A Guide to the Papers of Dr. John Kern

Access and use

Location of collection:
Roanoke Public Libraries
Virginia Room
Roanoke Public Libraries
706 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, VA 24016
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Dyron Knick
Phone: (540) 853-2073

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Biographical / historical:

John Kern was born on January 28, 1940 in Iowa City, Iowa. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Swarthmore College in 1961, he served two years in the Peace Corps in Tunisia. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1968, and he became interested in black history while earning his doctoral degree in American history at the same institution in 1976. He came to Roanoke in 1989 to become the regional director of Virginia’s newly created Department of Historic Resources. The office nominated many Southwest Virginia historic sites and areas to state and national registries. Some of his accomplishments include the successful nomination of the Historic Gainsboro District to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 and the placement of the Pearisburg Downtown Historic District on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. He taught courses in black history at Hollins Universit

Acquisition information:
Donated by Dr. John Kern
Physical description:
4 record storage boxes