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Academic Departments. English Department Records

Finding Aid & Inventory

WFU's English Department offers a variety of courses and programs of study, including a major, multiple minors, and a masters program. These records document the history and operations of the department, including memoranda, policies, and regulations, also included are a small amount of the teaching materials of Dr. Dolly McPherson, professor (1974-2001) and the first African-American woman to be a full-time faculty member at the University.

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Biographical and Historical Note

Wake Forest University's English Department offers a variety of courses and programs of study using literature to research and think about cultural and philosophical matters. The department offers a major, minors in English, writing, medieval studies, journalism, and creative writing. A masters program is also offered. The department sponsors a diverse range of speakers and events each semester.

Dolly Aimee McPherson was born on December 2, 1925, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Reverend Dr. James Gordon McPherson, an evangelistic preacher, and Dolly Taylor McPherson. She had four siblings, three brothers named James Gordon, Jr., Stephen, and Wyatt, and an elder sister, Jeanette. McPherson graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a master's in English from Boston University in Massachusetts, and a doctorate in American Studies from the University of Iowa (1986). Her doctoral thesis, "Order Out of Chaos: the Autobiographical Works of Maya Angelou," was published as a monograph in 1990.

McPherson traveled extensively as part of her career. She won a Fulbright to teach American literature and language at the University of Amsterdam and later worked as a program administrator for Africa and Asia at the Institute of International Education, from roughly 1962-1973. According to a WFU biography, McPherson also taught at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, in the 1950s, as a lecturer at a University of Maryland program in Frankfurt, Germany, at Virginia State College (now University) in Petersburg, Virginia, and finally at the City University of New York in about 1973.

In 1974, McPherson became the first African-American woman to join the WFU faculty full-time; she was joined by the first African-American man to join the WFU faculty full-time, biology professor Herman Eure. With Eure, McPherson was also a supporter of the WFU Office of Minority Affairs, which opened in 1978. McPherson's research agenda included African American literature and American biography, and over her twenty-seven-year career as an English professor at WFU, she taught courses on British literature, African American fiction, and autobiography. She also acted as the literary executor of her longtime friend and WFU colleague Maya Angelou's papers held at Z. Smith Reynolds Library. Angelou joined McPherson at Wake in 1982 and wrote about a 1971 trip that the women took to campus for Ebony. In 2001, McPherson retired from Wake Forest. She died on January 19, 2011, in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sources:

  • Angelou, Maya. "Why I Moved Back to the South." Ebony. 1982 February.
  • Harvey, Jeff. "McPherson's place in university history secure." Old Gold and Black. 2002 February 7. Access at https://wakespace.lib.wfu.edu/handle/10339/36800
  • King, Kerry. "Service set for professor emerita Dolly McPherson." Inside WFU. 2011 February 15. Access at https://inside.wfu.edu/2011/02/service-set-for-professor-emerita-dolly-mcpherson/
  • O'Donnell, Lisa. "Dolly McPherson, pioneering faculty member at Wake Forest, dies." Winston-Salem Journal. 2011 January 21. Access at https://journalnow.com/news/article_3bf5f3d7-817c-5bdd-a28f-5d44c34a78b8.html
  • Salinas, Andrew. "James Gordon McPherson collection, 2477." Amistad Research Center, Tulane University. Access at https://amistad-finding-aids.tulane.edu/repositories/2/resources/148

Collection Overview

The records in this collection document the operations and history of the English Department at Wake Forest University. Materials in this collection include departmental regulations, policies, and staff and faculty memorandums. Also included are a small amount of the teaching materials belonging to Dolly McPherson, a professor in the department from 1974 to 2001. McPherson was the first African-American woman to be a full-time faculty member at Wake Forest University.

This collection is arranged into six series: Series 1. Department faculty-staff memorandums, Series 2. Department meetings and notices, Series 3. Faculty materials, general, Series 4. McPherson, Dolly Aimee, materials, Series 5. Memorandums, policies, and regulations, and Series 6. Office files.

