Summary Information
Abstract
The Historical Subject Files Collection documents Columbia University history and
related topics from 1754 to the present. The collection includes articles, booklets,
clippings, correspondence, memoranda, non-photographic images, notes, pamphlets,
posters, press releases, programs and reports.
At a Glance
| Call No.: | UA#002 |
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| Bib ID: | 5694076 View CLIO record |
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| Creator(s): | Columbia University. University Archives. |
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| Title: | Historical Subject
Files,
1870s-2017
[Bulk Dates: 1968-1972]
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| Physical description: | 176.39 linear feet (423 document boxes)
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| Language(s): | In English
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| Access: |
More information » |
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Arrangement
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in twenty-three series.
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Series I. Academics and Research, 1750s-2000s
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Series II.
Administration, 1780s-2000s
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Series III. Alumni, 1750s-2000s
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Series IV. Athletics, 1850s-2000s
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Series V. Awards, 1890s-2000s
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Series VI. Community Affairs, 1890s-2000s
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Series VII. Demonstrations, 1920s-2000s
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Series VIII. Events, 1810s-2000s
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Series IX. Faculty, 1850s-2000s
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Series X. Fellowships and Scholarships, 1880s-2000s
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Series XI. Fundraising, 1800s-2000s
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Series XII. Human Resources, 1910s-2000s
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Series XIII. Information Services, 1900s-2000s
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Series XIV. Libraries, 1790s-2000s
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Series XV. Publications, 1860s-2000s
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Series XVI. Public Relations, 1750s-2000s
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Series XVII. Religious Life, 1800s-2000s
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Series XVIII. Social Issues, 1880s-2000s
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Series XIX. Student Life, 1810s-2000s
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Series XX. Student Services, 1910s-2000s
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Series XXI. Symbols, 1780s-2000s
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Series XXII. Women at Columbia, 1870s-2000s
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Series XXIII. New York City History, 1930s-1960s
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Description
Scope and Content
The Historical Subject Files documents Columbia University history and related topics
from 1754 to the present. The collection consists of documents in various paper formats,
including: articles, booklets, clippings, correspondence, memoranda, non-photographic
images, notes, pamphlets, posters, press releases, printed matter, programs, and
reports. Because documents are continually added to each series, the date range for each
series and the entire collection is noted very generally, by decades (e.g.,
1960s-1990s). When the contents of a folder refer to a one time event, the specific year
of that event is used instead of the more general dating scheme.
All series refer to the subject's relationship or association with Columbia University
except for Series XXIII (New York City) which is a collection of clippings, brochures
and pamphlets that refers to subjects associated mostly (or only) with the city
surrounding the University.
Please see series descriptions in the contents list for additional information about
individual series.
Series I: Academics and Research, 1750s-2000s
This series is composed of newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, and
other printed matter regarding the various schools, departments, institutes, and
centers that are currently or were previously associated with Columbia University.
Also includes files on other topics related to academics and research such as
admissions, enrollment, academic calendars, curriculum, and syllabi. The files are
arranged alphabetically.
Series II: Administration, 1780s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, reports, budgets, pamphlets and
other printed matter documenting the various aspects of Columbia University’s
administration. It is divided into the following seven sub-series. Subseries II.1:
General Subseries II.2: Finance Subseries II.3: Office of the President Subseries
II.4: Office of the Provost Subseries II.5: Office of the Secretary Subseries
II.6: University Trustees Subseries II.7: University Senate
The files are arranged alphabetically within each Subseries.
Series III: Alumni, 1750s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, programs, and other printed
matter relating to the alumni groups for both the university as a whole as well as
individual schools, reunions, and other alumni related activities. Folders are
arranged alphabetically.
Series IV: Athletics, 1850s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, programs, brochures, and other
printed matter relating to Columbia's sports teams and sports-related activities.
Folders are arranged alphabetically.
Series V: Awards, 1890s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, programs and other printed
matter concerning awards and prizes offered by Columbia University and its various
schools. Topics include the history of various awards and prizes, names of
recipients and the award regulations. Folders are arranged alphabetically and
chronologically.
Series VI: Community Affairs, 1890s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, reports and other printed matter
relating to Columbia's programs and interactions with its neighbors in Harlem and
Morningside Heights, community. Also includes information about neighborhood
institutions such as Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the West End Café, and
Riverside Church. Folders are arranged alphabetically.
