Adam Kulakow papers, 1989

Summary

Creator:

Kulakow, Adam.

Abstract:

University of Michigan student, producer of the documentary videotape, "Keeping in Mind" about three faculty members forced to leave the University of Michigan because of alleged affiliations with the Communist Party. Includes production files; copy of videotape "Keeping in Mind"; and videotapes of interviews with the three accused faculty, Chandler Davis, Clement Markert, and Mark Nickerson, and interviews with other university faculty and administrators and researchers of the period, notably David Bohr, Elizabeth Douvan, Harlan Hatcher, Marvin Niehuss, and Ellen Schrecker.

Extent:

6 linear feet

Language:

English

Call Number:

89512 Aa 2

Authors:

Finding aid created by Christine Weideman, November 1989

Background

Scope and Content:

The Adam Kulakow Papers and Visual Materials consist of materials which Kulakow generated while producing the documentary Keeping in Mind, an exploration of the effects of McCarthyism on The University of Michigan in the 1950s. The documentary was Kulakow's undergraduate senior honors thesis at the University of Michigan. It focuses on three University of Michigan faculty members (Dr. Chandler Davis, Dr. Clement Markert, and Dr. Mark Nickerson) who were called before the House UnAmerican Activities Committee in 1954 to testify regarding their alleged affiliations with the Communist Party and examines subsequent actions taken by the University. Kulakow's work was funded by the University of Michigan, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; the Bentley Historical Library; and the Leo Burnett Scholarship. The documentary premiered on the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus on April 18, 1989. At the premier, the film was shown and afterwards the events on which it focused were discussed by the three professors, who had traveled to Ann Arbor for the event.

The collection is comprised of two U-matic videotape copies of the documentary itself (one of which is an archival master copy, not for research use) and one VHS copy of the documentary (to be used for making copies only); U-matic videotapes of interesting interviews conducted by Kulakow and his production crew with historians and University of Michigan faculty and administrators; and one folder of handwritten Kulakow notes and interview transcripts. In addition to the Kulakow collection, the researcher is advised to consult the Bentley Historical Library manuscript card catalog for other collections which pertain to the incidents documented in Keeping in Mind.

Biographical / Historical:

University of Michigan student, College of Literature Science and Art, class of 1989. Kulakow undertook research on the impact of the "McCarthyism" on the University of Michigan for his senior honors thesis. The result was the video Keeping in Mind about three faculty members forced to leave the University of Michigan because of alleged affiliations with the Communist Party.

Acquisition Information:

The collection was acquired from Adam Kulakow in June 1989 (Donor # 7689 ).

Subjects

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Subjects:

Academic freedom.
Anti-communist movements -- United States.
Academic freedom.
Anti-communist movements -- United States.
McCarthyism.

Formats:

Sound recordings.
Videotapes.

Names:

Bohr, David.
Davis, Chandler.
Douvan, Elizabeth Ann Malcolm, 1926-
Hatcher, Harlan, 1898-1998.
Markert, Clement L. (Clement Lawrence), 1917-1999.
Nickerson, Mark.
Niehuss, Marvin Lemmon, 1903-2003.
Schrecker, Ellen.