William B. Cockroft Forum for Free Enterprise, 1983-2005
Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- .58 Linear Feet
- Language:
- English
Background
- Scope and content:
Florida Southern College hosted the Cockcroft Forum from 1985-2002. The Foundation encountered financial difficulties after 2002 and the forums were discontinued. Guest speakers included A. Thomas Young, president of Martin Marietta Aerospace, Dr. Joseph Boyd, chairman of Harris Corporation, and Dr. Alan Keyes, former ambassador, presidential candidate, and radio host. In most years, the Cockroft Forum was hosted twice, during the fall and spring semesters, respectively.
The materials in this collection consist primarily of correspondence between staff and faculty members of Florida Southern College and representatives of the Foundation regarding the details of each event. Within the correspondence there are also media articles and photographs documenting each event.
- Biographical / historical:
The William B. Cockroft Forum for Free Enterprise was founded in 1977 with initial funding from Dr. William D. Cockroft, a successful entrepreneur who did not enter the business world until after he retired and closed his successful dental practice. Dr. Cockroft then went on to create a $500 million corporation that included furniture manufacturing and 40 hotels nationwide. The idea of the Foundation dedicated to free enterprise came from Dr. Wayne Robbins. As an aide to a U.S. Senator, Dr. Robbins saw the threat to free enterprise as "Educational in nature." In the late 1970s, the free enterprise system in America was facing severe criticism that, for the most part, originated on college campuses.
The Foundation and the Cockroft Forums at selected colleges and universities around the country then "would encourage and help establish a meaningful dialogue between the business world and academic world." Students and faculty would get the practical input which business leaders could offer, and equally as important, business leaders needed to hear the questions students were asking. The Cockroft forum brought business and corporate leaders to college campuses to discuss the merits of the American system of free enterprise. The executives provided a valuable supplement to textbooks and lectures from their everyday perspective.
- Acquisition information:
- The materials in this collection, created by college employees, were transferred from the College Development Office to the McKay Archives in October of 2019.
- Arrangement:
The materials in this collection are arranged by year. As two events could happen in the same calendar year, both can be found in the same folder. Please note that correspondence for a spring event could begin late in the previous year.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Researchers must contact McKay Archives in advance for access to unprocessed born digital materials in this collection. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the archives' ability to provide access to unprocessed born digital materials
- Terms of access:
The William B. Cockroft Forum for Free Enterprise records are owned by Florida Southern College. This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
- Location of this collection:
-
Florida Southern College111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.LakelandFL33801USA