Collection Inventory

  • Department faculty-staff memorandums
    •   (1986-1987) box 2 folder 86
    •   (1987-1988) box 2 folder 87
    •   (1988-1989) box 2 folder 88
    •   (1989-1990) box 2 folder 89
    •   (1990-1991) box 2 folder 90
    •   (1991-1992) box 2 folder 91
    •   (1992-1993) box 2 folder 92
    •   (1993-1994) box 2 folder 93
    •   (1994-1995) box 2 folder 94
    •   (1995-1996) box 2 folder 95
    •   (1996-1997) box 2 folder 96
    • Grievance Procedures  (1976) box 2 folder 97
  • Department meetings and notices
    •   (1973-1974) box 1 folder 13
    •   (1974-1975) box 1 folder 14
    •   (1975-1976) box 1 folder 15
    •   (1976-1977) box 1 folder 16
    •   (1977-1978) box 1 folder 17
    •   (1978-1979) box 1 folder 18
    •   (1979-1980) box 1 folder 18
    •   (1980-1981) box 1 folder 20
    •   (1981-1982) box 1 folder 21
    •   (1982-1983) box 1 folder 22
    •   (1983-1984) box 1 folder 23
    •   (1984-1985) box 1 folder 24
    •   (1985-1986) box 1 folder 25
    •   (1986-1987) box 1 folder 26
    •   (1987-1988) box 1 folder 27
    •   (1988-1989) box 1 folder 28
    •   (1989-1990) box 1 folder 29
    •   (1990-1991) box 1 folder 30
    •   (1991-1992) box 1 folder 31
  • Faculty materials, general
    • Catanzano, Amy, online curriculum vitae  (2018 October) box 4 folder 21
    • Catazano, Amy, poetry broadsides  (2014) box 4 folder 11
    • Harlan, Susan, Luggage promotional materials (2018 March) box 4 folder 20
    • Harlan, Susan, "A Poem About Your University's Absolute Intention to Absolutely Deal With Institutional Racism Seriously Absolutely Any Minute Now and Certainly One Day," satirical poem in McSweeney's   (2019 March 7) box 4 folder 22
    • Harlan, Susan, writing clippings (undated) box 4 folder 13
    • McPherson, Dolly Aimee, research leave request (1992 November) box 4 folder 15
    • Phillips, Elizabeth, remarks about Dolly McPherson (circa 2001) box 4 folder 16
    • Ruocco, Joanna, poetry broadside  (2014) box 4 folder 18
    • Shorter, Robert (Bob), obituary  (2021) box 4 folder 24
  • McPherson, Dolly Aimee, materials
    • Autobiography of Malcolm X teaching copy (undated) box 2 folder 64
    • "Dylan Thomas," G.S. Fraser, Writers and Their Work, No. 90 (undated) box 2 folder 66
    • Eighteenth Century Studies, vol. 27, no. 4   (1994 Summer) box 2 folder 67
    • English 200, Black Poetry, course syllabus (circa 1974-1975) box 3 folder 9
    • Genesis One journal (1971 Summer) box 2 folder 68
    • Obituaries and memorials  (2011) box 2 folder 65
    • Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison, annotated copy (undated) box 3 folder 1
    • Journal of American Literature, vol. 44, no. 1 (1972 March) box 3 folder 2
    • Journal of American Literature, vol. 51, no. 3 (1979 November) box 3 folder 4
    • Heal Your Body, Louise Hay (undated) box 3 folder 5
    • North Carolina Center for Laws Affecting Women reports   (1981) box 3 folder 8
    • North Carolina Center for Laws Affecting Women reports  (1985-1988) box 3 folder 6
    • North Carolina Center for Laws Affecting Women reports  (1988-1991) box 4 folder 1
    • McPherson, Dolly, teaching notebook box 3 folder 7
    • Obsidian black literature journal, vol. II, no. 1 (1976 Spring) box 4 folder 2
    • On a Southern Journey, Maya Angelou  (1983) box 4 folder 3
    • Pivot poetry journal, no. 17  (1966) box 4 folder 4
    • The Search for Self, thesis, Kelly Giles Crawley  (1994) box 4 folder 6
