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Swarthmore College financial records

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

Call Number:
RG6.G
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
15 linear ft.
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Swarthmore College Archives, Swarthmore College financial records, RG6/G, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1864-1999 (inclusive)
Creator:
Swarthmore College
Abstract:
The Swarthmore College financial records include materials from the college's Treasurer, Development Office, Finance Office, committees of the Board of Managers, and other entities of the college. Included are bookkeeping records for college finances, student tuition records, both printed and handwritten fundraising materials, and more.

Swarthmore College was founded on April 1, 1864, by the Religious Society of Friends (Hicksite), by Act of Incorporation of the Pennsylvania State Legislature. The College Charter authorized the Board of Managers to raise capital funds through the sale of shares of stock in the Corporation, with each stockholder entitled to one vote at its annual meeting. Once $50,000 was raised, land was purchased in the Westdale section of Springfield Township (now Swarthmore), Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The College building was completed in time for classes to begin in the fall of 1869, with a co-educational program at both preparatory and college levels.

For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, Swarthmore had an operating budget of $108,600,000. Its endowment, with a market value of $1,249,254,000, was the 12th highest per student in the U.S. (FY2009). (Source: "Swarthmore College Facts & Figures." Accessed April 8, 2015. http://www.swarthmore.edu/about/facts-figures.)

The Swarthmore College financial records include materials from the college's Treasurer, Development Office, Finance Office, committees of the Board of Managers, and other entities of the college. Included are bookkeeping records for college finances, student tuition records, both printed and handwritten fundraising materials, and more.

The collection is organized into five series:

  1. College finances
  2. Tuition and scholarships
  3. Endowment fundraising
  4. Subject files and reports
  5. Prospect research (*RESTRICTED*)

Series 1. College finances consists primarily of cash books (chronological listings of transactions) and ledgers (listing of transactions organized by account), with other bookkeeping records, investment ledgers (circa 1912-1931), and a letterpress book of Treasurer Robert Biddle's correspondence (1888-1901). The series is organized by document type. See also RG6/B, Swarthmore College Corporation Records and RG6/C, Records of the Board of Managers of Swarthmore College.

Series 2. Tuition and scholarships includes ledgers of student accounts, student promissory notes, tuition payment receipts, and a 1975 survey of scholarship options at Swarthmore. The series is organized in chronological order.

Series 3. Endowment fundraising includes general fundraising records and endowment campaign materials. It consists primarily of lists of donors/subscribers and printed appeals and progress reports from endowment campaigns. (See also RG6/A, Official Publications of Swarthmore College, Series6: Fundraising Publications.) There are some general records of the college's Development Office, including study reports, press releases, records of the 1984 Development Planning Group, and more.

Series 4. Subject files and reports includes reports, correspondence, financial documents, reference materials, committee papers, and other types of documents relating to the finances of Swarthmore College, development/fundraising efforts, funded projects, the office administration of finance and development departments, and other materials. The Development Planning Group reports are particularly valuable sources of in-depth information about the college's resources and needs. Of special interest are files on Advisory Committee on South African Investments, the China and Swarthmore Program (a program of cultural interchange efforts, notably scholarships for students from the People's Republic of China), and the Swarthmore-Chester Internship Program (which placed Swarthmore student workers on community development projects in the nearby City of Chester, Pa).

Series 5. Prospect research files contain sensitive personal information and therefore access is restricted, but they also contain useful biographical information which may be provided upon request. Class of 1943 to Class of 1946, 0.1 linear feet.

Deposit, 1972 and on-going

The bulk of the material was received circa 1972 and processed as part of Swarthmore College Archives, Series 2, Official Records of the College.

Additional materials related to the college's financial support can be found in RG6/B, Swarthmore College Corporation Records and RG6/C, Records of the Board of Managers of Swarthmore College.

Printed materials from fundraising efforts can also be found in RG6/A, Official Publications of Swarthmore College, Ser.6 Fundraising Publications.

See PG 7 Reference files and RG 6/V College Reference for secondary information.

Organization
Subject

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
2019
Access Restrictions

Materials in this collection are restricted. Contact Curator to inquire about receiving permission to access items from the collection.

Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in to the Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of 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

Combination index, 1912.
Volume 1
Comptroller's Office: four statistical charts on assets, endowment, tuition, faculty salaries, 1908-1920.
Oversize RG6/G++
Expense account journal summary, 1869-1912.
Volume 2
Financial statements, 1960-1965.
Volume 23
Financial statements, 1966-1970.
Volume 24
Financial statements, 1971-1975.
Volume 25
Financial statements, 1976-1981.
Volume 26
Investment graphs, 1931.
Box 1
Investment ledger index, 1912-1931.
Box 2
Investment ledger, entries 100-200, circa 1912-1931.
Box 2
Investment ledger, entries 201-300, circa 1912-1931.
Box 2
Investment ledger, entries 301-400, circa 1912-1931.
Box 2
Investment ledger, entries 401-500, circa 1912-1931.
Box 3
Investment ledger, entries 501-600, circa 1912-1931.
Box 3
Investment ledger, entries 601-750, circa 1912-1931.
Box 3
Investment ledger, lettered entries, circa 1912-1931.
Box 3
Investment ledger, professors' houses, circa 1912-1931.
Box 3
Investment ledger, unnumbered entries, circa 1912-1931.
Box 3
Investment ledger, circa 1920-1949.
Volume 27
Ledger, 1888-1902.
Box 4
Ledger, 1898-1912.
Box 5
Ledger, 1907-1912.
Box 31
Ledger, 1911-1912.
Box 5
Ledger, 1912-1922.
Box 6
Ledger, 1923-1927.
Box 6
Ledger, 1934-1937.
Box 7
Ledger, 1944-1947.
Box 7
Superintendent's accounts ledger, 1900-1901.
Volume 3
Superintendent's accounts ledger, 1901-1906.
Volume 4
Superintendent's cash book (Supt. Charles A. Bunting), 1900-1901.
Volume 5
Superintendent's cash book (Supt. James D. Hull), 1901-1903.
Volume 6
Superintendent's cash book (Supt. James D. Hull), 1903-1904.
Volume 7
Superintendent's cash book (Supt. Chester Roberts), 1905-1907.
Volume 8
Superintendent's cash book (Supt. Chester Roberts), 1907-1909.
Volume 9
Surveys of securities owned by Swarthmore College, 1928, 1930, 1931.
Oversize RG6/G++
Treasurer's cash book, 1883-1891.
Box 8
Treasurer's cash book, 1891-1901.
Box 8
Treasurer's cash book, 1901-1908.
Volume 10
Treasurer's cash book, 1908-1911.
Volume 11
Treasurer's cash book, 1911-1912.
Volume 12
Treasurer's cash book, 1912-1918.
Volume 13
Treasurer's cash book, 1918-1923.
Volume 14
Treasurer's cash book, 1924-1927.
Volume 15
Treasurer's cash book, 1927-1929.
Volume 16
Treasurer's cash book, 1932-1934.
Volume 17
Treasurer's cash book, 1934-1937.
Volume 18
Treasurer's cash book, 1937-1938.
Volume 19
Treasurer's cash book, 1939-1941.
Volume 20
Treasurer's ledger, 1864-1897.
Box 9
Treasurer's ledger, 1897-1909.
Box 9
Treasurer's ledger, 1909-1912.
Box 9
Treasurer's ledger, 1912-1918.
Box 10
Treasurer's ledger, 1918-1922.
Box 10
Treasurer's ledger, 1922-1926.
Box 10
Treasurer's ledger, 1926-1930.
Box 11
Treasurer's ledger, 1932-1940.
Volume 21
Treasurer's papers, 1889-1898.
Box 11
Treasurer's reports, 1906-1909.
Box 11
Treasurer (Robert Biddle) letterpress book, 1888-1901.
Box 1
Trial balance book, 1889-1912.
Box 1
Trial balance ledger, funds, 1940-1941.
Volume 22

