Collections : [Columbia University Archives]

A collection of over 340 pieces of original material related to the demonstrations at Columbia University and their aftermath, focused on activities led by the Columbia Students for a Democratic Society (Columbia SDS) to protest the Vietnam War, end the construction of a Columbia gymnasium on public park land in Harlem, and include University students in institutional decision-making. Most items date to the spring and fall of 1968, including newspaper and magazine clippings, flyers for protests and demonstrations, letters, leaflets, journal and newspaper issues, essays, notices, press releases, memos, meeting minutes, proposals, and many other items, all collected and archived by Stuart Gedal, a student at Columbia (1966-1969) and prominent SDS member. The collection also includes numerous SDS related material such as founding documents (Port Huron Statement), conference materials, and educational pamphlets. There is also some content concerning the Weatherman Underground Organization, an off-shoot of SDS, including a rare first printing of the booklet Prairie Fire.

This collection consists of the press releases and a corresponding index created by the Office of Public Affairs (later known as Office of Communications and Public Affairs).

Materials consist of biographical, faculty, historical, subject and chornological files maintained by this office, speeches of University Presidents, Columbia in the News publications, and materials generated by Fred Knuble, Director of Public Information from 1969 to his death in 1998.