Guide to the Vassar College Dean of Students Records, 1877-1992

archives and special collections / finding aids / Vassar College Dean of Students Records

Guide to the Vassar College Dean of Students Records,
1877-1992

Table of Contents

Collection Summary

Repository: Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries
Creator: Vassar College. Dean of Students.
Title: Vassar College Dean of Students Records
Dates: 1877-1992
Quantity: 7 cubic feet (7 boxes)
Abstract: Materials relating to student life, campus facilities, admissions, events, as well as other student life and general administrative issues.
Forms of Materials: Correspondence, reports, memoranda, minutes, questionnaires, blueprints and architectural drawings.

Administrative History

The current Office of the Dean of Students "oversees and coordinates the Office of Residential Life, Counseling Service, Health Services, International Services and the array of faculty, administrative, and student personnel who assist in the residence halls... In addition, the dean supervises the student fellow program—recruiting, training, and coordinating the activities of student fellows." Although the name has changed several times, the office was created at the founding of the college. The Lady Principal was the first college official to deal with student life and the rules and regulations of the college. The initial charge of the principal was ensure that students personal, moral and spiritual needs were being tended. She acted as an academic and personal advisor, oversaw student housing, and presided over most social events. The responsibilities of the office have changed in the succeeding decades, but the main focus is still student life.

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Chronology of Office Names

1865-1913 Lady Principal
1913-1963 Warden
1963-1969 Dean of Residence
1969-1980s Vice President for Student Affairs
1980s-1991 Vice President for Administrative and Student Affairs
1991-1995 Dean of Student Life
1995-present Dean of Students

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Scope and Content Note

Correspondence, reports, memoranda, minutes, questionnaires, blueprints and architectural drawings relating to student life, campus facilities, admissions, events, as well as other student life and general administrative issues. The records contain much information about changes in student regulations and the concept of in loco parentis.

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Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 3 series based loosely on the various titles of the office, although there is much overlap.

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Access and Use

Access

Box 7 contains records restricted to the office of origin due to student and personnel privacy issues. The rest of the collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library without any additional restrictions.

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Related Material

  • See also the Lady Principal records in the

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Subject Headings

Organizations:

  • Vassar College--Buildings.
  • Vassar College -- Administration.
  • Vassar College -- Students.

Subjects:

  • College discipline.
  • Women college students -- New York (State) -- Poughkeepsie.
  • Women's colleges--New York (State)--Poughkeepsie.

Document Types:

  • Architectural drawings.
  • Blueprints.

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Encoding Information

Encoded by Laura Finkel, July 2009.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Vassar College Dean of Students Records, Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries.

Processing Information

Processed by Laura Finkel, July 2009.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Dean of Students office and its predecessors in several accessions.

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Series List

Series I. Mixed Records, 1877-1979 (Boxes 1-4)

The Mixed Records series includes materials from the offices of the Lady Principal, the Warden, the Dean of Residence, and the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Series II. Vice President for Student Affairs, 1970-1980 (Box 5)

Materials relating to the duties of the Vice President that related to admissions.

Series III.Vice President for Administrative and Student Affairs, 1966-1992 (Boxes 5-6)

Subject files kept by the VP for Administrative and Student Affairs, although some materials date to earlier incarnations of the office.