Admissions, Access, and Affordability background materials, 2011.
Box 31
Student list with tuition payment status, 1875-1876.
Box 12
Student accounts, 1875.
Box 12
Student accounts, 1882-1887.
Box 14
Student accounts, 1888-1892.
Box 14
Tuition journal, 1883-1888.
Box 12
Tuition journal, 1888-1912.
Box 12
Tuition payments, 1909-1910.
Box 12
Tuition payments, 1910-1911.
Box 12
Tuition payments, 1911-1912.
Box 12
Student loan promissory notes, 1913-1934.
Box 12
Tuition receipts, 1931, 1934.
Box 12
Scholarship survey, 1975.
Box 13
Squier scholarship, 1978.
Box 13

Subscription record, circa 1864.
Box 16
Subscription lists, 1873-1911.
Box 16
Wills and correspondence, 1879-1912.
Box 16
Endowment appeals, 1882-1919.
Box 16
Subscriptions to the first endowed professorships, 1888.
Box 16
Trial balance book, 1895-1908.
Box 15
Alumni subscribers, listed by class year, 1905.
Box 15
Subscriptions and correspondence, 1909-1910.
Box 16
Subscriptions, 1910-1911.
Box 16
Subscriptions and correspondence, 1911 and undated.
Box 16
Register of pledges and payments, 1911.
Box 16
Alumni subscribers, listed by class year, 1911.
Box 15
Alumni subscribers, listed by class year, 1917.
Box 15
Subscriptions, 1917.
Box 17
Jubilee campaign, 1920.
Box 17
Register of pledges and payments, 1920.
Box 17
Second $2 million for education endowment, 1929-1930.
Box 17
Bound printed materials for endowment campaign, 1929.
Box 15
Bound printed materials for endowment campaign (copy 2), 1929.
Box 15
Fundraising study by Marts and Lundy, Inc., 1945.
Box 17A
Commmittee on Public Relations and Gifts minutes, 1945-1946.
Box 17A
Price of Conviction campaign, John W. Nason binder, 1945-1947.
Box 17A
Price of Conviction campaign binder, 1946-1951.
Box 17A
Price of Conviction campaign, Portfolio for Regional Chairmen, 1947.
Box 17A
Scope and Contents

These files comprise a sample, collected from a much larger body of alumni giving records in 2016, to provide a general view of the types of records created or collected by the alumni giving office. Included are fundraising materials, newsletters, appeal letters, correspondence between alumni committees and the gift office at Swarthmore, donor lists, and more.

Alumni Fund Committee, 1991-1992.
Box 28
50th reunion, class of 1943, 1982-1995.
Box 28
50th reunion, class of 1944, 1993.
Box 28
50th reunion, class of 1945, 1991-1995.
Box 28
50th reunion, class of 1946, 1993-1996.
Box 28
50th reunion, class of 1947, 1982-1997.
Box 28
50th reunion, class of 1948, 1991-1998.
Box 28
50th reunion, class of 1949, 1988-1999.
Box 28
Senior alumni, 1964-1973.
Box 28
Class of 1903, 1946-1970.
Box 28
Class of 1903, 50th reunion, 1946-1953.
Box 29
Class of 1912, 1946-1979.
Box 29
Class of 1922 (folder 1 of 2), 1946-1979.
Box 29
Class of 1922 (folder 2 of 2), 1946-1979.
Box 29
Class of 1933 (folder 1 of 2), 1946-1979.
Box 29
Class of 1933 (folder 2 of 2), 1946-1979.
Box 29
Class of 1933, 50th reunion, 1976-1981.
Box 29
Class of 1943 (folder 1 of 2), 1946-1980.
Box 30
Class of 1943 (folder 2 of 2), 1946-1980.
Box 30
Class of 1959, 1959-1979.
Box 30
Endowment-related printed materials, 1947-1956.
Box 17A
"Manners and Morals in an Endowment Campaign," address by Mrs. Dwight W. Morrow, 1948.
Box 17A
Fundraising records study by G. A. Brakeley and Co., Inc., 1959.
Box 17A
Guides to giving to Swarthmore, 1959-1971.
Box 17A
Centennial Fund plan of campaign, 1962.
Box 18
Centennial Fund printed materials, 1962-1964.
Box 18
Centennial Fund "Bulletin" memos to committee members, 1962-1964.
Box 18
Centennial Fund "Signal" newsletter (complete set), 1963-1964.
Box 18
Centennial Fund final report, area campaign division, 1964.
Box 18
Centennial Fund final report, Greater Philadelphia division, 1964.
Box 18
Centennial Fund final report, 1964.
Box 18
Centennial Fund Office records, 1962-1964.
Box 18
Centennial Fund Office records, 1962-1964.
Scope and Contents

