uarc2006-37 John Elliot Turner papers, 1962-1986 Amy Flessert University of Minnesota Libraries August 2006
University of Minnesota Libraries Minneapolis, MN 55455
EAD encoding by Amy Flessert August 2006 English University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc] Turner, John Elliot, 1917- John Elliot Turner papers 1962-1986 1 box (.25 linear feet) This collection contains the materials of John Elliot Turner, professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota. 2006-0037 English Administrative Information Use of Materials

Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Copyright

Requests for permission to quote John Elliot Turner should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives head.

Preferred citation

John Elliot Turner papers, University of Minnesota Archives.

Source of acquisition

This collection was received by University Archives from the Department of Political Science on July 19, 2006

 Scope and Content

This collection contains personal correspondence, professional correspondence and some teaching materials including syllabi, and correspondence and information regarding various committees that Turner served on, and programs in which he participated.

 Biographical Sketch of John Elliot Turner (1917-2005)

John Turner was born in Amble, England in 1917. He earned his B.A. in 1939 from Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota, his M.A. in 1949 and Ph.D. in 1950 from the University of Minnesota. He was an instructor at Yankton College and a high school teacher before joining the faculty at the University of Minnesota in 1947 as an instructor in political science. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1952 and professor in 1959. In 1974, Professor Turner was awarded the title of Regents' Professor, the highest award bestowed upon the faculty at the University of Minnesota. His specialization was comparative politics and Soviet and Chinese Communist Politics. Turner retired in 1988.

During his academic career at the University, Turner received the Horace T. Morse-Amoco Teaching Award for Undergraduate Education. He authored, co-authored, or edited eight books as well as numerous articles. He served on the University Senate for many years and chaired the University Honors Committee. Each year, the John Turner Award is given to the College of Liberal Arts honors student who writes the best thesis. In addition to his many contributions to the academic community, Professor Turner was a consultant to the government of Taiwan; a member of the Review Panel on Research Projects for the U.S. Department of Education; Chair of the Select Committee of the Office of Naval Research; a member of the Board of Trustees at his alma matter, Yankton College; a member of the Governor's Commission on Trade; and a member of the Board of Contributing Editors for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In 2003, Turner received the Outstanding Achievement Award, an award conferred on alumni of the University who have attained unusual distinction in their chosen fields or professions or in public service.

Turner passed away on October 5, 2005.