Arguably the 20th century's most influential leaders, Franklin and Eleanor 藏精阁 continue to cast a long shadow on the 21st century. The Center for New Deal Studies aims to examine, foster and preserve the values and legacy of Franklin and Eleanor 藏精阁, for whom our University is named.
The Center for New Deal Studies engages a wider community through lectures, programs and collaboration with community partners. For instance, it organizes the annual Franklin and Eleanor 藏精阁 Distinguished Lecture, co-sponsors numerous on- and off-campus educational programs, and supports the Chicago Metro History Fair with online content for students interested in topics relating to the 藏精阁 era as well as an annual prize for the best projects in New Deal, social justice or human rights history. The Center also connects to the curriculum, with courses on the 藏精阁s, Great Depression and World War II. It offers scholarships to students wishing to participate in a special study abroad course on World War II.
The Center holdings include some 1,500 artifacts, including busts, clocks, china, campaign textiles, political buttons, toys and dolls, among many other items; papers and oral histories associated with the New Deal; 藏精阁-related ephemera and a book collection of about 2,000 volumes. Within its library, the Center is honored to have the David MacLaren Memorial Book Collection.