Special Collections & Archives

Bill J. Leonard is the founding dean of the WFU School of Divinity, professor of church history, author of Baptist history writings, and ordained Baptist minister. This collection documents his personal and professional papers, sermons, and research materials for books and lectures. Materials date from his tenure at Southern Baptist Seminary, Samford University, and Wake Forest University. A major portion of the collection contains materials relevant to the controversy and split of the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1970s and 1980s. Correspondents include U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Walter Harrelson, James Dunn, Glenn Hinson, and other notable figures of the Southern Baptist Convention. There are also some audio recordings of his sermons as well as lectures by such notable theologians as Jurgen Moltmann.

Jack D. Fleer was a professor of Political Science at Wake Forest University from 1964 to 2002. He also became the director of the summer Boys' State program, held on the Wake Forest campus during the 1970s and 1980s. Fleer also wrote three books about North Carolina politics and governors. The collection includes material relating to Wake Forest University, including faculty committees, Thomas Hearn presidential search committee, American Association of University Professors' committee on faculty salaries and James Ralph Scales' retirement. Extensive material on the American Legion Boys' State program is also present. Formats include papers, correspondence, reports, photographs and newspaper clippings.

Dr. Thomas F. Gossett was a Professor of English at Wake Forest. Dr. Louise Y. Gossett was a professor of English at Salem College. The Thomas F. and Louise Gossett Papers consist primarily of reviews and articles on A.R. Ammons and Flannery O'Connor collected by the Gossetts from various newspapers and periodicals. There are a few photographs of O'Connor and photocopied correspondence. There are a few letters from Ammons to the Gossetts, submissions to and issues of The Nickelodeon, and audio recordings of Ammons reading his poetry. Also included are research notes by the Gossetts on O'Connor and Ammons. The papers include Thomas F. Gossett's research notes and bibliographies for his two books, and .