Peter Beckman teaching collection
Scope and Contents
The Peter Beckman teaching collection, 1954-1977 and undated. The collection is arranged into four series: Correspondence, Subject files, Publications, and Campaign materials.
The Correspondence series, 1968-1975 and undated, primarily consists of mass mailings addressed to Peter Beckman. Most of the letters were sent from various political and religious groups asking for donations. Some of the organizations aimed to spread awareness for a particular political issue, request feedback through polls, or solicit petition signatures.
The Subject files series, 1954-1977 and undated, includes various kinds of propaganda relating to specific religious or political issues and organizations. Most of the files consist of brochures, articles, and mass mailings distributed by radical religious and political organizations in order to generate support. Also included are newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and academic papers written about particular organizations or issues.
The Publications series, 1955-1975 and undated, contains three subseries: newsletters, articles, and newspapers. Newsletters generally consists of newsletters published by various political and religious organizations to which Peter Beckman subscribed. The articles subseries consists of articles collected by Beckman from various publications. They cover a wide range of views and opinions regarding political and religious matters. The Newspapers subseries mostly consists of issues of Christian Economics and Christian News. Other newspapers are religious or political publications affiliated with specific groups or beliefs.
The Campaign materials series, 1967-1972 and undated, contains material printed in support of or against certain political parties or individuals. Materials primarily include flyers and posters.
Dates
- Creation: 1954-1977 and undated
Creator
- Beckman, Peter T., 1924- (Person)
Language of Materials
English, German, and French
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from Augustana College Special Collections and the copyright holder.
Historical Note
The Peter Beckman teaching collection was assembled by a former student and professor of Augustana College, Peter Beckman. Beckman was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1924. He attended Augustana College for a number of years, graduating as a member of the college class of 1949, and the Seminary class of 1953. He was ordained and served several congregations before returning to Augustana College in 1960 to teach in the religion department, of which he eventually became department chair. He served Augustana for thirty years before retiring from his position in 1990. Beckman assembled this collection in order to inform students about some of the more radical political and religious views circulating throughout the United States in the 1950s, 1960s, and the 1970s.
Extent
3.6 Cubic Feet (/ 9 boxes)
Abstract
The Peter Beckman teaching collection was assembled by a former student and professor of Augustana College, Peter Beckman. Beckman assembled this collection in order to inform students about some of the more radical political and religious views circulating throughout the United States in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The Peter Beckman teaching collection, 1954-1977 and undated, contains correspondence, subject files, publications, and campaign materials, largely related to radical political groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, Christian Anti-Communist Crusade, and Black Panther Movement.
Arrangement
Correspondence is arranged chronologically; all other materials are arranged alphabetically. Original folder titles have been maintained..
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Caroline McPherson, October 2014. Revised by Atticus Garrison, May 2016.
Subject
- Christian Anti-Communism Crusade (Organization)
- Black Panther Movement (Organization)
- Ku Klux Klan (1915-) (Organization)
- Nation of Islam (Chicago, Ill.) (Organization)
- X, Malcolm, 1925-1965 (Person)
Topical
- Anti-communist movements -- United States -- History -- 20th century
- Antisemitism
- Black Muslims
- Civil rights movements -- United States -- History -- 20th century
- Communism and Christianity
- National socialism
- Propaganda, Anti-Soviet
- Propaganda, Anti-communist
- Radicalism -- Periodicals
- Radicalism -- United States -- History -- 20th century
- Socialism -- History -- 20th century
- Socialism and youth
- Title
- Peter Beckman teaching collection, 1954-1977 and undated.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Atticus Garrison
- Date
- May 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Augustana College Special Collections Repository
639 38th Street
Thomas Tredway Library
Rock Island Illinois 61201 United States
specialcollections@augustana.edu