Subseries 1.1. Correspondence, 1901-1972, undated

Scope and content:

Chiefly contains correspondence between Percy Uris and his business associates, relatives, friends, politicians, employees, organizations, committees, clubs, fraternities, and Columbia University. The correspondence has a mixture of professional and personal letters. Among the business topics discussed are real estate development, investment building, financing, commercial properties, hotels, architectural designs, taxes, job offers, and other corporate matters. Percy was involved in several professional associations, fraternities, and other institutions related to the real estate business and the correspondence with these organizations reflects his professional endeavors. In addition, there are reading files, 1946-1971, that contain copies of outgoing correspondence, accounts of meetings, notes about telephone conversations, and interoffice memorandums. The subjects discussed in these communications include construction projects, commercial and residential properties, funding for land and buildings, tenants, architects' plans, deal negotiations, building management, publicity, city regulations, safety, and Percy's calendar. Since Percy and Harold D. Uris were business partners, the correspondence between them often has a mixture of commercial and personal issues. Percy likewise held business lunches and other deal-making meetings at his private golf, country, and card clubs.

Percy Uris's private letters illustrate family relationships, his residences in New York and Florida, recreational activities, artwork, travel, friendly wagers, the theatre, and other everyday topics. Percy's philanthropic endeavors are often the subject of the correspondence with answers to requests for assistance, donations to a mixture of institutions, and information on his participation in charitable committees. There is some correspondence with soldiers discussing World War II and the military. Also included in the private correspondence are congratulations, expressions of gratitude, recommendations, condolences, requests for loans of artwork, holiday greetings, responses to invitations, and other personal messages.

Within the subseries, there are more than three boxes of correspondence about Percy Uris's dealings with Columbia University. The correspondence represents his involvement with the Graduate School of Business, assorted institutional associations, fundraising, alumni events, and the expansion and development of campus. Files about the Graduate School of Business cover the school's operations and the building of Uris Hall to house the school. Some of the communications center on the campus organizations Percy contributed to, including Columbia Business Associates, Associated Business Fellows Program, Association of the Alumni of Columbia College, Engineering Council, and Thomas Egleston Associates. He enthusiastically participated in the University's fundraising, serving on the Budget Austerity Committee and Capital Fund Campaign as well as making sizable personal donations. The correspondence also deals with University ceremonies such as commencement, Charter Day, Class of 1920 reunions, awards celebrations, dedications, and the groundbreaking for Uris Hall. Among the construction projects discussed in the subseries are Uris Hall, the Engineering Center, and residence halls. Also included are files of letters between Percy Uris, head of the Graduate School of Business Dr. Courtney C. Brown, and Columbia's President Dr. Grayson Kirk.

Besides the aforementioned correspondence, the subseries also contains photographs, architectural plans, speeches, publicity, news articles, and other papers. The photographs depict the Uris brothers, commercial buildings, ceremonies, professional occasions, celebrations, family activities, artwork, and Percy's childhood. There are also pictures of Columbia University events including the awarding of the alumni medal, Business Association dinners, trustee meetings, homecoming games, and commencements. The architectural plans illustrate Percy Uris's residences in both New York and Florida.

Physical description:

About 13,500 items (19.25 linear feet)

Arrangement:

Arrangement is alphabetical, then chronological

Contents

Access and use