Description
This collection
includes newspapers clippings, Stanford news releases, leaflets and pamphlets relating to
Franklin's tenure and dismissal hearings, the full text of the Advisory Board's
recommendations, and transcripts of hearing proceedings. Also included are a copy of a
senior research project by James Wascher of Northwestern University, 1978; photocopy of a
letter from Wallace Stegner, 1972; and the Board of Trustees resolution reaffirming
Franklin's dismissal, 1980.
Background
H. Bruce Franklin had been a member of the English Department faculty since he received his
Ph.D. from Stanford in 1961. A highly regarded scholar of Melville, he received tenure in
1965. In his early career at Stanford, Franklin was not publicly involved with politics. He
dates the beginning of his political commitment from 1966, when he taught at the
Stanford-in-France campus. There he became acquainted with several Vietnamese students, and
with them, founded a politically oriented free university in Paris. The controversy
concerning Franklin's tenure began in 1971, when he allegedly participated in the heckling
of a speech by Henry Cabot Lodge on January 11. The speech was cancelled, and President
Lyman sent Franklin a letter of reprimand for his part in the disruptions. Franklin
continued to participate in campus demonstrations, however and on March 22 of 1971 was
charged by President Lyman for contributing to or inciting disruptions on four occasions:
the Lodge disruptions on January 11; a White Plaza antiwar rally on February 10; the
occupation of the Computation Center; and a nighttime rally on February 10 which led to
subsequent acts of violence on the campus. He was tried before a faculty advisory board of
seven full professors. The hearings lasted from September 28, 1971 to January 4, 1972, when
the board recommended 5 to 2 that Franklin be fired. The board of Trustees finalized the
dismissal on January 20, 1972.
Extent
8.5 Linear Feet
(12 boxes)
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, California 94304-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special
Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s) or assigns. See:
http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/pubserv/permissions.html.
Availability
This collection is open for research; materials must be requested at least 48 hours in
advance of intended use.