John Mladinov Photograph Collection, 1939-1942

Creator:: Mladinov, John K. (John Kremlin), 1921-1993
Abstract:: Collection of black and white photographs depicting campus activities, individuals, and student life taken by John K. Mladinov, an undergraduate student enrolled at Columbia University between 1939 and 1942.
Extent:: .83 linear feet (2 document boxes)
Language:: English .
Scope and content:: This collection consists of black and white photographs, mostly 8 by 10 inches in size, taken by Columbia College and School of Engineering student John K. Mladinov. Mladinov photographed many different events and individuals, some of which were published in the Columbian and Columbia Alumni News. Notable individuals photographed include President Nicholas Murray Butler, Dean Herbert Hawkes, Dean Nicholas McKnight, Dr. Frank Nobilletti, Chaplain Raymond Knox, and Vincent Lopez, as well as numerous unidentified individuals and groups. Mladinov also photographed events such as the Havermeyer Hall Lab Explosion's aftermath, Columbia Scholastic Press Association conferences, commencement, athletic events, and Army and Navy activities on campus during World War II. Some newspaper clippings are filed with the corresponding photograph, providing background information on the event or individual. Some of the photographs have the people identified and the year noted, but many do not have any identifying information. Undated photographs are assumed to have been taken during Mladinov's time at Columbia between 1939 and 1942.
Biographical / historical:: John Kremlin Mladinov was born in 1921 in Tacoma, Washington and moved to New York in 1939 where he enrolled in Columbia College. Mladinov attended Columbia College from September 1939 to May 1942 graduating with a Bachelor of Arts on October 26, 1949. He also attended the School of Engineering and Applied Science from June 1942 to August 1943 graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering on June 1, 1949. While a student at Columbia, Mladinov was elected to be a member of the Van Am Society in 1940, the 1848 Society in 1942, the Secretary for the Student Association Administrative Committee (SAAC) in 1942, and was a member of the Senior Advisory Board of the Columbian in 1942. After his time at Columbia, Mladinov served in the Armed Forces during World War II. Following the war he completed a graduate program in transportation and planning at Yale University and then worked for the Washington State Department of Highways where he directed the Puget Sound Regional Transportation Study from 1950-1967. In 1967 he came to work for the New York State Department of Public Works, now known as the State Department of Transportation. Mladinov served as the Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York Department of Transportation until he retired in 1991. Mladinov was presented the Governor Charles Evans Hughes Award in 1993 for outstanding individual service over an extended career by the American Society for Public Administration, Empire State, Capital Area Chapter. Mladinov died on December 23, 1993 and his wife Barbara Pratt Mladinov, with whom he had two daughters, established the John K. Mladinov Scholarship in 1994, which is awarded to a deserving undergraduate with a minor in liberal arts.

Acquisition information:

Margaret R. Kelly Gift, 1/9/2014 2014.2015.M065

Custodial history:

Photographs were donated by Margaret Kelly at the School of Engineering in January 2009 who had received the images from Mladinov's widow, Barbara Pratt Mladinov, in 2008.

Processing information:

Papers initially processed by Katie Henningsen in April 2009 and completed by by Ian Post (Pratt SILS intern) in October 2014.

Finding aid written by Ian Post in October 2014 based on notes created by Katie Henningsen.

The photographs found in this collection that were not taken by Mladinov were removed and incorporated into the Historical Photograph Collection. These include images taken by Columbian photographer Jack Lewis and a 1938 prom photograph by an unidentified photographer.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in 7 series.

Accruals:

No additions are expected

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related material:

Historical Photograph Collection (UA#0003)Office of Public Affairs Photograph Collection (UA# 0109)

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

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 Mladinov Photograph Collection; Box and Folder; University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Columbia University Archives

University Archives Home Page
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:: Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.

Contact:: uarchives@columbia.edu

Collection