Abstract
In January 1967, Time named the twenty-five-and-under generation as its man of the year. “Never have the young been so assertive or so articulate, so well educated or so worldly,” the magazine wrote. “Predictably, they are a highly independent breed, and—to adult eyes—their independence has made them highly unpredictable. This is not just a new generation, but a new kind of generation.”1 Time noted that the sixties’ youth were well educated (40 percent were in college), raised in material comfort, impatient with the slowness of social change, and characterized by a sense of immediacy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
Much of this chapter has been informed by my reading of David Farber, The Age of Great Dreams: America in the 1960s (New York: Hill and Wang, 1994), and the essays in Farber, ed., The Sixties: From Memory to History
(Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1994), all of which address these questions.
David Chalmers, And the Crooked Places Made Straight: The Struggle for Social Change in the 1960s, 2nd ed. (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996), 68.
Wescoe quoted in “Chancellor Proclaims ‘New KU Era,’” University Daily Kansan (hereafter, UDK), 19 September 1960; the enrollment figures are taken from University of Kansas, Office of the Registrar, “Annual Report of the Director of Admissions and Registrar” for the years 1958–59 through 1972–73, all of which can be found in Office of Admissions and Records, Annual Report, box 1, 1958/59-, in University Archives, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas (hereafter, UA). For an analysis of the changing role of women in higher education, see Kathryn Nemeth Tuttle, “What Became of the Dean of Women?: Changing Roles for Women Administrators in American Higher Education, 1940–1980” (Ph.D. diss., University of Kansas, 1996).
Howard S. Becker, Blanche Geer, and Everett C. Hughes, Making the Grade: The Academic Side of College Life (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1968), cited in Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz, Campus Life: Undergraduate Cultures from the End of the Eighteenth Century to the Present (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1987), 191–192, 221; Michael P. Fisher, “The Turbulent Years: The University of Kansas, 1960–1975, A History” (Ph.D. diss., University of Kansas, 1979), 132, 159.
Clifford S. Griffin, The University of Kansas: A History (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1974), 209, 629.
The University of Kansas YMCA-YWCA, KU-Y Jayhawker, 7:4 (13 October 1966), in YMCA chronological records, 1895–1981 (hereafter YMCA), box 1, “1966” folder, UA.
For a brief introduction to the national movement, see Leonard Clough, Introducing the University Christian Movement (leaflet) (New York: University Christian Movement, 1967), Archives of Appalachia, East Tennessee State University.
The first was the Jayhawk Cooperative House; see Kristine M. McCusker, “Interracial Communities and Civil Rights Activism in Lawrence, Kansas, 1945–1948,” Historian 61:4 (summer 1999): 783–799, and McCusker, “The ‘Forgotten Years’ of Americas Civil Rights Movement: The University of Kansas, 1939–1961” (master’s thesis, University of Kansas, 1994), 82.
Douglas C. Rossinow, The Politics of Authenticity: Liberalism, Christianity, and the New Left in America (New York: Columbia University Press, 1998), 6. The role of Christianity, interracial cooperative living, and civil rights activism is examined in chapter four of McCusker, “‘Forgotten Years,’” (master’s thesis).
Membership figures from YMCA, box 1, “1960/1961” folder; “full support” in Bob Hartley and Judy Gray to Dear Y Member, 13 May 1960, YMCA, box 1, “1959/1960” folder; “fellowship” quote in Gayle Graham and Carl C. Peck to “Dear fellow ‘Y’ Members,” 27 November 1962, in ibid., “1962/1963” folder; KU-YMCA-YWCA, “1961–1962 Program,” in ibid., “1961/1962” folder; “fellowship” quote in Gayle Graham and Carl C. Peck to “Dear fellow ‘Y’ Members,” 27 November 1962, in ibid., “1962/1963” folder.
On CRC’s investigations, see Rusty Monhollon, “Away from the Dream’: The Roots of Black Power in Lawrence, Kansas, 1960–1970” (master’s thesis, University of Kansas, 1995), 67–73; Barry’s years in Lawrence are noted in Clayborne Carson, In Struggle: SNCC and the Black Awakening of the 1960s, 2nd ed. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1990), 23, 24; all of the quotes are in “Students Picket Lawrence Polls,” UDK, 9 November 1960.
“The Port Huron Statement,” written by Tom Hayden in 1961, excerpted in Loren Baritz, ed., The American Left: Radical Political Thought in the Twentieth Century (New York: Basic Books, 1971), 385–405. The best history of SDS remains Kirkpatrick Sale, SDS (New York: Random House, 1973), but see also James Miller, “Democracy is in the Streets”: From Port Huron to the Siege of Chicago (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1987), and the more personal accounts by two former SDS leaders, Todd Gitlin, The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage (Toronto: Bantam Books, 1987) and Tom Hayden, Reunion: A Memoir (New York: Random House, 1988). For studies that focus more generally on the New Left, see, for example, Maurice Isserman, If I Had a Hammer: The Death of the Old Left and the Birth of the New Left (New York: Basic Books, 1987), and Wini Breines, Community and Organization in the New Left, 1962–1968 (New York: Praeger, 1982).
