Summary Information
Abstract
Central Files is composed chiefly of correspondence sent and received between
Columbia University administrators and other University officers, faculty, and
trustees, as well as correspondence sent and received between University
administrators and individuals and organizations from outside the university.
At a Glance
| Bib ID: | 4080177 View CLIO record |
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| Creator(s): | Columbia University. Office of the
President |
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| Title: | Central Files,
1890-1984
[Bulk Dates: 1890-1983]
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| Physical description: | 927 cubic ft. (927 record cartons)
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| Language(s): | In English, French, and German
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| Access: |
Due to the nature of these records, Central Files are closed for 25 years after their
creation.
This collection is located on-site.
More information » |
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Arrangement
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in 14 series. Correspondence within each folder is arranged chronologically and files
can vary in size from a single folder to nearly 200 file folders on a particular
person, corporate entity or topic. Each academic fiscal year (July 1 to June 30)
after 1970-1971 constitutes a new series.
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Description
Scope and Content
Central Files mostly contains correspondence sent and received between Columbia
University administrators and other University officers, faculty, and trustees, as
well as correspondence sent and received between University administrators and
individuals and organizations from outside the University. In most cases, incoming
correspondence and copies of replies are filed under the name of the individual or
organization corresponding with University administrators.
Correspondents from within Columbia include presidents and high-level administrators
(the provost, secretary of the University, treasurer and controller, and vice
presidents); administrators in various administrative units such as facilities
management, budget, student services, controller's, provost's and registrar's
offices; presidents, deans, and directors of Columbia's affiliated institutions,
colleges, graduate schools, and professional schools; faculty members, in particular
those who served as departmental chairs, departmental executive officers or
committee chairs; trustees, in particular the chair of the board and the chairs of
trustee standing committees; alumni and benefactors; and the chairs of University
standing and special committees.
Correspondents from outside Columbia include the presidents, administrators, and
faculty of other colleges, universities, or research institutions; the officers of
private foundations; government officials and military personnel; appointed
officials of the New York State Department of Education; honorary degree recipients;
dignitaries and politicians; members of the public; and, occasionally, students at
the University.
Other records in the files include: reports, budgets, proposals, minutes and agenda,
legal documents, personnel records, invitations, pamphlets, publications, floor
plans, petitions, fliers, press releases, and speeches. Records represent the tenure
of presidents Seth Low (1890-1901), Nicholas Murray Butler (1902-1945), acting
president Frank D. Fackenthal (1945-1948), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1948-1953), Grayson
Kirk (1953-1968), Andrew Cordier (1968-1970), and William J. McGill (1970-1980). The
first few years of the tenure of President Michael I. Sovern (1980-1993) are also
represented.
Series I: Central Files, 1895-1971
Central Files documents a wide range of people, topics and functions. The
strengths of Series I include documentation of the administration and
governance of the University; Columbia's academic affairs and the
administration of the academic divisions of the University; research
programs and institutes; affiliated institutions and relations with other
institutions; the development of disciplines and professions; the
University's relations with the surrounding community; development programs;
gifts to the University, donor relations, and alumni affairs; student
affairs and services; campus planning and architecture; awards and honorary
degrees; and events and ceremonies.
1. Administration and Governance of the
University:
Central Files reflects Columbia’s development into a
university; the formation and implementation of administrative policies and
procedures; the structure of the University administration; the activities
and role of the University’s governing bodies; and the daily operations of
the University.
Central Files is a critical resource for documentation Columbia’s development
as a university. The earliest records in the files date from the
administration of Presidents Low and Butler, who were instrumental in
Columbia’s transformation from a college into a university. Materials in the
files chronicle the move to Morningside Heights, the establishment of
schools and departments, the introduction of new administrative offices, and
the increasing size and gradual professionalization of the
administration.
As the University grew, so did the number of administrative tasks and issues
to be faced. Central Files provides information on the formation and
implementation of new policies and procedures as well as the introduction of
new administrative posts and offices. For example, during the Butler and Low
administrators, the president and secretary often corresponded regarding
administrative issues and how to carry out administrative tasks. It is
sometimes possible to follow the development of a particular procedure or
policy from early discussions in the correspondence to the implementation of
the new policy or procedure. Records in the files also relate to the
formation of new administrative offices, many of which reflected the
increasingly businesslike structure of the University administration. For
example, the creation of the posts of vice president for business and
comptroller as well as the evolution of new registration procedures are
recorded in the files. The records also reflect the shift from assigning
committees of faculty, alumni, and administrators to undertake tasks to the
introduction of a new administrative post or office to oversee that
task.
