Collections : [Columbia University Archives]

Subseries I.1 consists primarily of the general correspondence of the Dean and materials related to Columbia College students during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and covers the period encompassing 1910 through 1923. Three deanships are represented in this subseries. John Henry Van Amringe (CC, 1860; 1st Dean, 1894-1910), Frederick P. Keppel (CC, 1899; 2nd Dean, 1910-1917); and Herbert E. Hawkes (Acting Dean, 1917, 3rd Dean, 1918-1942).

Subseries I.2 encompasses the chronologically arranged correspondence of the Dean from 1926 through 1989. This subseries consists of a variety of materials. To illustrate, included in this subseries are some papers of Frank D. Fackenthal, who served as secretary (1910-1937), provost (1937-1948) and acting president of the University (1945-1948). A review of Fackenthal's incoming and outgoing correspondence provides insights into his role in Columbia College's administration. A statement created by Columbia College on the occasion of Fackenthal's death is also contained this subseries. The subseries comprises, in turn, the speeches, articles and related correspondence about the topic of male college students written by Nicholas M. McKnight, who served as associate dean (1931-1943) and dean (1943-1957). Along with the correspondence in subseries I.1, the letters of Herbert E. Hawkes (Acting Dean, 1917, 3rd Dean, 1918-1942) cover the period (1928-1943) and consist primarily of incoming and outgoing messages between Hawkes and other faculty members on the topics of student organizations, student life and student requests. Additional papers in this subseries cover Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's tenure as President of the University (1948-1953). The Eisenhower correspondence reveals the fact that the general's interaction with Columbia College administrators and students was limited because of his outside commitments. Included also in this subseries is a copy of a speech Eisenhower delivered to incoming freshmen in December 1950.

Subseries III.1 Committee on Instruction (COI), 1908-2022, bulk dates: 1930-1979 is arranged overall in alphabetical order in (3) broad subject groupings: (1) Budgets (1960-1988), (2) Curriculum Review (1975-1989) and (3) Meeting Minutes (1908-1931, 1974-1976; 1979-1988). Under these three comprehensive categories, the folders within the series are organized overall in chronological order. Please note that additional Committee on Instruction (COI) materials are located in Series I and Series IV. Note that there are no COI minutes for 1996-1997 or 2002-2003.

This subseries contains the materials generated by the Alliance's projects concerning the built environment and infrastructure in Morningside Heights. Included are clippings and information on certain buildings and facilities of interest to the organization, as well as pamphlets and information about the issues involved with redevelopment, public housing, and slum clearance. The Alliance also kept extensive records on the condition of buildings in the neighborhood and the history of their ownership--block by block, house by house in most cases--and these are included here. Those buildings of interest that showed up in the City's court calendars for various complaints--usually unsafe or unsanitary conditions--were also heavily tracked, the documentation of which has been retained. Finally, records on the construction and finance of Morningside Gardens are found in this series as well.

This subseries is made up of records of the Alliance's work to increase services to the community in a variety of areas, but mostly in services and activities to be provided to neighborhood youth outside of schools. Appearing here are directories and inventories of neighborhood services, publications on existing city and state-wide services by both public and private enterprise, and publications and plans about how to increase offerings of community-service programs within the neighborhood. As part of this function the Alliance also tracked and recorded services and programs offered by the sponsoring institutions--such as continuing education offered at Columbia University for community members--and put together many services of its own--such as the Stone Gym Youth Center, several summer camps and activities, and several sports leagues. The records of these endeavors--including contracts, receipts, registrations, and publications--are found in this subseries.

This subseries contains mostly reports and their contributing materials generated by the Alliance to assist and influence the GRNP process. Publications which preceded the existence of the GNRP--such as materials on slum clearance and on Title I housing--have also been occasionally filed in this subseries, presumably as source material for the overall character and construction of the neighborhood. A large collection of news clippings on the plan have also been retained here. The GNRP was carried out through many different individual projects, which generated documentation for themselves--most of which can be found here. The Morningside Heights Core Area Study and its contributing materials have also been filed in this subseries.

This subseries is made up of the materials generated and retained by the Alliance through its broad efforts to improve public safety in Morningside Heights. The records of the Morningside Street Patrol (later changed to "Community Patrol") are found here, and include patrol logs, dispatch records, and collected complaints to and about the service, amongst other items. The records of the "Operation Alliance" project are also included here. The project was made up of several different arms--including an escort service for vulnerable citizens, a campaign to increase public awareness about safety issues, and work directly with criminals and problem individuals--and all are heavily documented in this subseries along with the documentation necessary for the grants that funded the project. Also collected here are pamphlets and publications on public safety and public safety programs across the country.

The Board of Friends subseries contains charters, correspondence, meeting minutes, and reports of The Board of Friends. This subseries also contains the records of the Fund Development Committee. Established by the Board of Friends in 1984, the Fund Development Committee organizes outreach activities for the DDC.