuals

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes correspondence, reports, course syllabi, printed matter, drafts, research notes, manuscripts, lectures, photographs, clippings, maps, and other papers.

The arrangement of the collection is by accession dates. These additions follow the order given in the collection file and are not presented in chronological order.

The 1981 Additions (A81-60) include extensive correspondence, numerous drafts and published articles and reviews, photocopies of primary sources, some research notes, and administrative papers dealing with the Duke University History Dept. The chief subjects include Canadian military affairs, general military history, military education, and Canadian Studies as a historical subdiscipline. There is a folder list for this addition that is part of the collection file.

The 1980 Additions includes printed material, correspondence, studies, reports, articles, drafts, proofs, outlines, lectures, syllabi, clippings, photos, maps, and other papers. Major subjects include Canadian history, especially military history and current military and defense concerns. The first major portion of this Addition is made up of correspondence about Preston's own research and writings of other scholars. Other materials include Preston's research notes; photocopies and typed copies of historical documents; and guides to historical collections. There are also administrative files about the History Dept. at Duke, and the Canadian Studies Program. There is a small amount of material about the alumni of the Royal Military College in Canada, where Preston taught for a number of years. The second major portion of this Addition focuses on various aspects of modern Canadian defense and external security, Canada and NATO, relations with the British Commonwealth, and Canadian domestic affairs.

Biographical / historical:

Born in 1910, in Middlesbrough, England, Preston was educated at the University of Leeds (B.A., 1931; M.A., 1932; diploma in education, 1933) and Yale University (Ph.D, 1936). Preston was appointed lecturer at the University of Toronto (1936); Assistant Lecturer at the University College, Cardiff (1938-1940); a member of the Royal Air Force (1940-1945), Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto (1945), Professor of History in the Royal Military College of Canada (1948-1965), and the William K. Boyd Professor of History at Duke University (1965-1980). Preston was the director of the Canadian Studies Program at Duke University (1973-1979).

Preston was a prolific writer of scholarly articles and books. His works include:

  • Gorges of Plymouth Fort: A Life of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Captain of Plymouth Fort, Governor of New England, and Lord of the Province of Maine, University of Toronto Press, 1953;
  • Kingston before the War of 1812, Champlain Society, 1958;
  • Canada in World Affairs, 1959-61, Oxford University Press, 1965;
  • Canada and the "Imperial Defense": A Study of the Origins of the British Commonwealth's Defense Organization, 1867-1919, Duke University Press, 1967.
  • Canada's RMC: A History of the Royal Military College, University of Toronto Press, 1969, new edition, 1984;
  • The Defence of the Undefended Border: Planning for War in North America, 1867-1939, McGill-Queen's University Press, 1977;
  • The Squat Pyramid: Canadian Studies in the United States, Center for International Studies, Duke University, 1980;
  • Perspectives in the History of Military Education and Professionalism, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1980
  • To Serve Canada: A History of the Royal Military College Since the Second World War, University of Ottawa Press (Ottawa, Canada), 1991.

Preston received a number of awards during his career. He received the Commonwealth Fund fellowship (1933-36); Nuffield summer travel award (1954); Duke University summer research scholarship (1957); City of Kingston Achievement Award (1957) for his television series and publications on the history of Kingston; Canada Council senior fellowship (1963-64); Social Science Research Council grant (1963); Canada Confederation Medal (1967); Guggenheim fellowship (1971-72); Donner Memorial Medal (1975) for promotion of Canadian studies in the United States; LL.D., Royal Military College of Canada (1977); and the Northern Telecom Gold Medal (1983) for the promotion of Canadian studies. Preston was named honorary professor of history, Royal Military College of Canada (1973).

Preston married Marjorie Ethel Fishwick in 1939, and had three children.

Acquisition information:
The Richard A. Preston Papers was received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1980 (A80-225), 1981 (A81-60), 1983 (A83-96), 1985 (A85-65), and 1988 (A88-0048).
Processing information:

Processed by Linda Daniel

Completed March, 2004

This collection is partially processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Brittle newspaper clippings will need to be processed before use. Please consult University Archives staff.

De-accessioned: Photocopies of two maps from Box 14; 30 transparencies detailing troop movements at Gettysburg and 16 transparencies of troop movements at Chancellorsville from Box 15.

Encoded by Linda Daniel, March 2004

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the office of origin and the University Archivist is required for use. After twenty-five years, records that have been processed may be consulted with the permission of the University Archivist.

In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits students to inspect their education records and limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records.

Records, such as search committee files or others pertaining to employment where individuals are identified, are closed for 70 years.

Portions of these materials are restricted by donor request.

In off-site storage; 48 hours advance notice is required for use.

Terms of access:

Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Richard A. Preston Papers, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.