Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Kansas, 1953- 1955

INTRODUCTION The Waldo Wadsworth Burchard papers were donated to the University Archives on January 13, 1988, by his wife Rachael Burchard.  Literary rights in all materials not under copyright are dedicated to the public.  There are no restrictions on access to the collection. SCOPE AND CONTENT The papers in this collection document the life and career of Waldo W. Burchard from 1942 to 1985.  The collection is organized into five series: personal papers (1935-1975); college materials and professional associations (1947-1981); Northern Illinois University department administration (1958-1981); NIU classroom and teaching (1958-1982); research and publications (1950-1976).  The first folder in the collection contains biographical material.  The second folder contains Burchard's obituary and notes from the memorial service. Papers in series one are personal and contain a volume of poetry written by Burchard, "Poems Writ by Hand."  Also in this series are World War II mementos. The second series contains papers from Burchard's years in college.  These papers include class notes and papers.  Also included are papers from his years as a faculty member before coming to Northern Illinois University.  This series documents Burchard's involvement with several professional associations.  Included are constitutions, minutes of meetings, newsletters, and business papers. The third series contains papers that relate to Burchard's administrative career and with his role as chair of the Sociology Department.  The series contains departmental records concerning business affairs, graduate degree programs, and committees.  There are also reprints of professional papers requested by Burchard over the years. Series four documents Burchard's teaching.  This series contains class lecture notes for several sociology classes.  Also included are papers documenting Burchard's interest in various aspects of the university and the city of DeKalb. Professor Burchard's research and publications may be found in the final series in this collection.  Correspondence with publishers and requests for reprints are included.  The mainportion of this series is devoted to copies of papers written by Waldo Burchard.  "The Role of the Military Chaplain," an article developed from a jury study, and a study of the reactions of the public to the assassination of John F. Kennedy give a good overview into Dr. Burchard's research methods and writing styles. For additional information on aspects of Burchard's career and activities, researchers should consult the following: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Faculty Records, and the Northern Star. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Waldo Wadsworth Burchard was born November 28, 1916 in Santanta, Kansas.  Burchard received his B.A. in Sociology and Philosophy (1949), M.A. in Sociology and Anthropology (1951), and his Ph.D. in Sociology (1953) from the University of California, Berkeley.  On May 24, 1945, he married Rachael Caroline Ballenger.  They had four children, a son and three daughters.  Burchard served in the U.S. Marines Corps during World War II and attained the rank of commissioned warrant officer. Professor Burchard was a member of faculties at the University of Denver (1952-1953); University of Kansas (1953-1955); Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas (Summer, 1955); Hollins College, Virginia (1955-1958), and at Northern Illinois University from 1958 until his retirement in 1978.  At Northern, Burchard served as Head, Department of Social Science (1959-1961), and as Head, Department of Sociology and Anthropology (1961-1968). An avid researcher, Burchard published throughout his career and was a member of several professional associations.  He was founding president of the Illinois Sociological Association, a member of the executive council of the Ohio Valley Sociological Society, and a member of the board of directors of the Midwest Sociological Society.  An author of many articles, Burchard published pieces in American Sociologist, Sociological Review, Midwest Sociologist, Social Forces, and Sociology and Social Research.  Waldo Burchard is credited as the first scholar to introduce the concept of role conflict as a sociological phenomenon into sociological theory.