The papers of Denna F. Fleming include material from several areas of his life and work -- those of teacher, writer, political scientist, and concerned citizen. The correspondence files, an excellent source of information, cover the period from 1930-1974 and include both personal and professional material. Dr. Fleming’s work as a teacher is represented by student papers, course outlines, examinations, and correspondence concerning university activities. Examples of his writing include reprints from published articles, several book manuscripts, and book reviews. He published frequently in publications such as The Western Political Quarterly, Events, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, The Nation, British Weekly, and War/Peace Report.

From 1939 to 1947, Fleming presented a series of weekly radio programs broadcast from WSM over much of the United States concerning events leading up to, during, and after the World War II. The programs were favorably received and many of them were collected and published in the book While America Slept. Transcripts of most of these broadcasts are in the collection.

Files on international and national organizations in which Fleming had an interest show a concern about the Vietnam War and the possibilities of a third world war. Committed to peace, Fleming supported numerous organizations including the American Association for the United Nations, Inc., the Arms Control Association, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Fund for Peace.

Professor Fleming had a large collection of clippings on topics such as Vietnam, Cambodia, China-U.S. relations, U.S.-U.S.S.R. relations, and atomic weapons. The clippings were taken from the following publications: Newsweek, Ramparts, New York Times, New Republic, New Yorker, Tennessean, ILFL, Stone’s Bi-weekly, Between the Lines, Nation, Foreign Affairs, Congressional Record, The Progressive, War/Peace Report, Wall Street Journal, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Commentary, Look, Atlantic Monthly, Nucleus, New World Review, Minority of One, and Saturday Review. The clippings were removed from the collection.

This Addition to the Denna Frank Fleming Papers came to Vanderbilt University Special Collections after the death of Mrs. Doris Fleming in 1989. It measures 4.26 linear feet and is contained in 7 full Hollinger boxes and one oversize box and covers the years 1893 - 1989. It completes the Denna Frank Fleming Papers which were given to Vanderbilt in February 1981, and which measure 7.55 cubic feet, 21 Hollinger boxes.

These papers include materials from several areas of his life and work - those of teacher, writer, political scientist, concerned citizen, husband, friend, and colleague.

Series List:

The Correspondence includes personal letters, letters with publishers, and testimonial letters both before and after his death.

Personal and Biographical materials includes a narrative of Fleming’s life written by his wife Doris S. Fleming; memorials by colleagues and friends, tributes at the memorial service with the order of service, and other items dating from his birth.

Academic Career papers include correspondence with Vanderbilt University administration, announcements of his lectures, conferences, and other professional activities, and papers by a former student J. Louis Adams.

The Writings series includes material on books, articles, addresses, scripts of radio broadcasts, reviews and an extensive collection of comments by others about Fleming’s publications and radio broadcasts.

Publications are comprised of a small number of publications by others.

The Subject Files contain collections of papers on the D.F. Fleming - Johns Committee Affair, 1961, his conflict with James Maddox, his collection of materials about Southeast Asia, the Vietnam War, and other topics of interest to Dr. Fleming over his long career as a professor and political scientist.

Photographs and Slides include images from his many travels and personal photographs of Dr. Fleming and his wife Doris.

The Memorabilia is contained in one oversize box of keepsake items belonging to Dr. Fleming and includes a Distinquished Service Award from the Nashville Chapter United Nations Association, May 17, 1977; a plaque with program from the Appreciation Dinner honoring Fleming at Belmont United Methodist Church, May 17, 1977; his Phi Beta Kappa key ( alpha of Tennessee,1940); his gold and enamel 50 year Masonic pin (square and compass), and his 1928 gold Phi Kappa Phi key (University of Illinois collegiate honor society for all disciplines). Other keepsake items include a small army issue New Testament, and a collection of first day issues for the United Nations Association, 1971.