Skip to Content

John T. Horton papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 22-6F-632

Scope and Content Note

Papers, circa 1920 1979, of John T. Horton, Professor of History and chairman of the Department of History and Government at the University of Buffalo, consisting of scrapbooks, correspondence, articles, clippings, certificates, photographs and other materials pertaining to his career as a historian, his activities at the University of Buffalo and other personal and civic interests.

Materials concerning the University of Buffalo include minutes of the Dept. of History and Government, 1950-1958, correspondence and memoranda about the creation of the Political Science Department, 1960-1962; correspondence and other materials concerning classics professor Edward G. Schauroth, 1954-1955; correspondence with Julius Pratt; programs and other materials about Phi Beta Kappa, 1938-1952; letters to Horton on his retirement as chairman of the History Department in 1967 and on his retirement from teaching in 1973; and other items.

The papers include letters, speeches and newspaper clippings concerning Horton's active involvement with the Niagara Frontier Defense Committee in 1940-1941, which advocated active United States involvement on the side of the Allies in World War II, and his work to raise money for the British American Ambulance Corps in 1941-1942.

Horton's work as a historian is represented by letters concerning his book, James Kent: A Study in Conservatism, 1763-1847 (1939), copies of various articles and speeches, and reports and other materials, 1949-1951, from the New York State Regents Advisory Committee on the Teaching of History.

Also included in the papers is a genealogy of the Horton family. The scrapbooks include clippings, photographs, letters and other materials on the Horton family and Richburg, New York in the nineteenth century.

Dates

  • circa 1920-1979

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

The John T. Horton Papers, circa 1920-1979, are open for research.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Biographical Note

Born September 29, 1902 in Bolivar, New York, John T. Horton received his B.A. degree in 1926 from the University of Buffalo. He earned the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in History from Harvard University in 1929 and 1935 respectively. Horton began his teaching career after graduating from the University of Buffalo and was appointed a regular faculty position in 1946. Two years later he became Chairman of the Department of History and Government, serving in that position until 1967.

Horton taught in the areas of Federal, State, and Local Government, and New York State History, and was known to be an expert on the history of the Niagara Frontier. His book, James Kent: A Study in Conservatism, was awarded the Albert J. Beveridge Prize of the American Historical Association in 1939. Horton was the 1971 recipient of the University at Buffalo's Samuel P. Capen Alumni Award for his many years of service as a scholar, administrator, and teacher at the University. He retired from teaching in 1973 as Professor Emeritus and received the 1974 Augsperger Local History Award from the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.

Extent

2.38 Linear Feet (3 manuscript boxes, 1 half box, 3 scrapbooks )

Abstract

Collection consists of minutes and reports regarding the separation of the Department of History and Government at the University of Buffalo into two departments in 1962; a history of the Department of History, 1948-1967, covering Horton's tenure as chairman; and programs of the local Phi Beta Kappa chapter, 1938-1952 (incomplete), with a history of the chapter by Horton. Also included are materials concerning Horton's active involvement with the Niagara Frontier Defense Committee (1940-1941) and a genealogy of the Horton family.

Arrangement

Collection is organized alphabetically by subject, followed by loose scrapbook items, followed by three scrapbooks. Publications Series is organized by year. Original order of files within those series has been maintained.

Acquisition Information

The John T. Horton papers were donated to the University Archives by Dr. John T. Horton, December 8, 1965; May 20, 1967; August 21, 1967; April 17, 1983; and June 16, 1983.

Accruals and Additions

No further accruals are expected to this collection.

Alternate Forms

John T. Horton Scrapbooks available on microfilm, 22/6F/632.

Related Resources

4/7/19, Samuel Capen Papers, University Archives, State University of New York at Buffalo


MS 126, Scriptores Records


3/1/338, Phi Beta Kappa Omicron Chapter
LD 701.B42 P3, A History of the University of Buffalo

Processing Information

Processed by Archives staff, circa 1983.
Finding aid encoded by Sheryl Saxby, July 2006

Source

Title
Finding Aid for the John T. Horton papers, circa 1920-1979
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Archives staff.
Date
2006
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 University Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
716-645-2916
716-645-3714 (Fax)