Jeffrey Richards Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Old Dominion University
3023 Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library
Old Dominion University
4427 Hampton Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23529
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jessica Ritchie
Phone: (757) 683-4483
Fax: (757) 683-5954
Restrictions:

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Jeffrey Richards Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
9.60 Linear Feet and 12 Hollinger document cases, 1 half Hollinger document case, and 5 notebooks boxes
Creator:
Richards, Jeffrey H. (1948-2011)
Abstract:
This collection documents the professional life of Jeffrey Richards and his development of the English Department at Old Dominion University.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Jeffrey Richards Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection documents the professional life of Jeffrey Richards and his work in the English Department at Old Dominion University. This collection consists of articles and essays written by Richards, lecture notes, correspondence, course listings, and syllabi.

Biographical / historical:

Jeffrey H. Richards was a professor and eminent scholar of English at Old Dominion University. During his nineteen years at Old Dominion, Richards taught early and 19th century American literature and American drama and served two terms as department chair. He received the university's Doctoral Mentoring Award in 2011.

Richards was born on December 4, 1948 in Libertyville, Illinois to Fenton Omar and Betty Quantz Richards. He graduated with bachelor's degree in English from Yale University in 1971 and received a doctorate in American literature and drama from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982. Prior to joining the Old Dominion University faculty in 1992, Richards taught at Duke University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lakeland College, and Beijing Normal University.

Besides teaching, Richards wrote numerous essays and articles, as well as authored publications on American literature and drama. His areas of research were on Calvinism in the Colonial South, early American literature, and American drama.

Richards died on May 30, 2011 at the age of 62 after a long battle with brain cancer. The conference room for the university's English Department located on the fifth floor of the Batten Arts and Letters Building has been re-dedicated as the Jeffrey H. Richards Conference Room.

References:

"Jeffrey Richards, Department Chair and Eminent Professor, Literature." http://al.odu.edu/english/faculty/jrichards.shtml

Bross, Kristina; Sweet Timothy. "In Memoriam: Jeffrey H. Richards." Early American Literature, Vol. 47. No. 1, 2012, pp. 257-260. [url=https://muse.jhu.edu/journals/early_american_literature/v047/47.1.bross.pdf]https://muse.jhu.edu/journals/early_american_literature/v047/47.1.bross.pdf[/url]

"In Memoriam, Jeffrey H. Richards." The Scrivener: The Alumni Newsletter of the ODU English Department. http://oduscrivener.wordpress.com/issues/2010-2011-issue/in-memoriam-jeffrey-h-richards/

"Memorial Service is June 5 for Professor Jeffrey Richards." News @ Old Dominion. May 26, 2011.

Note written by Kathleen Smith

Acquisition information:

Gift from the Estate of Jeffrey Richards

Gift.

Processing information:

The collection was processed by Joseph Smith in July 2013.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into four series: Series I: Personal Education Materials; Series II: Professional and Departmental Materials; Series III: ODU Course Materials; and Series IV: Research and Writing.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard