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Richard M. Brace (1915-1977) Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 11/3/16/10

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The Richard Brace Papers, filling 10 boxes and spanning the period 1933 to 1977, are arranged in eight subseries: biographical materials, education files, correspondence, teaching files, research and consulting files, professional organizations files, speeches and papers, and publications.

The biographical materials include several curriculum vitae, bibliographies, and news clippings. A folder pertaining to Mrs. Brace includes her draft of a short story and the text of a book review as well as correspondence, clippings, and related items pertaining to her art work and exhibitions. A folder of items relating to Geoffrey Brace includes mainly student papers from his work at college.

The education files, arranged Largely by course number, consist primarily of reading and lecture notes, with some exams and a few papers from Brace's undergraduate and graduate studies at Berkeley.

General correspondence, arranged both in chronological and subject folders, deals mostly with Brace's teaching, writing, and speaking activities. Of particular interest are several letters to and from George McGovern regarding Brace's attempts to secure a diplomatic post with the Carter administration during the mid-1970s (Box 3, Folder 19).

The teaching files include lecture and reading notes, syllabi, a few student papers, and grade sheets. Also here are the texts for two radio broadcasts Brace gave for the University of Colorado series, “History in the Making,” in 1947. These texts deal largely with European diplomatic and political developments and with U.S. relations with Vichy France. The teaching files are organized in sequence first according to the chronological order of Brace's academic appointments and then by course number and course title.

Research and consulting files include correspondence, notes, and reports relating to Brace's applications for financial support and his work as a consultant to several granting agencies. The files are arranged alphabetically by title of agency or organization.

The professional organizations tiles consist of correspondence, brief manuscripts, and notes primarily pertaining to conferences at which Brace served as a moderator or panelist.

The speeches and papers includes correspondence and a few manuscripts. Of special interest is Brace's address, “France During the First Year of World War II,” given at Chico State College on October 3, 1940. The three versions of this speech provide a reflection of his personal experiences in France. Brace exhorted Americans to press for government support to the Allies.

The publications files are divided into folders relating first to books and then to chapters and articles written by Brace or co-authored by Brace and his wife. Primarily, the files include correspondence with publishers well as some contractual materials and proposals for book projects never completed. Some of Brace's major publications are represented in the files including Bordeaux and the Gironde (1947), an outgrowth of his doctoral dissertation. The first edition of his, The Making of the Modern World(1955), is represented by the typescripts for chapters 19-27.

Dates

  • 1933-1986

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Housed in a half box, as an addition to the Brace Papers, are letters, primarily recommendations for students, selected from the Department of History Graduate Student files by Professor Richard W. Leopold and conveyed to the University Archives by Professor Leopold in 1985 (Accession 85-152). These letters may be consulted only with the written permission of the chair of the History Department. Teaching files (Box 4, Folder 2 through Box 7, Folder 11) may contain sensitive materials; consultation with University Archivist required prior to use.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is stored at a remote campus location 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

15.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Richard Munthe Brace accepted an invitation to join the Northwestern University faculty as an associate professor of history in 1947. He stayed at Northwestern until 1965 when he moved to Oakland University (in Michigan). His research and teaching interests centered on French and modern European history. The Richard Brace Papers are arranged in eight subseries: biographical materials, education tiles, correspondence, teaching files, research and consulting files, professional organizations files, speeches and papers, and publications.

Arrangement Note

The Richard Brace Papers are arranged in eight subseries: biographical materials, education tiles, correspondence, teaching files, research and consulting files, professional organizations files, speeches and papers, and publications. The education files are arranged largely by course number. General correspondence is arranged both in chronological and subject folders. The teaching files are organized in sequence first according to the chronological order of Brace's academic appointments and then by course number and course title. Research and consulting files are arranged alphabetically by title of agency or organization. The publications files are divided into folders relating first to books and then to chapters and articles written by Brace.

Method of Acquisition

Mrs. Joan Brace donated these records to the University Archives on November 7, 1979 (Accession 79-223).

Separated Materials

Approximately ten linear inches of correspondence, documents, clippings, and notes relating to the Algerian Children's Fund have been transferred to the Northwestern University Library Africana Department. Another five linear inches of publications and manuscripts, primarily papers given at conferences and pertaining to African countries and issues, also have also been sent to the Africana Department.

Processing Information

William K. Beatty; July and August, 1985.

Title
Guide to the Richard M. Brace (1915-1977) Papers
Author
William K. Beatty
Date
01/07/1985
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