Item D14 - Typescript report headed 'The Chair of American History', signed G.N.C. (G.N. Clark)

Present arrangement by which appointments to Chair made by Council of Senate to be reviewed during next academic year. After 4 years experience of this system C thinks it should be given up as soon as possible and regular Board of Electors constituted. Proved difficult to conduct preliminary enquiries and correspondence regularly and satisfactorily, thinks it should be more formal and dealt with by body not concerned with any other business. Sometimes said that constitution of Board of Electors prejudge type of appointment to Chair. University should by this time be in position to decide this question for considerable period. So far professors appointed been Americans who held office for short time so that their influence stimulating but not continuous - doesn't think strong school of American history can be built up this way. Sometimes suggested that University lecturers supply necessary continuity while visiting professors appointed to bring expertise in various fields. More satisfactory if continuity provided by professor and encouragement for special studies comes from more junior people. This mean that Englishmen be appointed to Chair and this be highly desirable. Chair of American History at Oxford restricted to Americans so Oxford cannot build up independent school of American history in which English critical methods applied to American materials. Be great advantage for study of American history if it pursued by greater number of professors whose methods been formed outside US since they alone could make kind of contribution which been made by American and continental scholars in study of English history. Hopes regular Board of Electors be constituted and that it not think it necessary to draw up conditions for holding Chair in such a way as to make sacrifices to continuity in order to open way for American candidates.