George Arthur Plimpton Papers, 1889-1936
Collection context
- Creator:
- Plimpton, George A. (George Arthur)
- Abstract:
- This collection consists of correspondence, Barnard College financial history and documents, and reminiscences of George A Plimpton. Plimpton was a Barnard College Trustee from 1889 to 1936 and Treasurer from 1893 to 1936.
- Extent:
- 1.25 Linear Feet 3 document boxes
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
George A Plimpton was a Trustee from 1889 to 1936 and Treasurer from 1893 to 1936. His files consist of Barnard College-related correspondence for this period, his financial history of Barnard College, some reminiscences, and financial documents. The collection includes correspondence, typescripts, financial records, and clippings relating to George A. Plimpton's activities as founder and Trustee of Barnard and his service as the College Treasurer.
The papers consist mostly of correspondence dating from the founding of Barnard in 1889 to his death in 1936. Early correspondence relates to the selection of a Dean for Barnard College. Financial records date from 1898-1919. Of special interest is a typescript, "A Financial History of Barnard", ca. 1918-1919. Other typescripts are reminiscences of General Horace W. Carpentier and Hetty Green as related to his experiences in soliciting funds for Barnard.
- Biographical / historical:
-
George A. Plimpton was born in Walpole, Massachusetts in 1855. He attended Amherst College and moved to New York after graduating, where he worked as a salesman for Ginn and Heath textbook publishers. He became head of the firm in 1914. Plimpton was a member of the first Board of Trustees of Barnard College beginning in 1889, and served as Treasurer from 1893 until his death in 1936. Plimpton was the primary fundraiser for Barnard College, and was succeeded on the Board of Trustees by his son, Francis T. P. Plimpton. George A. Plimpton's interest in education and textbooks led him to establish a collection of textbooks dating from the middle ages. The collection, especially strong in mathematic texts, was donated to Columbia University at his death.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
This collection has no restrictions.
- Terms of access:
-
Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Barnard College Archives and Special Collections. The Barnard College Archives and Special Collections approves permission to publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Photocopies or scans may be made for research purposes.
- Preferred citation:
-
George Arthur Plimpton Papers, 1889-1936; Box and Folder; Barnard College Archives and Special Collections, Barnard Library, Barnard College
- Location of this collection:
-
Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning 423Barnard College3009 BroadwayNew York, NY 10027, USA
- Before you visit:
- Please contact archives@barnard.edu with research requests or to schedule a visit; see our website for more information.
- Contact:
- archives@barnard.edu