Series VII: Demonstrations, 1920s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, flyers, and other printed matter
concerned with demonstrations and protests of Columbia students, faculty, and
staff. Demonstrations address many national and international events, including
South Africa divestment, Clarence Thomas Supreme Court hearings, civil rights and
abortion. Although there is one folder on the topic of the 1968 crisis on campus,
most information about the 1968 demonstrations and subsequent take over of campus
buildings can be found in a stand alone collection, University Protest and Activism Collection, 1958-1999 (bulk dates
1968-1972)
. Folders are arranged alphabetically and
chronologically.
Series VIII: Events, 1810s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, programs, seating charts and
other printed matter relating to various events held by and at Columbia
University. This series is divided into two subseries. Subseries 1 consist of a
wide array of events while Subseries 2 consists solely of annual lectures and
lecture series. Folders are arranged alphabetically and chronologically in each
subseries.
Series IX: Faculty, 1850s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, reports and other printed matter
related to organizations and issues of importance to faculty members at Columbia
University. This series is divided into two subseries. Subseries 1 consists of
general topics related to faculty issues while Subseries 2 consists solely of
information regarding named professorships established at Columbia University.
Folders are arranged alphabetically in each subseries.
Series X: Fellowships and Scholarships, 1880s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases and printed matter regarding the
numerous fellowships and scholarships offered by Columbia University and its
various schools. This series includes information on the Pulitzer Prizes. Files
arranged alphabetically and chronologically.
Series XI: Fundraising, 1880s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, brochures, printed matter and
reports addressing the various aspects of fundraising efforts by Columbia
University, its schools and numerous alumni associations. Files are arranged
alphabetically.
Series XII: Human Resources, 1910s-2000s
Newspaper clippings, press releases, announcements and reports related to working
at Columbia University, benefits offered to employees, and various University
policies. This series includes files of information about the various unions
established and operating at Columbia. Files are arranged alphabetically.
Series XIII: Information Services, 1900s-2000s
Newspaper clippings, press releases, announcements and printed matter concerning
email, telephone service, mail service, campus security, computer issues and
Academic Information Services. Files are arranged alphabetically.
Series XIV: Libraries, 1790s-2000s
Newspaper clippings, press releases, printed matter, reports, newsletters,
brochures, reports and announcements related to various aspects of Columbia
University's libraries and the School of Library Service, which was closed in
1992. This series is divided into three subseries: Subseries XIV.1: General
Subseries XIV.2: Individual Libraries and Collections Subseries XIV.3: School of
Library Service (SLS)
The folders in each subseries are arranged alphabetically.
Series XV: Publications, 1860s-2000s
Newspaper clippings, press releases and printed matter relating to numerous
university publications and the organizations behind these publications. Actual
issues of many of these university publications are found in this series as well.
Also featured in this series is information about Columbia University Press, the
Spectator Publishing Company, and the University Publications Office. Files are
arranged alphabetically.
Series XVI: Public Relations, 1750s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases and printed matter relating to
how the University is portrayed in the media, advertising and other public arenas.
Other topics in this series include visitors, national rankings, legal cases
against Columbia, and the News Office. Files are arranged alphabetically.
Series XVII: Religious Life, 1800s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, programs, printed matter, flyers
and announcements related to various religious activities and organizations at
Columbia. The series is dominated by Christian and Jewish activities (especially
activities held at St. Paul's Chapel), though other religious groups, such as
Islam, are documented as well. Folders are arranged alphabetically.
Series XVIII: Social Issues, 1880s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, flyers and other printed matter
related to Columbia's responses to major social issues such as AIDS,
discrimination, anti-semitism, Apartheid, politics, Black-Jewish relations, and
various national and international disasters. Folders are arranged
alphabetically.
Series XIX: Student Life, 1810s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, flyers, printed matter,
programs, correspondence and brochures concerning various aspects of student life
at Columbia University. Files contain information about specific student clubs,
groups, events and activities of Columbia students. Also contains information
about minority students. This series is divided into the following four subseries:
Subseries XIX.1: General Subseries XIX.2: Fine and Performing Arts Subseries
XIX.3: Fraternities and Sororities Subseries XIX.4: Political Organizations
The folders in each subseries are arranged alphabetically.
Series XX: Student Services, 1910s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, correspondence, flyers and other
printed matter concerning student employment opportunities, residence halls,
dining services, enrollment, academic calendars, registration and the office of
student activities. Files are arranged alphabetically.
