Clifford Lee Lord Papers, 1895-1980


Summary Information
Title: Clifford Lee Lord Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1895-1980

Creator:
  • Lord, Clifford Lee, 1912-1980
Call Number: M64-276

Quantity: 41.4 c.f. (39 record center cartons, 1 archives box, and 2 flat boxes)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:
Papers, 1895-1980, of Clifford Lee Lord, former director of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (1946-1958) that primarily document his academic and professional career and personal life before and after his association with the Society. Included are correspondence, notes and reports concerning his study and teaching at Columbia University, his involvement with the American Association of State and Local History and the Federal Historical Records Survey in New York City and New Jersey, and his presidency of Hofstra University (1958-1973). Research materials and drafts relate to Clio's Servant (1967), his history of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin; the History of the United States Naval Aviation (1949); and his Historical Atlas of the United States (1944), among others.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-m64276
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Biography/History

Clifford Lee Lord was born in Mount Vernon, New York, on September 4, 1912. He attended elementary school in that community and graduated from A.B. Davis High School. He went on to study at Amherst College, receiving an A.B. in history in 1933, and an M.A. in American history in 1934. He then went to Columbia University to pursue his doctorate. While doing so, he worked as a lecturer and later an instructor in American history in the University Extension from 1935 to 1941. Clifford Lord received his Ph.D. in American History from Columbia University in 1943.

Between 1935 and 1942, he was employed as a project supervisor and consultant to the Federal Historical Records Survey program working both in New York City and New Jersey. In this capacity, he was responsible for the management of several projects. These included compiling and editing the messages and papers of the presidents (1896-1936); designing base maps for each house of each Congress, working out district lines, compiling all roll call votes, mapping each roll call, and preparing a digest of each vote; preparing a series of maps showing the evolution of the boundaries of the federal district courts; and preparing a list and index of presidential executive orders through 1936. This effort resulted in the publication of List and Index of Presidential Executive Orders (Hastings House, 1944) and the first volume (of a projected eighty-eight) of the Atlas of Congressional Roll Calls (New York State Historical Association, 1943). He also collaborated with his wife Elizabeth in the compilation and publication of the Historical Atlas of the United States (Henry Holt, 1944).

Between September 1941 and March 1946, Mr. Lord served as the Director of the New York State Historical Association (NYSHA) in Cooperstown. He worked at gathering together the base collections of its Farmers' Museum. He also started a junior historians program and reformed and refocused the operations of the museum library. He was the editor of the association's quarterly magazine (New York History), and the author of several booklets and pamphlets on New York history.

During the years 1943 through 1946, while on a leave of absence from the NYSHA, he served on active duty with the United States Naval Reserve reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During that time he was appointed historian of the Bureau of Aeronautics and Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air). He was assigned to prepare a classified internal history of the administration of the Navy's aviation program. This work eventually reached a total of twenty manuscript volumes. He also co-authored the official History of Naval Aviation, 1889-1941 (Yale, 1949).

Clifford Lord was appointed as Director of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (SHSW) in September 1946. He held this post for twelve years until August 1958. During his directorship, the membership of the society more than doubled, the level of state and private funding rose fivefold, and the society's headquarters building was completely renovated. Other accomplishments include the creation of a state archives and a model public records program, the formation of a regional depository system, the start of an experimental federal documents loan program, the establishment of the Mass Communications History Center, a doubling of the size of the manuscripts collection, and the acquisition of the McCormick collection.

The society's collecting program was improved with the creation of a field service, and its interaction with the public was enhanced with the introduction of both a Junior Historian program and a Historymobile tour. Lord worked vigorously for the development of the society's first historic sites --Villa Louis, Stonefield Farm and Craft Museum, and Old Wade House. He was also active in the development of three independent museums--the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, the Wisconsin Medical Museum in Prairie du Chien, and the Circus World Museum in Baraboo (later acquired by the society).

Clifford Lord also established the American History Research Center at Wisconsin which published a number of books on regional and local history. In 1958, in cooperation with Carl Ubbelohde, he wrote the definitive history of the society --Clio's Servant (SHSW, 1967).

Between 1956 and 1960, Lord was president of the American Association for State and Local History, having served on its council for fifteen years. He was also vice-president of the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay from 1956 to 1963. Additionally, he served as chairman of the advisory council of the American History Research Center from 1951 to 1959.

Clifford Lord was named as Dean of the School of General Studies at Columbia University in September 1958. In addition to his supervisory duties, he also taught a graduate seminar each semester. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the equalization of faculty salaries with teaching loads; in the creation of an honors program and an area studies program; and in the renovation of Lewisohn Hall.