Central Files is an important resource for understanding the structure of the
University administration and the administrative reorganizations that took
place throughout the twentieth century, such as the major restructuring that
occurred in 1949 when the entire administration was studied and business
operations, in particular, were significantly revised. In addition to
administrative reorganizations, Columbia conducted a number of self-studies
and long-range planning projects during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Some of
the studies were University-wide, while others were aimed at a particular
school or group of schools. A number of these projects are well documented
in Central Files. Correspondence, reports, and working papers provide
information on the motivation for the study, its mission and scope, the
activities of the committee that was appointed to conduct the study, and the
findings and recommendations of the study. Such records help to captures the
University at a particular moment in time and provide information on a range
of issues, such as space needs, finances, the mission and goals of the
University, the curriculum, and the organizational structure of the
University.
Records in Central Files also contribute to the understanding of University
governance. In particular, substantial correspondence in the files relates
to the board of trustees. Over 100 of the sub-series in Series I contain
materials regarding the board or correspondence from trustees. For the most
part, materials in the files reflect the routine business of the board, such
as arrangements for meetings, social engagements, and membership on the
board. In some cases, Central Files also contains reports regarding the
board and substantive correspondence about the powers of the trustees.
Correspondence between trustees and the president also illustrates the
involvement of the trustees in the life of the University in all its
variety. In their letters, trustees, presidents, and administrators
discussed topics such as academic freedom, University finances, donor
relations, the appointment of deans and administrators, and the mission and
role of he University. The routine business and, in some cases, activities
of the standing committees of the trustees are also recorded. Trustees’
committees that are reflected in the files include the committees on honors,
education, buildings and grounds, and alumni affairs.
Many of the records in Central Files relate to the daily operations of the
University. The files record a host of routine tasks, including the
management of administrative offices, in particular in terms of officer
personnel, facilities and finances; the preparation of reports, bulletins,
and other publications; and the scheduling of appointments and meetings, as
well as administrative issues, such as University-wide employee benefits and
labor relations. More importantly, Central Files documents admissions
issues, registration and related tasks, finances, and facilities management
through the University.
A number of sub-series files in Central Files Series I concern issues related
to admissions. Materials in the files chronicle a number of periods in which
admissions criteria and procedures were reviewed and changed. In particular,
the records relate to the College Entrance Examination Board and the
University Committee on Entrance Examinations from the 1890s to the 1920s.
These materials reflect the formation of standardized entrance examinations
and include discussions of admissions criteria, the content of examinations,
and examination policies and procedures. In addition, correspondence
documents the reevaluation of admission criteria and procedures during the
late 1940s, and correspondence and announcements reflect issues surrounding
admissions and recruiting efforts during the late 1960s.
Columbia's growing student body and the introduction of new schools presented
complications for the antiquated registration system. Beginning in the
1890s, the University sought to improve the registration process and related
tasks. Records regarding registration date from 1898 to 1971. In particular,
Central Files records the formation of new registration procedures and the
daily administration of registration and related tasks from 1898 to 1920. In
some instances, the files also include enrollment statistics and the
evaluation of enrollment trends.
Central Files chronicles the University’s sometimes troubled finances and
documents the financial administration of the institution. Between the 1890s
and the 1930s, Columbia continuously struggled to service the debt accrued
by the purchase of a new campus and the initial phase of expansion. In
addition, throughout the twentieth century, the University’s budget and
expenditures increased drastically, new endowments were created, and
investments were acquired in many forms. Columbia also underwent several
financial crises, including those that occurred in 1917-18 and the 1930s.
Central Files contributes to the understanding of these trends. Specific
topics related to University finances range from routine appropriations and
expenditures, accounting and reporting, and the management of special funds
to University-wide budgetary policy and the preparation of the annual
budget, investment policies and planning, financial planning and analysis
and the financial needs of the University.
The management of Columbia’s facilities is a common topic in Central Files.
The records document construction and renovation projects, maintenance, and
repairs. The continuous pressure of increased enrollment, growing numbers of
faculty and staff, and new offices and departments made space needs a
frequent topic of concern. Materials in the files document efforts to
allocate space to competing offices and departments and attempts to carve
more space out of existing buildings. Central Files also includes a number
of studies that evaluate the use of individual buildings. For example, Low
Memorial Library received the attention of at least two studies that
assessed the condition of the building and use of space in it.
2. Columbia’s Academic Affairs and the Administration of
the University’s Academic Division:
The University’s academic
functions altered dramatically during the first half of the twentieth
century. Schools, departments, and programs expanded or were created; new
professorships were established; new subjects were added to the curriculum;
numerous institutes were formed; library facilities, collections, and staff
increased; and new degrees were introduced. The University also confronted
issues involving its growing graduate and professional programs along with
related questions surrounding the role of Columbia College and undergraduate
educations in the University. Central Files contains correspondence,
reports, proposals, minutes, and bulletins documenting numerous topics
related to the academic affairs of the University. The records also reflect
influences on Columbia’s educational mission and academic policies.
Schools:
Central Files chronicles the
history of a number of Columbia’s schools and faculties, including
undergraduate colleges, graduate, and professional schools; the continuing
education division and home study program; and the summer session. Over 200
sub-series folders related to schools, and nearly 40 to Columbia College
alone.