Series XXI: Symbols, 1780s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, correspondence, sheet music,
brochures, drawings and printed matter documenting the various university symbols.
Symbols include the seal and shield, songs, the Columbia lion mascot, the king's
crown, Alma Mater statue, and the origins of Columbia's name. Files are arranged
alphabetically.
Series XXII: Women at Columbia, 1870s-2000s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, reports, memoranda, flyers and
other printed matter related specifically to women students, faculty and alumnae
of Columbia University. Topics also include academic areas of study (e.g.,
centers, institutes, and programs), women's social issues (e.g., sexual
harassment, feminism), affirmative action, and the history of co-education at
Columbia. Folders are arranged alphabetically.
Series XXIII: New York City History, 1930s-1960s
Newspaper and magazine clippings, brochures, pamphlets and assorted printed matter
related to New York City history, places and events outside the realm of Columbia
University. The materials in this series are in two document boxes and not housed
in folders. One box contains clippings and the other contains brochures and
pamphlets.
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Using the Collection
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Historical Subject Files, Box and
Folder; University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Library.
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About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Archives; machine readable
finding aid created by Columbia University Libraries Digital Library Program
Division
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Jennifer Comins, Shelley Hayreh (BC 2008), Jocelyn
Wilk, Elena Locascio, and Elizabeth Nolte (GSAS 2009).
Finding aid writtten by Jocelyn Wilk, 2009.
Machine readable finding aid generated from MARC-AMC source via XSLT conversion
October 29, 2009
Finding aid written in English.
2009-10-29
xml document instance created by Carrie Hintz
2015-11-19
xml document instance updated by Catherine C. Ricciardi
2016-07-13
xml document instance updated by Jocelyn K. Wilk
2018-08-07
Folders transferred from South Africa Divestment Records to Box 424 added to finding aid by CLB
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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
Subjects
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History / Biographical Note
Historical Note
Columbia University, the oldest institution of higher learning
in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States, was founded in 1754
as King's College by royal charter of King George II of England. Samuel Johnson, the
College's first president, held the first classes in October 1754 in the vestry room of
the Trinity Church schoolhouse on lower Broadway. There were eight students in this
first class. This room housed classes until 1760 when the school moved to a building on
Park Place in downtown Manhattan, near the present site of City Hall. Classes were
suspended during the American Revolution in 1776 and the building was used as a barrack
and hospital for both British and American troops. When instruction resumed in 1784,
King's College changed its name to Columbia, in keeping with the contemporary political
climate.
Classes continued in the Park Place campus building until
1857, when, to accommodate its continuing expansion, the college moved to 49th Street
and Madison Avenue. It remained at this site for forty years, until 1897, when the
university was moved by President Seth Low to the more spacious Morningside Heights
campus, designed as an urban academic village by McKim, Mead, and White.
During the last half of the nineteenth century, Columbia
rapidly assumed the shape of a modern university. The Columbia School of Law was founded
in 1858. The country's first mining school, a precursor of today's Fu Foundation School
of Engineering and Applied Science, was established in 1864 and awarded the first
Columbia Ph.D. in 1875. Barnard College for women became affiliated with Columbia in
1889; the medical school came under the aegis of the University in 1891, followed by
Teachers College in 1893. In the 1880s, Columbia developed graduate faculties in
political science, philosophy, and pure science, establishing Columbia as one of the
nation's earliest center for graduate education. In 1896, the Trustees authorized the
use of yet another new name, Columbia University, and today the institution is
officially known as Columbia University in the City of New York.
During the presidency of Nicholas Murray Butler (1902-1945),
Columbia emerged as a preeminent national center for educational innovation and
scholarly achievement. The study of the sciences flourished along with the liberal arts.
Franz Boas founded the modern science of anthropology at Columbia in the early decades
of the twentieth century; the School of Journalism was established by bequest of Joseph
Pulitzer in 1912; a course of study of original masterworks for undergraduates was
created which ultimately developed into what is now know as the Core Curriculum; and
atomic research was conducted by Columbia faculty, bringing the Physics Department to
international prominence. In 1946, the School of International Affairs (now the School
of International and Public Affairs) was founded marking the beginning of intensive
growth in international relations as a major scholarly focus of the University.
Columbia continued to expand in the ensuing decades --
improving both its physical plant and creating new programs and infrastructure for a
growing campus and community. Today it is considered one of the pre-eminent institutions
of higher learning in the country and in the world.
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