Guide to Roger Wilkins papers C0212 Roger Wilkins papers

Guide to Roger Wilkins papers C0212

Roger Wilkins papers


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George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center

Fenwick Library, MS2FL
4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Business Number: 703-993-2220
Fax Number: 703-993-8911
speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu

Stephanie Washburn

Repository
George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Identification
C0212
Title
Roger Wilkins papers 1928-2008
Quantity
3.25 Linear Feet, 9 boxes
Creator
Wilkins, Roger W., 1932-2017
Language
English .
Abstract
The papers document Wilkins' career while he was a professor at George Mason University. The documents include correspondence, publications, and speeches. There are also 14 videotape cassettes with lectures by other Robinson professors and media appearances by Wilkins.

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions on personal use.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Roger Wilkins papers, C0212, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Roger Wilkins in 2012.

Processing Information

Processed by Stephanie Washburn in 2012. EAD markup completed by Stephanie Washburn in 2012. Finding aid updated by Amanda Brent in February 2021.


Biographical Information

Born in 1932 in Kansas City, Missouri, Roger Wilkins attended the University of Michigan and earned his Bachelor's degree in 1953 and his J.D. in 1956. He interned with Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund during his studies and his uncle, Roy Wilkins, served as the executive secretary of the NAACP from 1955 to 1977. In his early career, Roger Wilkins worked with the Ohio Welfare Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and as the assistant attorney general under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Following this, Wilkins pursued a successful career in journalism writing for The New York Times, The Washington Times, and editing The Washington Star. In 1972, as a member of The Washington Post's editorial staff, Wilkins along with Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, and Herbert Block earned the Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of the Watergate Scandal that led to President Nixon's resignation. A widely published author, Wilkins wrote "A Man's Life," his autobiography, published first in 1982 and reprinted in 1991. In addition, Wilkins co-authored "Quiet Riots: Race and Poverty in the United States" with Fred Harris in 1988 and published "Jefferson's Pillow: the Founding Fathers and the Dilemma of Black Patriotism" in 2001. In 1986 he joined George Mason University as the Clarence Robinson Professor of History and American Culture and retired in 2007. Wilkins passed away in 2017. George Mason University named the Roger Wilkins Plaza after him that same year.

Scope and Content

The papers document Wilkins' career while he was a professor at George Mason University. The documents include correspondence, publications, and speeches. There are also 14 videotape cassettes with lectures by other Robinson professors and media appearances by Wilkins.

Series 1 contains the publications of Roger Wilkins and the various conferences, lecture series, and symposiums he attended and contributed to. The series includes articles he wrote organized by general subject, two of the books he published with various book reviews of the works, and the various flyers and papers of the conferences. The series is organized alphabetically by folder and then chronologically.

Series 2 contains Wilkins' general correspondence during his time as a Robinson professor. This series is organized chronologically by folder.

Series 3 contains the papers on the various organizations in which Wilkins was involved such as the African American Institute, the MacArthur Foundation, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The series is organized alphabetically by folder and then chronologically.

Series 4 is made up of biographical material on Roger Wilkins. It includes articles he wrote describing himself as a father as well as other documents discussing his mother's and uncle's work for civil rights. There are also several transcribed interviews, one of which was conducted by one of his daughters. The series is arranged alphabetically by folder and then chronologically.

Series 5 contains various syllabi and notes from the classes Wilkins taught while at George Mason from 1990 through 2006. In addition there is information about the provost search in the spring of 1990. The series is organized alphabetically by folder and then chronologically.

Series 6 contains photographs, two cassette tapes of speeches, and 14 VHS tapes of lectures by Wilkins and other professors from 1995 through 2004. The series includes a funeral speech for George N. Lindsay given by Roger Wilkins as well as a letter from Lindsay's widow. This series is organized by medium and then chronologically.

Arrangement

Organized by into six series: series 1 - Publications, 1965-2008, (Boxes 1-5) series 2 - General Correspondence, [undated] 1987-2006, (Box 5) series 3 - Affilitations, 1995-2000, (Box 6) series 4 - Biographical papers, [undated] 1923, 1963-2007, (Box 6) series 5 - George Mason University, 1990-2006, (Boxes 7 and 8) series 6 - Audio/Visual, [undated] 1995-2004, (Boxes 8 and 9)

Organized into 6 series

Series Series 1: Publications, 1965-2008, (Boxes 1-5) Series 2: General Correspondence, 1987-2006) (Box 5) Series 3: Affiliations, 1995-2000, (Box 6) Series 4: Biographical papers, 1928, 1963-2007 (Box 6) Series 5: George Mason University, 1990-2006, (Boxes 7-8) Series 6: Audio/Visual, 1994-2004, (Boxes 8-9; oversize 1)

Related Material

The Special Collections Research Center also holds the papers of other Robinson professors.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • African Americans -- Civil rights -- History -- 20th century
  • George Mason University
  • United States -- Politics and government
  • Wilkins, Roger W., 1932-2017

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • United States -- Politics and government

