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President's Office. Collection, 1867-Ongoing

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSU Archives Collection 013

Scope and Contents

Due to the wide scope and extensive nature of materials being covered within this collection, the President's Office collection has been divided into twelve series. Unless noted, items are arranged alphabetically. These eleven series, some of which are very large, provide the best possible means for organizing a massive collection with numerous original filing systems. Original order has been preserved when possible to provide a collection that is usable and understandable for researchers. The series are as follows:

Restricted, 1983-Ongoing: Items in this series include promotion and tenure documents. Bush and faulty improvement grants, grievances, sabbatical leave materials, student problems/complaints, and legal issues. Special usage requirements exist for this series and access is granted at the discretion of the archivist.

President's Files, 1927-Ongoing: This all encompassing series is comprised of materials that were not filed in the series listed below. Though these files cover many unrelated subjects, the series is not a miscellaneous conglomeration of documents. Identical subjects can generally be found in every fiscal year fi-om 1990 to the present.

Speeches, 1972-Ongoing: This series contains the transcripts and other related materials of speeches given by university presidents and other honored guests.

Correspondence, 1867-Ongoing: The correspondence contained within this series covers many years and includes incoming and outgoing mail fi"om the President's Office.

Additional correspondence with organizational units can be found within the series listed below. The correspondence found in this series ends in 1995, due to changes in filing systems within the President's Office. Any correspondence after 1995 can be found in subject materials either in the President's Files series or the organizational units' series.

Fiscal Affairs/Finance and Administration, 1973-Ongoing: Budget materials, correspondence with the President's Office, and human resources materials make up the majority of this series. Also present are materials related to budget planning and implementation.

Academic Affairs, 1967-Ongoing: One of the largest series in the collection, the files within this series represent much of the information the President received regarding the progress and problems of colleges and individual departments. A large portion of the series is dedicated to the correspondence maintained between Academic Affairs and the President's Office.

State of Minnesota, 1976-Ongoing: Though relatively small, this series contains a significant amount of correspondence carried on between the State and the President's Office in the 1990s, as well as files related to personnel matters.

State University System/MnSCU/Minnesota State, 1967-Ongoing: Many files related to the State University System and MnSCU were transferred to the collection bearing that name, as they were more applicable to that collection. These are almost exclusively State

University System, MnSCU, Minnesota State and Higher Education Board meeting materials. The items remaining in this series include a great deal of correspondence as well as various files related to the operation of this governing body.

Student Affairs, 1974-Ongoing; Issues from athletics, student senate, cultural diversity, violence prevention, and many others related to student development and student conduct are included in this series. As with many other departments, the series includes correspondence and materials from vice-presidential meetings with the president.

University Advancement, 1977-Ongoing: Materials relating to alumni affairs, marketing, MSU Foundation, and general correspondence with the President are present in this series. University Operations, 1974-Ongoing: Files in this series include correspondence, materials fi:om meetings between the President and the Vice-President of University Operations, and other materials related to the maintenance of university buildings and grounds.

Artifacts, 1978-Ongoing: Artifacts in this series are from the Office of the President that were given to them over the years.

Dates

  • 1867-Ongoing

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There are some restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property and libel laws as they apply, bearing in mind that restricted materials may not always be clearly marked. The University Archives assumes no responsibility for the misuse of sensitive materials by researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

There are some restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property and libel laws as they apply, bearing in mind that restricted materials may not always be clearly marked. The University Archives assumes no responsibility for the misuse of sensitive materials by researchers.

Biographical / Historical

Since the founding of Mankato State Normal School in 1868, the institution has undergone a number of changes. The two changes most pertinent to this collection consist of the school's name changes and the tenures of various principals and presidents. When the school opened it was called Mankato State Normal School, this remained the institution's name until 1921 when the Minnesota legislature renamed the school as Mankato State Teachers College. As a teachers college the school remained until 1957, the state legislature enacted a new resolution and the institution became Mankato State College. On August 1, 1975, the school's mission changed again. Mankato State University remained the school's name until 1998 when the name was again changed to Minnesota State University, Mankato.

During these years, the school has had a number-of different leaders, at first titled as principals and later as presidents. This change was made following John's service by the State Normal School Board. Between 1868 and 2003 the following men and women have served as the institution's leader: Principals: 1868-1872- Geroge M. Gage 1872-1873- Julia A. Sears 1873-1880- David Clarke Presidents: 1880-1898- Edward F. Searing 1899-1930- Charles H. Cooper 1930-1946- Frank D. McElroy 1946-1965- Clarence L. Crawford 1965-1966- Melvin G Scarlet (Interim President) 1966-1973- James F. Nickerson 1973-1974- Kent G Alm (Interim President) 1974-1978- Douglas R. Moore 1978-1979- Edward R. McMahon (Acting President) 1979-1992- Margaret Robinson Preska 1992 - John B. Davic ( Interim President) 1992-2001- Richard R. Rush 2001-2002- Karen A. Boubel (Interim President) 2002- - Richard W. Davenport

Extent

184.35 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

This collection, large in subject matter and physical size, covers the President's activities, correspondence, and concerns since the creation of the higher institute of learning in Mankato in 1868. Though the majority of the collection is composed of materials from 1990 to the present, earlier materials also constitute a significant collection of materials chronicling the development of the university from its roots as a normal school.

Subjects

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
President's Office. Collection, 1867-Ongoing
Status
Completed
Author
Michael J. Gieseke, Anne Stenzel, Daardi Sizemore, and Stephanie Honsey processed this collection and developed the finding aid.
Date
2005-12
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Revision Statements

  • 2006-07: Michael Gieseke updated the collection and finding aid.
  • 2012-02 - 2012-06: Heather Harren processed additions.
  • 2015-10: Josh Smith processed additions.

Physical Storage Information

External Documents

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Minnesota State University, Mankato University Archives Repository

https://library.mnsu.edu/archives/collections/university-archives/
Contact:
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Memorial Library
PO Box 8419
Mankato MN 56002-8419 US
507-389-1029

University Archives and Southern Minnesota Historical Center
Memorial Library
Minnesota State University, Mankato
P.O. Box 8419
Mankato, MN 56002-8419
Phone: 507-389-1029
Email: archives@mnsu.edu

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