Alumni Class Records, 1850-1989

Creator:

Extent:

25.26 linear feet 14 record cartons and 27 document boxes

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

The Alumni Class Records contains materials pertaining to the alumni from the Classes of 1842 to 1963, from Columbia College and the School of Mines, later the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Content includes programs, menus, invitations, clippings, correspondence, and printed matter related to activities from college days to the many reunion events in the subsequent years.

Biographical / historical:

The Alumni Class records were initially collected for the Columbiana Collection. Many of these items (mostly class memorabilia) were then displayed during "Alumni Day." Starting in 1908, an Alumni Day or the mid-winter reunion was held every year on Lincoln's birthday (February 12) because it was the only business holiday in the year when alumni can visit their Alma Mater. Alumni would come back to campus, could join classes and enjoy the displays at the Columbiana Library (originally, room 307 Library).

The Columbiana Collection was built up by alumnus (CC 1877, Law 1879), clerk of the Board and University historian John B. Pine. After his death in 1922, a fulltime Columbiana curator was appointed "in order that the work of collecting memorabilia for the Columbiana Collection ... should suffer no relapse but should be carried on and extended." Robert Arrowsmith CC 1882 was the first Columbiana curator (1923-1929), followed by Milton Halsey Thomas (1929-1959). According to the Columbia Alumni News, June 1, 1923, (460) "[i]t is hoped eventually to have a complete individual record of each class in the shape of class albums, scrap books, class programmes, publications and other memorabilia, so arranged that information regarding any class activitity or material for a class reunion shall be at once procurable."

Processing information:: This collection was processed by Joanna Rios in November 2022.
Arrangement:: Organized chronologically by class year.
Accruals:: No additions are expected.
Rules or conventions:: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Related material:: For information about classes, please consult the Columbia Yearbooks, Facebooks and Class Books (UA#0027) and, for earlier classes, the Class Photograph Albums Collection (UA#0131). Additional information about alumni, class materials and photographs can be found in the Historical biographical files (UA#0004),Historical subject files (UA#0002), and Historical photograph collection (UA#0003).

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

There are no restrictions on this collection.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Alumni Class Records; Box and Folder number; University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.

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