The files document the establishment of several schools. For example, records
describing the establishment of the School of International Affairs and a
number of its institutes and programs date from 1931 through the 1940s.
Issues relating to the formation of schools include funding and planning,
mission, curriculum, and facilities. Often, by reviewing the files of
specific deans and administrators, it is possible to trace the history of a
school over the course of decades, from its founding through its successive
mergers, divisions, and administrative changes. To illustrate, the files
contain extensive records on the School of Engineering and Applied Science
and its predecessors (the School of Mines; Schools of Mines, Engineering and
Chemistry; and the School of Engineering) dating from 1891 to the 1950s and,
less comprehensively, from the 1950s to 1971. The development of graduate
schools, including the School of Political Science; the Faculties of
Political Science, Philosophy and Pure Science; the Graduate Faculties; and
the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, is chronicled from 1890 to 1939,
1949 to 1958, and the mid 1960s to 1971.
Central Files also reflects the daily administration of the schools. Numerous
files contain information on faculty recruiting and appointments, gifts,
budgeting, the administration of departments and divisions within the
school, relations with the University's administration (often in terms of
finances and facilities), school administrative and advisory boards,
facilities, prizes and awards, and finances. Materials relating to the
academic affairs of individual schools, including degree requirements, the
creation of new degrees, the mission of the school, the administration of
doctoral examinations, and the curriculum of the school are also prevalent
in Central Files. In addition, the files detail major building programs,
special projects, long-range planning efforts, and funding campaigns.
Academic Departments and Programs:
Central
files contain over 300 named folders related to the development and
operation of numerous academic development and operation of numerous
academic departments and programs. A number of these are documented over the
course of decades. For example, the files provide a nearly complete record
of the Department of Chemistry from 1890 to 1959, as well as a less
comprehensive body of materials on the same department dating from 1960 to
1971. Records also chronicle the history of Asian studies at Columbia -
including the Department of Chinese and Japanese, the Department of Chinese
Languages and Literatures, the Committee on Oriental Studies, and the East
Asian Institute - from 1891 to 1969. Records relating to the Department of
Physics date from the 1890s to the 1950s.
Correspondence, budgets, reports, and other records reflect a wide variety of
subjects involving departments. Topics treated range from the routine to the
substantive. Most often, the records relate to budgeting; faculty recruiting
and appointments; arrangements for courses; prizes and awards;
appropriations and expenditures; the management of special funds for
research, prizes, and scholarships; departmental office facilities; faculty
affairs, such as sabbaticals and travel arrangements; gifts to the
department; and visiting professors and lecturers. Folders relating to the
science departments also include information on research facilities,
equipments, fieldwork, laboratories, and the administration of sponsored
projects.
In addition to the administrative issues listed above, department-related
records illuminate more substantive topics regarding the curriculum,
mission, faculty, and structure of the department. These subjects include
staffing needs in terms of the number of faculty members required and fields
for which the department hoped to hire a new faculty member; proposed
special programs and new courses; course requirements; teaching loads; the
establishment of named professorships; the curriculum of the department; the
evaluation of faculty performance; and relations with other departments. On
occasion, a department was evaluated by an outside committee comprised of
faculty and administrators. The reports of these committees discuss issues
ranging from the organization of the department to faculty performance to
the curriculum. In some cases, records in Central Files also provide
information on the establishment of a department. The influence of
particular donors, developments in the curriculum and the structure of the
new department are among the topics that relate to this issue.
Faculty:
Records relating to schools,
departments, and programs often include information on Columbia's faculty -
both as individuals and in general terms. Most of the information regarding
faculty is administrative in nature. For example, correspondence and budget
letters related to faculty salaries, teaching loads, and courses and
sometimes evaluate the work of faculty members. Materials in Central Files
also record faculty personnel issues, such as appointments, recruiting
efforts, appointments to fellowships, salaries, leaves, and benefits. In
addition, correspondence, publications, and speeches help to document
individual faculty members' committee responsibilities, professional
activities, and attendance at conferences and official functions. In some
cases, information regarding the administration of a faculty member's
research projects, fieldwork, and writing projects is also available. Most
of this material is routine in nature. Central Files does not include
faculty members' research notes or lecture notes. Records also relate to
faculty personnel policies and benefits on a University-wide basis. In
particular, Central Files includes information regarding the formation and
management of pension plans for University faculty.
Central Files also documents the related topics of academic freedom and
relations between the faculty and the University administration. In
particular, the records reflect these issues during times of crisis, such as
World War I, when several professors were dismissed from the University; the
late 1940s and early 1950s, when a number of faculty members faced charges
of communist activities; and the 1960s, when faculty-administration
relations were strained by social and educational issues as well as
conflicts over student unrest.
Libraries:
Columbia's library system
changed dramatically during the first half of the twentieth century. New
libraries were formed to serve the needs of specialized fields; library
facilities, services, and collections were expanded; and the library staff
grew from a single University librarian to a large staff of professionals.
