Records of the Alumni Federation of New York University, Inc.
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Abstract
The Alumni Federation of New York University was incorporated in 1921 and oversaw the involvement of alumni within the University, hosted events and activities, and administered the Alumni Fund. Awards and honors like the Great Teachers Award were given out by the Alumni Federation to individuals for their achievements and contributions to the University. The Alumni Federation also published newsletters and magazines like the "Alumnus." Materials in this collection include meeting minutes, correspondence, budgets, and memorabilia related to special events and alumni relations.
Historical Note
The Alumni Federation of New York University was incorporated in 1921. Officially, the Alumni Federation united what had previously been separate alumni groups from the different schools and colleges of the University. Prior to the formation of the Alumni Federation, the General Alumni Association existed but with little or no mandate to coordinate the administration of alumni activities. The Alumni Federation Board of Governors was organized with 21 members from the different alumni groups, with the largest schools contributing the most representatives. By 1940, amendments to the Alumni Federation constitution replaced the Board of Governors with a Board of Directors and increased its membership. Representatives to the Board were chosen based on a "Class" system, where larger associations, in Class A, contributed more representatives and had more power on the Board than Classes B and C.
The Alumni Federation oversaw the involvement of alumni within the University, hosted events and activities, and administered the Alumni Fund. Awards and honors like the Great Teachers Award were given out by the Alumni Federation to individuals for their achievements and contributions to the University. The Alumni Federation also published newsletters and magazines like the Alumnus.
In the 1980s, the relationship of the Alumni Federation and the University became strained. The University desired to have more control over the Federation's fundraising efforts, especially in engaging with younger alumni and connecting with alumni outside of the New York metropolitan area. The University requested, after a special review, that the Alumni Federation staff director report to the President of the University in addition to the Federation's Board of Directors. This request was made to justify the $2.7 million in annual assistance the University gave the Federation. In January of 1985, the Alumni Federation decided to become an operationally independent organization and by that autumn, it was no longer recognized and its activities no longer endorsed by the University.
By 1995, the Alumni Federation had been significantly restructured and was mainly administered by alumni from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The last Board of Directors minutes in the collection date from June 22, 1995.
Arrangement
Contents are arranged topically by series. Series I, II, and III are arranged topically within series and chronologically within topical groupings. Series IV is arranged alphabetically.
Series are as follows:
I. Administrative Materials
II. Alumni Federation Activities
III. Affiliated Alumni Groups and Activities
IV. Correspondence
Scope and Contents
Records include meeting minutes, correspondence, budgets, 60th anniversary commemorative plates and memorabilia related to special events and alumni relations. The bulk of the materials comes from the office of the Alumni Federation Secretary Benjamin A. Ross. The materials date from 1919 to 1995, but the bulk of the collection dates from 1919 to 1940.
Subjects
Organizations
People
Conditions Governing Access
Administrative records and unpublished reports of New York University are closed for a period of 20 years from the date of their creation. Access to files spanning multiple years will be opened to researchers based on the date of the most recent materials. Board of Trustees records are closed for 35 years from the date of creation. Materials related to personnel, grievances, job and fellowship searches and applications, and all files that fall under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) are permanently restricted. Additional restrictions may apply to other materials in this collection. For questions regarding specific restrictions, please contact the University Archives.
Conditions Governing Use
Any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) held by the creator are maintained by New York University. Permission to publish or reproduce materials in this collection must be secured from New York University Archives, 212-998-2646, university-archives@nyu.edu.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Records of the Alumni Federation of New York University, Inc.; RG 40.7; box number; folder number or item identifier; New York University Archives, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials were transferred to the University Archives in multiple accessions in 1995 and 1996. The accession numbers associated with this collection are 96.005, 96.015, 15.011.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Decisions regarding arrangement, description, and physical interventions for this collection prior to 2018 are unknown.