School of Engineering representative student files, 1919-1961

Summary Information

Abstract

This collection consists of a selection of inactive student files from the 1920s to the 1950s kept at the Office of the Dean of the School of Engineering.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series. Files are arranged in alphabetical order by the student's last name.

• Series I. Representative student files, 1919-1961

Description

Scope and Contents

These folders were kept by the School of Engineering's Office of the Dean. Each file includes information about a student's admission, financial aid, student activities, academic progress, general correspondence during the student's days and as alumnus/a, and copies of high school and Columbia unofficial transcripts. The students are both undergraduates and graduates; some received a degree, some withdrew; some were new to college, others were transfer students, and even others were readmitted to the program. There are students who joined the service, some were V-12 students and others Public Law 16. There are even a couple of folders of women students who were admitted to the School of Engineering in starting in 1943. Most folders include a copy of the student's official photograph.

• Series I. Representative student files, 1919-1961

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Conditions Governing Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

Student records are restricted for 75 years after their creation.

This collection is located on-site.

Conditions Governing 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); School of Engineering representative student files; Box and Folder (if known); University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Related Materials

The records of the School of Engineering for this period can be found in the School of Engineering and Applied Science records, 1897-1950s (UA#0094). For more information about the war effort, V-12 students and Columbia's war service, see the Columbia University in World War II collection, 1933-1956 (UA#0015). To learn about the engineering students before this period, please consult the School of Engineering biographical records, 1926-1927 (UA#0292). For a history of the School of Engineering, please consult A lever long enough : a history of Columbia's School of Engineering and Applied Science since 1864 by Robert A. McCaughey (2014) and A history of the School of Engineering, Columbia University by James Kip Finch (1954).

Accruals

No additions are expected.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Thomas Luchsinger, The Fu Foundation of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) School of Engineering Office of Alumni and Development. Transferred July 2019.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Molly Boord (GS 2021) and Michelle Chow (Barnard 2021). Finding aid written by Joanna Rios in August 2019.

Revision Description

2020-01-06 Removed expired restrictions.

2021-01-11 Removed expired restrictions. (JR)

2022-01-07 Removed expired restrictions. (JR)

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.

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Historical note

In the summer of 2019, as the School of Engineering's Office of Alumni and Development was getting ready to vacate their office space for a renovation, they reached out to the University Archives about a box of "old records." The box was labeled "Representative Student Folders. 20's, 30's, 40's. Many special names." There was no information available about when the folders were collected, how they were selected, or for what purpose. The University Archives does not collect student files but this small collection offered a glimpse into the School during and immediately after the war years.