Central Files helps to chronicle this transformation and includes
correspondence, reports, floor plans, newsletters, and financial statements
relating to the Columbia University Libraries. Most of these materials date
from the 1920s to the 1950s. The records documents facilities, personnel
administration, library fees, finances and costs, collection management,
gifts, the appraisal and acquisition of new collections, and policies of the
University libraries as well as certain departmental and special libraries.
Central Files also records the formation of the Rare Book and Manuscript
Library and area studies libraries.
Columbia's Academic Mission and
Philosophy:
Central Files is an important resource for identifying and
understanding influences on the academic mission and philosophy of the
University - from individual donors to social and political trends. In
particular, records prior to the 1940s demonstrate ties with German academia
through the Roosevelt Professorship, Germanistic Society of America, the
Kaiser Wilhelm Professorship, and Columbia's Deutsches Haus. Later records
show the effects of World War II, which had a profound influence on the
schools and departments in the sciences and engineering as well as the
financial underpinning of research at the University; the postwar era, when
concerns over competition with communist governments raised issues regarding
progress in science and engineering; and the 1960s and 1970s, when minority
group and student pressure brought upheaval and change to the campus.
3. Research Programs and Institutes:
Topics
related to research include the formation of government, corporate, and
foundation-sponsored research programs; the administration of research
projects and research facilities; and the formation and operation of
research institutes. While countless individual projects are documented,
Central Files is particularly strong in the areas of physics, engineering,
social sciences, and earth sciences research as well as the development of
University-wide research programs and facilities.
Central Files chronicles the institution of an organized research program at
Columbia from government-sponsored projects hastily set up in response to
wartime needs to the eventual founding of the University's Office of
Projects and Grants. In particular, the records focus on
government-sponsored research and the growth of ties between the government
and the University during the 1940s and 1950s. For the most part, the
records relate to facilities, security, financial administration, and
personnel issues involving government contracts. Occasionally, the records
also discuss policies guiding sponsored research and demonstrate the ways in
which Columbia determined its relationship with the government, especially
in terms of cost overhead. The files also include records relating to
training programs that were run by the University for the government and
military during World War II.
Materials in Central Files also relate to the creation of research facilities
at Columbia and the administration of research facilities and projects in
departments, schools, and institutes. Most of the records documenting
departmental research pertain to such routine subjects as payments to
research assistants and laboratory equipment. Many departmental files,
however, also contain research proposals that were submitted to foundations
or reports summarizing research efforts in the department. Records in the
files also document research-related issues and facilities on a
University-wide basis. For example, records describe the founding and
administration of the University's Nevis research facilities during the
1940s and 1950s.
Records in Central Files chronicle developments in the fields of science and
engineering research. In particular, the records relate to research in
physics from 1935 to 1969 and research projects involving a variety of
fields that took place in the engineering school and engineering departments
from the 1890s through the 1950s. Social science research institutes are
also well documented in the files. Related topics range from the
establishment, mission, and funding of institutes to administrative issues,
such as facilities and personnel. The records also include reports and
funding proposals that describe the activities and accomplishments of
research institutes. For example, files chronicle the organization,
policies, and research goals of the Bureau of Applied Social Research, which
began as the University's Office of Radio Research, from 1934 to 1960.
Records dating from 1949 to 1960 chronicle the National Manpower Council and
the Conservation of Human Resources Project, which were based at Columbia.
Research in the earth sciences is also recorded in Central Files, first
through records regarding the School of Mines and the Geology Department
and, eventually, through materials relating to the formation and
administration of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, which is documented
from the 1940s to 1971. Related records chronicle relations between the
observatory and the Lamont family, who donated the estate that houses it, as
well as negotiations with the Doherty Foundation, which provided major
funding for its further development. Other topics include Lamont-Doherty's
funding, facilities, and faculty and the administration of research
projects, such as the ocean core sample project. Occasionally, letters or
reports provide accounts of expeditions. In addition, the records often
pertain to the needs of the observatory and its relations with donors and
the University.
4. Affiliated Institutions:
In addition to
Columbia’s schools, departments, and institutes, Central Files documents
numerous other educational, research, social, and cultural institutions that
are or were affiliated with Columbia. The files are an especially useful
source of information on affiliations with New York area hospitals.
Materials in the files relate to the formation of affiliation agreements;
gifts to affiliates; and relations between affiliated institutions and
Columbia, in particular in terms of finances, legal issues, faculty, and
facilities. In some cases, it is possible to trace the history of an
affiliation in order to see the development of a relationship with an
institution and changes in that relationship over time. For example, Central
Files chronicles the affiliation between Columbia University and
Presbyterian Hospital, which began ca. 1910 and resulted in the creation of
the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in 1928.