In September 1964, he was appointed to the presidency of Hofstra University in Hampstead, Long Island. The Hofstra trustees felt that he combined the qualities of a “scholar-administrator, with a record of broad and successful experience, a man deeply committed to improving the role of higher education in the society that it serves.” In 1972, he was appointed chancellor of the university. He was instrumental in transforming Hofstra from a commuter school into a major university. He created both the law and business schools, as well as the first six doctoral programs. He oversaw the rebuilding of major portions of the campus adding twenty-one buildings on sixty-two acres. He created residence halls, doubled the size of the university's endowment, and achieved professional accreditation for programs in business, chemistry, drama, education, engineering, and law.

In August 1973, he left Hoftstra to take a position as president of the Hudson Institute in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. This was a international and economic policy “think tank” of about eighty employees founded by Herman Kahn. Lord was responsible for overall management of the institute. This included staff supervision, management of projects, budget creation and control, and the solicitation of grants and new research contracts. He stayed in this position for little more than one year before resigning in a dispute with the chairman of the board over policy and budgetary issues.

In 1975, he was one of three final candidates for the position of Librarian of Congress. He worked as a project consultant for both the New York State Maritime Museum and the Philadelphia Maritime Museum between 1975 and 1977. In 1976, he was awarded the American Association for State and Local History's Award of Distinction. He also lead an assessment team from the Middle States Association of Colleges to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis that same year.

In 1977 at the age of sixty-four, he accepted an appointment as director of the New Jersey Historical Society. At the time, this organization was suffering from severe budgetary constraints, falling membership, an aging facility, and a lack of a clear mission. Lord assumed the post because he felt “inclined to one last, perhaps forlorn, but challenging assignment.” During his brief stewardship he strove to increase both state and private funding; he initiated the first programs to document New Jersey's ethnic heritage; he created proposals to overhaul the society's administrative and corporate structure; and he initiated a shakeup of the staff. Although his ideas were met with increasing resistance from the society's governing body, Lord was intent on persevering with a policy of thoroughgoing reform.

In 1978, Clifford Lord's wife Elizabeth was diagnosed with cancer, and she died in January 1979. Shortly thereafter, he was also diagnosed as having a malignant tumor. After successful medical treatment, Lord returned to his duties as director. However, he resigned his position in the Fall of 1979 due both to his illness and because of opposition to his programs from within the society. Clifford Lord died of cancer on October 22, 1980.

Some of his other publications include Ideas In Conflict: A Colloquium On Certain Problems In Historical Society Work (ed., Harrisburg, 1958), Keepers of the Past (North Carolina, 1965), and Teaching History With Community Resources (Teachers College Press, 1967).

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by Clifford L. Lord, 1958, 1962, 1964-1965, 1967, 1970, 1972-1977, 1980, 1989; and the Clifford L. Lord Estate, 1979. Accession Number: M64-276, M64-290, M65-156, M67-281, M70-312, M72-112, M73-208, M73-253, M73-331, M74-543, M75-044, M76-083, M76-470, M77-083, M77-158, M79-606, M80-551, M80-587, M89-201


