The G. David Gearhart Papers are now available for public use within the University of Arkansas Libraries Special Collections. This extensive collection offers a unique glimpse into the life and times of former U of A Chancellor David Gearhart as well as the significant contributions of his wife, Jane Gearhart.
Prior to his time as chancellor, David Gearhart served as vice chancellor of University Advancement at the U of A, playing a key role in the fundraiser called the “Campaign for the Twenty-first Century.” It raised $1.046 billion for academic programs, including a $300 million gift to found an Honors College and a $50 million gift to endow the Sam M. Walton College of Business. In his tenure, endowments went from $119 million to $920.6 million. He oversaw 1.5 million square feet of campus space for renovation and additions.
“When I became chancellor, Special Collections at Mullins Library asked me to save everything to be archived with them,” said David. “With Jane’s help, we did just that. It ended up being a huge amount of material.”
The collection comprises 127 boxes, one tube and five oversized folders.
As chancellor, David Gearhart established an annual report of Providing Transparency and Accountability to the People of Arkansas, created the first commission of women for the campus, implemented a tuition freeze for the 2009-2010 academic year, created a climate action plan and oversaw more than $400 million and 1.5 million square feet of building expansions and renovations.
“When I wrote my last book, Confessions of a Chancellor, having all those materials helped me recall so much that I included in the book,” David said. “I’m very proud and pleased that the materials are in Special Collections and most grateful to the staff for cataloging everything. We were happy to make a gift to the Libraries to allow them to accomplish the task.”
Jane began working with the U of A’s Volunteer Action Center and students on the newly established Full Circle Campus Food Pantry in 2011. The Board of Trustees voted to rename it the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Campus Food Pantry in 2015. That same year, Ozark Hall was renamed Gearhart Hall in David’s honor.
In addition to documenting David and Jane’s work at the U of A, the collection also includes personal and office records from David’s time with Westminster College, Hendrix College, Pennsylvania State University and Grenzebach Glier & Associates. Materials include personal and professional correspondence, speeches, administrative records, photographs and more.
To access the David Gearhart Papers, visitors are invited to make an appointment with Special Collections by calling (479) 575-8444 or emailing specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance to ensure availability of the materials.