5. Columbia’s Role in the Formation of Disciplines and
Professions:
Through records relation to schools, departments,
programs, research, and affiliated institutions, Central Files also
chronicles the growth of certain disciplines and professions, such as
engineering, physics, chemistry, the social sciences, international affairs,
and journalism. Correspondence and other records provide information on
developments in the curriculum, funding efforts, and gifts supporting
research and education in a particular area, prominent faculty in the field,
the advent of professional training in certain fields, and the establishment
of new programs and schools, as well as changes to existing ones in order to
serve the needs of developing professions and disciplines.
6. Community Relations:
Since its move to
Morningside Heights, Columbia has had an impact on the surrounding
community. Community issues and problems have also had a growing influence
on the University. Columbia’s public relations and community relations are
documented in a variety of sources in Central Files. Most prominently,
Central Files is a useful source of information on Columbia’s troubled
community relations during the 1960s. The records relate to Columbia’s
efforts to improve public relations and address community issues;
landlord-tenant conflicts between the University and the community;
Columbia’s plan to erect a gymnasium in nearby Morningside Park; urban
renewal programs; and community services such as medical clinics and sports
programs.
7. Development, Gifts, Donor Relations, and Alumni
Relations:
Central Files contains extensive records regarding
Columbia’s development efforts, donor relations, alumni relations,
benefactors, and gifts. In particular, the files are an important resource
for information on the establishment, terms, and use of specific gifts and
endowments. They also record such gifts as money, stocks, property, art and
artifacts, library and manuscript collections, and equipment. Central Files
also reflects the influence of donors on the University in terms of its
finances, physical development, academic programs, and curriculum. Some
files span many years, chronicling a donor’s or potential donor’s
relationship with Columbia over time. Others record only a single gift or a
short period of time.
The files also relate to the development campaigns for the University in
general as well as for its schools. A number of major funding campaigns,
both those that were realized and those that were not successful, are well
documented in Central Files. For example, files include information on the
successful campaign for an engineering center and failed attempts to fund an
arts center. Funding proposals are often a detailed source of information
regarding the space needs, costs, mission, and activities of a proposed
project and reflect the goals and priorities of the University at a
particular point in time.
Central Files also records the creation of a professional, organized
development program at the University, which began in 1945 with the hiring
of a development officer to plan a ten-year funding program. The records
document the formation of development strategies and priorities, the work of
development committees, and the operation of the Development Office.
Closely connected to development is alumni relations. While Central Files is
not a comprehensive source of information on alumni groups and relations, it
offers evidence of the interaction between certain alumni groups, in
particular the Alumni Federation of Columbia University, and the University
administration. Most of the records pertain to routine preparations for
alumni events and the administration of local and regional alumni clubs.
Alumni involvement is the life of the University – whether through funding,
the oversight of student activities, or interaction with the administration
– is also reflected in Central Files. In addition to materials relating to
the Alumni Federation and other alumni groups, most of which date from 1914
through the mid 1960s, Central Files also contains numerous letters from
individual alumni who wrote to the president and administrators on topics
ranging from football to academic freedom.
8. Student Life:
The management of student
affairs at Columbia has reflected the changing nature of student activities
and student relations with the administration, a persistent concern for how
student organizations reflect upon the University, and attempts to deal with
conflicts between students and the administration. Between 1900 and the
1940s in particular, Columbia sought ways to centralize the administration
of nonacademic services and to make those aspects of students’ lives more
conducive to a community spirit and more supportive of the academic function
of the University. Central Files includes records from deans, deans of
students, and the administrators and alumni who oversaw student groups,
housing, discipline, athletics, health services, and other aspects of the
students’ lives outside the classroom.
Although students are documents in Central Files, they usually appear as the
were seen through administrators’ eyes – as recipients of financial aid,
scholarships, and awards; users of student services; disciplinary problems;
or in terms of demographics and statistics. For example, records relate to
the management of residence halls and the formation of student health
services. Materials in the files also pertain to provisions for students'
social, religious, and civic lives through the Earl Hall religious center,
the Ferris Booth Hall student center (replaced by Lerner Hall), and other
programs. Periodically, policies governing students and student groups are
also discussed in the records. For example, records from the 1950s relate to
the introduction of policies governing speakers sponsored by student groups
following a controversy regarding a student-sponsored speaker.
Central Files also helps to document issues surrounding female students at
Columbia. A small body of records, including correspondence from the deans
of Barnard College and the adviser to women graduate students, relates to
housing, the admission of women to University courses, services for female
students, and the status of women students on the campus. In addition, the
files includes information regarding services for international students
from the 1940s to 1971, as well as veterans' affairs and services during the
1940s and 1950s.
One important issue that is reflected in Central Files is the relationship
between students and the University, in particular during the campus
disturbances of the 1960s. Correspondence between deans, administrators, and
trustees as well as proctors' reports and official University announcements
illustrate this relationship. The proctors' reports are of particular
interest in illuminating student activities. They list and very briefly
discuss student meetings, events, demonstrations, disciplinary problems and
pranks, security violations, rules infractions, and rumors regarding
protests. In some cases fliers that were distributed at demonstrations as
well as student petitions are also found in the records. Among other topics,
the files reflect the administration's efforts to control and discipline
students, responses to student demonstrations, attempts to respond to
students' demands for reform of University government, and struggles with
public relations issues.
