Andrew Cordier Papers at the Columbia University Archives, 1923-1974
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- UA#0145
- Bib ID:
- 6228599 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Cordier, Andrew W (Andrew Wellington), 1901-1975
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 11 Linear Feet (11 record cartons)
- Language(s):
- English .
- 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 has no 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.
Description
Scope and Content
The collection consists of correspondence, both personal and professional, of Andrew Cordier from the late 1920s through 1974. The collection also includes Cordier's administrative records, such as committee information, Trustees files, University Senate files, budget information, President's Report drafts, and other reports and press releases related to his time at Columbia. Folders within each series are arranged in alphabetical order unless otherwise noted in the series description. The material within all folders is arranged in chronological order or, in the case of Correspondence, Post as Acting President, Correspondence, Post as President and Correspondence, Columbia University General, Alphabetical where the material is arranged alphabetically by sender's last name. All original photographs were moved to the photograph collection except headshots of refugees, which are attached to correspondence within Series I. Correspondence, Subseries I.1. Personal. Photographs are housed under "Academics-Schools and Departments, Psychology, Department of," "Cordier, Andrew," "Buildings and Grounds-Morningside Campus, Engineering Building, exterior," and "Buildings and Grounds-Morningside Campus, International Affairs Building Construction, 1969." Photocopies of the images were placed in the original location of the photographs (Correspondence, Columbia University, General, March-April 1969, Correspondence, Columbia University, General, October-December, 1969, Correspondence, Columbia University, Alphabetical "W-Z," 1968-1970, and Assorted Material, Construction of School of International Affairs Building) and marked with the new location of the original.
-
Series I: Correspondence, 1923-1974
Consisting of the personal and professional correspondence of Andrew Cordier before and during his time at Columbia University, this series is arranged into three subseries: Subseries I.1. Personal, Subseries I.2. Columbia University General, and Subseries I.3. Columbia University Topical.
-
Series II: Columbia University Administration, 1968-1974
This series contains minutes, reports, correspondence, and background information on various University committees, councils, the University Senate, and the Board of Trustees. The series is divided into four subseries: Subseries II.1. Committees, Subseries II.2. Councils, Subseries II.3. University Senate, and Subseries II.4. Board of Trustees.
-
Series III: Crisis , 1963-1970
This series contains material collected by Cordier and his staff during the riots and protests of the spring of 1968 (commonly referred to as the Crisis of 1968) and the disciplinary acts that followed. Most of the material in this series consists of flyers, information sheets, and published material, including some newspaper clippings, regarding the Crisis of 1968 at Columbia University and other Universities around the country. "Student Flyers and Information Sheets" folders represent a good collection of flyers from Students' Afro-American Society (SAS), Students for a Restructured University (SRU), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and others.
-
Series IV: Speeches and Writings, 1932-1970
Consisting of Cordier's speeches, writings, reports, radio addresses, and press releases, as well as annual reports of individual departments at Columbia, this series is divided into two subseries: Subseries IV.1. Statements and Subseries IV.2. President's Report.
-
Series V: Reports and Press Releases , 1967-1973
This series contains press releases and reports not authored by Cordier. Most of the reports relate to Columbia University or topics of interest to the University in the 1960s and 1970s. "Columbia University: The University Senate" is a report by David D. Dill from the University of Michigan.
-
Contains financial gifts reports, the proposed budget for 1969-70, various financial reports, and the report of the Budget Committee. Also includes correspondence and reports on the $200,000 Columbia Campaign of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
-
Series VII: Publications, 1928-1971
This series contains newspaper clippings, brochures, and magazines relating to Columbia or issues of interest to Columbia.
-
Series VIII: Subject Files, 1965-1971
Consists of Cordier's working subject files while at Columbia University. Original folder titles and organization have been retained. The bulk of the files are about space policy issues at Columbia during the 1960s. These files contain information on particular topics of interest to Cordier, mostly during his presidency and include reports, correspondence, clippings, and publications. Of particular interest are folders "Black Admissions and Financial Aid" and "Black Studies," which look at increasing the diversity of the student body and establishing a Black Studies department. Original photographs of the psychology laboratory in Schermerhorn Hall from folder "Space Policy, Schermerhorn, 1969-1971" have been housed with the photograph collection under "Academics-Schools and Departments, Psychology, Department of." Photocopies of the images remain in the folder.
