University historical materials collection
Collection Scope and Content
Materials in this collection include student records, blueprints, audio tapes, cassette tapes, invitations, speeches, diplomas, newspapers, photographs and negatives, plat maps, academic costumes, scrapbooks, artifacts, charters, and awards. They date from 1821-2012. They were transferred to the University Archives through various campus offices and individuals. Note that not all series have been fully processed. Please contact staff for assistance.
Dates
- 1821-2012
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Restrictions on Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Historical Note
This collection was created in January 2005 as a way of bringing together a number of small accessions that had never been assigned to a specific record group in The George Washington University Archives. Some of these accessions represent excellent documentation of the early years of the University, both in written and visual form. These include early land holdings, 19th century newspaper accounts of the early college, Civil War records copied form the National Archives, as well as the first student newpapers. Many are surmised to have come from the office of University Historian Elmer Louis Kayser, who was associated with the University as a student and faculty member from 1914-85.
In 2016 and 2017, with the reprocessing of the Office of the President records, some series of photographs and memorabilia were moved into RG0031, and some series and boxes of records from the office of the president were moved into RG0002, resulting in the current series numbering.
Also in 2017, a significant number of artifacts of minimal research value were deaccessioned.
Extent
95.5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection include photos, diplomas, invitations, newspapers, early land holdings, 19th century newspaper accounts of the early college, Civil War records, and memorabilia.
Collection Organization
Organized in 28 series, numbered 1-7 (two series are numbered 2 and two are numbered 6), 9-20, 24, 25, 31, 33, 34, 37, and 53. Photographs are located in series 1, 2, 33, and 34. Early college records are located in series 3. Audio and video recordings are located in series 4 and 20. The remaining series contain former veritcal files, memorabilia, artifacts, newspapers, scrapbooks, awards, and other miscellanea.
Acquisition Information
Materials acquired through transfers from campus offices and gifts from donors.
Processing Information
During some clean up work in 2018 the content of box 244 was combined with the content in box 240. Now the collection does not have a box 244.
- Audiotapes Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Bloedorn, W. A. (Walter Andrew)
- Borden, William Cline
- Building construction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Buildings Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Carroll, Thomas Henry
- Colclough, Oswald S.
- Columbian College in the District of Columbia
- Columbian University
- Commencement ceremonies -- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Cronkite, Walter
- Degrees, Academic Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Eban, Abba Solomon
- Elliott, Lloyd H.
- Events Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Faculty Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Foggy Bottom (Washington, D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- George Washington University
- George Washington University--Alumni and alumnae
- George Washington University--History
- George Washington University. Law School
- George Washington University. Medical Center
- Greek letter societies Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Levitan, Sar
- Luther Rice
- Maps Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Marvin, Cloyd Heck
- Marvin, Dorothy Betts
- Morris, Edward Karrick (E.K.)
- Mubarak, Muhammad Husni
- Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Samson, G. W. (George Whitefield)
- Scottish Rite (Masonic order)
- Scrapbooks Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Sports Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Student organizations Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Students Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Trachtenberg, Stephen Joel
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Videotapes Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the University Historical Material records, 1821-2012
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2012
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
