J. Kenneth Leslie (1907-1985) Papers

The J. Kenneth Leslie Papers fill thirteen boxes and span the period 1926-1985. They are arranged in six categories: education files, correspondence files, teaching files, administration files, research files, and publications. Four folders of biographical materials are included as well. A portion of the collection is in Spanish.

The education files consist primarily of lecture and reading notes from Leslie's undergraduate and graduate studies. Six folders of notes for his doctoral thesis are present. These are complemented by a printed paperback edition of the thesis produced by Princeton University. (Box 11, Folder 3).

The correspondence relates primarily to Leslie's academic and professional work. It is arranged chronologically by year.

The teaching files contain syllabi, lecture and reading notes, and student papers. Also found here are grade records, examination materials, and notes on several Latin American authors.

The administration files relate largely to Leslie's three terms as departmental chairman. They include annual reports, budget materials, documents concerning recruitment and promotion of faculty members, and correspondence and reports pertaining to students and to courses offered by the department.

The research files contain notes on material Leslie consulted in Latin America and the United States, transcriptions of several manuscripts of literary interest (some in Box 13), and reading notes from pertinent scholarly publications.

The bulk of the publications files consists of drafts, notes and other materials Leslie had gathered for a major study of the 19th-century Spanish author, Mariano Jose de Larra. There is also considerable material for the fourth edition of Leslie's widely-used text, Spanish for Conversation. Some of this is filed with other Legal-size materials in Box 13.