9. Campus Design, Planning, and Architecture:
The
original concept for much of Columbia's Morningside Heights campus was
determined by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White.
Materials in Central Files document the initial plan for the development of
the new campus, the design of buildings, plans for further development of
the site, space needs, and diversions from the original campus plan. The
records also relate to major building projects - both those that were
proposed but never undertaken and those that were completed. For example,
projects recorded in the files include the design and construction of Low
Memorial Library, a plan by I.M. Pei to construct towers in the center of
campus, and efforts to erect a gymnasium in Morningside Park. Other
buildings and facilities that are well documented in the files include
Butler Library, Ken Hall, University Hall (now the site of Uris Hall),
Engineering Terrace, the Baker Field athletic facility, and the South Field
portion of the campus.
Records relating to campus design and planning demonstrate trends in
Columbia's architecture, influences on the physical growth and style of the
campus, and concepts of the purpose of new buildings. In documenting
Columbia's design and expansion, Central Files contributes to the
understanding of the University's impact on the surrounding community and
the development of the Morningside Heights neighborhood.
10. Awards and Honorary Degrees:
Countless prizes
and awards - including those that were granted by individual departments or
schools, the University, or nationally - are documented in Central Files.
Topics relating to prizes and awards include their establishment, the
selection of prize and award recipients, the management of prize funds, and
the funding and purpose of prizes and awards. In particular, the records
contain information on the Pulitzer Prizes dating from 1893 to 1971.
Honorary degrees are also recorded in the files. Related topics include
preparations for honorary degree convocations and the nomination and
selection of degree recipients. The records also contain citations and
speeches that were delivered at degree ceremonies.
11. Events and Ceremonies:
Official University
ceremonies and certain special events are often documented in Central Files.
Records relating to events include minutes, correspondence, proposals,
fliers, programs, newsletters, lists, invitations, texts of citations and
speeches, press releases, and floor plans. Many of the issues related to
events and ceremonies are routine in nature. For example, Central Files
documents seating plans, travel arrangements, menus, crowd control,
publicity, and acceptances and regrets. Certain named files also contain
more substantive information on the purpose of events. In particular,
records from the 1950s chronicle Columbia's yearlong bicentennial
celebration, which took place in 1954. Many of the folders in Central Files
dating from this period contain at least a small amount of correspondence
regarding the 200th anniversary celebrations, and several named files
contain extensive correspondence, minutes, newsletters, and other related
materials. Beginning in the mid 1940s and continuing through the 1950s,
committees of administrators, faculty, and trustees began planning for the
bicentennial. Related topics include the selection of themes for the
celebration, planning and preparations for events, publicity, and
anniversary-related development campaigns.
Central Files also includes numerous records - such as correspondence,
proceedings, and programs, regarding many lecture series, seminars, and
conferences that were held at Columbia. Some lectures and seminars, such as
the Bampton Lectures in America of the University Seminars, were University
wide. Others were hosted by a particular department or school. For the most
part, these records relate to the appointment of lecturers or seminar and
conference participants, travel arrangements, honoraria, and the management
of special funds in support of lectureships and seminars. Certain named
folders also contain information on the purpose of lecture series,
conference and seminars, as well as information regarding the establishment
of lecture series and the agenda and proceedings of conferences.
Conclusion:
Central Files documents a critical
time in the history of one of the nation's leading academic institutions.
During the twentieth century, Columbia has not only undergone significant
changes to its curriculum, facilities, administration, and student body but
has also played an important role beyond its gates. By documenting the
transformation of Columbia from a college to a university and recording the
history of its many schools and departments, the formation of research
programs at the University, Columbia's relations with other educational and
cultural institutions, new directions in numerous academic disciplines and
professions, and a host of other topics, Central Files takes its place as a
major resource for researching the evolution of higher education in the
United States.
Subseries I.1: General Alphabetical, 1890-1971
The first 318 cubic feet of correspondence and other records dating from
1890 to 1971 were filed under general alphabetical headings. Each letter
of the alphabet is divided into chronological groups. For example, files
labeled A-Az for 1930-1931 are followed by the A-Az files for 1931-1932
and so on. This sub-series contains the same types of materials relating
to the same categories of subject as the rest of Central Files. It
appears as though records were filed under general alphabetical headings
when only a small amount of correspondence was received or when the
subject of the correspondence was not considered to be important at the
time. In spite of this, sub-series I.1 contains many substantial records
as well as materials from significant persons and should not be
overlooked by researchers.
