KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — William E. Brock, former U.S. senator and secretary of labor under President Ronald Reagan, has given his public papers to the University of Tennessee.
UT President Joe Johnson announced the decision Thursday. He said the papers will be preserved and made accessible in the Special Collections Library in the Hoskins Library building.
“Bill Brock has been a significant figure on the national and international scene for almost three decades,” Johnson said. “His public papers are a priceless resource for researchers and scholars.”
Brock said he was pleased his papers would be held by UT.
“No institution is more dedicated to the preservation of Tennessee history and the values which guided those privileged to serve its people,” Brock said. “I am honored to be in such remarkable company.”
UT-Knoxville Chancellor Bill Snyder said he was grateful for Brock’s generosity.
“We are honored Senator Brock selected the libraries of UT-Knoxville for his public papers,” Snyder said. “They are a significant addition to our distinguished holdings.”
UT-Knoxville special collections already includes the public papers of two U.S. senators, Howard Baker and Estes Kefauver, as well as many of the works of Pulitzer prize-winner Alex Haley, author of “Roots.”
The Hoskins Library building is also the home of three presidential papers projects — Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson and James K. Polk.
Paula Kaufman, dean of UT-Knoxville libraries, said Brock’s papers should be ready for viewing in 12 to 18 months, after the materials have been inventoried and indexed.
Brock was elected to Congress in 1962 for the first of four terms as U.S. representative from Tennessee’s third congressional district. He was elected U.S. senator in 1970 for a six-year term that started in January 1971.
Brock was chair of the national Republican Party in the late 1970s. President Reagan appointed him United States trade representative in 1981 and secretary of labor in 1985.
Brock, a native of Chattanooga, grew up working in the family candy business, rising to the level of vice president of marketing of Brock Candy Co. prior to his election to Congress in 1962. He holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Washington & Lee University and was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.
Brock, now in private business, is chairman of Intellectual Development Systems, Annapolis, Md.
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Contact: Dr. Joe Johnson (423-974-2241), William E. Brock (410-571-9663, Paula Kaufman (423-974-4127)