Main content
Leah Smith office files
Notifications
Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Leah Smith was an administrator at Swarthmore College, at various times holding the positions of Assistant to the President and Director of Institutional Research, as well as Acting Associate Provost and Acting Dean of the College. Before her involvement with the Swarthmore College administration, Leah Smith's academic career included time spent at the Marine Policy and Ocean Management Program of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; many of her research publications relate to topics of aquaculture development and management.
This collection is made up of materials amassed by Leah J. Smith in her role as Assistant to the President (also included are some materials carried over from the Assistant to the President prior to Smith). This collection is comprised of documents sent, received, and collected, such as: letters and memorandums; agreements and other legal documents; financial documents such as budgets, notes, and receipts; literary materials such as speeches, excerpts of biographies, essays, and research notes; printed material including newspaper clippings, journal/periodical articles, and flyers; photographs; and assorted charts, diagrams, and graphs. Materials pertain either to Executive Level functioning of Swarthmore College or to College responses to community and campus events. Common topics addressed by materials in this collection include: administrative structure of the College and resource allocation; funding issues including fundraising, grants, and tuition and scholarships; enrollment and financial statistics; College responses to new legislation or national issues in higher education; the scheduling of speakers and other events on campus; the administrative response to controversial issues on campus such as sexual harassment, the draft, hate speech, and faculty benefits; curriculum planning and departmental reviews; and College relations with donors and alumni.
The materials in this collection are organized into two series: Series 1, Executive Level; and Series 2, Swarthmore Community. The collection includes correspondence, memorandums, reports, and other records. Files are arranged alphabetically within each series.
Series 1, Executive includes materials relating to high-level functioning of the College and interactions outside of the immediate College community. Topics include: committees (outside the College); visits to the campus; visits made by the college president; outside reviews of departments; architectural/construction/renovation plans; community projects; outside scholarships; alumni; inaugurations, nationwide comparisons of College programs to other schools'; general correspondence; facilities planning; salaries; lecturers; outside scholarships; maternity leave; sabatical; and more.
Series 2, Swarthmore Community pertains to functions within the College and Swarthmore Borough community. Topics include: annual reports; curriculum proposals; admissions reports; ethics considerations; legislative and judicial reviews; faculty procedures; commencement speakers; staff reports, decisions, retreats, meetings, conferences; borough correspondence; tri-college issues; Title IX; tuition; women's concerns; and more.
The materials in this collection are organized into two series: Series 1, Executive Level; and Series 2, Swarthmore Community. Series 1, Executive Level includes materials relating to high-level functioning of the College and interactions outside of the immediate College community. Series 2, Swarthmore Community pertains to functions within the College and Swarthmore Borough community. Files are arranged alphabetically within each series.
Boxes retrieved from Records Storage Room in Parrish with the permission of the President's Office, 2015.
This collection was processed by Constance Hawley under the supervision of Celia Caust-Ellenbogen in 2016.
In 2015, 15 boxes labeled "Leah Smith Correspondence Archive" were retrieved for review by the Swarthmore College Archives. The 15 boxes were originally labeled with numbers ranging between 1 and 20, so it is clear that some of the original boxes were missing. Approximately 2/3 of the papers available in 2015 were selected for accessioning into the College Archives. The following materials were generally discarded for shredding: documents containing personal information about individual students (such as correspondence about a financial aid decision), staff members (such as salary or benefits information, job applicant/search files), or donors (such as confidential prospect research reports); publications or reports issued by other entities besides Swarthmore College (such as newspaper clippings, publications/reports/data from/about other colleges, investment prospectuses, publications by professional/trade organizations, etc.); draft versions of documents, especially when the final copy is present; bills, receipts, and other documentation of office management; routine communications.
After accessioning, 1 box of Board of Managers-related materials was removed to RG6/C Board of Managers of Swarthmore College records, and 1 box of committee materials was removed to RG6/L3 Swarthmore College faculty and staff committees records.
Prior to processing, the "Leah Smith Correspondence Archive" was organized in a near-alphabetical order and seemed to be divided into two topics--one dealing with College-external matters and one dealing with College-internal matters. This order was retained, with out-of-place folders returned to alphabetical order, and the series renamed.
1 box of Board of Managers-related materials was removed to RG6/C Board of Managers of Swarthmore College records
1 box of committee materials was removed to RG6/L3 Swarthmore College faculty and staff committees records
Materials containing personal information about individuals, non-Swarthmore publications, draft documents, and routine office management and office communications documents were removed from this collection prior to accessioning and shredded.