Contents List
M64-276
Series: Correspondence
Chronological
Box   3
Folder   21-27
1930-1935
Box   4
Folder   1-12
1930-1935
Box   24
Folder   10-14
1938
Box   5
Folder   37
1941-1954
Box   4
Folder   14-29
1944-1946
Box   5
Folder   1-19
, 1944-1946 (continued)
Box   11
Folder   2-3
1946, 1955-1958
Box   6
Folder   1-6
1947-1955
Box   13
1958-1964
Box   14
Folder   1-20
, 1958-1964 (continued)
Box   15
1958-1964
Box   12
Folder   1-14
1959-1964
Box   26
Folder   16-22
1961-1962, 1970-1973
Box   25
Folder   1-29
1962-1972
Box   23
Folder   29-48
1964-1970
Box   24
Folder   1-7
, 1964-1970 (continued)
Box   29
Folder   27-29
1973-1974
Box   31
Folder   21-25
1973-1975
Box   33
Folder   1-4
1975-1976
Box   38
Folder   1-13
1976-1979
Box   39
Folder   1-10
, 1976-1979 (continued)
Box   35
Folder   17-18
1979-1980
Alphabetical
Box   11
Folder   8-31
1937-1947, A-Z
Box   11
Folder   54-71
1947, A-Z
Box   20
1964-1967, A-O
Box   21
Folder   1-11
1964-1967, P-Z
Series: Writings and Research
Atlas of American History
Box   9
Folder   1-43
Notes and correspondence, 1941-1944
Box   10
Folder   1-2
Notes and correspondence, 1941-1944 (continued)
Box   37
Folder   23-41
Atlas of Congressional Roll Calls, Publishing history, 1939-1959
Clio's Servant
Box   1-2
Manuscript pages for period , 1914-1920
Box   1-2
Used notes and manuscript for period , 1920-1930
Box   1-2
Used notes and manuscript for period , 1930-1940
Box   1-2
Notes, used and unused, undated
Box   21
Folder   13-15
Draft, 1967
Box   22
Folder   1-40
Drafts and notes, 1965, undated
Federal Courts
Box   10
Folder   7-20
Research, statistics, maps and related materials, 1937-1942
Box   11
Folder   1
Research, statistics, maps and related materials (continued)
Box   22
Folder   41
Correspondence and publishing history, 1958-1967
Box   23
Folder   1-2
Correspondence and publishing history, 1958-1967 (continued)
Historical Atlas of the United States
Box   37
Folder   3
Correspondence, reprinting, 1968
Box   37
Folder   8
Correspondence and notes, next edition of Historical Atlas, 1954
Correspondence
Box   13
Folder   1
1940-1941
Box   13
Folder   4
1953
History of Naval Aviation, 1898-1941
Box   3
Folder   1-2
Notes for history of naval aviation, undated
Box   3
Folder   3
Outline, 1946
Box   3
Folder   4-7
Correspondence for naval aviation history, 1946-1949
Box   3
Folder   8-10
Incomplete text, draft, 1946
Box   33
Folder   7-27
Draft and final copy, undated
Box   37
Folder   22
Miscellaneous notes and photographs, naval aviation, undated
Box   23
Folder   3-27
Keepers of the Past, drafts, undated
Reuben Gold Thwaites and the Progressive Historical Society
Box   36
Folder   70
Biographical notes, undated
Box   36
Folder   71
Arizona, notes, undated
Box   36
Folder   54
Correspondence and notes on Reuben Gold Thwaites, 1975-1978
Reviews of books
Box   37
Folder   4
Books reviewed by Lord, 1963-1975
Box   37
Folder   5
Historical Atlas, 1944-1950
Box   37
Folder   6
Congressional Roll Calls, 1943-1944
Box   37
Folder   7
Naval Aviation, 1950
Box   37
Folder   9
Clio's Servant, 1968
Box   37
Folder   11
Keepers of the Past, 1966-1967
Box   13
Folder   5
Book reviews, undated
Miscellaneous
Box   36
Folder   60
Notes, history of woodland park, 1927
Box   3
Folder   19
Research on state legislation concerning the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (during the years 1853-1929), 1920, 1949
Box   3
Folder   20
Notes on history of popular recreation in New York State, undated
Box   20
Writings and article drafts on state and national history, undated
Box   26
Folder   25-28
Research materials and notes, civil service act and congressional directories, 1935-1947
Box   4
Folder   13
Research material and papers from New School for Social Research, 1936
Box   13
Folder   2-3
Holt and Company, publication correspondence, 1938-1943
Box   5
Folder   35
William D. Boutwell, radio scripts, Freedom Series, 1938-1939
Box   5
Folder   31
Correspondence regarding World's Fair federal building exhibits, 1939-1940
Box   5
Folder   32
Correspondence regarding Democratic National Committee and promotion of federal agencies, 1939
Box   3
Folder   12-15
“Those Same Nine Men,” paper on Supreme Court Justices, manuscript and final draft, circa 1939
Box   5
Folder   20
“Americans All-Immigrants All,” radio program, 1939
Box   13
Folder   6
Writings and correspondence, conscription article, 1940
Box   5
Folder   33
Book proposal, federal agencies, 1940
Box   36
Folder   67
Reports and journal articles on history by Lord, reprints, 1943-1959
Box   3
Folder   18