On the original CORE, see McCusker, “‘Forgotten Years,’” 128–136; the quote is in “CORE Newsletter,” January 1965, LLPD 6.4; on CORE’s investigations, see Monhollon, “Away from the Dream,’” 101–103.
Information on KU-SDS is culled from the following: James Gunn, memorandum in re conversation with Laird Wilcox, n.d. [1965], and Gunn, memorandum to Clarke Wescoe, 12 July 1965, both in Chancell’s Correspondence, Executive Secretary, Case Files, 1959–65 (hereafter, COES), box 9,” Civil Rights Demonstration—3/8—9/65” folder; Kansas University Students for a Democratic Society, “Constitution”; John Garlghouse, postcard to Students for a Democratic Society, n.d. [May 1965]; Jim Masters to Gentlemen, 24 May 1965; George R. Brosi to Jim Masters, n.d. [1965]; “went south” quote in Jim Masters, “Answers to questions,” typewritten, unaddressed letter, n.d. [July 1965]; Laird Wilcox to Fellow SDS’rs, 29 March 1965, all in Students for a Democratic Society Papers (hereafter SDS), 10.10, Wisconsin State Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin.
David Farber contends that there were “no clear delineations” between the various social movements transforming the country. See Farber, “The Counterculture and the Antiwar Movement,” in Melvin Small and William D. Hoover, eds., Give Peace a Chance: Exploring the Vietnam Antiwar Movement (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1990), 7.
Carlyle quoted in “Publisher Claims Reds on Campus,” UDK, 27 September 1965 and “Weekly Publisher Assails Campus SDS,” UDK, 5 October 1965; Bert C. Carlyle, “Briefs by Bert,” LO, 30 September 1965; Bert C. Carlyle, “Who’s Laughing Now?” LO, 21 October 1965.
“KU ‘Cannot’ Instruct Local Renters Not to Discriminate,” UDK, 7 March 1961; “Dean Says Sororities Have No Discriminatory Clauses,” UDK, 5 October 1960; “Collegiate Press Service Press Release,” 4 November 1964 (copy), in SDS, 10.10; “Rights Policy By Chancellor,” Lawrence Daily Journal-World (hereafter LDJW), 7 March 1961; Fisher, “Turbulent Years,” 78; W. Clarke Wescoe, “Report to the Board of Regents,” 14 March 1965, (hereafter, WCW “Report,” 1965), 3, in COES, box 9, “Sit-in Facts” folder; Francis H. Heller, “Campus in Turmoil,” (unpublished manuscript, n.d., copy in my possession), 692.
Civil Rights Council “Report of the Research Committee on Fraternities and Sororities,” 20 May 1965, (hereafter, CRC “Report”), in Civil Rights Council, records, box 1,UA; San Francisco Chronicle, 13 April 1965, quoted in CRC “Report,” 4; CRC “Report,” 19; Mrs. Robert P. Noble, Jr. (Karen Jo Emel) to W. Clarke Wescoe, 19 March 1965, in COES, box 9, “Civil Rights …” folder.
“Clause Waived For Sigma Nu: Letter Read At ASC Meeting,” UDK, 3 March 1965; “Wescoe Lauds Waiver: CRC Mum on Sigma Nu,” UDK, 4 March 1965.
The first quote is in WCW “Report,” 1965, 3; “hot session” in George Caldwell to Tom [no last name given], 29 March 1965 and 17 April 1965, in LLPD 4.15; “less emotional” quote is in “150 Sit-In-Stand-Out by Wescoe’s Office,” UDK, 8 March 1965.