People
Organization
- Swarthmore College
- Swarthmore College -- Alumni and alumnae
- Swarthmore College -- Finance -- Moral and ethical aspects
- Swarthmore College -- Administration
- Swarthmore College -- Statistics
Subject
- Universities and colleges -- Administration
- School enrollment -- Pennsylvania -- Swarthmore -- Statistics
- Universities and colleges -- United States -- Finance -- Statistics
- Universities and colleges -- Curricula -- United States -- Evaluation
- Educational law and legislation -- United States
- Education -- Research
- College students -- Scholarships, Fellowships, etc
Place
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- FHL staff
- Finding Aid Date
- 2016
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research with the understanding that certain confidential materials may be redacted. Please contact the repository for more information.
-
All or part of this collection is stored off-site. Contact Swarthmore College Archives staff at archives@swarthmore.edu at least two weeks in advance of visit to request boxes.
- Use Restrictions
-
Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Friends Historical Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.
Collection Inventory
Correspondence about candidate search
Admissions Statistics
Negotiating continuation (financial support) of Advocacy Project (training for students)
Travel itineraries, info on Fraser's trip to Paris, Fraser's acceptance of Aga Khan position
Letters from Robert Zimmerman, Al Bloom, and to 3 students addressing the Zimmerman complaint
Alumni correspondence
Alumni correspondence, surveys, Alumni Council meeting notes, Garnet issue
Ballots, Correspondence
Memos, Newsletters from AFSC
Letters, memos concerning the Ashton House
"American Comittments" Leadership Forum
Tentative Agenda
Letters, memos concerning the BCC
Memos, Book costs 1992, correspondence
Statements from Administration to campus community regarding sexual assault incident
Departmental Budgets
Ten-year budget analysis
Proposals, Overview
Proposals, Overview
Schedule for volunteer day
Newsletters, memos from PA Campus Compact: the project for public and community service
Inquiry about research funding, paperwork to obtain visa for parents for graduation
Correspondence, memos regarding retreat
"I Have a Dream" Project
Selection of Parent Community Coordinator
Cooperative Involvement and Volunteers in Communities (CIVIC); Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL)
Correspondence, policies
Publications, memos
Publications, memos
Publications, memos
Publications, memos
Memos, Meeting notes
Establishing a CogSci concentration
Nationwide college reviews, intraoffice correspondence
Mailings, publications, memos
Mailings, publications, memos
Proposal for dry student events; Contains issue of American Council on Education (ACE) also
Financial Information
Executive Committee Correspondence; Pledges of support for arts buildings
Notes, schedule
Notes, publications, drafts
Notes, memos, general info
Discussion of community-based learning program
Correspondence regarding scheduling, policies of community space
Academic and administrative computer systems: inventories, memos, etc
Correspondence regarding transition to new software
Student concerns; Red Cross programs; Health workshops, programs, etc.
Minutes of Centennial Conference, correspondence between Head of Athletics and College President
Booklet from Conference
Swarthmore College Alumni Association correspondence, mailings, publications
General Correspondence
Clippings, Drafts about commencement speech; info on Landmark College Training Institute; notes about Ennis' (Cosby's son) shooting
Memos, contract, budgets regarding Smith House remodeling
Addendum for course proposal
Letter to J. Cunningham in response to inquiry about College sexual assault policies
Correspondence, memos
Survey, ballot responses regarding proposed day care
Consortium brochures meeting memo; Correspondence about Intercultural Center Director position
Arrangement of visit to and review of College programs
Records of Development Committee of Board of Managers
Dukakis visit to College; Newspaper clippings
Ideas Survey
Memos re: energy task force; Conservation Bulletin
Memo re: minimum endowment
Comparative notes on various engineering programs
Review of Engineering and Sciences Departments
Report summaries; publications
Review of President; State of the College (Friend)
Proposal for pilot program; Grants
Memos, budgets of Facilities Planning Committee
Memos, budgets of Facilities Planning Committee
Drafts, Memos
Teaching evaluation policies; memos; professorship searches
Faculty meetings minutes and some class stats
Clippings, Stats on determining salaries
Memos to comm., survey regarding other colleges' benefit plans
Charts of College faculty-student ratio; comparative charts
Food service survey from Marriott Corp.
