S. Frederick Starr Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-390

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers of S. Frederick Starr document the professional and personal activities (1980 – 1994) of a scholar-academic administrator immersed in many national, international, and educational subject areas. The manuscript group is distinct from Starr’s presidential records (RG 2/12), although the timeframe largely coincides with his term as Oberlin College’s twelfth president (1983-1994). Within these papers, evidence exists documenting Starr’s professional network, role as a scholar on Soviet and international affairs, and interest in classical jazz music. These professional papers, with the exception of 17 letters in Series I, provide little documentation of Starr’s family relationships. Additionally, the papers only cover the time during which Starr was president of Oberlin College and contain no documentation of Starr’s activities after stepping down. The manuscript papers are arranged in seven series as follows: Correspondence (general and relating to organizations), Invitation Files, Letters of Recommendation, Miscellaneous Files, Speeches/Talks Files, and Writings Files.

The Starr papers consist of correspondence, invitations, printed materials, and research files. These files include original documents, information copies, and annotated documents. Betsy Young, presidential assistant, maintained both these papers and the presidential records in the president’s office. While arranging and describing documents found in this manuscript group, adhering to the principles of original order was made easy owing to the initial organization.

The bulk of the papers are found in Series 1 and Series 2. These document important relationships Starr cultivated with individuals and organizations (1983-1994). Series 1 is organized by individual (A-Z), while Series 2 is filed by organization and thereunder alphabetically. The correspondence documents Starr’s proactive role in advancing the interests of Oberlin College as well as his own. Seventeen letters filed under “Starr” document Fred Starr’s correspondence (1985-1991) with his brother, George A. and nephew Stephen Z. In the series, many of the correspondents are of national and international reputation, with a majority of them coming from academic circles. He was a frequent consultant on topics relating to the Soviet Union and its relationship to the United States and served on the board of directors for the American Committee on U.S.-Soviet Relations (1988-1993) and the board for the Centre for Russian and East European Studies (beginning in 1994). The Literaturnaia gazeta named Starr laureate during 1988 for Russian language writings in the Russian press.

Given that he was an influential scholar and spokesperson for international affairs, Starr received numerous invitations to various events as well as requests to provide presentations beyond Oberlin. Included among these are the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the American Committee on US-Soviet Relations. Series 3 documents these invitations and Starr’s response to accept or decline the offers. On a related note, Series 6 Speech Files documents Starr’s speeches by providing full-text documentation or handwritten outlines of the speech, including speeches delivered to Oberlin College audiences and speeches delivered at events outside the Oberlin College community. These document Starr’s research interests and his authority to speak on these subjects.

The remainder of these manuscript papers, Series 7, is made up of files relating to Starr’s writings, which supported seven book titles and two articles. Included in these files are two critically acclaimed works: Red and Hot: The Fate of Jazz in the Soviet Union, 1917-1980 (1983) and Melnikov: Solo Architect in a Mass Society (1978).

Series 5, a miscellaneous grouping, includes Starr's collection of Soviet posters dating from 1962 and 1974-75.

Dates

Creation: 1962-1994, undated
Other: Majority of material found in 1980-1994
Other: Date acquired: 2007 February 28

Conditions Governing Access

Certain access restrictions apply (noted on inventory).

Biographical or Historical Information

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, S. Frederick Starr (b. March 24, 1940) served as Oberlin College’s twelfth president (1983-1994). Starr is a dynamic leader both inside and outside academia and has taken a proactive position in national and international affairs. After attending Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, Starr majored in ancient history at Yale University (1962), earned a master degree in Slavonic languages and literature at Kings College, Cambridge University (1964), and received a doctorate in history from Princeton University (1968). He served as an associate professor of history at Princeton from 1968, until he led the founding of the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies, co-founded with George F. Kennan (1904-2005), at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, in 1974.

At the Kennan Institute, Starr was both secretary and associate director of The Wilson Center where he developed important relationships with Soviet specialists and established research and publication programs. His expertise and interest in U.S. and Soviet relations followed through his subsequent positions, and he continued to produce publications, serve on discussion panels, and give speeches and interviews on a variety of international topics. He spent time living, studying, and working in the Soviet Union and Western Europe. Fluent in Russian, Turkish, and German, Starr served from 1978 to 1979 as a special consultant to the Commission on Foreign Languages and International Studies during the Jimmy Carter administration. Immediately prior to serving as Oberlin College’s president, Starr was vice president for academic affairs at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he also was a professor of history and an adjunct professor of architecture.

Beyond being a respected authority on Russian affairs, Starr is also an accomplished musician. He plays the clarinet and saxophone, with a special interest in classic musical instruments. Starr founded the internationally renowned Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble while at Tulane University, New Orleans. As a member of Jazz Ensemble, he toured around the world playing 1880-1930 era New Orleans jazz music and using original instruments during performances. The jazz ensemble performed many times at Oberlin College, including at the large public reception following his inauguration as the college’s president.

A Renaissance-like scholar, Starr held a variety of interests that are mirrored in his research and writings. Starr is a prolific author of 20 books and over 200 articles on topics such as Russian studies, architecture, music, biography, and archaeology. He produced these writings while simultaneously balancing his busy schedule as an academic administrator. He also wrote pieces for national newspapers, including The New York Times, and appeared as a frequent commentator on mass media outlets such as CNN. Starr’s experience and expertise on Soviet education and other Russian affairs led the U.S. Congress to seek his views.

After stepping down as president on June 30, 1994, Starr became head of the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies (Maryland campus). The mission of this international think tank was to help businesses, government, academia, and others make decisions about important national and international issues. He left this position in 1995, and in 1996 became the founding chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at The Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC. He also is a research professor at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, at Johns Hopkins University.

Sources Consulted:

Faculty Directory. The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University website. Accessed Oct 8, 2007.

“The Inauguration of Stephen Frederick Starr as President of Oberlin College,” Inauguration program, 24 September 1983.

“Oberlin’s President Prepares to Move On,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, 15 June 1994.

“President Starr to be president of Aspen Institute,” Oberlin College Observer, 26 May 1994

“Two presidential candidates visit Oberlin campus,” Oberlin College Observer, 11 November 1982, p 1.

“S. Frederick Starr to be president,” Oberlin College Observer, 25 November 1982, p 1.

Note written by Emily R. Lockhart

Extent

16.32 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

The Oberlin College Archives received the S. Frederick Starr Papers during the spring of 2007. Donor S. Frederick Starr had previously promised the collection to the archives in April 1994, but the personal papers did not come to it for a variety of reasons. Additional materials (Russian posters) were received in 2009 from Judy Holm. Additional accessions received from S. Frederick Starr in 2017-2022 and mainly cover his research and writings about the Central Asian region.

Accruals and Additions

Accession Nos: 2007/012, 2009/006. Inventories of additional accessions not interfiled can be accessed by Archives Staff.

Related Materials

Institutional records of S. Frederick Starr (RG 2/12) were received by the College Archives in July 1994. This body of institutional records documents his sometimes controversial tenure as the college president, 1983-1994. Some of these manuscript papers may overlap in time period and in subject matter with the institutional records.