Arthur Eugene Bestor papers, 1868-1995

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bestor, Arthur Eugene, 1908-1994
Title
Arthur Eugene Bestor papers
Dates
1868-1995 (inclusive)
Quantity
approximately 106 cubic feet
Collection Number
2720
Summary
Papers of a history professor at the University of Washington
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.

Some records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Arthur Bestor was born in Chautauqua, New York in 1908. He received his Ph.D. from Yale and was an accomplished scholar receiving multiple academic awards. He taught at universities such as Stanford, Yale, and Oxford during his career. He arrived at the University of Washington in 1962 where he served as a professor of History as a leading scholar in American constitutional history. With his advanced knowledge of the constitution, he was asked to testify before Congress on several occasions and involved himself in politics when he saw a violation in constitutional policies.

He also studied various communal societies that preached Utopian ideals, particularly the Oneida community. The American Historical Association awarded Professor Bestor the Alfred Beveridge Prize for his book “Backwoods Utopias” published on this topic. Other publications Bestor produced were on education and pedagogy.

Bestor’s other interests were photography for which he won several awards, and travelling. He continued to work at the University of Washington as a professor of history until 1976 where he reportedly remained popular with students. Arthur Bestor passed away in his Laurelhurst home in 1994 as a result of lung cancer.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Biographical features, correspondence, writings, speeches and conference presentations, Congressional testimony, manuscript notes and outlines, course history files, sample examinations, audio recorded lectures and historic events, videocassette, syllabi, bibliographies, subject series, publications, maps, posters, microfiche, note cards, lists, clippings, and related material.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 4 accessions.

  • Accession No. 2720-001, Arthur Bestor papers, 1959-1977
  • Accession No. 2720-002, Arthur Eugene Bestor papers, 1949-1986
  • Accession No. 2720-003, Arthur Eugene Bestor papers, 1960-1990
  • Accession No. 2720-004, Arthur Eugene Bestor papers, 1868-1995

Preservation Note

Some records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 2720-001: Arthur Bestor papers, 1959-1977Return to Top

19 cu.ft.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, speeches, course materials, tape recordings of lectures and related items.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.

Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of washington.

Acquisition Info: Transferred by Arthur Bestor from office, 1978-03-20

Description
Arthur Bestor papers

Accession No. 2720-002: Arthur Eugene Bestor papers, 1949-1986Return to Top

20 cu. ft. (20 boxes)

Scope and Content: Lecture notes, notes, drafts, correspondence, syllabi and clippings; ca. 1949-1986.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.

Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.

Restrictions on Use: Literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries

Acquisition Info: Dorothy K. Bestor from History Department office., 1995-08-07

Description
Arthur Eugene Bestor papers

Accession No. 2720-003: Arthur Eugene Bestor papers, 1960-1990Return to Top

26 cu. ft. (26 boxes)

Scope and Content: Lecture notes, notes, drafts, correspondence, syllabi and clippings; ca. 1949-1986.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.

Restrictions on Use: Literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries

Acquisition Info: Dorothy K. Bestor, 1995-10-23

Description
Arthur Eugene Bestor papers

Accession No. 2720-004: Arthur Eugene Bestor papers, 1868-1995Return to Top

41.33 cu. ft. (40 boxes); 27 sound tape reels; 2 sound cassettes; 1 videocassette (VHS); microfiche

Scope and Content: Biographical features, correspondence, writings, speeches and conference presentations, Congressional testimony, manuscript notes and outlines, course history files, sample examinations, audio recorded lectures and historic events, videocassette, syllabi, bibliographies, subject series, publications, maps, posters, microfiche, note cards, lists, clippings, and related material; 1868-1995 (bulk ca 1930-1994)

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.

Restrictions on Use: Literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries

Acquisition Info: Dorothy K. Bestor, 1999-07-22

Description
Arthur Eugene Bestor papers

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Bar associations--Washington (State)
  • Bar associations--Washington (State)
  • College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Historians--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • History--Societies, etc
  • History--Study and teaching--Washington (State)
  • Professional associations--Washington (State)
  • Trade and professional associations--Washington (State)
  • Trade associations--Washington (State)
  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Bestor, Arthur Eugene, 1908-1994--Archives
  • Frick, Helen
  • Stevens, Sylvester

Corporate Names

  • American Historical Association
  • American Historical Association. Freedom of Historical Inquiry Committee
  • American Historical Association. Historian and the Federal Government Committee
  • Defense of the Rights of Historians Committee (Joint)
  • University of Washington. Department of History
  • University of Washington. Department of History--Faculty--Archives
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Washington State Bar Association. Standards of Conduct for Judicial Candidates and Polls Committee

Geographical Names

  • United States--History
  • United States--History

Occupations

  • College teachers--Washington (State)
  • Historians--Washington (State)
  • History teachers--Washington (State)

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Council for Basic Education (creator)
    • University of Washington. University Archives (curator)