Memos, drafts for various grants/fellowships
Ford Foundation Grants
Hewlett Foundation Grants; Stats, proposals
Keck Foundation Grants
Stats, clippings regarding Fraser's presidency
Planning of inauguration
Fraser correspondence to Board of Managers; Board of Managers Minutes March 1991
Brochures, schedules, guest lists
Correspondence on continuing, disbanding, reinstating fraternities
Memos; drafts for publications about grants
Nominations, particulars of assorted grants and fellowships
Descriptions/details of various grant proposals
Correspondence about curriculum and hate speech study groups
Clippings, flyers, correspondence
Summary of College insurance and history of insurance
Supreme Court IRS Decision news clippings, notes
Letters sent to, received by, forwarded to Leah Smith
Letters sent to, received by, forwarded to Leah Smith
Letters sent to, received by, forwarded to Leah Smith
Letters sent to, received by, forwarded to Leah Smith
Letters sent to, received by, forwarded to Leah Smith
Letters sent to, received by, forwarded to Leah Smith
Memos about nominations, recipient lists
Discussion of College maternity leave policy
Programs for Mellon events; Correspondence with Mellon Foundation
Memos from Fraser and Bloom to Campus Community or Staff
Transcription of speech by Pres. Friend; Excerpt of C. Smith biography
Interdepartmental correspondence regarding financial aid, scheduling, misc.
Hate speech incident
Schedule of speakers for "Strategies for Peace in a Nuclear Age"; correspondence regarding same conference (hosted by Swat)
Drafts of Administration organization order
Drafts of Administration organization order
Memo re: Federal Budget
Publications, parent lists for Parent Day
Manual on assessing faculty positions, research on benefits
Correspondence on Pew grants, survey
Welcome letter from Friend to PA Collegiate Press Ass. at conference at the College
Proposed contract positions; correspondence about maintenance, development
Presidential Assistants in Higher Education Study; Steering Comm.
Misc. correspondence, memos, mailings, receipts
Correspondence on Pres. office matters; Letter to campus community (Friend)
Clippings/Articles on role of University President
Alumnus Clark Kerr '32 Lecture at Swarthmore
Paul A. Lacey Lecture at Swarthmore
Charles Radford Lawrence Lecture at Swarthmore
Letter regarding continuation of lecture series
Invitations for speakers for lecture series
Memos, statistics, reports, excerpts from COFHE studies
Memos, statistics, reports, excerpts from COFHE studies
Memos, statistics, reports, excerpts from COFHE studies
Misc. Reports
Misc. Reports
Misc. Reports
Misc. Reports
Stats on class of 1939 and class of 1989; notes for reunion
Proposed assignment of President's responsibilities
Draft report
Margaret Helfand Architects and Ehrenkrantz and Eckstut Architects Reports/Proposals
Letters to Fraser, letters to finalists, Truman Scholarship Bulletin
Review of Swarthmore College Programs/Departments
Treasurer's Report, Budget Committee Minutes, Charts, etc.
Correspondence on bringing scholars to campus
Memos, letters sent by Thomas Blackburn concerning Writing Associate Program
1993 MAC Field Championships; Yale President Address; Zimmerman, R., correspondence
Reports, correspondence of the Academic and Cultural Support Committee
Admissions reports, admission stats
Admissions reports, admission stats
Scholarship winner lists, obituaries
Scholarship winner lists, obituaries
Scholarship winner lists, obituaries
Production reports, contributions to annual report
Occupancy Report
Audio-Visual Comm. Report; Media Services Handbook
Baccalaureate speaker invitations, transcriptions
Memos re: Benefits Comm.; clippings; policies
Memos re: schedule, form letters and bills of billing cycle
Reports, correspondence
Directory, memos
Analysis of proposed route; correspondence about concerns, etc.
