This finding aid is made available for public use following the Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons designation.
This collection is located onsite.
All administrative records of the University are restricted for 25 years from the date of creation.
Additions are expected.
This collection is arranged in 5 series.
Columbia University's School of International Affairs was founded in 1946 in the aftermath of World War II. Emphasizing practical training, the School's mission was to foster understanding of geographic regions of vital interest and to prepare diplomats, officials, and other professionals to meet the complex needs of the postwar world.
The School created regional institutes that drew on Columbia's resources in history, economics, political science, linguistics, and other fields, showing an interdisciplinary vision considered bold for its day. SIA, as it was then called, developed a national and international reputation as a leading center for educational and research programs in area studies, security, and international relations. By 1967, the School was home to eight regional institutes, covering nearly every corner of the globe.
In 1981, the School was renamed the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Then, in the early 1990s, SIPA began appointing its own faculty, adding to the list of distinguished social and natural scientists and humanists already at the University.
SIPA provides committed students with the necessary skills and perspectives to become responsible leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. The School's mission, which has evolved over the years, stays true to this history: to support the global public interest by educating students to serve and to lead, and to produce and share new knowledge on the critical public policy challenges facing the global community.
Adapted from
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); School of International and Public Affairs records; Box and Folder numbers; University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.
Collection-level record describing unprocessed material made public in summer 2018 as part of the Hidden Collections initiative. This collection was processed by Joanna Rios in December 2025 and Series V was added in January 2026.
You can find additional bulletins or course catalogues for SIPA and the Regional Centers in the
This collection contains the records of the School of International and Public Affairs, formerly known as the School of International Affairs. It includes many photographs of events, students, alumni and guests of the School as well as publications and promotional materials. There are also some materials from the Dean's Office, 1970s-1990s.
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML 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.
This series contains the records of the Dean's Office, mostly from the 1980s and 1990s. There are a small selections of records related to the Kevorkian Foundation Fund Chair of Iranian Studies and the Center for Iranian Studies (1950s), the International Committee convened to study SIPA (1979-1981), and event files from the Communications Office (2000s-2010s).
Includes the Alumni Directories from 1976 and 1982
Virginia Xanthos was an administrator at Columbia for over 35 years. She served very many roles, including her work as the Coordinator of the International Committee, which studied SIPA in 1979-1981.
The records related to SIPA events came from the SIPA Communications Office. These include information about annual events (Commencement) and guest speakers, but also about special anniversaries and SIPA administration.
This series contains SIPA printed materials, including course bulletins, alumni newsletters and magazines as well as promotional materials. There is a pretty complete run of the Alumni Newsletter that became SIPA News and, since 2019, SIPA Magazine.
This series contains mostly black-and-white prints of classes, events and individuals associated with the School. There are also some negatives and contact sheets. The photographs came from the SIPA Communications Office so they include images used in various publications and other outreach or promotional materials. Digital images can be found in Series IV: Media.
Mostly black and white prints by V. Sladon; some negatives. Includes trips to Washington, DC.
This series contains media and digital files from the Communications Office. There are audiocassettes and videocassettes (both VHS and Betacam). There is also a number of CDs with digital images of various SIPA events and guests.
Possibly related to "Promoting Democracy: Opportunities and Challenges in a Complex World"
Dean Lisa Anderson, Student Rep Laurence Berg, MPA Director Charles M. Cameron; SIPA Alum Ana Cutter; and DIPA Faculty Monsignor William Linder
Honorees include Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright.
Honorees were Henrique de Campos Meirelles, governor of the Central Bank of Brazil; the Honorable Felix Rohatyn, former U.S. ambassador to France and former chairman, Municipal Assistance Corporation; and Citizens Budget Commission, a nonprofit organization that monitors New York City's implementation of its fiscal policies.
Produced by Firstborn Media
The series contains the records of the TMaC specialization, formerly International Media and Communications (IMC). From the 2025-2026 Bulletin "The TMaC specialization equips students for careers in today's digital workplace. We believe that understanding the policy implications of digital technology and having practical skills are essential. Digital technologies have transformed all the areas that SIPA students care about: development, advocacy, policy making, media, human rights, business, and government, so we offer courses that cut across disciplines."
The large poster boards from the retreats were photographed. Those digital photos are available for researchers. The folders contain the photo prints and captions removed from the original poster boards.