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George T. Romani (1917-1977) Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 11/3/16/5

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The George T. Romani Papers comprise 11 boxes of material generated during his career as a college student and teacher, 1935-1977. The papers are divided into five general categories: Biographical Materials, Student Materials: University of California-Berkeley, Correspondence, Academic Files and Writings and Research. The bulk of the collection consists of his Academic Files which span his thirty year career at Northwestern University, 1947-1977.

The Biographical Material, while not comprehensive, includes biographical data and some memorabilia. The General Correspondence reveals more detailed information of Romani's life. Included with the biographical material is a detailed account of an incident that occurred while Romani was in the Navy which was recorded at a later date for the Division of Naval History. The Guggenheim Fellowship material contains correspondence and miscellaneous items from his two applications for the grant and one receipt of the grant for the year 1959-1960.

The Student Materials: University of California-Berkeley comprise three boxes of Romani's class work, syllabi, notes, examinations and student papers from his undergraduate and graduate days at Berkeley, 1935-1946; with a gap 1942-1946 during his service in World War II. Also included are some materials from the courses for which Romani served as a Teaching Assistant, including B4, introductory European history.

The Correspondence is divided into two sections: General Correspondence and correspondence with Students. The General Correspondence consists primarily of letters between Romani and various friends and colleagues including a large amount of correspondence with his Northwestern colleagues Gray C. Boyce and Richard Brace. The correspondence with Boyce, Brace and other friends often includes long accounts concerned with their respective scholarly and academic circles as well as accounts of their personal experiences. The correspondence with Students reveals much about Romani's relations with his students, especially those graduate students with wharf he worked very closely. Some correspondence with students may also be found with the General Correspondence. Most letters of recommendations have been filed with his Academic Files.

The Academic Files are divided into five sections: Departmental Business, General Course Materials, Subject Files, Individual Course Materials and Student Materials. The Departmental Business files, arranged alphabetically by folder title, consist mainly of correspondence or memoranda. With the exception of one folder containing Romani's Teacher Evaluation for 1976, the titles refer to various committees or boards on which he served. The General Course materials are those that were used for several courses or for which a course title could not be determined. These have been arranged alphabetically by folder title. The Subject Files titles were established by Romani. These are not identified by course title.

The Individual Course materials include all materials that could be identified with a particular course. Some course numbers changed over the years, so both numbers are included with the title of the course. The Bachelor of Arts Program Lecture Notes are from an interdisciplinary course entitled “Bases of Social Life” for which Romani gave several class lectures. The balance of the course materials are arranged for each course in the following order: enrollment and statistics; book lists and bibliographies; syllabi, lecture notes and clippings; examinations, grades, correspondence and miscellaneous. The Summer Session and University College/ Evening Division course materials are arranged similarly, preceded by general correspondence. The last section, Student Materials includes Romani's Recommendations for students. Student Papers taken from materials relating to a particular course are also filed here.

The Writings and Research category is divided into two sections. Filed under Writings is material including publicity and reviews relating to the publication of Romani's book The Neapolitan Revolution of 1821-1821, published in 1950 as number six of the Northwestern University Press Social Studies Series. Book Reviews by Romani are filed with related correspondence, except for a detailed criticism of a book edited by Joseph S. Roucek prepared prior to the book's publication.

The Research section includes correspondence and miscellaneous materials related to Roman's Research Abroad, including his year study in Italy on a Fulbright Fellowship. The folders entitled Northwestern Studies in History, General Pepe and Society of Italian Historical Studies contain correspondence and notes. The Miscellaneous Research Notes include materials that could not be specifically identified with courses Romani taught or with a specific research project.

Two folders of George Romani's correspondence, 1952-1976, with his graduate students was separated from the history department's graduate student files by Professor Richard W. Leopold and transferred to the University Archives on September 9, 1988 as Accession #85-190. This correspondence was interfiled in the appropriate folders of correspondence in boxes four and five of the George T. Romani Papers.

Two letters from Herbert Andrews to George Romani were donated to the University Archives by Herbert Andrews on October 17, 1986 (through the courtesy of Professor Richard W. Leopold) as Accession #86-202. They were interfiled in Box five, Folder two. Andrews' (Northwestern University Ph.D. 1964) doctoral dissertation was directed by Romani.

Dates

  • 1935-1977

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

11.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The George T. Romani Papers comprise 11 boxes of material generated during his career as a college student and teacher, 1935-1977. The papers are divided into five general categories: Biographical Materials, Student Materials: University of California-Berkeley, Correspondence, Academic Files and Writings and Research. The bulk of the collection consists of his Academic Files which span Romani's thirty year career at Northwestern University, 1947-1977. His research focused on European history, particularly Italian cultural and intellectual history.

Arrangement Note

The papers are divided into five general categories: Biographical Materials, Student Materials: University of California-Berkeley, Correspondence, Academic Files and Writings and Research.

Method of Acquisition

The George T. Romani Papers were donated to the University Archives by Professor Roman's widow, Mrs. Margaret Romani, on July 22, 1977.

Two folders of George Romani's correspondence, 1952-1976, with his graduate students was separated from the history department's graduate student files by Professor Richard W. Leopold and transferred to the University Archives on September 9, 1988 as Accession #85-190. This correspondence was interfiled in the appropriate folders of correspondence in boxes four and five of the George T. Romani Papers.

Two letters from Herbert Andrews to George Romani were donated to the University Archives by Herbert Andrews on October 17, 1986 (through the courtesy of Professor Richard W. Leopold) as Accession #86-202. They were interfiled in Box five, Folder two. Andrews' (Northwestern University Ph.D. 1964) doctoral dissertation was directed by Romani.

Processing Information

Elisabeth Wittman, November 1977. Additions processed by Alex Strauss, March 1998.

Title
Guide to the George T. Romani (1917-1977) Papers
Author
Elisabeth Wittman
Date
01/11/1977
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