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Pictorial History of the Institute

In 2013 the John F. Kennedy Institute of Freie Universität can look back on an eventful 50-year history. Here is a brief history of the institute in pictures.

In the 1950s lectures and seminars on North American topics were held at the department for American Literature of the English seminar at Henry Ford Building. Exterior view of the Henry Ford Building around 1959.John McCormick, who held a Chair in American Literature, and his students.In 1964 the American economist and sculptor Leo Cherne presented Freie Universität with a bust of John F. Kennedy. It was received by Mayor Willy Brandt and turned over to the John F. Kennedy Institute, where it is still on display.The founding professors at the inauguration of the building on Lansstraße, 1967 (from the left): Charles H. Nichols, Ernst Fraenkel, Ursula Brumm, Gerald Stourzh and Karl Lenz. Second row, at right: Hans Kolligs, who built up the library.During the inauguration protesting students line Lansstraße. They are demonstrating against Mayor Albertz, who just announced the reduction of the student budget. Student protest culture will shape the institute in the years to come.The institute was opened in a former school building at Lansstraße. The library of the institute was set up in the gym. It is a very well-equipped research library that promotes the reputation of the institute.With the passing of a new set of laws for all universities in Berlin, the balance of power in the institute and at Freie Universität as a whole started to change.Political disputes in the 1970s: Opinions clashed, especially on questions concerning political attitudes toward the U.S. In 1974, the group “Notgemeinschaft für eine Freie Universität” accuses the institute of anti-Americanism.Since 1972 the John F. Kennedy Institute has been publishing the series “Materialien des John-F.-Kennedy-Instituts,” which covers various topics. In 1994 the first volume of “Berliner Beiträge zur Amerikanistik” was published.The Grant Program, founded in 1979, provides financial support to both advanced scholars and Ph.D. students who, in the context of their research endeavors, require physical access to the extensive holdings of the library in Berlin-Dahlem.In 1990 a bust of Ernst Fraenkel, the founder of the John F. Kennedy Institute, was unveiled. The bust was created by Sergej Alexander Dott (at left).In the 1990s American-style graduation ceremonies were established at the Institute. Furthermore, the Alumni Association was founded.In 2005, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a sister of President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert Kennedy and Ted Kennedy, visited the institute.Since 2006 the Graduate School of North American Studies has been funded by the German Research Foundation within the framework of the German national Excellence Initiative.The newly renovated library was reopened in 2008. As the largest library in Europe that is specialized in North American books and media, it now has modern facilities for studying and working.In 2011 the German Research Foundation turned over a special subject collection to the library of the John F. Kennedy Institute: 7,261 – North American Newspapers.From 2010 to 2014 Nancy Fraser was the first Einstein Visiting Fellow at the institute.In 2013 the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies celebrated its 50th anniversary.