Faculty Records: Leo W. Jenkins Papers

1960-1984
University Archives #UA90-06
Creator(s)
Physical description
8 Cubic Feet
Preferred Citation
[Item description]. Leo Jenkins Papers.  UA90-06, Box [number].  University Archives, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
Repository
East Carolina University Archives
Access
The collection is open for research use.

This collection contains personal effects of Leo Jenkins including awards, plaques, military honors, photographs, and political cartoons.


Biographical/historical information

Leo Warren Jenkins was born on May 28, 1913, in Succasunna, New Jersey. He earned a B.S. in education from Rutgers University in 1935, a master's degree from Columbia University in 1938, and a doctorate degree from New York University in 1941. He joined in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, serving at Guadalcanal, Guam, and Iwo Jima. For his actions on Iwo Jima, he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and also received two Presidential Unit Citations. After the war, Jenkins taught in New Jersey public schools, at the Montclair Teachers College, and served as the Assistant to the Commissioner for Higher Education of the New Jersey State Department of Education. Leo Jenkins married Lillian Jacobsen in October of 1942, with whom he fathered six children. The couple moved to North Carolina in 1947 after Jenkins accepted a position as Dean of East Carolina College that year. In 1960, he succeeded John D. Messick, his mentor from Montclair Teachers College, becoming East Carolina's sixth president. That year, United States' presidential candidate, Senator John F. Kennedy, visited East Carolina College while touring North Carolina. Jenkins openly supported the democratic candidate. As president, Jenkins' ambition was painstakingly obvious. Within five years, he proposed raising East Carolina to university status, which he achieved in 1967. During this time, he also spearheaded major improvements to intercollegiate athletics and the arts on campus. In 1972, President Jenkins became Chancellor Jenkins. Jenkins' tenure at East Carolina is characterized by student enrollment and employed faculty numbers each climbing more than tenfold within thirty years, the addition of more than 150 academic programs, the increase of a $1.9 million budget to over $35 million, campus' acreage climbing from 140 to 411, the addition of fifty-six buildings (including the A.J. Fletcher Music Center and high-rise dormitories), and the construction of Ficklen Stadium. He also fought for a School of Medicine, oversaw the expansion of Joyner Library, and the construction of a new art building which bears his name, the opening of the East Carolina Summer Theater, and the establishment of the School of Nursing at East Carolina. In 1977, the School of Art moved into the Leo Jenkins Fine Arts Center, which is located across from the Chancellor's Residence, where the original Austin Building once stood. Jenkins retired in 1978 and was succeeded by Chancellor Thomas Bowman Brewer. In 1983, East Carolina University awarded its first honorary doctorate degree to Chancellor Emeritus Leo Jenkins. He passed away six years later and was survived by his six children and his second wife, Nancy Murray Jenkins.


Scope and arrangement

This collection contains personal effects of Leo Jenkins including awards, plaques, military honors, photographs, and political cartoons.


Administrative information
Copyright notice

This material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to taking precautions against infringement of copyright and respecting the publication rights of reproduced materials. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Any materials used should be fully credited with their source according to the example given in the Preferred Citation note. Requests for assistance with citations and images of publication quality should be directed to specialcollections@ecu.edu. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state law. The user assumes full responsibility for using such information and is advised that the disclosure of such information about identifiable living individuals without their consent may have legal ramifications.


Related material

This collection is a part of Faculty Records.


Container list
UA90.06.02.01 And After These We'll Take in Wilmington College, undated
UA90.06.02.02 They Couldn't Take Dr. Carter's Little Pill, undated
UA90.06.02.03 Nothing Like a Good Spanking, undated
UA90.06.02.04 I Think It's Something You Swallowed, undated
UA90.06.02.05 I Think Jenkins, Friday, and West Are Acting Like Kids, undated
UA90.06.02.06 My Favorite Fool, undated
UA90.06.02.07 Moment of Truth, undated
UA90.06.02.08 Jenkins' ECU Med School Effort, undated
UA90.06.02.09 Premature!, undated
UA90.06.02.10 Off With His Head!, undated
UA90.06.02.11 Quit Picking on Me or I'll Take my Ball and Go Home!, 1975 July 1
UA90.06.02.12 Steam Rollers, 1967 April 1
UA90.06.02.13 The Fountainhead Staff was Cordially Invited to Dr. Jenkins House on October 26, 1971, 1971 November 2
UA90.06.02.14 The Gospel According to Privette, undated
UA90.06.02.15 The 'Case' for an ECU Med School Now, undated
UA90.06.02.16 ECU Med School vs. NCSU Vet School, undated
UA90.06.02.17 The Chapel Hill Weekly Opening Gavel, undated
UA90.06.02.18 I could help Mama with the work if..., 1974
UA90.06.02.19 All Good Things Must End, undated
UA90.06.02.20 Yes, There's Nothing Like the Rough and Tumble of Competition, 1971
UA90.06.02.21 Tonite, Leo Jenkins, 1971 September 28
UA90.06.02.22 The Good Ship Higher Education, undated
UA90.06.02.23 Leo Jenkins, 1970 April 25
UA90.06.02.24 Julius Leo, 1968 Spring
UA90.06.02.25 Jenkins and the News and Observer Editor, undated
UA90.06.02.26 "Full Steam Ahead...", undated
UA90.06.02.26 Leo Jenkins, 1975 July 3
UA90.06.02.28 A new-Found Sense of Unity, 1970 May 11
UA90.06.02.29 A Case of Over-Reaction, undated
UA90.06.02.30 Three-Letter Man, 1967 April 4
UA90.06.02.31 Logic of the "Emerging East", undated
UA90.06.02.32 Free Alice Cooper, undated
UA90.06.02.33 And I Don't Get Copy, I'll Go To Court, 1967 Ferbruary 26
UA90.06.02.34 Yes Sir, Leo, Things Are Finally Coming Your Way, undated
UA90.06.02.35 Doc Leo's Magic Med School Potion, undated
UA90.06.02.36 Eastern NC Democrats, undated
UA90.06.02.37 Leo Jenkins Knight, 1973
UA90.06.02.38 ECU and Legislature, undated
Box 2 "Welcome Home Leo" Banner, 1946
Box 4 Assorted medals

contains military medals and Methodist Church medals

UA90.06.03.03 Toastmasters International, 1976-05-22
UA90.06.04.01 Leo Jenkins Sketch, undated
Oversize Folder 1 National Defense Executive Reserve, undated
Box 2 Appointment to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves certificate, 1957
Oversize Folder 1 Autographed Cartoon, undated
UA90.06.05.01 Dr. Leo Would Have Loved It!