Container List

SERIES I. Mixed Records

Box 1 Lady Principal's record books, 1877-1891 (9 volumes)
Box 1 Lady Principal's calendar and expense book, 1891-1915 (1 volume)
Box 1 Minutes of Teacher's Meetings, 1883-1884 (1 volume)
Box 1 Absence record books, ca. 1903-1909 (2 volumes)
Box 1 Warden's Calendar, 1915-1921 (1 volume)
Box 1 Warden's Meeting notes, 1915-1931 (4 folders holding multiple bundles)
Box 1 Registration books, 1924-1948 (3 volumes)
Box 1 Room draw records, ca. 1912-1919 (1 volume and 1 folder)
Box 2 Miscellaneous alphabetical records, ca. 1914-1924 (2 folders)
Box 2 Warden - Plan of Work, ca. 1923-1947 (1 folder)
Box 2 Warden - Speeches, 1938, 1953, n.d. (1 folder)
Box 2 Lathrop Plan (Student Waitresses), ca. 1942 (1 folder)
Box 2 Student-Faculty Joint Committee, 1935-1939 (1 folder)
Box 2 Conferences - A.S.U., Dec 1938 (1 folder)
Box 2 Conferences - World Youth Congress, 1938 (1 folder)
Box 2 World War II (1 folder)
Box 2 Three-Year Plan, (1 folder)
Box 2 Trustee Information Requests, 1959-1962 (1 folder)
Box 2 Miscellaneous - Mail, Locks, etc., 1938-1950 (1 folder)
Box 2 Riding, Sailing and Flying, 1955 (1 folder)
Box 2 Food Service, 1951 (1 folder)
Box 2 Language Corridors, 1945-1948 (1 folder)
Box 2 Kenyon Hall, 1934-1955 (1 folder)
Box 2 Mental Hygiene, 1941-1948 (1 folder)
Box 2 Radio Station, 1948-1949 (1 folder)
Box 2 Parlors, 1943-1944 (1 folder)
Box 2 Outing Club, 1939-1955 (1 folder)
Box 2 Marriage Courses and Married Students, 1934-1944 (1 folder)
Box 2 Student Expenditures, 1925-1949 (1 folder)
Box 2 Annual Reports, 1967, 1973, 1975 (1 folder)
Box 2 Special Committee on Sarah Gibson Blanding's retirement, 1963-1964 (1 folder)
Box 2 Trustee Committee on Women, 1971-1972 (1 folder)
Box 2 Administrative Retreat, 1949-1965 (1 folder)
Box 2 Alumnae - Complaints, 1961 (1 folder)
Box 2 Faculty Committee on Student Affairs, 1968-1969 (1 folder)
Box 2 Coeducation, 1967-1970 (1 folder)
Box 2 Coeducation - Protest letters, 1969-1971 (1 folder)
Box 2 Student governance, ca. 1950-1967 (1 folder)
Box 2 Student participation in governance, 1965-1969 (2 folders)
Box 2 The [black student] sit-in, 1969 (1 folder)
Box 2 Senior privileges, 1966-1967 (1 folder)
Box 2 Underclass and senior regulations, 1968 (1 folder)
Box 2 Social regulations, 1969 (1 folder)
Box 2 Revisions of social regulations, 1969 (1 folder)
Box 2 College regulations, 1969 (1 folder)
Box 2 Financial policies re student organizations, 1940-1959 (1 folder)
Box 2 Student organizations - Annual balances, 1941-1960 (1 folder)