If a desired personal name, corporate name, or subject does not appear in
the following sub-series, or if the name or subject is found but the
time period of interest falls outside the date range given for the
folder, it may still be possible to find relevant materials in this
series, through the use of the Central Files card index, or by confining
the search to a very specific date range.
Subseries I.2: Personal Names, 1890-1971
Subseries consisting of records to, from, or about a person filed under
the person's name. This is the only portion of Central Files that
contains detailed descriptions of the contents of files. If a desired
personal name does not appear in this sub-series, or if the name is
found but the time period of interest falls outside the date range given
for the folder, it may still be possible to find relevant materials in
Series I.1 General Alphabetical, through the use of the Central Files
card index, or by confining the search to a very specific date
range.
Subseries I.3: Corporate Names
Subseries consisting of records to, from, or about a corporation filed
under the corporation's name. If a desired corporate name does not
appear in this sub-series, or if the name is found but the time period
of interest falls outside the date range given for the folder, it may
still be possible to find relevant materials in Series I.1 General
Alphabetical, through the use of the Central Files card index, or by
confining the search to a very specific date range.
Subseries I.4: Subjects
Subseries consisting of records relating to a particular subject filed
under a topical heading. If a desired subject does not appear in this
sub-series, or if the subject is found but the time period of interest
falls outside the date range given for the folder, it may still be
possible to find relevant materials in Series I.1 General Alphabetical,
through the use of the Central Files card index, or by confining the
search to a very specific date range.
Series II: 1971-1972
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1971 to June 30, 1972. They start after the
administrative transitional period between Presidents Andrew Cordier
(1968-70) and William McGill (1970-80). Individually named and general
alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence. Important
subjects addressed in the general alphabetical files are noted
parenthetically.
Photographs found in this series have been removed to the Historical
Photograph Collection. A photocopy of the photograph has been left in place
of the original. The folders labeled “Miscellaneous” contain various letters
regarding the student protests of the late 1960s to early 1970s. Most
correspondence regarding student unrest is interspersed throughout the
General Alphabetical files for 1971-1972 under the name of the sender.
Series III: 1972-1973
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1972 to June 30, 1973. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Important subjects addressed in the general alphabetical files are noted
parenthetically.
Series IV: 1973-1974
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1973 to June 30, 1974. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Important subjects addressed in the general alphabetical files are noted
parenthetically.
Series V: 1974-1975
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1974 to June 30, 1975. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Important subjects addressed in the general alphabetical files are noted
parenthetically.
Series VI: 1975-1976
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1975 to June 30, 1976. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Series VII: 1976-1977
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1976 to June 30, 1977. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Series VIII: 1977-1978
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1977 to June 30, 1978. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Series IX: 1978-1979
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1978 to June 30, 1979. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Series X: 1979-1980
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1979 to June 30, 1980. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Series XI: 1980-1981
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1980 to June 30, 1981. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Series XII: 1981-1982
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1981 to June 30, 1982. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Series XIII: 1982-1983
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1982 to June 30, 1983. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Series XIV: 1983-1984
This series of Central Files is the continuation of records found in Series I
covering the year July 1, 1983 to June 30, 1984. Individually named and
general alphabetical files are arranged in one alphabetical sequence. Only
the first three folders of this series (“A”, “AC” and “AD”) are currently
available for use. The rest of this series is currently unavailable for use.
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Using the Collection
Access Restrictions
Due to the nature of these records, Central Files are closed for 25 years after their
creation.
This collection is located on-site.
Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes.
The University Archives maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs.
The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Accrual Information
Additions are expected.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Central Files; Box and Folder (if
known); University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Library.
Selected Related Material at Columbia
Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs records,
1939-2006 [Bulk dates: 1956-2003]
Columbia University Archives.
University Protest and Activism Collection, 1958-1999 [Bulk Dates: 1968-1972].
Columbia University Archives.
Columbia University in World War I Collection, 1914-1970.
Columbia
University Archives.
Columbia University in World War II Collection, 1933-1956.
Columbia
University Archives.
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About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Archives; machine readable
finding aid created by Columbia University Libraries Digital Library Program
Division
Processing Information
Records dating between 1890 and 1971 (681 cubic feet) in this collection were
processed by David Hill, Linnea Anderson and Rhea Pliakas between 1995 and 1999.
Records dating between 1971-1972 and 1974-1975 were processed by Abby Lester in
2003.
Records dating from 1975-1976 to 1983-1984 were minimally processed by student
employees Richard Mick (MFA 2011) and Madeline Stevens (MFA 2012).
The initial processing of this collection (the 1890-1971 records) was made possible
by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Machine readable finding aid generated from MARC-AMC source via XSLT
conversion October 29, 2009
Finding aid written in English.
2011-10-18
PTL created file from PDF
2012-5-18
Jocelyn Wilk edited front matter and container lists.
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Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.
