Rankin, Robert S. (Robert Stanley), 1899-1976

Robert Stanley Rankin (1899-1976) taught political science at Duke beginning in 1927 and was chairman of the political science department from 1949 to 1964. He retired from teaching in 1969.

Professor of Political Science at Duke University and member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

Robert S. Rankins was a professor of Political Science at Duke University and member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

Robert S. Rankin was a professor of Political Science at Duke University and member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

Robert Stanley Rankin (1899-1976), educator and political scientist, was born in Tusculum, TN, and educated at Tusculum College. He received graduate degrees at Princeton and returned to Tusculum as a political science professor in 1924. His career at Duke began in 1927 as assistant professor of political science. Rankin was appointed associate professor in 1929, professor in 1934, and was chairman of the political science department from 1949 to 1964. He was co-founder and president (1931) of the Southern Political Science Association. Active in local and national politics, he served on the Durham, NC City Council from 1955 to 1960. President Eisenhower appointed him to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 1960, where he served for 16 years. He retired from teaching in 1969. The Robert S. Rankin Civil Rights Library at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, established in 1960, was named for Rankin in 1976.