Call Number:

04.010

Repository:

Drexel University Archives

Extent:

39 cubic feet (100 boxes, 1 oversize folder)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

College of Information Science and Technology Records, Drexel University Archives.

Date:

1892-2007 (inclusive) and 1950-2002 (bulk)

Creator:

Drexel University. College of Information Science and Technology and Foster, Jeannette H. (Jeannette Howard), 1895-1981

Form:

Publications

Abstract:

The records of the College of Information Science and Technology (iSchool or IST) contain documentation of various aspects of the college which include accreditation, administrative activities, curriculum development, grants, university, faculty, and student governance, publications, media and public relations, and strategic planning. The materials date from 1892-2004, with the bulk of the records from the 1950s through the 2000s. Materials are largely in paper format comprising annual reports by the dean, materials on the accreditation of the school, personnel files [restricted], grant files, files on the school's programs and curriculum, minutes of faculty meetings from the 1950s through the 1980s and of staff and committee meetings from the 1980s and 1990s, publications, clippings, promotional materials, and planning files for Asynchronous Learning Network (ALN). Also included are detailed records that document the school's Media and Public relations efforts from the 1990s to the early 2000s. The collection also includes a number of non-paper records such as promotional ephemera and memorabilia, VHS videotapes, color and black and white photographs in various sizes, audio cassette tapes, DVDs, CDs, and 3.5" floppy disks. The collection is particularly strong in documenting the school's American Library Association (ALA) accreditation process from the 1970s to 1990s, faculty affairs and governance the 1950s to 1990s, curriculum development from the 1970s to 1990s, and media and public relation efforts from the 1980s to 2000s. Some of the folders contain photocopies of notes from Guy Garrison, retired dean of the college, describing their contents and providing historical background.

The College of Information Science and Technology (previously the Library and Reading Room, 1892-1914; School of Library Science, 1922-1954, Graduate School of Library Science, 1954-1978; School of Library and Information Science, 1978-1984; College of Information Studies, 1984-1995) has its origins in 1892 when the Drexel Institute opened its doors. The College was founded as the library department when the Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry opened in 1891. The library school was the third school for training librarians in the country.

In 1914, Drexel President Hollis Godfrey closed the school. Less than a decade later, the library school reopened in 1922 as the School of Library Science. In 1926, the school became one of the first five schools to be accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). The first master's degree in library science was offered in 1949, a master's in information science in 1963, the PhD in 1970, and a master's in information systems in 1995.

By the 1950s, the library school was pressed for space in its original home on the second floor of the Main Building. A new building, later named the Korman Center, was built to house the library and library school, as well as Drexel's Reading in Industry Program and an audiovisual center. By 1960, however, space had again become an issue. In 1961, Drexel acquired the Rush Building which would eventually become the new home of the the Graduate School of Library Science (iSchool) a year later in 1962. The move accompanied a split in the administration of the library and the library school, prompted by dean and library director John Harvey's concern that only four other ALA-accredited library schools still used this administrative structure. In 1978, the University Board of Trustees accepted a plan to completely renovate the Rush Building for the exclusive use of the library and information science programs. The renovation was completed in 1981 with a total cost of $2.4 million and was greatly aided by a grant of $1 million from the Pew Charitable Trusts. Small scale renovations also took place in 2006 and 2008 that included building a stronger technology infrastructure to help increase the flexibility of student collaboration.

In 2013, the College of Information Science and Technology merged with the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Computing and Security Technology to form the College of Computing and Informatics (CCI).

The records of the College of Information Science and Technology (iSchool or IST) contain documentation of various aspects of the college which include accreditation, administrative activities, curriculum development, grants, university, faculty, and student governance, publications, media and public relations, and strategic planning. The materials date from 1892-2004, with the bulk of the records from the 1950s through the 2000s. Materials are largely in paper format comprising annual reports by the dean, materials on the accreditation of the school, personnel files [restricted], grant files, files on the school's programs and curriculum, minutes of faculty meetings from the 1950s through the 1980s and of staff and committee meetings from the 1980s and 1990s, publications, clippings, promotional materials, and planning files for Asynchronous Learning Network (ALN). Also included are detailed records that document the school's Media and Public relations efforts from the 1990s to the early 2000s.

The collection also includes a number of non-paper records such as promotional ephemera and memorabilia, VHS videotapes, color and black and white photographs in various sizes, audio cassette tapes, DVDs, CDs, and 3.5" floppy disks.