The Archival Program In Wisconsin, draft and final copies, 1947
Box   3
Folder   16
Rise of the American Nation series, 1949-1960
Box   37
Folder   1-2
Academic journal articles by or about Lord on education, 1950-1965
Box   36
Folder   53
Journal articles by Lord and review of The History of Wisconsin by Richard H. Current, 1963-1964, 1973, 1977
Box   12
Folder   18-21
Community Materials in Secondary Schools, drafts, 1963
Box   37
Folder   16
Publishers' contracts, 1964-1976
Box   36
Folder   62
Unpublished articles by Lord, 1964-1969
Box   36
Folder   69
Article, “Maquoketa Pioneer,” draft and correspondence, 1964
Box   37
Folder   10
Teaching History with Community Resources, correspondence, reviews and publication history, 1964-1973
Box   37
Folder   12-13
Articles on local history, 1965-1969
Box   37
Folder   20
Reading notes on local and maritime history, 1967
Box   36
Folder   61
Correspondence and articles, Localized History Series, 1975
Series: Speeches and Speaking Engagements
Box   5
Folder   28
1947-1952
Box   5
Folder   21-27
1951-1957, State Historical Society of Wisconsin notes and speeches
Box   26
Folder   8-15
1955-1973
Box   14
Folder   21-37
1958-1961
Box   12
Folder   17
1962, New Jersey Tercentenary speech
Box   21
Folder   12-14
1964-1967
Box   36
Folder   55
1964-1970
Box   28
Folder   3-52
1968-1972
Box   29
Folder   1-9
, 1968-1972 (continued)
Box   36
Folder   58-59
1976, Notes, New York State Historical Association and miscellaneous
Series: Personal and Biographical Files
Academic records
Box   33
Folder   5
School records and childhood activities, 1924-1932
Amherst College
Box   24
Folder   9
Papers, 1932-1934
Box   33
Folder   6
Correspondence and mementos, 1926-1933
Box   11
Folder   53
Correspondence, 1928-1930
Box   3
Folder   17
Alumni Council correspondence, 1953-1955
Box   11
Folder   4-6
Academic research papers, 1934-1935
Box   11
Folder   73
Disarmament scrapbooks, Amherst College, 1931-1932
Awards and honors
Box   36
Folder   56
Degree certifications and honors, 1943-1970
Box   35
Folder   15
Photocopies of plaques, 1964-1969, 1980
Box   41
Personal citations, diplomas and honorary awards, 1928-1973
Box   36
Folder   47-49
Biographical information and photograph, 1942, 1958, 1974
Box   31
Folder   29
Clippings, biographical, 1942-1962
Box   6
Folder   7
Diary, 1940
Box   11
Folder   7
Dues receipts, United Federal Workers of America, Local 100, April 1938-May 1939
Calendars/Appointment books
Box   27
Folder   5
Calendar, out of state work, 1958, 1962
Box   27
Folder   12-20
Date calendar pages, 1963-1971
Box   28
Folder   1-2
Date calendar pages, 1963-1971 (continued)
Box   30
Monthly appointment books, 1963-1971
Correspondence and financial records
Box   11
Folder   35-52
Miscellaneous correspondence and financial records, 1939-1943
Box   26
Folder   1-7
Financial records and correspondence, 1940-1972
Box   31
Folder   28
Federal tax returns, 1966-1969
Box   27
Folder   11
Savings account record books, 1962-1968
Box   35
Folder   25
Life insurance premiums, 1939-1977
Box   35
Folder   26
Mortgage records, 1953-1977
Box   35
Folder   30-44
Financial records and correspondence, 1970-1979
Box   36
Folder   1-46
Financial records and correspondence, 1970-1979 (continued)
Box   37
Folder   21
Wills and testaments, 1978
Box   37
Folder   19
Betty Lord, social security, 1963
Box   37
Folder   17
Mortgage certificates, 1931-1959
Box   37
Folder   14
Personal property records, 1977
Box   35
Folder   29
Key West, maps and receipts, 1979
Box   36
Folder   52
Family Christmas letters, 1963-1977
Box   27
Folder   3
Family Christmas letters, 1964-1977
Box   5
Folder   34
Family correspondence, Betty Lord, circa 1936
Box   37
Folder   15
Family plot, correspondence, 1963-1977
Box   37
Folder   15
Financial and property records
Box   24
Folder   8
“Greenkill Happenings,” summer camp newsletter, 1931
Box   27
Folder   6-9
Military service records, Clifford Lord, 1942-1955
Box   11
Folder   33
Rotary club correspondence, 1937, 1941
Box   40
Scrapbooks, Cornell College, personal and family, 1895-1964
Series: Professional Files
American Association for State and Local History
Box   11
Folder   34
Correspondence, American Association for State and Local History, 1941
Box   19
Correspondence, American Association for State and Local History and Columbia University, 1964
Box   16-18
Correspondence, American Association for State and Local History, State Historical Society of Wisconsin and National Railroad Museum, 1958-1964
Columbia University
Box   39
Folder   11-18
