Chancellors and Presidents vertical file, 1924-2011

Summary

Creator:
State University of New York at Buffalo. University Archives and State University of New York at Buffalo. University Archives
Abstract:
Contains administrative histories and miscellaneous printed material regarding individual chancellors and presidents of the University at Buffalo.
Extent:
.1 Linear Feet file cabinet drawer
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], Box/folder number, 4/H/VF, Chancellors and Presidents vertical file, 1924-2011, University Archives, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.

Background

Scope and content:

This vertical file is not comprehensive; it is comprised of ad hoc material collected over time by University Archives staff. Vertical files are often used by researchers as a "first stop" and serve as an orientation to the topic at hand.

The Chancellors and Presidents vertical file contains administrative histories regarding UB Chancellors and Presidents. Administrative histories are useful as they generally contain citations to other sources, such as minutes, articles, etc., held in University Archives. In this instance, the administrative histories consist of copies of University bylaws relating to Chancellors and Presidents

This small vertical file does not include materials on each chancellor or president. It does include clippings on most chancellors/presidents; and most notably, a 1924 letter from the Buffalo Chief of Police to Chancellor Samuel Capen regarding fraternity initiation ceremonies; Samuel Capen's presentation of the Chancellor's Medal to Louis Locke Babcock in 1948; copies of addresses and speeches by T.R. McConnell, as well as a transcript of a 1979 interview conducted with Brenda K. Shelton; and documentation of President Satish Tripathi's 2011 inauguration activities.

For papers of chancellors and presidents, see Record Group 4 subgroups (arranged by chancellor or president).

Biographical / historical:

Personal papers of University Chancellors/Presidents. Records pertaining to the Office of the Chancellor/President at large are in Record Group 5.

There has always been a governing board known as the Council for the University of Buffalo since its inception in 1846, but the first Chancellors were not appointed from the university community. They were distinguished citizens of Buffalo, lawyers and politicians, whose official functions were just to represent the University before the public. The deans of the individual schools were separately responsible for department educational and financial affairs.

In 1920, Chairman of the Council Walter P. Cooke organized a city-wide financial campaign that enabled the University to be able to hire a Chancellor that would bring the University into a new era. In 1922 Samuel P. Capen, former director of the American Council on Education, was hired by the Council to become the first full time Chancellor at the University of Buffalo. It was during Capen's tenure from 1922-1956 that the University became academically and financially unified.

With the 1962-1963 academic year, the University of Buffalo merged with the State University of New York, and the Chancellor of the University becomes the President. Clifford D. Furnas served as the last Chancellor of the private University of Buffalo and the first President of the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Acquisition information:
Material in the Chancellors and Presidents vertical file was collected by University Archives staff. Periodically, documentation is added to the collection.
Processing information:

Processed by Amy Vilz, May 2019; finding aid encoded by Amy Vilz, May 2019.

Arrangement:

H. Administrative History

G. Clippings

1. Millard Fillmore

2. Orsamus H. Marshall

3. E. Carlton Sprague

4. James O. Putnam

5. Wilson S. Bissell

6. Charles P. Norton

7. Samuel P. Capen

8. T. Raymond McConnell

11. Robert L. Ketter

12. Steven B. Sample

15. Satish K. Tripathi

Accruals:

Further accruals are expected.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Chancellors and Presidents vertical file is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright is held by The State University of New York at Buffalo. Copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], Box/folder number, 4/H/VF, Chancellors and Presidents vertical file, 1924-2011, University Archives, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.

Location of this collection:
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
716-645-2916
lib-archives@buffalo.edu