Box 2 House fellow plan, 1947-1951 (1 folder)
Box 2 House fellows, 1957-1959 (1 folder)
Box 2 Cooperative houses, ca. 1933-1940 (1 folder)
Box 2 Cooperative system, 1951-1952 (1 folder)
Box 2 Ferry House, 1950-1967 (1 folder)
Box 2 French House, 1968-1969 (1 folder)
Box 2 Kendrick House, 1967-1969 (1 folder)
Box 2 Drugs, 1972 (1 folder)
Box 2 Alcohol, 1971 (1 folder)
Box 2 Student organizations - policies, 1967-1970 (1 folder)
Box 2 Student elections - Procedures and results, 1967-1968 (1 folder)
Box 2 College Government Association, 1968-1969 (3 folders)
Box 2 Student Government Association, 1970-1972 (2 folders)
Box 2 Founder's Day Reports, 1950-1957 (1 folder)
Box 2 Founder's Day, 1969-1976 (1 folder)
Box 3 Commencement notes, 1935-1958 (2 folders)
Box 3 Daisy chains, academic processions, 1951-1959 (1 folder)
Box 3 Film: "The Mirror," 1960 (1 folder)
Box 3 Miscellaneous reports, etc., on freshmen, etc. (1 folder)
Box 3 Master Planning Committee?, ca. 1965 (1 folder)
Box 3 Master Planning Committee, 1969-1974 (1 folder)
Box 3 Master Planning Committee - Townhouses, 1969-1971 (1 folder)
Box 3 Master Planning Sub-Committee - Student Housing, 1971-1972 (1 folder)
Box 3 Master Planning Committee - Vassar Farm, 1975-1976 (2 folders)
Box 3 Townhouses, 1968-1971 (2 folders)
Box 3 Dormitories, 1967 (1 folder)
Box 3 Dormitory Committee Minutes, 1967-1968 (1 folder)
Box 3 Articles on residences, 1967 (1 folder)
Box 3 Pre-fab dormitories, 1968 (1 folder)
Box 3 Dormitories - questionnaire, 1967 (1 folder)
Box 3 Dormitories - Storage requirements, ca. 1967 (1 folder)
Box 3 Vassar Dormitory Rehab Study, 1972 (1 folder)
Box 3 Released space, 1973 (1 folder)
Box 3 Dormitories, ca. 1973 (1 folder)
Box 3 New dormitory, 1971 (1 folder)
Box 3 Dining - center, 1970-1971 (1 folder)
Box 3 Terrace Apartments, 1972 (1 folder)
Box 3 Terrace Apartments - Committee on Furnishings, 1972 (1 folder)
Box 3 Dormitories - Suggestions, 1968 (1 folder)
Box 3 New Housing, 1972 (1 folder)
Box 3 Variable room rents, 1972 (1 folder)
Box 3 Room alterations, 1973-1974 (1 folder)
Box 3 Emergency room assignments, 1975-1976 (1 folder)
Box 3 Students' building, 1946-1964 (1 folder)
Box 3 Students' building - Child room, 1971-1974 (1 folder)
Box 4 Miscellaneous building plans and files, some from the Master Planning Committee, ca. 1965-1979 (several folders and loose plans)
Box 7 Recommendation letters — RESTRICTED FILES (2 folders)
Box 7 Student status and leaves — RESTRICTED FILES (3 folders)