The quotes are in Caldwell to Tom [no last name given]. Additional material for this paragraph is taken from the following: Norma Norman, interview by author, tape recording, Topeka, Kansas, 25 May 1994; Griffin, University of Kansas, 628–632; “150 Sit-In-Stand-Out by Wescoe’s Office”; “Arrests No Curb On Demonstrations,” UDK, 9 March 1965; “Special Meeting Called, ASC to Discuss Sit-ins,” UDK, 9 March 1965; “Wescoe States Past,” UDK, 9 March 1965; “Chancellor’s Statement,” UDK, 9 March 1965; “CRC Demands,” UDK, 9 March 1965; “Wescoe Reinstates Demonstrators,” UDK, 9 March 1965; “Council Introduces Bill For Discrimination Board,” UDK, 9 March 1965;” List Of Those Who Were Arrested Monday,” UDK, 10 March 1965; “CRC Leaders Disagree; ‘Cause’ Gains Support,” UDK, 11 March 1965; “Timetable of a Sit-in,” KU Today, 10 April 1965, 1, 5; “Transcription of shorthand notes taken of the conversation between Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe and Civil Rights Demonstrators on 8 March 1965,” COES, box 9, “Civil Rights …” folder; WCW “Report,” 1965, in ibid.; Kansas Board of Regents, “Policy on Organizational Membership,” 24 September 1965, attached to Laurence C. Woodruff, memorandum, 10 November 1965, in ibid.; University Human Relations Council, “Recommendations Relative to Commercial Advertising in Student Publications,” 16 March 1965, Chancellor’s Office, W. Clarke Wescoe Correspondence, box 1, “ASC” folder; W. Clarke Wescoe to Mike Miner, 16 March 1965, and Wescoe to Bob Stewart, 16 March 1965, both in ibid.
See “Regents’ Backing Given to Wescoe,” LDJW, 10 March 1965; for reaction to the protest, see correspondence in COES, box 9, “Civil Rights …,” “Critical,” “Hate,” “Faculty,” and “Approve” folders; Bert C. Carlyle, “Why Not Clean Up Mess In Kansas Colleges?” LO, 25 March 1965; “KU’s Problem, “LDJW, 9 March 1965; “Ed Abels Column,” LO, 10 June 1965; “Students Are Still Due For Court Visit,” LDJW, 10 March 1965.
Marcia Fleagle to W. Clarke Wescoe, 10 March 1965, and Mrs. Robert D. Love to W. Clarke Wescoe, 12 March 1965, both in COES, box 9, “Critical” folder.
See Civil Rights Council, “Interview notes with social chairs of campus fraternities, 1965–1966 school year,” in CRC records, box 1.
All quotes are in “Ed Abels’ Column,” LO, 19 August 1965.” In May 1965, the Strong Hall protestors pleaded not guilty to charges of disturbing the peace and requested a jury trial. The three leaders of the demonstration, George Unseld, Walter Bgoya, and Nathaniel Sims, were tried together and were found not guilty. The charges against the other defendants were dropped in August. In September, Abels commented on the circus atmosphere of the trials, noting that the courtroom was “filled with students, exstudents, civil rights activists, beatniks, bearded characters, white girls of probably righteous equal rights ideas, and Negroes.” See “Civil Rights Protestors Submit Plea of Not Guilty,” UDK, 4 May 1965; “Civil Rights Case Presented to Jury,” UDK, 18 May 1965; “Demonstrators Acquitted By District Court,” UDK, 19 May 1965; “Sit-in Arrests Are Costly,” LO, 8 April 1965; “Ed Abels’ Column,” LO, 19 August 1965; “Sit-In Dismissal Foregone Conclusion 3 Months Ago,” LO, 2 September 1965.
Charles Chatfield and Robert Kleidman, The American Peace Movement: Ideals and Activism (New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992), 107; Charles DeBenedetti and Charles Chatfield, An American Ordeal: The Antiwar Movement of the Vietnam Era (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1990), 40–42, 64. As DeBenedetti notes, there is no monograph on the Student Peace Union; he suggests consulting Howard Metzenberg, “Student Peace Union, Five Years Before the New Left” (honors thesis, Oberlin College, 1978).
The first stirring of opposition to the Vietnam War originated, as the Student Peace Union’s example suggests, in pacifist groups and the nuclear disarmament movement. See DeBenedetti, American Ordeal, 9–80, James J. Ferrell, The Spirit of the Sixties: The Making of Postwar Radicalism (New York: Routledge, 1997), 171–187, David McReynolds, “Pacifists and the Vietnam Antiwar Movement,” in Small and Hoover, eds., Give Peace a Chance, 57; and Nancy Zaroulis and Gerald Sullivan, Who Spoke Up? Americans Protest Against the War in Vietnam, 1963–1975 (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1984), 7–12, 19.
The quote is in “SPU Pickets Tri-Service Review,” UDK, 18 May 1964; additional information about SPU’s activities is drawn from “US Policy in Viet Nam Criticized,” UDK, 10 October 1963; “Prof essor Terms Diem Critics Naive,” UDK, 17 October 1963; “Prof essors Question American Influence in Viet Nam Coup,” UDK, 4 November 1963; and “SPU Demonstrates at Area ROTC Meet,” UDK, 21 October 1963.
“War is Picketed at KU Saturday,” LDJW, 22 February 1965; “SPU Offers Debate on VN,” UDK, 9 March 1965; “Group Takes SPU Challenge, UDK, 11 March 1965; Mark Pillsak to the editor, UDK, 23 March 1965.
