Guide to the Records of New York University Self-Study
1953-1956

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

Phone: (212) 998-2641
Fax: (212) 995-4225
E-mail: university.archives@library.nyu.edu

© 2006 New York University Archives. All rights reserved.
New York University Libraries, Publisher
Processed by: Jenny Bordo
Machine-readable finding aid derived from a Printed finding aid. dated: 1980. Machine-readable finding aid created by Brian Stevens. Description is in English.


Descriptive Summary

Creator: New York University
Title: New York University Self-Study, 1953-1956.
Dates: 1953-1956
Abstract: The Records of the New York University Self-Study contain memoranda, correspondence, departmental evaluations and reports for the New York University Self-Study Final Report, published in 1956. The Self-Study was the first serious attempt at comprehensive self-evaluation, and the results enabled the University to plan ahead for years to come. The material in this collection comprises the background to the Self-Study, and includes material only listed in the appendixes of the Final Report.
Quantity: 7.5 linear feet (18 boxes)
Call Phrase: RG 15.5
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Historical/Biographical Note

The New York University Self-Study was proposed in 1952 by Dr. Henry T. Heald, then Chancellor of NYU, in a conversation with Mr. Charles Dollard, President of the Carnegie Corporation. A letter from Dr. Heald requesting a $250,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation to fund the study explains the impetus behind such an undertaking. He writes:

"New York University is the largest privately supported institution of higher education in the country. The way in which it solves its problems will have meaning for higher education throughout the country and perhaps in other parts of the world. How best to meet the higher educational needs of Americans of the second half of the twentieth century in the large cities where most of the people now live and in large universities, to which most of our college students now go, is of fundamental significance to the future of America."

The study was administered by the Office of Institutional Research and Educational Planning (OIREP), established June 14, 1953, and the Directing Committee of the Self-Study. Faculty and administrators were asked to evaluate their departments. The study also incorporated evaluation of University-community relations and solicited evaluations by alumni. On September 27, 1955, the Self-Study Committee issued an Interim Report, which outlined many of the subjects covered by the Final Report. The Self-Study is significant in that it was the first time a large university, like NYU, undertook such a comprehensive self-evaluation.

This collection contains the background material for the self-study, including individual departmental reports, a series of working files, documents relating to the organization of OIREP, as well as conference reports and proceedings.

Sources:

New York University Self-Study Final Report, New York: New York University Press, 1956.

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Scope and Content Note

This collection contains seven and a half linear feet of background material and working papers that together resulted in The New York University Self-Study Final Report, published in 1956.

Folders 1-57 contain mostly background material used by the OIREP, including a set of progress reports and the Interim Report. The Final Report was actually composed from files 58-194. These folders include 100 departmental reports given by faculty and chairmen of departments, which are only listed in Appendix A of The Final Report. The collection also includes reports of the nine conferences so crucial to the Self-Study.

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Arrangement

Folders are arranged alphabetically within each subseries.
The files are grouped into ten subseries:
I, Alphabetical Series Working Files
II, The Schools and Colleges of NYU
III, OIREP Internal Organization
IV, OIREP Outgoing Reports
V, Alphabetical Series of Topics for Self-Study
VI, Reference Material for Part I of The Final Report
VII, Departmental Reports
VIII, Self-Study Conferences
IX, Advisory Groups/ Committees Reports
X, Community Activities
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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Open for research without restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 998-2641
Fax: (212) 995-4225
E-mail: university.archives@library.nyu.edu

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Access Points

Subject Names:
De Capriles, Miguel Angel.
Heald, Henry Townly, b. 1904
Knauth, Ernest Frederic, 1902-
Stoddard, George Dinsmore, 1897-
Subject Organizations:
New York University
New York University. Office of Institutional Research and Educational Planning
Subject Topics:
Universities and colleges Curricula
Universities and colleges Finance
Universities and colleges United States Administration
Subject Places:
New York (State)--New York
Document Types:
Correspondence.
Evaluation.
Memoranda.
Proceedings.
Publications.
Qualitative Analysis.
Records surveys.
Reports.
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Administrative Information

Provenance

This collection was brought together from the files of M. de Capriles, Director of the Office of Institutional Research and Educational Planning (OIREP), established at NYU in June 1953, and member of the Directing Committee of the Self-Study, and G.D. Stoddard, Chairman of the Directing Committee of the Self-Study. E.F. Knauth, staff assistant to de Capriles, organized the material and deposited it in the University Archives in 1975.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); The Records of New York University Self-Study; RG 15.5; box number; folder number;
New York University Archives

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Container List

[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]

 

Series I: Alphabetical Working Files

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Buffalo, University of 1953
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 042259039

 
1 2 Charitable Foundation Conference 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 3 Child Education Foundation 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 4 Clippings file 1953-1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 5 College Entrance Examination Board 1955-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 6 Commerce, School of 1955-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 7 Consultants, active 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 8 Consultant, Robert D. Calkins 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 9 Consultant, Donald H. Davenport 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 10 Creative Arts, general 1954
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 11 Creative Arts, Columbia University 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 12 Creative Arts, Ford Foundation 1954
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 13 Creative Arts, Rockefeller Committee 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
1 14 Directing Committee, miscellaneous 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225903 9

 
Box Folder Title Date
2 15 Directing Committee, Dr. Carter Davidson 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 16 Directing Committee, M. de Capriles 1954
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 17 Directing Committee, Dr. George Stoddard 1954
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 18 Directing Committee, Dr. Julius A. Stratton 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 19 Education, School of 1955-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 20 Engineering, College of undated
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 21 Evans, Ifor, Provost of University of London 1955-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 22 Fact Sheets on NYU 1952
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 23 Final Report, Publication of 1957
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 24 Final Report, Correspondence 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 25 Final Report, Synopsis 1955-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 26 Final Report, Speeches 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 27 Heald, Henry T. 1954-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
2 28 Interim Report 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225904 7