SERIES II. Vice President for Student Affairs

Box 3 Admissions — Common application, 1976 (1 folder)
Box 3 Admissions — Director of Admissions, 1974-1976 (1 folder)
Box 3 Admissions — HEW Investigation of Discrimination, 1973-1975 (1 folder)
Box 3 Admissions — Minority Recruitment, 1970-1982 (1 folder)
Box 3 Admissions — Publications (2 folders)
Box 5 Admissions — Recruiting film, 1974 (1 folder)
Box 5 Admissions — Statistics, 1968-1980 (2 folders)
Box 5 Admissions — Studies (1 folder)
Box 5 Admissions — Admissions Study Report, 1974 (1 folder)
Box 5 Admissions — Vassar Alumnae Admissions Handbook, 1976 (1 folder)
Box 7 Admissions — RESTRICTED FILES (12 folders)

SERIES III. Vice President for Administrative and Student Affairs

Box 5 Auxiliary Services, 1981-1991 (2 folders)
Box 7 Auxiliary Services — RESTRICTED FILES (1 folder)
Box 5 Budget Requests — Auxiliary Services, 1989-1992 (1 folder)
Box 5 Budget Requests — Food, 1989-1992 (1 folder)
Box 5 Budget Requests — Halls, 1990-1992 (1 folder)
Box 5 Budget Requests — Security, 1989-1992 (1 folder)
Box 5 Campus Activities — Administration, 1973-1983 (1 folder)
Box 5 Campus Activities — Alcoholic Beverage Catering - Revised Liquor Regulations, 1976-1989 (1 folder)
Box 5 Campus Activities — College Center, 1975-1989 (2 folders)
Box 5 Campus Activities — Convocation, Commencement, etc., 1985-1989 (1 folder)
Box 5 Campus Activities — Social Life, 1986-1987 (1 folder)
Box 5 Campus Activities — Transportation, 1973-1974 (1 folder)
Box 5 Campus Activities — Use of Buildings, 1972-1989 (1 folder)
Box 5 Campus Activities — Video Yearbook, 1986-1987 (1 folder)
Box 5 Chess Club, 1980-1981 (1 folder)
Box 5 Coeducation — Inquiries, 1969-1987 (1 folder)
Box 5 Coeducation — Intracollege Correspondence and Notes, 1967-1984 (1 folder)
Box 5 Coeducation — Reports from other Colleges, 1973-1977 (1 folder)
Box 5 Coeducation — Studies and News Articles, 1966-1974 (2 folders)
Box 7 Confidentiality — RESTRICTED FILES (1 folder)
Box 5 Council of International Exchange of Scholars, 1984 (1 folder)
Box 5 Demonstrations, 1969 (1 folder)
Box 5 Drugs and Alcohol, 1988-1991 (1 folder)
Box 5 Facilities Operations, 1989-1991 (1 folder)
Box 5 Facilities Resources Management Report on Vassar's "Facilities Financial Exposure," 1986 (1 folder)
Box 6 FIPSE Application, ca. 1990 (1 folder)
Box 6 Food Service Security — Food Service, 1989-1991 (1 folder)
Box 6 Food Service Security — ARA, 1983-1990 (2 folders)
Box 6 Food Service Security — Before ARA, 1982-1991 (1 folder)
Box 6 Forms, ca. 1986 (1 folder)
Box 6 Freshman Orientation, 1978-1989 (1 folder)
Box 6 Freshman Parents Weekend, 1982-1984 (1 folder)
Box 6 Halls, 1983-1991 (1 folder)
Box 7 Halls — RESTRICTED FILES (1 folder)
Box 6 Housing Procedures and Policies, ca.1986 (1 folder)
Box 6 I.D. Committee, 1989-1990 (1 folder)
Box 6 Health Services, 1988 (1 folder)
Box 6 House Fellows, 1978-1989 (1 folder)
Box 7 Mug — RESTRICTED FILES (2 folders)
Box 6 New York State Department of Education, 1989-1990 (1 folder)
Box 6 Noyes West End Coffee House, 1982-1986 (1 folder)
Box 7 Parents — RESTRICTED FILES (1 folder)
Box 6 Radio Station, 1980-1989 (1 folder)
Box 6 Rumors and Clarifications, 1990-1991 (1 folder)
Box 7 Schwartz Fund — RESTRICTED FILES (1 folder)
Box 6 Security — General, ca. 1979-1986 (1 folder)
Box 6 Security — Advisory Committee, 1980-1991 (1 folder)
Box 6 Security — Campus Patrol, 1989-1991 (1 folder)
Box 6 Security — Consultants, ca. 1987-1990 (1 folder)
Box 6 Security — Courses, ca.1977-1983 (1 folder)
Box 6 Security — Reporting, ca. 1988-1991 (1 folder)
Box 6 Security — Staff Manual, 1989 (1 folder)
Box 7 Security — RESTRICTED FILES (2 folders)
Box 6 Sophomore Parents Weekend, 1980-1988 (1 folder)
Box 6 Student Committees and Organizations, 1977-1989 (1 folder)
Box 6 Student Deposits, 1973-1974 (1 folder)
Box 6 Student Fellows, 1981-1985 (1 folder)
Box 6 Student Handbook, 1982-1988 (1 folder)
Box 6 Student Housing, 1983-1989 (1 folder)
Box 6 Student Profile, 1975 (1 folder)
Box 6 Students — Social Life, 1986 (1 folder)
Box 6 Town Houses, 1971-1983 (1 folder)
Box 6 Town Students, 1978-1983 (1 folder)
Box 6 Vassar Student Association — General, 1979-1988 (1 folder)
Box 6 Vassar Student Association — Budget, 1977-1984 (1 folder)
Box 6 Vassar Student Association — Constitution and Grant of Authority, 1969-1985 (1 folder)

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