Further analyses of route; voiced concerns; environmental impact report
Agendas, minutes, meeting notices
Correspondence regarding bond sales
Student Petition
Development of policy at the College regarding privacy act legislation
Committee minutes, reports
Committee minutes, reports
Calendar drafts, amendments
Manual for volunteers; invitations
Discussion of College joining volunteer program
Correspondence regarding editing of Catalogue
Review of policies listed in Catalogue
Info (from a grant proposal) on College involvement
Policy proposal on classified research
Proposals for renovation to social center
Collection transcripts (Friend), announcements, schedules
Drafts, schedules, planning
Announcement of First Collection
Elise and Kenneth Boulding talk series at Swarthmore: correspondence, writings, schedules
Robert Coles talk at Swarthmore: correspondence, schedules, announcements
Buckminster Fuller talk at Swarthmore: correspondence, clippings
Karen Laub-Novak and Michael Novak talks at Swarthmore: correspondence, pamphlets, announcements, schedules
Memos, schedules, letters to parents/community, publications concerning commencements
Draft on committees; Ballot
Studying academic program in relation to women: mailing, general info
Correspondence, clippings, schedules, announcements regarding Cosby's visit/talk
Minutes, correspondence
Proposal for curricula
Requests for College information
Records of Gifts; letters to alumni; Comm. minutes
Review of policy for reissuing diplomas under different names
Minutes or reports of Faculty Meeting, Advisory Comm. on Resource Use, Comm. on Black Concerns. Comm. on Admissions and Scholarship Policy groups
Divestment from South Africa-based companies
Draft reports, announcements, meeting notes, progress report
Clippings; discussion of student privacy policies in relation to draft registration
Stats, reports, projections concerning faculty count
Lists of Faculty research awards and projects
Final report
Swarthmore aid policies and proposals; related clippings
Letters from various study abroad programs; students abroad; changes in programs
Correspondence, counts of cross-registered students
Correspondence with Association regarding College's joining
Annual report, research policies, funding
Transcript of speech at Baccalaureate 1986
Article, poem, grounds map
Info on selection; announcements for nominations and of recipients
Lists of Swarthmore students/alumnus receiving honors or grants
Correspondence/memos re: review of College Discipline and Judicial System
Memos re: finding Lang Visiting Professors; info on possible candidates
Arranging legal counsel, billing information
Memos regarding recent legislation, municipal relations
President Friend correspondence with alumni
Responses to concerns voiced about divestment from South Africa and women's issues
Friend responds to concerns about tenure placements
Annual library reports, memos re: budgets, clippings
Memos, clippings on changing technology and office planning
Correspondence and articles
Drafts for College mission statements
Request for College's survey participation
"Non-traditional Student" Survey
Report and recommendations for renovation; info on funding campaign
Performing Arts Centers layouts; memos re: construction planning, progress, concerns
Overviews of the College, articles on the College
Correspondence and drafts concerning development planning
Memos and clippings re: appointments and reappointments of admin., faculty, and staff
Clippings
Statements and amendments to College research ethics policy
COFHE research on retirement issues
Middlebury Soviet student exchange program: clippings, memos
Agreement of Scott Paper Co. Foundation Awards, revisions; lists of recipients
Memos, clippings re: Scott Horticultural Foundation; Review of Scott Foundation
Memos re: security concerns, community notifications
Correspondence soliciting senior student reflections; questionnaire
Interview schedule, student list
Correspondence soliciting senior student reflections
Correspondence soliciting senior student reflections; questionnaire
Comparative studies; questionnaire; correspondence w/senior students
College drafts, policies, and memos regarding sexual harassment
Memos and clippings re: sit-in and divestment/hiring policies
Revision of Parrish smoking policy
Search for Social Coordinator for the President
Social Security Tax info
Draft/Selective Service information and clippings
Reports, correspondence on South African investments
Applications for candidates for program, correspondence
Correspondence concerning permit for 200 S. Chester Rd property
Committee on Space Utilization meeting minutes, memos, correspondence, announcements
Various speeches and addresses by Presidents
Draft for meeting
Notes, charts, projector slides
Correspondence, memos re: search for consultants
Reports, notes of senior staff decisions
Policies
Memos from Friend to President's Staff
Memos from Friend to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Fraser to President's Staff
Memos from Bloom to President's Staff
Memos from Bloom to President's Staff
Memos from Bloom to President's Staff
Notes; articles
Agenda
Agenda
Schedule, agenda, notes
Notes, agenda, reservation info
Notes, agenda, reservation info
Invoices, reservation information, proposals and material for conference
Schedule, agenda, notes
Schedule, agenda, notes
Agenda
Schedule, notes
Agenda
Invoices, reservation info
Schedule, notes
Invoices, reservation info
Agenda
Notes, schedule
Agenda
Invoices, reservation info
Agenda
Agenda
Invoices, reservation info
Agenda
Invoices, reservation info
Agenda
Notes; agenda
Reports, comparative studies
Correspondence, schedules, invoices, announcements regarding Lecture
Minutes, member lists, clippings
Committees, committee appointment processes
Clippings, correspondence concerning student issues/cases
Memos, agreements re: summer housing in Woolman
Memo re: summer program schedule
Statements, comments about Swarthmore and goals
Borough Council: correspondence, member list; clippings
Speeches/addresses; schedules of celebration
Correspondence concerning ads for "research papers"
Title IX Self-evaluation Questionnaire materials
Correspondence regarding College policies--addressing a complaint
Tri-college meeting minutes
Clippings and correspondence about Tri-college decision to pass formation of Middle Eastern Studies program
Letters, articles concerning tuition
Study on private colleges/universities
Study on financial factors
Ford Venture Fund memos, notes, questionnaire
Memos, notes, reports
Committee on Women's Concerns correspondence, memos, report
Women's Studies dept. memos, proposals
Memos, report on writing associate program