James McNaughton Hester Papers
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Abstract
James McNaughton Hester served at New York University as Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Science and Executive Dean of Arts and Sciences from 1960-1961, and as University President from 1962-1975. He went on to serve as rector of the United Nations University from 1975-1980. The collection contains drafts and supporting materials from speeches, presentations and articles given and written by Hester between 1960-1980, as well as photographs, awards and clippings from his tenure at NYU.
Biography of James McNaughton Hester
James M. Hester was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, on April 19, 1924, to James Montgomery and Margaret (McNaughton) Hester. Hester received his diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, in 1942 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude in the humanities and magna cum laude in history, from Princeton University in 1945.
Hester served as a civil information and education officer with a military government team in the Fukuoka district of Japan following graduation and later obtained a Rhodes scholarship to attend Pembroke College of Oxford University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in 1950. Hester also received his Master of Arts with second class honors in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1953 and Doctor of Philosophy in International Affairs in 1955 from Oxford University.
In 1957 Hester became Provost of Long Island University's Brooklyn Center and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He was subsequently appointed Vice-President of Long Island University in 1958 and served as a member of the University's Board of Trustees from 1959-1960.
Hester was appointed Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Science at New York University in 1960 and concurrently served as Executive Dean of Arts and Science and Professor of History. In 1962, Hester assumed the role of University President, which he occupied until his resignation in 1975 to become the first Rector of the United Nations University, where he remained until 1980.
He died in Princeton, New Jersey on December 31, 2014.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series. The first series is arranged alphabetically. The second series is arranged chronologically according to when the speech, remark, presentation or article was made or published.
Missing Title
- Personal
- Speeches and Remarks
Scope and Content Note
The collection documents the activities of James Hester in his capacity as president of New York University and as rector of the United Nations University. A large part of the collection consists of speeches, remarks, interviews and articles given and written by Hester. The collection includes drafts, notes, research materials, correspondence regarding and reacting to his speeches and remarks. The collection also includes a large number of portrait photographs, honorary degrees awarded to Hester by other universities, and clippings about Hester's tenure at NYU.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Open to researchers.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
New York University Archives Elmer Holmes Bobst Library 70 Washington Square South New York, NY 10012 Phone: (212) 998-2646 Fax: (212) 995-4225 E-mail: university-archives@nyu.edu
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form: Identification of Item, date (if known); James McNaughton Hester Papers; MC 51; box number; folder number; New York University Archives, New York University Libraries.
Technical Requirement Note
Collection includes one 5'' reel to reel audio tape.
Separated Materials
New York University 1832-1932, A Graphic Presentation Concerning New York University, and New York University Self-Study Report moved to stacks.
About this Guide
Processing Note
Some of the personal correspondence was returned to James Hester. Entire issues of The International Herald Tribune, The New York Times and other newspapers were discarded after pertinent articles were xeroxed.