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Ronald E. Kennedy Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 17/2

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The Ronald E. Kennedy Papers fill seven boxes and are arranged in nine subseries: biographical materials, education files, correspondence, teaching files, research and consulting files, professional organizations files, speeches, publications, and Northwestern University Law School administrative committee files.

Biographical materials include curricula vitae, clippings, and financial records pertaining to professional travel.

The education files contain lecture and reading notes largely from Kennedy's first term (Fall, 1970) studies at the Northwestern University Law School.

The correspondence includes Kennedy's recommendations of candidates for academic and governmental positions as well as letters pertaining to speaking engagements and travel, teaching programs, publications, and minority affairs.

The teaching files, which occupy three and one half boxes, contain a few notes and related materials but consist mainly of senior student and master's degree research papers by Kennedy's students. Also found here are seven folders of correspondence, documents, teaching materials, and reports relating to Minority Legal Education Resources, Inc. (MLER), which Kennedy helped found and in which he played a majority role. One of the chief purposes of MLER was to improve the success rate of minority students taking the Illinois State bar examination. Several other states copied MLER as a model for minority legal education programs.

The research and consulting files contain materials relating to minority legal education, Kennedy's service as arbitrator in several industrial disputes, and a variety of private legal cases in which Kennedy was involved.

The professional organizations files deal primarily with legal organizations. Of special interest are the nine folders of materials relating to the Chicago Council of Lawyers, an organization largely comprised of young, liberal lawyers of which Kennedy was president, 1978-1979. The Council took an active role in supporting minority students interested in legal careers, in improving the quality of judicial conduct in Chicago, and in merit selection of judges.

The speeches contain texts and related correspondence for five speeches Kennedy delivered at various meetings and events.

The publications files include a few legal and newspaper articles authored by Kennedy.

The administrative committee files are comprised of notes, correspondence, and reports relating to Kennedy's service to the Northwestern Law School. Of particular interest are the materials pertaining to the Bar Examination Committee and those documenting Kennedy's recruiting trips to several colleges and universities.

Dates

  • 1970-1984

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

7.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Ronald E. Kennedy Papers contain education files, correspondence, teaching files, research and consulting files, professional organizations files, speeches, publications, and Northwestern University Law School administrative committee files.

Arrangement

The Ronald E. Kennedy Papers are arranged in nine subseries: biographical materials; education files (arranged alphabetically by course); correspondence (arranged chronologically); teaching files (student papers are arranged alphabetically by surname initial); research and consulting files (arranged alphabetically, sometimes by surname initial); professional organizations files (arranged alphabetically by name); speeches (arranged by date); publications; and Northwestern University Law School administrative committee files (arranged alphabetically by topic).

Method of Acquisition

The Ronald E. Kennedy Papers were donated to the Northwestern University Archives by Professor Kennedy on July 27, 1984 (Accession #84-116).

Processing Information

William K. Beatty; December, 1985.

Title
Guide to the Ronald E. Kennedy Papers
Author
William K. Beatty
Date
01/12/1985
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