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Curtis MacDougall (1903-1985) Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 16/13

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The Curtis MacDougall Papers fill one and one-half boxes and span the years 1940 to 1992. Class handouts and syllabi comprise the bulk of the material, although there is a considerable amount of material pertaining to MacDougall's political campaigns.

The biographical folder includes basic information about MacDougall's professional accomplishments. Personal and professional correspondence and several Northwestern University press releases are included in this folder.

Clippings, which span the years 1944 to 1992, document events such as MacDougall's speeches and awards and the FBI's 30-year surveillance of him. Letters to the Editor written by MacDougall and obituaries about him and his wife are included in this folder.

The curricular documents and handouts from two of MacDougall's graduate-level Medill courses, Contemporary Public Affairs and Reporting of Public Affairs, are divided by course. One folder contains beat reports--the memos students wrote about their reporting experiences to help future students. The material dates from 1955 to 1956.

The papers also contain an undated paper titled "Interpretative Reporting: 50 Years of Significant Contributions to Journalism Education" about the lasting effects of MacDougall's textbook, Interpretative Reporting.

Most of the material concerning MacDougall's political campaigns relates to his 1944 bid for the 10th District Congressional seat. Political literature and clippings documenting MacDougall's arrest are included.

The papers also include a few samples of MacDougall's writings. MacDougall was also a frequent participant on "The Reviewing Stand," a radio show co-sponsored by Northwestern University and Chicago's WGN. Transcripts from shows on which MacDougall appeared are included.

Dates

  • 1940-1992

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is stored off-site and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection.

Extent

2.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

During his more than 35 years at Northwestern University, Curtis MacDougall--"Dr. Mac" to his students--emerged as one of America’s leading journalism experts and educators. The Curtis MacDougall Papers fill one and one-half boxes and span the years 1940 to 1992. Class handouts and syllabi comprise the bulk of the material, although there is a considerable amount of material pertaining to MacDougall's political campaigns. The papers also include a few samples of MacDougall's writings. The collection includes transcripts of episodes of "The Reviewing Stand"--a radio show co-sponsored by Northwestern and Chicago's WGN--in which MacDougall was a participant.

Arrangement

The materials are in a series of topical folders, each arranged alphabetically.

Method of Acquisition

The Curtis MacDougall Papers consist of material separated from the Joe Blade Papers (Series 31/6/26), the University Archives' Biographical Files (Acc. # 87-59), and the Harrison Hayford Papers (Acc. #87-247).

Separated Materials

About one-half inch of duplicate material was discarded.

Processing Information

Jessica Mayle; May 2004.

Title
Guide to the Curtis MacDougall (1903-1985) Papers
Author
Jessica Mayle
Date
01/05/2004
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Library Details

Part of the Northwestern University Archives Repository

Contact:
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635