Three additional boxes of Centennial Fund Office records are stored off-site. Included are meeting minutes, planning and status reports, correspondence, volunteer training materials, forms and mailings, and other records. There are also files on potential donor corporations and foundations, with correspondence and grant applications. Allow at least two weeks for retrieval of off-site materials. Request boxes FHL-0001, FHL-0040, and FHL-0093.

Grants and gifts, 1959, 1971.
Box 19
Grants and gifts, 1972-1974.
Box 19
Fundraising telethons, 1975-1979.
Box 19
W. Bancroft Clark (donor) correspondence, 1975-1995.
Box 19
Brochure listing endowment contributors, 1976-1977.
Box 19
"Swarthmore Today" program and participants, 1978.
Box 19
Program for Swarthmore files - Announcing..., 1979.
Box 19
Program for Swarthmore files - budget, 1977-1979.
Box 19
Program for Swarthmore files - "A Campaign Report", 1980.
Box 19
Program for Swarthmore campaign materials, 1979-1981.
Box 19
Program for Swarthmore files - case statement, 1977.
Box 19
Program for Swarthmore files - comparisons, 1977.
Box 19
Program for Swarthmore files - cultivation, 1977.
Box 19
Program for Swarthmore files - department endowment, 1979.
Box 19
Program for Swarthmore files - development implementation study and plan of action, 1974-1977.
Box 19
Program for Swarthmore files - development planning report, 1979.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - Engineering Department, 1974.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - faculty, 1977-1979.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - famous names in Swarthmore's history, 1978.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - final allocations, 1981.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - gift accounting, 1977-1978.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - gift opportunities, 1977-1978.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - life income gift and bequest committee, 1979-1980.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - major gifts solicition committee, 1978.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - mission of the college, 1978.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - news releases, 1979.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - needs of capital campaign, 1976-1982.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - objectives or goals, 1975-1979.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - organization, 1974-1977.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - printed materials, 1979-1981.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - solicitor's guide, 1977.
Box 20
Program for Swarthmore files - timetable, 1979.
Box 20
Development Review Committee report, 1981.
Box 20
Development Review Committee materials, 1981.
Box 20
Campaign for Swarthmore, 1984-1990.
Box 20A
Campaign for Swarthmore - volunteer manual, 1986.
Box 20A
Campaign for Swarthmore - budget, 1990.
Box 20A
Kohlberg Double Challenge, 1990.
Box 20A
Kohlberg Double Challenge - correspondence, 1990.
Box 20A
Kohlberg Double Challenge, 1991-1992.
Box 20A
Fundraising study by Marts and Lundy, Inc., 1993.
Box 20A

