Summary Information
Abstract
Papers of John Jay Iselin, journalist, editor, professor of journalism, and
president of both WNET/Channel 13 and the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science
and Art.
At a Glance
| Call No.: | MS#1587 |
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| Bib ID: | 9006537 View CLIO record |
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| Creator(s): | Iselin, John Jay. |
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| Title: | John Jay Iselin
papers,
1983-1995
|
|---|
| Physical description: | 8 linear ft. (8 record storage cartons)
|
|---|
| Language(s): | Material is in English
|
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| Access: |
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least
two business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript
Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
More information » |
|---|
Arrangement
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in 2 series
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Description
Scope and Content
The records, which primarily cover the period in which Iselin served as the President of
the Cooper Union, contain topical files and correspondence related to his professional
activities.
Series I: General Files, November, 1984-November, 1993
The General Files contain information relating to Iselin's presidency of the Cooper Union, including files on his fundraising efforts on behalf of the institution and research files related to the history of the Cooper Union, as well as files related to capital projects at the Cooper Union and a Charles and Ray Eames film festival hosted by the college.
Series II: Reading Files (Correspondence) 1988-1995
Iselin's Correspondence Files, which he calls reading files, span his years at Cooper Union years and relate his work as the president of that institution.
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Using the Collection
Offsite
Access Restrictions
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least
two business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript
Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Restrictions on Use
Single photocopies 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.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); John Jay Iselin Papers; Box and Folder
(if known); Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
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About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries. Rare Book and
Manuscript Library; machine readable finding aid created by Columbia University
Libraries Digital Library Program Division
Processing Information
Papers processed 10/--/2011 Gillian Rhodes (Columbia College, 2012).
Finding aid written 10/13/2011 Carrie Hintz
Machine readable finding aid generated from MARC-AMC source via XSLT conversion
October 18, 2011
Finding aid written in English.
2011-10-18
xml document instance created by Carrie Hintz
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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.
Genre/Form
| Heading | CUL Archives:
Portal | CUL Collections:
CLIO | Nat'l / Int'l Archives:
ArchiveGRID |
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| Correspondence | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Subjects
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History / Biographical Note
Biographical Note
John Jay Iselin, descendent of the Supreme Court Justice John
Jay, was born in Greenville, South Carolina in 1933. He left South Carolina to pursue
his education at Harvard, where he received both his Bachelor's Degree. He received the
prestigious Marshall Scholarship which funded his course of study at Cambridge, where he
received his Master's Degree before returning to Harvard to pursue his PhD in
government, which he received in 1964.
After graduation he worked as a journalist for publications
including Newsweek before shifting his focus onto the production side of writing as an
editor with Harper & Row in 1970. He only held his editorial position at Harper
& Row for two years; in 1972 he took the helm of New York's public television
station, WNET/Channel 13 and remained president of the station for 16 years. Under his
leadership, WNET produced shows such as
Great
Performances
,
Nature
and
Newshour
as well as a number of documentaries and miniseries.
Iselin left the station in 1988 when he was appointed the
tenth president of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. His
presidency there was marked with great growth in the Cooper Union endowment and in
particular a huge capital campaign that helped build and update the institutions
facilities and lab spaces. He also oversaw the creation of new endowed professorships.
After twelve years at the Cooper Union, Iselin left the university to take on the
presidency of the Marconi International Fellowship Foundation at Columbia University
which promotes work and scholarship in the field of telecommunications, merging his own
background in both the academy and in broadcasting.
John Jay Iselin died in 2008 at the age of 74.
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