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University historian's office papers

 Collection
Identifier: UA339

Biographical / Historical

The work on A History of the University of Rochester began with the retirement of Professor Arthur J. May in 1964. President W. Allen Wallis offered May, a newly named professor emeritus, a position as University historian with responsibility for writing a book detailing the history of the University. May accepted the task and began his research with the help of two assistants, Florence H. Merritt and Ruth M. Kugler.

May graduated from Wesleyan University and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. His area of expertise was European history. May used a variety of published and unpublished sources to research University history, including University and student publications, manuscripts, minutes of the Board of Trustees, and his first-hand observations from his 35 years of employment. He reached out to alumni through Rochester Review magazine to ask for historical material such as diaries and letters. May also used a variety of Rochester city publications to describe community development alongside University history. His research encompassed over 110 years of University history.

May had produced a draft with an introduction and chapters 1 to 37 at the time of his unexpected death in 1968. He had started research for the remaining chapters about undergraduate life at the River Campus and Eastman School of Music after World War II. Florence Merritt wrote chapters 38 and 39, combining his research and her own. The last intended chapter, 40, was to chronicle the Medical Center from 1945 to 1961, but it was not written. Lawrence (Larry) E. Klein, Class of 1971, edited and abridged the manuscript, producing the version that would be published. Klein had been an interdepartmental major and a member of the Campus Times staff and student government at the University of Rochester. He was a graduate student in history at John Hopkins University when he submitted his final contribution to President Robert L. Sproull—the "Bibliographical Appendix"—in 1974.

In 1971, Karl S. Kabelac, then assistant librarian in the Department of Rare Books, Manuscripts and Archives, created an index to May's unabridged version of the History . This version, which includes footnotes, and Kabelac's index are available online. University Public Relations worked towards final approval and publication of the abridged version, including the photographs to be incorporated, in communication with President Sproull. Klein’s edited and abridged version was published by Princeton University Press in 1977.

In a review of the book in New York History, Wendell Tripp noted its contribution to not only University history but the history of New York State and the United States. He commented on Klein's great skill in organization and composition to reduce the drafted chapters originally totaling 1500 pages without removing May’s style "marked by grace and wit."

Scope and Contents note

The University Historian’s Office papers,1964-1969, contain research for and typescripts of the book A History of the University of Rochester. Most material was created or used by University Historian Arthur J. May and his assistants, Ruth Kugler and Florence Merritt.



The collection consists of five series. The Chronological Files series contains material about periods of time in the University's history, dating back to 1846 and ending in 1966. The Typescripts series contains three versions of the History (an unabridged draft of the chapters, an unabridged indexing copy with annotations, and a draft showing revisions by editor Lawrence Klein). The Subject Folders series contains notes, correspondence, and other material that is focused on topics rather than a chronology. Medical School Material consists of annual reports and supplementary documents about the School of Medicine and Dentistry departments. The Card Files series is made up of three sets of index cards describing faculty of the College of Arts and Science, published works by alumni, and other sources for the History.

Creator

Dates

  • Usage: 1964-1969

Language of Materials

English

Extent

10.36 cubic feet (32 containers)

Restrictions on Access

For access to this collection, please contact the University of Rochester Archives (archives@library.rochester.edu) at least two business days prior to your planned visit.

Please note: Some materials may be restricted or require permission for use.

Restrictions on Use

To request reproductions or permission to publish materials from the collection, please contact the University of Rochester Archives (archives@library.rochester.edu). Researchers may be responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Received from Florence Merritt, research assistant for the completion of University history, when the office was disbanded, May 20, 1969. Yellow carbon copy (39 manila folders) was received from Marguerite Barrett, administrative assistant to Vice President for Special Academic Programs McCrea Hazlett, July 10, 1969. Card files were transferred by Lawrence Klein May 14, 1980.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], University Historian's Office Papers, UA339, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Arrangement

Series 1: Chronological Files

Series 2: Typescripts: Includes 3 subseries: May's Working Typescript, Indexing Typescript, and Klein's Typescript (all arranged by chapter number).

Series 3: Subject Folders: Arranged alphabetically.

Series 4: Medical School Material: Arranged alphabetically by department name.

Series 5: Card Files: Includes 3 subseries: Chronological and Alphabetical Card Lists of College of Arts and Sciences Faculty (arranged according to when faculty began working at the University and, within a given year, by rank of the instructor), Alumni-Alumnae Publications Card Index (arranged by last name), and Bibliography Cards (subdivided into Archives, Unpublished Source Material, Printed Source Material, Secondary Works, Faculty Publications, and Not Used).

Bibliography

Klein, Lawrence Eliot. "Bibliographical Appendix." A History of the University of Rochester, 1850-1962, by Arthur J. May. Princeton University Press, 1977, pages 345-47.

May, Arthur James. "A Message from May." Rochester Review December 1964-January 1965. Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

May, Arthur James, 1950s, Public Relations Faculty/Staff Files, Series 1, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

May History of the University of Rochester, 1970-1975, Public Relations Subjects Files, Series 7, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

May History of the University of Rochester, 1977 and later, Public Relations Subjects Files, Series 17, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

Tripp, Wendell. "A History of University of Rochester Book Review." New York History 61.1 (January 1980), page 108.

Wallis, W. Allen. Foreword. A History of the University of Rochester, 1850-1962, by Arthur J. May. Princeton University Press, 1977, pages vii-x.


Title
University historian's office papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the University of Rochester Archives Library

Contact:
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd.
Rochester New York 14627-0055 USA