    • South Atlantic Bulletin, vol. XLII, no. 2 (1977 May) box 4 folder 7
    • The Sower's Seed, Richard N. Goodwin (undated) box 4 folder 8
    • Spiritual Warfare, Michael Harper (undated) box 4 folder 9
  • Memorandums, policies, and regulations (These files contain many campus-wide policies and directives on use and conduct and procedures.)
    • Activities and Information Management  (1985) box 2 folder 98
    • College Union  (1986) box 2 folder 99
    • Dean of the College, Mullen  (1984-1985) box 2 folder 100
    • Education Department  (1985) box 2 folder 101
    • Graduate School (undated) box 2 folder 102
    • Legal Affairs  (1986-1987) box 2 folder 103
    • Personnel  (1986) box 2 folder 104
    • Personnel Policies and Regulations  (1973-1977) box 2 folder 112
    • Physical Plant (1981, 1986, undated) box 2 folder 105
    • President's Office, Hearn (1983, 1987) box 2 folder 106
    • Provost, Brown  (1992) box 2 folder 113
    • Provost, Wilson (1974, 1984) box 2 folder 107
    • Provost, Wilson  (1987-1988) box 2 folder 114
    • Public Safety  (1984-1985) box 2 folder 108
    • Registrar's Office responsibilities (undated) box 2 folder 115
    • Student Affairs  (1986) box 2 folder 109
    • Telecommunications  (1996) box 2 folder 110
    • Treasurer's office (1980, 1983-1984) box 2 folder 111
  • Office files
    • Academic writing booklet and prompt (circa 1990-1999) box 4 folder 10
    • Accession Records for books and filmstrips received by the Curriculum Laboratory (1966-1970) box 1 folder 1
    • Advanced Placement Exams (1976-1988) box 1 folder 2
    • Affirmative Action  (1975-1982) box 2 folder 77
    • Budget  (1975-1989) box 1 folder 3
    • College Catalog changes  (1984-1987) box 1 folder 4
    • College Level Entrance Program  (1975) box 2 folder 79
    • Computer Classroom  (1985) box 2 folder 80
    • Cooperative Majors Program  (1975-1980) box 1 folder 5
    • Correspondence  (1983-1990) box 1 folder 6
    • Course assignment information  (1971-1989) box 1 folder 7
    • Course descriptions: English 105 box 2 folder 78
    • Credit requests (1987-1988, undated) box 1 folder 8
    • Credit requests  (1989-1990) box 1 folder 9
    • Credit requests  (1991-1995) box 2 folder 81
    • Dean of College, Paul Escott  (1995) box 2 folder 83
    • Dean of the College, Mullen (1987, 1992) box 2 folder 82
    • Department and Grade Analysis  (1988 Spring) box 1 folder 11
    • Department Executive Committee (1973, 1975-1987) box 1 folder 10
    • Department chairs, meetings  (1974-1975) box 2 folder 85
    • Department chairs, meetings  (1986-1987) box 2 folder 84
    • Department Honors Program (1986, undated) box 1 folder 12
    • Department Self-study  (1974-1975) box 1 folder 32
    • Division I English  (1985-1988) box 1 folder 33
    • ENG 381 Studies in Black Literature: Prose memorandum and syllabus  (1982) box 4 folder 12
    • English Majors  (1985-1989) box 1 folder 34
    • English Minors  (1981-1988) box 1 folder 35
    • Enrollment records  (1974-1990) box 1 folder 36
    • Expenditures and Student Flow, bar graphs  (1982-1994) box 1 folder 37
    • Faculty, general  (1983-1985) box 1 folder 38
    • Freshman English  (1975-1988) box 1 folder 39
    • English Tutors/Writing Lab  (1983) box 1 folder 40
    • General files (1987 August-1988 December) box 1 folder 41
    • General files (1989 January-1990 July) box 1 folder 42
    • Grade Study  (1983-1986) box 1 folder 43
    • Jones, Henry Broadus, "The Stairs We Climbed Together" with Gerald E. Johnston's "The Battle of Ideas" (circa 1975) box 4 folder 14