Container List

Series 1: Publications
1965-2008
(4.5 boxes)
Scope and Content

This series includes articles and books written by Roger Wilkins, lectures, conferences, symposiums at which Roger Wilkins spoke, and the notes of the Pulitzer Prize committee.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1
    Affirmative Action articles
    1990-1998
  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2
    A Man's Life and reviews
    1982-1991
  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3
    Book Reviews
    1972-2006
  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4
    Articles discussing Brown v Board
    1989-1995
  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5
    Jefferson's Pillow and reviews
    2001-2003
  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6
    Lexus Nexus articles
    January 1, 1991
  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7
    miscellaneous articles
    1990-2003
  • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 1
    Articles mentioning Roger Wilkins
    1987-2006
  • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 2
    Miscellaneous essays
    1980-2003
  • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 3
    Articles about Nelson Mandela and the Free South Africa Movement
    1974-1999
  • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 4
    Notes and Speeches
    1968-2007
  • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 5
    Articles discussing politics and elections
    1984-2004
  • Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 6
    Pulitzer Prize
    1987-1988
  • Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 1
    Articles discussing race and racism
    undated
  • Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 2
    Articles discussing race and racism
    1965-1990
  • Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 3
    Articles discussing race and racism
    1991-1993
  • Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 4
    Articles discussing race and racism
    1994-2008
  • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 1
    Articles with discussions between Shelby Steele and Roger Wilkins
    1989-1993
  • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 2
    Articles discussing the Supreme Court
    1988-2005
  • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 3
    Conferences, Symposiums, and Lectures
    1983-1990
  • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 4
    Conferences, Symposiums, and Lectures
    1991-1995
  • Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 5
    Conferences, Symposiums, and Lectures
    1996-2007
  • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 1
    Conferences, Symposiums, and Lectures: University of Michigan Lecture
    1996-1997
  • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 2
    Conferences, Symposiums, and Lectures: DePauw Symposium
    2003
  • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 3
    Conferences, Symposiums, and Lectures
    2004-2005
Series 2: General Correspondence
undated, 1987-2006
(1 box)
Scope and Content

This series contains Roger Wilkins correspondence from 1987 to 2006. It is organized chronologically.

  • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 4
    Correspondence dealing with his work at NPR
    February 1993
  • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 5
    General correspondence
    undated
  • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 6
    General correspondence
    1987-1996
  • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 7
    General correspondence
    1997
  • Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 8
    General correspondence
    1998-2006
Series 3: Affiliations
1995-2000
(0.5 box)
Scope and Content

This series includes organizations in which Roger Wilkins participated or headed from 1995 to 2000. It is organized alphabetically by organization then chronologically.

  • Mixed Materials box: 6 folder: 1
    African American Institute
    1995-2000
  • Mixed Materials box: 6 folder: 2
    Citizens' Commission on Civil Rights
    1996-1997
  • Mixed Materials box: 6 folder: 3
    Legal Defense Fund, NAACP
    1995-1996
  • Mixed Materials box: 6 folder: 4
    MacArthur Foundation
    1996
Series 4: Biographical papers
undated, 1928, 1963-2007
(1 box)
Scope and Content

This series includes interviews with Roger Wilkins and biographical articles about him and his family.

  • Mixed Materials box: 6 folder: 5
    Biographical articles
    1928; 1963-2007
  • Mixed Materials box: 6 folder: 6
    Interviews with Roger Wilkins
    1969-2003
Series 5: George Mason University
1990-2006
(1.5 boxes)
Scope and Content

This series contains notes and syllabi of the classes Roger Wilkins taught while a Clarence Robinson professor of History and American Culture at George Mason University.

  • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 1
    HNRS 130
    2003 and 2005
  • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 2
    Politics and the (Mass) Media
    1991-1999
  • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 3
    Politics and the (Mass) Media
    2000-2006
  • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 4
    Provost Search
    January - April 1990
  • Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 5
    Race, Law and Culture
    1991-1995
  • Mixed Materials box: 8 folder: 1
    Race, Law and Culture
    1996-1999
  • Mixed Materials box: 8 folder: 2
    UNIV 190
    1996-2002
Series 6: Audio/Visual
undated, 1995-2004
(1.5 boxes)
Scope and Content

This series contains audio tapes and VHS tapes of lectures given by Roger Wilkins and other Robinson professors.

  • Mixed Materials box: 8 folder: 3
    Photographs
    undated; 2004
  • Mixed Materials box: 8 folder: 4
    George N. Lindsay funeral speech
    1995
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 1
    With Good Reason "Political Literacy: What Americans Should Know Before Voting"
    undated
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 2
    Harry Belafonte #1
    undated
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 3
    Harry Belafonte #2
    undated
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 4
    Bateson Lecture
    undated
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 5
    Breakfast with Roger Wilkins
    Dec 6, 1995
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 6
    Close Up on CSPAN
    Dec 7, 1995
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 7
    Bateson Lecture #1
    Feb 22, 1996
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 8
    Bateson Lecture #2
    Feb 22, 1996
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 9
    Roger Wilkins Lecture #1
    Mar 20, 1996
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 10
    Roger Wilkins Lecture #2
    Mar 20, 1996
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 11
    Vassily Aksyonov #1
    Apr 15, 1997
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 12
    Vassily Aksyonov #2
    Apr 15, 1997
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 13
    Media Meet #9810 Civil Rights
    January 19, 1998
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 14
    A. Scott Bullitt Lecture in American History
    January 14, 2003
  • Audio box: 9 cassette: 14
    For the Record #1105
    May 6, 2004
  • Graphic Materials oversize: 1
    Ceremonial Stage photo
    May 18, 2005
    Scope and Content

    The American Academy of Arts and Letters where Roger Wilkins was a keynote speaker. Wilkins is in the first row sixth from the right.