-
Series IX: Assorted Material, 1931-1974
This series is a collection of items maintained by Cordier's office for reference purposes. It contains material on the retirement of Grayson Kirk, memoranda from William McGill and information on various conferences Cordier attended. Also includes minutes and other material related to the Brethren Service Committee, of which Cordier was greatly involved in during the 1930s and 1940s. Correspondence with the Committee can be found throughout Series I. Correspondence, Subseries I.1. Personal. Original photographs from folder "Construction of International Affairs Building" have been placed in the photograph collection under "Buildings and Grounds-Morningside Campus, International Affairs Building Construction, 1969." Photocopies of the photographs remain in the folder. Folder of Lists contains miscellaneous lists of acceptances to dinners, seating lists, membership lists, and appointment lists. Folder "Reason and Romance in the Sociology of the University Curriculum" is a paper written by a graduate student, Joseph A. Diorio in 1971.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in nine series.
- Series I: Correspondence, 1923-1974
- Subseries 1: Personal, 1923-1945
- Subseries 2: Columbia University General, 1968-1974
- Subseries 3: Columbia University Topical, 1968-1971
- Series II: Columbia University Administration, 1968-1974
- Subseries 1: Committees, 1968-1971
- Subseries 2: Councils , 1968-1969
- Subseries 3: University Senate, 1968-1974
- Subseries 4: Board of Trustees , 1968-1973
- Series III: Crisis , 1963-1970
- Series IV: Speeches and Writings, 1932-1970
- Series V: Reports and Press Releases , 1967-1973
- Series VI: Budget , 1966-1974
- Series VII: Publications, 1928-1971
- Series VIII: Subject Files, 1965-1971
- Series IX: Assorted Material, 1931-1974
Using the Collection
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 has no 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.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
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); Andrew Cordier Papers at the Columbia University Archives (Box and Folder), University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.
Related Materials
The Rare Book and Manuscript Library holds the Andrew Cordier papers (MS#1589). For the records of the Office of the President, see Central Files (UA#0001). In addition, see also the University Protest and Activism Collection (UA#0007); Historical Subject Files (UA#0002); Historical Biographical Files (UA#0004); Historical Photograph Collection (UA#0003); and the Joint Committee on Disciplinary Affairs Records (UA#0006).
Accruals
No additions are expected.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Abby Lester in 2002. Finding aid written by Abby Lester in September 2002. Finding aid was re-formatted by Evan Roth (SEAS 2010) and Jocelyn Wilk in October 2008.
Revision Description
2017-06-13 File created.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
2020-03-10 Changed the name of the collection. Formerly known as the Records of the Office of the President, President Andrew W. Cordier, 1923-1974;
Biographical Note
Andrew Wellington Cordier was born in 1901 in Ohio to Wellington J. Cordier and Ida Mae Anstine. He graduated from Hartville high school as the valedictorian and varsity quarterback. He then attended Manchester College in Indiana where he received his B.A. in 1922. He subsequently received his M.A. (1923) and Ph.D. (1926) in history from the University of Chicago. His academic career began with teaching history at Manchester College from 1923 to 1927. During that time he married Dorothy Elizabeth Butterbough in 1926 and had two children. From 1927 to 1944 Cordier was chair of the department of history and political science at Manchester College. Although he had some contact with the government, he began his major government service in 1944 when he became adviser on international security for the United States State Department. In 1946, Cordier became executive assistant to United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Trygve Lie. From 1946 to 1962, among other appointments, he advised sixteen General Assembly leaders, served as a special representative to Korea, acted as Dag Hammarskjold's envoy in the Mount Scopus affair, and was the U.N.'s representative in the Congo.
In 1962, Cordier left the U.N. to become dean of the School of International Affairs at Columbia University. On August 23, 1968, after the first protests and student riots of 1968 on Columbia's campus forced President Grayson Kirk to resign, the Trustees appointed Cordier as Acting President. After a successful year, Cordier was appointed the fifteenth President of Columbia University in 1969. He only served as president for one year and in September 1970 returned to the School of International Affairs as Dean. He remained in that position until he retired in 1972 and became Director of Development for the School of International Affairs and Regents Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, until 1974. Cordier died of a liver ailment on July 11, 1975 in Long Island.
(The above information was taken from Contemporary Authors Online. The Gale Group, 2000; and Dictionary of American Biography, Supplement 9:1971-1975. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1994. For more biographical information on Andrew Cordier, see Historical Biographical Files.)
Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.