Flowers, Robert Lee, 1870-1951

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Robert Lee Flowers (1870-1951) spent his entire professional career at Duke University. From 1891 to 1951, Flowers served in a variety of capacities, including professor (1891-1924), vice president of the business division (1925-1941), president (1941-1948), and chancellor (1948-1951) of Duke University.

From the description of Robert Lee Flowers records, 1891-1968. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 53906098

Robert Lee Flowers was born at York Collegiate Institute, Alexander County, North Carolina, on November 6, 1870, the son of George Washington and Sarah Haynes Flowers. A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy in 1891, Flowers was first employed as an instructor in mathematics and electrical engineering when Trinity was still in Randolph County. He moved with the college to Durham in 1892. As an engineer, one of his first responsibilities was to wire the new buildings in Durham for electricity.

He served as a professor from 1891 to 1924 and as vice-president of the business division of Duke University from 1925-1941. Following the death of President Few in 1941, Flowers was named president of Duke University. In 1948, he stepped down as president and served as chancellor until 1951. Dr. Flowers was a trustee of the Duke Endowment, a director of the Durham and Southern Railway Company, a director of the Fidelity Bank of Durham, and a trustee of Greensboro College, of the Oxford Orphanage, of Lincoln Hospital, and of the North Carolina College for Negroes (now North Carolina Central University).

He married Lily Virginia Parrish on June 22, 1905. They had two daughters, Virginia and Sybil Parrish. Mrs. Flowers died on May 22, 1948. Robert Flowers died on August 24, 1951. He is buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Durham.

From the guide to the Robert Lee Flowers records, ., 1891 - 1968, (University Archives, Duke University)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Robert Lee Durham papers, 1888-1946 University Archives, Duke University.
referencedIn The Benjamin Newton Duke Papers, 1834-1984, bulk 1884-1929. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Biographical Reference Collection, ., 1972 - 2004 University Archives, Duke University.
creatorOf Flowers, Robert Lee. Robert Lee Flowers papers, 1870-1951. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Flowers, Robert Lee. Robert Lee Flowers records, 1891-1968. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Cherry, William Nix. Papers, 1918-1925. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Parapsychology Laboratory Records, 1893-1984 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Gross, Paul Magnus, 1895-1986. Paul M. Gross papers, 1935-1979. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn William Baskerville Hamilton Papers, 1700-1975 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Robert Lee Flowers records, ., 1891 - 1968 University Archives, Duke University.
referencedIn Craven-Pegram Family Papers, 1785-1966 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allen, George Garland, 1874-1960. person
associatedWith Andrews, Alexander Boyd, 1873-1946. person
associatedWith Bruton, John Fletcher. person
associatedWith Cherry, William Nix. person
associatedWith Craven-Pegram Family family
associatedWith Duke, Benjamin Newton, 1855-1929. person
associatedWith Duke Endowment. corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. Office of the Vice President. corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. Office of the Vice President. corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. President. corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. President. corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. University Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Durham and Southern Railway Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Durham, Robert Lee, 1870-1948. person
associatedWith Godbey, Allen Howard, 1864-1948. person
associatedWith Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. corporateBody
associatedWith Greensboro College (N.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Gross, Paul Magnus, 1895-1986. person
associatedWith Hamilton, William Baskerville, 1908-1972 person
associatedWith Lincoln Hospital (Durham, N.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Murrow, Edward R. person
associatedWith North Carolina Central University. corporateBody
associatedWith Oxford Orphanage (Oxford, N.C.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Parapsychology Laboratory person
associatedWith Perkins, William Robertson, 1875-1945. person
associatedWith Sands, Alexander Hamilton, Jr. person
associatedWith Thomas, James A. person
associatedWith Trumbauer, Horace, 1869-1938. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
North Carolina
United States
Subject
Universities and colleges
Methodist Church
Orphanages
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1870-11-06

Death 1951-08-24

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