The collection is particularly strong in documenting the school's American Library Association (ALA) accreditation process from the 1970s to 1990s, faculty affairs and governance the 1950s to 1990s, curriculum development from the 1970s to 1990s, and media and public relation efforts from the 1980s to 2000s. Some of the folders contain photocopies of notes from Guy Garrison, retired dean of the college, describing their contents and providing historical background.

The Annual Reports series contain a fairly complete run of Annual Reports from 1933-1970. Included are supplemental documents, Report of the Dean, and additional reports from faculty members. The Minutes series include a fairly complete run of Faculty meetings from 1952-2000, Cabinet meetings from 1985-1990, and Committee meetings from 1968-1978.

The IST Advisory Council series includes records related to the activities of the IST Advisory Council from 1988-1995.

Records in the Correspondence series are from 1994-1997. A majority of the correspondence were sent or received by Richard Lytle (1938-2012) during his tenure as Dean of the College of Information Science and Technology and the Isaac L. Auerbach Professor of Information Systems at Drexel University. Included are memorandums, news release, administrative correspondence, and related materials.

The Policy Manuals series include various manuals and handbooks for students and faculty from 1948-1990. These records are the University's official notification of its policies, rules, regulations, and standards of conduct. The Administrative Files series include records that relate to the typical activities of the school's administration from 1974-1998. Records include correspondence, memoranda, surveys, reports, and related materials.

The Grant Series is further arranged in 5 subseries, arranged by granting institution and general information of grants as the last subseries. The Grants from the Kellogg Foundation subseries include annual and progress reports from 1994-2000. The second subseries includes records that relate to the United States Office of Education Library Training Fellowships from 1966-1978. The third subseries, Grants to individual faculty members (1969-1988) are well documented. Includes the specific faculty member that applied/received the grant project. The fourth subseries, Grants from the Sloan Foundation, has one file on the Asynchronous Learning Network Overheads from 1995.

The Curriculum series is further arranged in 4 subseries, arranged by program with general information as the last subseries. The series documents the Continuing professional education, Certificate of Advanced Study, and the Doctoral Program. A majority of the files in the series are before the 1980s and were most likely used for curriculum development purposes.

The Rush Building series contain detailed information pertaining to the renovation project from the late 1970s to early 1980s. The series includes large correspondence files, some contract documents and forms. The Conferences Series contain records produced or received from various conferences between 1957-1972.

The Publications Series is further arranged in 6 subseries, arranged by publishing group. The first subseries, Scholarly publications, include records published by faculty or administrators from 1965-1985. The second subseries, Administrative publications, are specifically the iSchool's publications which include the newsletter, magazine, and news. The third subseries, Alumni association publications, contain a complete run of the alumni newsletter from 1925-1966. The fourth subseries, Doctoral student newsletters, two newsletters from 1986-1987. The fifth subseries, Student library association publications, include a complete run of the DSLA Bulletin from 1970-1978 and the DSLA/ASIS Disseminator newspaper from 1978-1985. The sixth subseries, Faculty news publications include a complete run of the Faculty news from 1977-1997.

The News Clippings series contain various clippings of topics relating to the iSchool from 1970-1991. The Publicity Materials series contain materials that were used to advertise, promote, and market the College of Information Science and Technology and its programs primarily from the 1950s to the 1990s. These materials are different from the records found in the Media and Public Relations series as these materials are considered the "final product" that was disseminated to the public and prospective students. Materials include brochures, advertisements, flyers, handouts, radio transcripts, clippings, new releases, and related materials. These materials may overlap with materials found in Series Media and Public Relations subsubseries Publications (hardcopies).

The Photographs and drawings series is described at the item level, please refer to the inventory for more detailed information.

The Programs and memorabilia series include programs to various iSchool events. The memorabilia are mostly promotional products that were most likely disseminated to the public and prospective students as part of the iSchool's marketing strategies.

The Video series is described at the item level, please refer to the inventory for more detailed information.

The Planning series, include records that document various plans, initiatives, and goals for the iSchool between 1963-2001. A majority of the files pertain to the Asynchronous Learning Network from the mid-1990s to 2000. The series does not include comprehensive records on strategic planning.