Additional Creators
| Heading | CUL Archives:
Portal | CUL Collections:
CLIO | Nat'l / Int'l Archives:
ArchiveGRID |
|---|
| Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
| Cordier, Andrew W. (Andrew Wellington),
1901-1975 | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
| Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David),
1890-1969. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
| Fackenthal, Frank Diehl, 1883-1968. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
| Kirk, Grayson L. (Grayson Louis), 1903-1997. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
| Low, Seth, 1850-1916. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
| McGill, William J. (William James), 1922-1997 | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
| Sovern, Michael I., 1931- | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Genre/Form
Subjects
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History / Biographical Note
History
Central Files grew out of the information needs, working
relationships, and activities of the president of the University as well as the
secretary, provost, and other administrators. In order to comprehend the scope and
content of Central Files, it is helpful to understand the changing relationships
between the president and secretary of the University, the working relationships and
administrative patterns established at Columbia during the 1890s and the early years
of the twentieth century, and the changing needs and structure of the University
administration over time.
The records that eventually became Central Files originated
in the Office of the President during the 1890s. President Seth Low's correspondence
was organized by his personal secretary, William H.H. Beebe. Beebe later became the
first secretary of the University, a position that was created in 1895 to assist the
president in carrying out an ever-increasing number of administrative duties. As
University secretary, Beebe continued to keep the president's correspondence, and
this task remained a responsibility of the secretary's office until the 1970s.
Close cooperation between the president and secretary
continued throughout the administration of Nicholas Murray Butler, particularly
until the 1920s. As new administrative responsibilities emerged, they often devolved
on the president and the secretary until new posts could be created to undertake
them. Information for the president was often funneled through the secretary.
A closely interacting group of administrators and the
centralization of administrative functions also helped to create and maintain
Central Files. From the 1890s to 1920, in particular, administrative
responsibilities were placed in the hands of these few individuals, many of whom
remained at the University for decades. The president, treasurer, secretary,
registrar, superintendent of buildings and grounds, and deans handled most
administrative tasks. In addition, University Presidents Seth Low and Nicholas
Murray Butler were actively and personally involved in administrative issues, kept
close tabs on a range of issues and projects and frequently requested information
from their staffs. Because Low and Butler were so intimately involved in
administrative affairs, their records acted as the administrative files of the
University.
This close collaboration among administrators, the personal
involvement of presidents, and a continuously increasing number of administrative
tasks resulted in the creation of the large body of interrelated correspondence and
other records that became Central Files. The patterns established in the 1890s and
early 1900s of channeling information to the president and secretary, filing records
under the name of the sender, and centrally collecting and disseminating information
continued even as the University administration developed into a larger and more
complex organization. Eventually, however, these patterns no longer served the
differing business needs and administrative styles of a more modern,
professionalized administration.
Several important changes in the nature of Central Files
occurred during Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration as president of the University
from 1948 to 1952. During this time, there appears to have been a less direct
relationship between the president, secretary, and Central Files. In addition,
Eisenhower was often absent from the University and seems to have delegated many
tasks to the provost, secretary, vice presidents, and other top administrators.
These officers used Central Files as a depository and sent batches of records to the
files as needed. It also appears that Eisenhower kept his own separate set of files
and may not have used Central Files as much as his predecessors did. Finally, most
of the records relating to Eisenhower’s administration were removed from the
University following his election as president of the United States. As a result,
while Central Files remains an important resource for documenting the University and
its administration during the late 1940s and the early 1950s, the records from this
period provide less information on the presidency.
Throughout the 1960s, Central Files seems to have become
less useful to the majority of administrators. Documents regarding Central Files
cite difficulties locating information; the length of time needed to retrieve
records; lack of subject filing; and administrators’ concerns that, because of the
filing system employed in Central Files, clerks were not able to locate all the
materials relevant to their particular requests as reasons for reluctance to use the
files and their proposed reorganization. (Plans for reforming the filing system were
never realized. However, during the 1960s or 1970s, file clerks purged certain
records dating prior to the 1940s. No documentation regarding what materials were
removed from the files has been located). Other collections in the Archives that
include records from this period show that many administrators were keeping their
own separate sets of files. In fact, three top-level administrators made significant
deposits of records to the files in 1967, apparently at the request of the secretary
of the University. The absence of a single central figure requesting and filing
information may also have contributed to the declining usefulness of the files as
did the changing role of the secretary, whose post had become more administrative
and less closely tied to the president and high-level policy decisions. For example,
the Office of the Secretary was placed under the vice president in 1959, where it
remained until 1969. Most importantly, the secretary’s role as a link between the
president and the rest of the administration appears to have lessened after the
1940s.
A third important change in Central Files occurred in 1971.
After seventy-six years, responsibility for Central Files was transferred from the
secretary to the president’s office. At the time, a major argument in support of the
move was that the president’s records should be managed by the president’s office
rather than that of the secretary. The relationship that began with William Beebe
overseeing the president’s voluminous correspondence had been outgrown by a
burgeoning University administration, changing administrative styles, and differing
concepts of the role of key administrative offices.
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