 
Box Folder Title Date
3 29 Kastner, Elwood C. 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 30 Lavenburg Corner House 1952-1945
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 31 Memoranda 1954-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 32 Middle States Association Survey of NYU 1949 1954
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 33 Office of Research Service Bulletins 1953
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 34 Pennsylvania, University of 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 35 Public Administration and Social Service, Graduate School of 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 36 Summer School 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 

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Series II: The Schools and Colleges of NYU

Box Folder Title Date
3 37 Graduate Schools, University Commission on Graduate Work 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 38 Graduate Schools, University Commission on Graduate Work 1954
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 39 Professional, College of Engineering 1954
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 40 Professional, College of Engineering 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 41 Professional, School of Retailing 1955-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 42 Liberal Arts Colleges, University College of Arts and Sciences 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
3 43 Liberal Arts Colleges, Washington Square College of Arts and Sciences 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225905 4

 
Box Folder Title Date
4 44 Liberal Arts Colleges, Washington Square College of Arts and Sciences 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
4 45 Liberal Arts Colleges, Washington Square College of Arts and Sciences 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 

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Series III: OIREP Internal Organization

Box Folder Title Date
4 46 Tentative Outlines 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 

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Series IV: OIREP Outgoing Reports

Box Folder Title Date
4 47 Carnegie Corporation 1952-1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
4 48 Periodic Reports 1953-1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 

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Series V: Alphabetical Series of Topics for Self-Study

Box Folder Title Date
4 49 Christ, Janer, Albert 1954-1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
4 50 Enrollment 1954-1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
4 51 Gould House 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
4 52 National Arts Center Association 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
4 53 Packard Business School 1954
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
4 54 Projects undated
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
4 55 Provost 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
4 56 Residence Bureau 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
4 57 Self-Survey NYU 1934
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 

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Series VI: Reference Material for Part I of The Final Report

Box Folder Title Date
4 58 Liberal Arts and Science 1955-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225906 2

 
Box Folder Title Date
5 59 Division of General Education 1955-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 60 Creative Arts and Communications 1955-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 61 Library 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 62 Library 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 63 Press 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 64 Student Activities, Extra-curricular 1955
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 65 Academic Council 1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 

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Series VII: Departmental Reports

Box Folder Title Date
5 66 Washington Square College: Biology 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 67 Washington Square College: Chemistry 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 68 Washington Square College: Classics 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 69 Washington Square College: Economics 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 70 Washington Square College: English 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 71 Washington Square College: Fine Arts 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 72 Washington Square College: French, Italian, Russian 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 73 Washington Square College: Geology 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 74 Washington Square College: German 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 75 Washington Square College: Government 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 76 Washington Square College: History 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 77 Washington Square College: Mathematics 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 78 Washington Square College: Music 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 79 Washington Square College: Physics 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 80 Washington Square College: Psychology 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
5 81 Washington Square College: Sociology and Anthropology 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225907 0

 
Box Folder Title Date
6 82 Washington Square College: Spanish and Portuguese 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 83 Washington Square College: Speech 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 84 Graduate School of Arts and Science: Languages and Literature 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 85 Graduate School of Arts and Science: Philosophy 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 86 Graduate School of Arts and Science: Psychology 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 87 Graduate School of Arts and Science: Economics 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 88 Graduate School of Arts and Science: Government 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 89 Graduate School of Arts and Science: History 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 90 Graduate School of Arts and Science: Institute of Public Affairs and Regional Studies 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 91 Graduate School of Arts and Science: Sociology 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 92 Graduate School of Public Administration and Social Service 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 93 Fine Arts 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 94 Music 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 95 American Civilization Group 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 96 Physics and Chemistry 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 97 Biological Sciences 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 98 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: Accounting 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 99 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: Banking and Finance 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 100 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: Business English 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
6 101 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: Economics 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225908 8

 
Box Folder Title Date
7 102 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: General Course Group 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 103 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: Law of Commerce and Finance 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 104 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: Management and Industrial Relations 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 105 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: Marketing 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 106 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: Public Utilities and Transportation 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 107 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: Real Estate 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 108 School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance: Secretarial Studies 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 109 School of Education: Administration and Supervision 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 110 School of Education: Adult Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 111 School of Education: Business Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 112 School of Education: Center for Community and Field Services 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 113 School of Education: Center for Community and Field Services 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 114 School of Education: Center for Human Relations Studies 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 115 School of Education: Communications in Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
7 116 School of Education: Early Childhood and Elementary Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225909 6

 
Box Folder Title Date
8 117 School of Education: Educational Psychology 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 118 School of Education: Educational Sociology and Anthropology 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 119 School of Education: English Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 120 School of Education: Foreign Languages and Literature 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 121 School of Education: Guidance and Personnel Administration 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 122 School of Education: Hebrew Culture and Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 123 School of Education: Higher Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 124 School of Education: History of Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 125 School of Education: Home Economics 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 126 School of Education: Mathematics Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 127 School of Education: Music Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 128 School of Education: Nurse Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 129 School of Education: Philosophy of Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 130 School of Education: Physical Education, Health, and Recreation 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 131 School of Education: Religious Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 132 School of Education: Safety Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 133 School of Education: Science Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4

 
8 134 School of Education: Secondary Education 1953-1956
   

Barcode #: 3 1142 04225910 4