    • Library, Z. Smith Reynolds  (1975-1988) box 1 folder 44
    • Majors Field test  (1975-1982) box 1 folder 45
    • Major Studies  (1979-1984) box 1 folder 46
    • Master's Degree Program  (1981-1987) box 1 folder 47
    • Non-Department Programs  (1976-1986) box 1 folder 48
    • Placement Information  (1986) box 1 folder 49
    • Planning report  (1985-1985) box 4 folder 17
    • Program Planning Committee  (1993-1995) box 1 folder 50
    • Registrar  (1978-1984) box 1 folder 51
    • Registration  (1984-1988) box 1 folder 52
    • Schedules  (1982-1987) box 2 folder 53
    • Social and Academic Responsibility Committee report  (1987 August) box 2 folder 54
    • Staffing  (1990-1992) box 1 folder 55
    • Student Judicial System  (1983-1984) box 2 folder 56
    • Student Profiles. Psych. Center  (1977-1978) box 2 folder 57
    • Student grade reviews  (1983-1987) box 1 folder 58
    • Summer School  (1977-1986) box 1 folder 59
    • WRI 212 fall syllabus  (2018) box 4 folder 23
    • Tenured Staff
      •  (1972-1976 Spring) box 2 folder 60
      •   (1976-1977) box 2 folder 62
      •   (1977-1978) box 2 folder 62
      •   (1978-1979) box 2 folder 63
      •   (1979-1980) box 2 folder 64
      •   (1980-1981) box 2 folder 65
      •   (1981-1982) box 2 folder 66
      •   (1982-1983) box 2 folder 67
      •   (1983-1984) box 2 folder 68
      •   (1984-1985) box 2 folder 69
      •   (1985-1986) box 2 folder 70
      •   (1986-1987) box 2 folder 71
      •   (1988-1989) box 2 folder 72
    • "The St. Nicholas News, II" Poetry Workshop collection  (1992 December) box 4 folder 19
    • Transfer Students  (1976-1986) box 2 folder 73
    • Venice-London Programs  (1982-1986) box 2 folder 74
    • Writer-In-Residence Program  (1987) box 2 folder 75
    • Writer-In Residence Program  (1986-1990) box 2 folder 76

Summary Information

Repository
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
Title
Academic Departments. English Department Records
ID
RG16.10
Date [inclusive]
1966-2019
Quantity
2 record cartons, 2 document boxes
Extent
3.44  Linear Feet

Administrative Information

Publication Information
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2005
Revision Description
Revised by Tara Coady, Stephanie Bennett, Ashelee Gerald Hill, Stephanie Bennett, 2017 April, 2018 January, 2019 October, 2022
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for use. 
Copyright Notice
The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claim only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 
Preferred Citation
Academic Departments. English Department Records (RG16.10), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. 

A copy of Dolly McPherson's 1986 thesis, "Out of Order Chaos: the Autobiographical Works of Maya Angelou," is available at Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives as well as copies of the published version with the same title that came later. See call number PS3551 N464 Z78.

The following books were removed from the Dolly McPherson portion of the collection and are available through Special Collection and Archives:

  • Sales, Estella. Metamorphosis. Louisville, Kentucky: Estella Sales, 1975. Call number: PS3569 A4545 M48 1975.
  • Thomas, Joyce Carol with Tom Feelings and Dolly Aimee McPherson. Black Child. New York: Zamani Productions, 1981. Call number: PS3570.H565 B 525 1981.

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