Donald R. McCoy to James B. Pearson, 15 January 1965, James B. Pearson Papers (hereafter, JBP), 24.10; David Leonard, et al, to Pearson, 1 May 1965, JBP, 24.9; Marc Pillsak to the editor, UDK, 23 March 1965; “Prof . Asks Revamp Of Foreign Policy,” UDK, 1 March 1965; “SPU Prepares Demonstrations,” UDK, 11 May 1965; “SDS Demands US Halt Viet Bombing,” Summer Session Kansan, 7 July 1965.
“VN Teach-in Possible at KU,” UDK, 22 September 1965; “New Committee Seeks Peace in Viet Nam,” UDK, 23 September 1965.
“Student Left Will Demonstrate Saturday for VN Peace,” UDK, 12 October 1965; “SPU To Protest U.S. Draft Laws,” UDK, 15 October 1965; “SPU Joins VN Protest,” UDK, 18 October 1965; the quotes are in “Emotions Aroused as University Students Picket Draft Board,” LO, 21 October 1965.
“SPU Proposes Blood Drive for Viet Nam,” UDK, 1 November 1965; “YAF Sends Letters, Clothes to Viet Nam,” and “Bring The Boys Home Viet Nam Panel Says,” UDK, 10 December 1965; “Student Unrest Helps University,” UDK, 4 November 1965; “Lecturer Sees Win for US in VN,” UDK, 3 May 1965; “Withdrawal-Defeat” (editorial), UDK, 19 November 1965.
Weiss quoted in “Movement at Kansas U. Backs Viet War Effort,” LO, 28 October 1965; “Some College Youngsters We Really Appreciate,” LO, 4 November 1965; “Counter Movement—Letter Planned Backing the War,” UDK, 26 October 1965; “Letters Of Student Support Goes [sic] to Troops in Viet Nam,” UDK, 16 November 1965; “To Boost Viet Moral Letter Effort Starts,” UDK, 28 October 1968; K.U. News Bureau, “Press Release,” 17 November 1966, UA; loose clipping, “Service Gift Receptables,” LDJW, 30 November 1967, loose clipping, “Legionnaires Ask Blood Drive Help,” LDJW, 1 December 1967; Alan Fisher to Robert F. Dunlap, n.d. [1967]; all in Alan Fisher, personal scrapbook related to his tenure as commander of the Dorsey-Liberty American Legion Post #14, Lawrence, Kansas (in Fisher’s possession, hereafter, Fisher scrapbook); loose clipping, “VFW Joining Viet Boost,” [no further information provided], in “Vietnam Petition Drive” folder, Dorsey-Liberty American Legion Post #14, Lawrence, Kansas, (hereafter, DLAL) vertical files; form letter, DIAL to American GIs, n.d. [1967]; and M/Sgt. Chet Putnam to Dorsey-Liberty American Legion Post, n.d. [1968], in “Vietnam Servicemen Letters” folder, both in DLAL vertical files.
Wescoe quoted in W. Clarke Wescoe, “Confidential Report to the Board of Regents,” June, 1969, Chancellors Office, W. Clarke Wescoe Correspondence, State Board of Regents, Governor, box 1, (hereafter “Confidential Report, 1969”) UA; additional information on the demonstration is compiled from Address by W. Clarke Wescoe, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 16 October 1990, Heritage Lecture Series (hereafter, Wescoe Address), UA; Audrey Curtis, “The Disruption of the 1969 Chancellor’s Annual Review of the ROTC” (unpublished paper for History 616, 1989, copy in my possession), UDK, 10, 23, 31 October 1969; Fisher, “Turbulent Years,” 128, 130–131; “KU Petition Condemns SDS,” Topeka Daily Capital, 12 May 1969; 1970 Jayhawker, 79.
E. Laurence Chalmers, Installation Address, 15 September 1969 (emphasis in original), Chancellor’s Office, Speeches, box 2, UA.
Address by E. Laurence Chalmers, Kansas City, Missouri, 25 September 1969, in Chancellor’s Office, Speeches, box 1, UA.
Tom Leathers, “Lots of Chiefs-Not Enough Indians,” The Squire, 14 April 1966 (emphasis in original), loose clipping attached to Mr. and Mrs. Melford Monsees to Mrs. John Hughes, n.d. [April 1966], in Chancellor’s Office, W. Clarke Wescoe Correspondence, box 11, UA.
Copyright information
© 2002 Rusty L. Monhollon
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Monhollon, R.L. (2002). “The Proper Sense of Values”. In: “This is America?”. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403982407_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403982407_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-38742-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4039-8240-7
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)