Ad-Hoc Committee on Ethical Investment Principles, 1985.
Box 21
Advisory Committee on South African Investments (folder 1 of 4), 1978-1984.
Box 21
Advisory Committee on South African Investments (folder 2 of 4), 1978-1984.
Box 21
Advisory Committee on South African Investments (folder 3 of 4), 1978-1984.
Box 21
Advisory Committee on South African Investments (folder 4 of 4), 1978-1984.
Box 21
Advisory Commitee on Resource Use report, 1979.
Box 21
Advisory Commitee on Resource Use progress report, 1980.
Box 21
Athletic field fund. Account book by class year, 1915-1917.
Box 21
Athletic field fund. Correspondence, subscriptions, and bills, 1914-1917.
Box 22
Building Committee account book, 1866-1870.
Box 22
Building Committee banking record, 1866-1870.
Box 22
Building Committee cancelled checks, 1866-1868.
Box 22
Building Committee cancelled checks, 1868-1870.
Box 22
Building Committee cancelled checks, 1870.
Box 22
China and Swarthmore Program, 1979-1986.
Box 23
China and Swarthmore Program, 1979-1986.
Box 23
China and Swarthmore Program, 1979-1986.
Box 23
Consortium on Financing Higher Education study, 1981.
Box 23
"A Comparative Study of Development and University Relations at Twenty-Six Colleges and Universities", 1976.
Box 23
Miscellaneous.
Box 32
Termites.
Box 32
Joint Committee.
Box 32
Comptroller's reports.
Box 32
General Education Board / Honors Program funding.
Box 32
Departmental reports, 1999.
Box 23
Development Planning Steering Committee report, parts I-V, 1974.
Box 23
Development Planning Steering Committee report, part VI, 1974.
Box 23
Development Planning Steering Committee report, parts VII-VIII, 1974.
Box 23
Development Planning Group Committee for the Physical Activities Project report, 1975.
Box 23
Development Planning Group Membership of the committees, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Staff paper, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Committee assignments, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Drama/Dance - summary of opinions, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Academic Program report, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Finance Program report, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Physical Facilities report, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Physical Facilities report - Projects B-P (14 folders), 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Steering Committee report, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Student Life report, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Mailings - index, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group First meeting handout, 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Mailings (12 folders), 1973-1974.
Box 24
Development Planning Group Mailings (4 folders), 1973-1974.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Finance Committee minutes, 1973-1974.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Physical Facilities Committee records (2 folders), 1973-1974.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Steering Committee records, 1973-1974.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Development Planning Group Finance Committee minutes, 1973.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Development Planning Group Physical Facilities Committee records, 1973.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Development Planning Group Physical Facilities Committee records, 1973.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Development Planning Group Steering Committee records, 1974.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Academic Program report, 1984.
Box 25
Development Planning Group – Finance binder, 1984.
Box 32
Development Planning Group Finance Program report, 1984.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Property Program reports, 1984.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Student Life report, 1984.
Box 25
Development Planning Group Mailings (2 folders), 1984.
Box 25
Development Planning Group planning materials, 1983-1984.
Box 26
Development Planning Group Academic Committee materials, 1984.
Box 26
Development Planning Group Academic Committee report, 1984.
Box 26
Development Planning Group Finance Committee report, 1984.
Box 26
Development Planning Group Finance Committee report (2nd copy), 1984.
Box 26
Development Planning Group Property Committee report, 1984.
Box 26
Development Planning Group Student Life Committee report, 1984.
Box 26
Engineering Development Committee: "Resolved: To maintain the tradition of excellence in Engineering education at Swarthmore College", 1976-1977.
Box 26
Friends Council on Education, 1970-1977.
Box 26
Lang Legacy, 2011-06-30.
Box 32
Sports fundraising, 1976-1983.
Box 27
Sports fundraising - football 100th anniversary, 1978.
Box 27
Sports fundraising - golf, 1983.
Box 27
Sports fundraising - tennis 100th anniversary, 1979.
Box 27
Student fundraising, 1981.
Box 27
Swarthmore-Chester Internship Program, 1983-1987.
Box 27
Swarthmore-Chester Internship Program, 1983-1987.
Box 27
Swarthmore-Chester Internship Program, 1983-1987.
Box 27
Swarthmore-Chester Internship Program, 1983-1987.
Box 27
"Swarthmore College and John W. Briston & Co. - Partnering in the Endowment of Education" (poster), 2005.
Oversize RG6/G++
Swarthmore Foundation, 1987-1992.
Box 27
Twelve College Cost-Quality Study, 1972-01.
Box 32
Vice President of Finance search, 1978.
Box 27
Women's student building (Elizabeth Powell Bond). Printed materials, 1926.
Box 27
Prospect research (*RESTRICTED*).
Scope and Contents

Prospect research files contain sensitive personal information and therefore access is restricted, but they also contain useful biographical information which may be provided upon request. Class of 1943 to Class of 1946, 0.1 linear feet.

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