Graduate School of Arts and Sciences records, 1910s-2010s, bulk 1968-1983

Summary Information

Abstract

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, notes, committee minutes, student information cards, pamphlets, flyers, and announcements relating to the Office of the Dean and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 3 series.

• Series I: General Files, 1956-1986
• Series II: Records of the Dean, 1968-1986
• Subseries II.1: George K. Fraenkel, 1968-1986
• Subseries II.2: Gillian Lindt, 1980-1985
• Series III: Dissertation Office Files, 1910s-2010s
• Sub-Series III.1: Student Information Cards, 1910s-1990s
• Sub-Series III.2: Exam Reports and Voting Sheets, 1928-2019

Description

Summary

The Collection consists of a variety of materials, including correspondence, memorandum, reports, notes, committee minutes, flyers, announcements, student information cards, and publications. It documents both the routine responsibilities and tasks of the Dean's office as well as the extraordinary events shaping the GSAS. It also reflects the relationship between the GSAS and other University divisions, the broader academic world, and the community at large.

• Series I: General Files, 1956-1986

  This series is organized in alphabetical order; most folders are internally arranged in reverse chronological order. The bulk dates for the GSAS General Files series are 1970-1980. The series documents the day-to-day activities of the Graduate School as well as the events that occurred during those years. Materials recording the founding of the GSAS and the unification of the Faculties are found in this series. Similarly, this series contains the records documenting the GSAS's relationship with academia and the public at large as well as the intricate relationships it had with other parts of Columbia University.

• Series II: Records of the Dean, 1968-1986

  The Office of the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) is the administrative center of the Graduate School. The Office mediates internal relationships between the Graduate School and other schools within the University, with other administrative units, and among departments within GSAS. The Office also negotiates the School's relationship with academia and the public. This series represents administrative activities of GSAS, including the Committee on Instruction, the University Senate, and fundraising for the Graduate School and for individual programs, such as Jewish Studies.

• Series III: Dissertation Office Files, 1910s-2010s

  Series III contains records from the Dissertation Office in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The records consist of both student information cards as well as official "voting sheets". These records usually note the names of students, departments, titles of dissertations and dates. Depending on the record, there are sometimes other pieces of information related to dissertation submission, including committee member names.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on 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.

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.

Administrative records are restricted for a period of twenty-five years from the date of creation. Student records created before 1975 are restricted for a period of seventy-five years from the date of creation. Student records after 1975 are restricted. Please contact uarchives@columbia.edu if you require access to this restricted content.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

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); Graduate School of Arts and Sciences records; Box and Folder; University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.

Accrual

Additions are expected.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Susan Schutt. Finding aid written by David Hill in February 2000. Finding aid reformatted by Marilyn Pettit in December 2001, Jocelyn Wilk in February 2002, and Evan Roth (SEAS 2010) in December 2008, and encoded by Joanna Rios in March 2017. Series III was processed by Jocelyn Wilk and Joanna Rios in October 2022. Series III.1 was encoded by Joanna Rios in October 2022 and Series III.2 was encoded by Jocelyn Wilk in December 2022.

Revision Description

2017-03-10 File created.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

2022-10-28 Sub-series III.1 added.

2022-12-09 Sub-series III.2 added.

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

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Historical Note

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) represents the 1979 merger of three separate faculties: the Faculty of Political Science (1880), Faculty of Philosophy (1890) and the Faculty of Pure Science (1892). The faculties were created for Columbia to become a model research university, where scholars, thinkers, and investigators work with graduate students to pursue innovative research and scholarship. The GSAS offers MA, MPhil, DMA and PhD degrees.