Lecture notes, American history classes, circa 1930-1939
Box   26
Folder   23-24
Course materials, 1938, 1962-1963
Box   27
Folder   4
Course material, 1938
Box   35
Folder   24
Exams, 1939-1941
Box   35
Folder   21-22
Syllabi and exams, 1938-1939
Box   35
Folder   20
Merwinisms, undated
Box   35
Folder   23
Newspaper cartoons and miscellaneous photographs, undated
Box   24
Folder   15-18
Columbia University correspondence, 1965-1968
Box   10
Folder   6
Correspondence with University of Wisconsin history department, 1959-1964
Contracts
Box   35
Folder   3
Consulting work, 1960, 1975
Box   37
Folder   18
Hofstra University and Hudson Institute, 1968-1973
Box   36
Folder   57
New York State Historical Association, 1943, 1976
Box   17
Correspondence, New Jersey Tercentenary, American Association for State and Local History, American History Research Center, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1964-1965
Employment seeking correspondence
Box   27
Folder   10
Regarding University of Wisconsin presidency, 1962
Box   31
Folder   2-20
Employment search, 1974-1975
Box   35
Folder   9
Employment search, 1976
Federal Historical Records Survey
Box   6
Folder   8-52
Historical records survey correspondence, 1938-1942
Box   7-8
Historical records survey correspondence, 1938-1942 (continued)
Box   12
Folder   15-16
Historical sites survey, traffic patterns, 1961-1962
Hofstra University
Box   36
Folder   64
Hofstra University president reports, 1964-1968
Box   32
Folder   1-109
Correspondence, local history programs, 1966-1967
Hudson Institute
Box   35
Folder   1-2
Hudson Institute speech and contract, 1973
Box   36
Folder   65
Hudson Institute president reports, 1973-1974
Box   31
Folder   26-27
Correspondence, 1974-1975
Maritime Museum
Box   35
Folder   4-8
Correspondence and consulting reports, 1975-1976
Box   35
Folder   27
National Maritime Historical Society, 1977-1978
Box   35
Folder   28
Sea History, 1977
Box   36
Folder   50-51
A Primer for the New York State Maritime Museum, copy and planning report, 1976
Box   36
Folder   66
New York State Maritime Museum reports, 1975-1976
Box   35
Folder   10-11
Philadelphia Maritime Museum, correspondence and consulting reports, 1976-1977
National Railroad Museum
Box   23
Folder   28
Dwight D. Eisenhower World War II Locomotive, 1964
Box   35
Folder   14
Correspondence and consulting reports, 1977
New Jersey Historical Society
Box   36
Folder   63
Boardroom, newsletter, New Jersey Historical Society, 1977-1978
Box   36
Folder   72
New Jersey Historical Society newsletter, 1978
Box   11
Folder   72
New York State Historical Society, correspondence, New York Historical Association, 1941
State Historical Society of Wisconsin
Box   5
Folder   29-30
Notes and correspondence, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1950-1954, 1958
Box   10
Folder   3-5
Correspondence, Wisconsin Historical Society, 1960-1964
Box   5
Folder   36
Correspondence regarding appointment as director of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1946
Regional Plan Association
Meeting minutes, correspondence, and news releases
Box   29
Folder   15-26
1972-1974
Box   29
Folder   30-35
1973-1974
Box   31
Folder   1
Meeting minutes, correspondence and news releases, 1973-1974 (continued)
Box   34
Correspondence, meeting agendas, publications, 1974-1976
Box   26
Folder   29
United States historical statistics, research material, 1963-1964
Box   27
Folder   1-2
United States historical statistics, research material, 1949-1952, 1963-1964
Miscellaneous
Box   29
Folder   10
American College Public Relations Association (ACPRA), meeting flyer and program, 1973
Box   11
Folder   32
American Council on Public Affairs correspondence, 1940-1941
Box   29
Folder   11-12
Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, 1972-1973
Box   3
Folder   11
Committee on Public Records on nation-wide policies for the retention of state tax records, correspondence and research, 1954
Box   29
Folder   13
Long Island Association of Commerce and Industry, 1972-1973
Box   34
Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary School, correspondence and reports, 1976
Box   29
Folder   14
Rockville Centre, Diocese of, 1972
Box   35
Folder   16
Unispan, correspondence and photographs, 1980
Box   35
Folder   12-13
Western Heritage Center, correspondence and consulting reports, 1965
Series: Photographs
Box   42
Folder   1
Black and white photographs of Clifford Lord, 1969
Box   42
Folder   2-4
Naval aviation, circa 1908-1945
Box   42
Folder   5-6
National Railroad Museum and Dwight D. Eisenhower locomotive, 1954-1975