The Media and Public Relations series is comprised of 8 subseries, arranged alphabetically—Administrative files, Advertisements, Corporate Membership Programs, Directory listings, Marketing materials, Promotional Events, Surveys/Questionnaires, and Web communications. As previously stated, these records differ with the records found in the Publicity Materials series. These records specifically contain documentation of the internal procedures involved with the production of marketing materials for the iSchool from the 1990s to the early 2000s. The term "Marketing materials" refers to advertising, marketing and promotional materials. This encompasses all written, printed, electronic, or graphic representations utilizing the University's name, logos, trademarks, service marks, or URLs referring to any program, project, service, or operation of the University.

These records are particularly useful as it provides a unique perspective into the iSchool's media and marketing campaigns. Production of well thought-out Media and Public Relation records were vital to ensure information about the iSchool and its programs were reaching more prospective students, with the intent of increasing inquires and ultimately, enrollment to the iSchool. Records provide evidence of the school's procedures, decisions, and dissemination protocols regarding what, when, and how information about the iSchool was to be used. The Administrative files subseries consists of records that relate to the typical inter-office and department communications and activities. A majority of the records are correspondence and mail subscriptions either sent or received by the iSchool and administrators. Other materials include reports, presentations, and related materials. The Advertisement subseries include files that relate to the school's contract to promote the iSchool with various businesses, publishers, online vendors, and radio companies. Records typically include correspondence, agreements, and copies of the marketing material.

The Corporate Membership Programs subseries include files that provide insight on Drexel's initiative to garner partnerships with local and regional businesses to attract new students during the late 1990s and early 2000s when the IT job market was just getting competitive.

The Directory Listings subseries consist of files that provide updated information (usually annual updates) regarding the iSchool's programs, contact information, and related information to various Information Science associations and publications.

The Program Descriptions and Evaluations subseries consist of narrative information pertaining to specific programs offered at the iSchool. These files usually contain editorial remarks, handouts, copies, and revised editions.

The Marketing Materials subseries is further arranged in 4 subsubseries—Print Publication proofs and revisions, Print Publications (hardcopies), Program Descriptions and Evaluations, and Promotional Products—arranged alphabetically.

The three subseries—Print Publication proofs and revisions, Program Descriptions and Evaluations, and Promotional Products—consist of records that specifically relate to the design (layout, color, logos, etc.), revisions (grammar, phrasing, specific details, etc.), proofs, ordering, and payment of marketing materials for the iSchool. Materials include both printed pieces and promotional ephemera that help ensure that marketing of Drexel programs and services produces outstanding results and advances the University's national brand: catalogs, newsletters, product sheets and brochures, letterhead, business cards, presentation folders, specification sheets, case histories or application sheets, special event brochures, annual reports, manuals, technical bulletins, posters, product insert sheets, labeling, recruitment materials and so on. The Publications (hardcopies) subsubseries is simply the "final product" or final print version that was disseminated to the public and prospective students. These materials may overlap with the publicity files found in the Publicity materials series.

The Promotional Events subseries is further arranged in three subsubseries—College Campus Events, Special Events, Sponsored Exhibits—arranged alphabetically. Records in all three subsubseries consist of records that provide logistical information and some financial information required for organizing the specific event during the 1990s and early 2000s. Materials typically include correspondence, notes, agendas, attendance figures, receipts, registration information, and promotional materials.

The Surveys/Questionnaires subseries consists of records that relate to student questionnaires and iSchool administration surveys. Graduate student questionnaires is fairly complete with response sheets from students and statistical reports from 1991-2004 as well as undergraduate student questionnaires from 1993-2004. Surveys relate to the information field, information science associations, or university relations.

The Web Communications subseries consists of records that provide a unique perspective on the editorial processes of the iSchool's website which include program descriptions, school history, homepage information, iSchool events, and related information. A majority of the records in the subseries are simply printouts of the website so edits and revisions can be made and signed/authorized before being hosted online (6 boxes).

The Student Recruitment and Enrollment series consist of records related to the iSchool's initiatives to increase student recruitment as well as enrollment files. Materials include reports, analysis, statistics, research files and notes, and related materials. Of interest are the files on student application process and inquiries which provide contextual information pertaining to enrollment and feedback from prospective students on their decision to accept or decline enrollment to the iSchool. Files on the telemarketing initiative are also related to the student application process. Information found in these records were most likely used to strategically develop more focused and targeted marketing materials.