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Records of the Office of the President (Dr. James McNaughton Hester)

Call Number

RG.3.0.7

Date

1951-1977, inclusive

Creator

Hester, James M., 1924-2014

Extent

59.10 Linear Feet in 103 manuscript boxes, 4 record cartons, and one folder in a shared manuscript box.

Language of Materials

Materials are in English

Abstract

The papers of James M. Hester contain administrative memoranda, correspondence, reports, publications, press releases, and newspaper clippings produced while he was president of NYU from 1962 to 1975. During Hester's 13-year tenure, NYU experienced revolutionary developments that changed forever the goals, statements, actions, and appearance of the University. Subjects covered in this collection include the sale of the Bronx campus, student protests, and severe financial crises within the University.

Abstract

This collection consists of the administrative files of James McNaughton Hester, president of New York University from 1962-1975.

Historical Note

The Office of the President is the top administrative office and is responsible for the efficient management of the entire University. The President must carefully attend to the following major considerations: effective administration, including the development, implementation, and monitoring of university activities; the cultivation of outreach programs; and the promotion of university activities to prospective donors and the general public.

On December 16, 1955, the New York State Board of Regents amended the University Charter, forcing a number of terminology changes. The title of the chief executive of the University changed from Chancellor to President on July 1, 1956. The Board of Trustees adopted a measure providing for a Chancellor and Executive Vice-President who would serve as a general advisor to the President and perform duties in the President's absence. The Director for the University Budget and Assistant Director of the Budget for research service would assist the Executive Vice-President.

Dr. Hester came from Long Island University to NYU in 1960. For the next two years he served as the dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Science and Executive Dean of Arts and Sciences. In 1962 he became president. Hester's term encompassed a number of important events in the history of the University. Chief among these were the student activities of the 1960s and the growth and transformation of the University into a prestigious urban educational institution.

NYU experienced severe financial difficulties during the 1960s caused in part by diminishing enrollment and subsequent loss of tuition money. Several strategies were proposed to solve the problem, including a plan to sell the Heights Campus in the Bronx. The closing of the Heights campus in 1973 caused some controversy. Opinions and comments of the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the community at large are well-represented in correspondence found in Hester's papers.

Quelling student dissatisfaction during this time presented an enormous task. Numerous student groups demanded changes within the University. They conducted civil rights and anti-war protests as well as protests calling for administrative changes. In 1966 students responded to proposed tuition, fees, and dormitory rate increases with staged marches, boycotts, and sit-ins. As a result, the University allowed the inclusion of student representatives on committees and boards that dealt with fees, curriculum, and discipline. The administration's response to the concerns of the students is well-documented in the collection and serves as a source of information for student affairs of the period.

Through consolidation of its operations, changing its admission policies, and increasing its involvement in urban affairs, NYU transformed its institutional character. Following the sale of the Heights campus, NYU focused on developing its presence around Washington Square. The construction of Bobst Library allowed NYU to consolidate library and research collections formerly scattered over 36 locations. A more selective admission policy encouraged more full time students to attend and spurred the university to purchase residential facilities. Much information within the collection reflects this transformation, which began in the 1950s and continued through Hester's administration.

Dr. Hester resigned from the presidency in 1975 to become president of the United Nations University. During Hester's 13-year tenure, NYU experienced revolutionary developments that changed forever the goals, statements, actions, and perception of New York University.

Arrangement

Series I, II, III, VI, XI, and XII are arranged alphabetically. Series IV and V are arranged according to a numbering system used by Hester's office. Series VII, VIII, IX, and X are arranged by subject. Series XIII is, with some exceptions, mainly chronologically arranged. See individual series descriptions for more details.

The collection is organized into 13 series:

  1. Alphabetical
  2. Administration
  3. Associations
  4. Development
  5. Governance
  6. Government Relations
  7. Finance
  8. Facilities and Services
  9. Personnel
  10. Public Relations
  11. Schools and Divisions
  12. Student Affairs
  13. Interviews, Speeches, and Testimony, 1962-1975

Scope and Content Note

The collection of papers created under Dr. James M. Hester as President of New York University encompasses a difficult and transitional period in the University's history. Composed of memoranda, correspondence, reports, publications, press releases, and newspaper clippings, these papers represent the official response of the University in many matters.

As top administrative officer of the University, Dr. Hester required information from all aspects of the University's structure to make informed decisions. Correspondence, reports, and publications concerning the various schools, divisions, departments, students groups, alumni concerns, and faculty organizations comprise a number of files in this collection.

Hester's office used two filing systems to organize its records. Records dating from 1962 to 1969 were arranged alphabetically by folder title. After 1969 the files were grouped into 12 categories: Administration, Associations, Alumni Affairs, Development, Governance, Government Relations, Finance, Facilities and Services, Personnel, Public Relations, Schools and Divisions, and Student Affairs. Because the records created before 1969 represented the same informational categories, the archives decided to incorporate the earlier files into the groupings established after 1969. Each category forms a series with the addition of another series of alphabetical files. Due to the fact that Alumni Affairs constituted only two folders, it was integrated into the Administration series. See series descriptions for more detailed explanations of the kinds of information present.

Access Restrictions

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, special.collections@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form: Identification of item, date (if known); Records of the Office of the President (Dr. James McNaughton Hester); RG 3.0.7; box number; folder number; New York University Archives, New York University Libraries.

Provenance

This collection of papers from the Office of the President during the administration of Dr. James McNaughton Hester came to the University Archives through four accessions made in 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981, after initial inventories were completed by E. Frederick Knauth.

Composed of 43.5 linear feet of material contained in 87 Hollinger boxes, this collection of material spans the dates 1951-1975. The collection is in good condition. Numerous thermofaxed copies and newspaper clippings were photocopied onto acid-free paper and originals discarded.

A number of booklets, pamphlets, and large bulky reports were removed for storage separately. Some material is restricted. Numerous autographed letters were photocopied and the originals placed in the restricted access file. Also removed from this collection were a number of files concerning Board of Trustees members that were added to the Secretary's collection. Evaluations of various Deans have also been removed and stored separately for confidentiality. These two transfers took place as part of the inventories completed by Mr. Knauth.

An accretion was added in 2022.

Collection processed by

Finding aid prepared by Rob Dishon, Jeane Mixon, and Darren W. Johnson.

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 17:52:37 -0400.
Language: Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Edition of this Guide

This version was derived from hester01ES.xml

Repository

New York University Archives
New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012