James H. Laue was born in River Falls, Wisconsin, in 1937. In 1959, Laue was admitted to the Harvard graduate program in sociology where he studied race relations and the sociology of religion. During his graduate studies, Laue became involved in the Civil Rights movement, attending lunch counter sit-ins, church “kneel-ins,” and protests organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, giving him first-hand knowledge that he would go on to use in his 1966 doctoral dissertation, “Direct Action and Desegregation: Toward a Theory of the Rationalization of Protest.”
Civil Rights Notebook-Atlanta Sit-In, page 19. James H. Laue papers, Collection #C0055, Box 53, Folder 02, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries. Click image to enlarge.
In 1986, Laue came to George Mason University and became the first Lynch Professor of Conflict Resolution. Until his death in 1993, Laue participated in dozens of academic conferences, taught numerous classes and workshops on dispute resolution, published scores of academic papers, collaborated with Civil Rights activists and arms-control advocacy groups, delivered sermons at churches and speeches at graduate commencements, and remained active in the field of peacemaking and conflict resolution.
“Mission Statement”. James H. Laue papers, Collection #C0055, Box 5, Folder 02, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries. Click image to enlarge.
Poster for GMU Event. James H. Laue papers, Collection #C0055, Box 98, Folder 14, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries. Click image to enlarge.
His papers contain manuscripts, workshop papers, notebooks, legal documents, photographs, audio cassettes, memorabilia and correspondence with influential figures like Coretta Scott King. These papers document Laue’s development as a sociology student and Civil Rights activist in the early 1960s through his career as a mediator and professor of urban sociology and conflict resolution into the early 1990s.
The James H. Laue papers can be searched by clicking on any of the links above. If you are interested in learning more about the School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, click here.
To search the collections held at Special Collections Research Center, go to our website and browse the finding aids by subject or title. You may also e-mail us at speccoll@gmu.edu or call 703-993-2220 if you would like to schedule an appointment, request materials, or if you have questions. Appointments are not necessary to request and view collections.
