MC 32 J. Rodman Paul papers, 1917-1935, 0.33 Cubic feet

This collection contains some of the papers of J. Rodman Paul, trustee of the Drexel Institute from 1904-1941. read more >>>

UR 1.12 Assistant to the President patent records, 1966-1982, 2 Cubic feet

This collection consists of administrative files relating to both patents and the Patent Advisory Committee. It also contains a series of files on individual patent applications where ownership was considered by the Patent Advisory Committee. read more >>>

MC 37 Pages from the Past, 1491-1937, 24 items

24 Leaves issued as a set by Foliophiles Inc. [Washington, D.C.?] in 1964.

Finding Aid

MC 4 Howard Pyle collection, 1894-1940, .25 linear feet

Howard Pyle, noted American illustrator, was an art instructor who headed the Drexel Institute’s School of Illustration from 1894 to 1900.  This collection contains correspondence and pamphlets documenting Howard Pyle’s time as an instructor in the school of illustration at Drexel.  read more >>>

UR 4.24 Pennoni Honors College records, 1988-2008, 2.5 cubic feet

This collection consists primarily of photographs, publications and promotional materials, and news articles relating to the Pennoni Honors College. The largest series consists of the dean’s files (1993-2007), including newspapers, newsletters, invitations, and memos. Photos (1996-2004) are organized in one binder and one envelope; arrangement is unclear, possibly chronological. Other series include Honors Program/College committee meetings (1991-2005), Mentor’s Group (1988-1991), and Phi Kappa Phi. Finally, there are computer disks with contents to be determined.

This collection is partially processed.  A preliminary inventory is available in the archives; contact the archivist at archives@drexel.edu for more information.  Portions of the collection are restricted because they contain confidential student and personnel records.  See the university archives’ policy on access to records for further information.

UR 4.1 Programs and invitations collection, 1892-1965 (bulk 1892-1915), 6.66 cubic feet

The collection consists of bound volumes and loose programs containing announcements, programs, and invitations to Drexel events.  The bulk of the events represented in the collection were sponsored by the Department of Free Public Lectures and Concerts, which served the school founder A.J. Drexel’s desire to “provide a liberal means of culture for the masses.”  Free lectures and concerts at the Drexel Institute began during the school’s first year of operation in 1892.  They were offered during the winter months and open to the general public until the abolishment of the department in 1915.  Other events were held by the Department of Fine and Applied Art, which was established in 1892; reached its zenith under the tenure of Howard Pyle, who headed its School of Illustration from 1894 through 1900; and was discontinued, with the exception of the course in architecture, in 1905.  The collection also contains programs of commencement ceremonies, the first of which was held in 1894; a program from the dedication of the institute in 1892; and invitations to an 1894 memorial service for institute founder Anthony J. Drexel.  Most of the programs date from the first twenty years of the operation of the institute, but the collection also contains a few programs and announcements from as late as the 1960s.

This collection is unprocessed.  A preliminary inventory is available in the archives; contact the archivist at archives@drexel.edu for more information.

UR 4.6 Department of Performing Arts records, 1940-1990, 1 cubic foot

The performing arts at Drexel date back to 1892, when Drexel offered its auditorium as a rehearsal space for the Philadelphia Chorus.  The chorus was dissolved in the next year, and the Drexel Chorus was formed to replace it.  In 1897 Drexel formalized its choral music program by establishing a department that would later be called the Department of Evening Classes in Choral Music.  The department was abolished in 1909, but students continued to organize their own performing ensembles.  In 1942, Wallace D. Heaton, Jr., was appointed music director at Drexel, and over the next thirty-seven years he established the Department of Music and revitalized choral music at Drexel.  Clyde Shive joined the faculty as a professor for instrumental music and as the university organist in 1955.  A student dance ensemble was established in 1978.  The music department became the Department of Performing Arts when the College of Humanities and Social Sciences was founded in 1984.  More recently, the department has begun to offer a major in music industry and minors in dance, music, and theater, as well as sponsoring the dance ensemble and a number of vocal and instrumental music groups.  This collection consists of concert and recital programs, photographs, promotional materials, newspaper clippings, and correspondence related to concerts, tours, and festivals organized by the Department of Performing Arts and its predecessor, the Department of Music.

Finding Aid

UR 3.9 Placement Services Center records, 1953-1981, 1 cubic foot

The bulk of this collection is annual reports from the 1960s and 1970s submitted by the director of graduate placement to the Office of University Relations (the department in charge of the Office of Graduate Placement, later known as the Placement Services Center).  The reports contain summarized data on students placed, starting salaries, employers of Drexel graduates, and students going on to graduate school.  The collection also contains a newsletter published by the Placement Services Center from 1979 and1983-1985, as well as information booklets about the Placement Services Center for the classes of 1977 to 1981.

This collection is unprocessed.  A preliminary inventory is available in the archives; contact the archivist at archives@drexel.edu for more information.  Because the collection may contain confidential information, portions are currently restricted pending review by the archivist.  See the university archives’ policy on access to records for further information.

UR 3.11 Long-range planning records, 1984-1987, 1.17 cubic feet

In 1984, the Board of Trustees charged Drexel’s president, William Gaither, with developing a long-range strategic plan for the next ten years.  This collection consists of drafts of the long-range planning report presented to the Board of Trustees in July 1985 and September 1985 and 1986, and in September 1987.  It also includes preliminary drafts, planning criteria, reports prepared by individual colleges and administrative offices, and reports on particular areas such as research and academic programs.  Included with the collection are some additional facilities planning documents from the College of Engineering that resulted from the long-range planning activities and a proposal to establish the Center for Automation Technology.

The collection is partially processed.  A preliminary inventory is available; for more information, contact the archivist at archives@drexel.edu.  Because the collection may contain confidential information, portions are currently restricted pending review by the archivist.  See the university archives’ policy on access to records for further information.

UR 1.12 Assistant to the President patent records, 1966-1982, 2 cubic feet

In 1965, the Drexel Institute of Technology first formulated a policy on patents resulting from research by Drexel employees and students.  Around 1970, a Patent Advisory Committee was established to review and make recommendations regarding cases where patent ownership was unclear.  The Patent Advisory Committee was first appointed, and later chaired, by the vice president for academic affairs.  In the early 1970s, this responsibility was transferred to the assistant to the president.  This collection consists of administrative files relating to patents and the Patent Advisory Committee and a series of files on individual patent applications where ownership was considered by the Patent Advisory Committee.

This collection is unprocessed.  A preliminary inventory is available in the archives; contact the archivist at archives@drexel.edu for more information.  Because the collection may contain confidential information, portions are currently restricted pending review by the archivist.

UR 1.11 Office of the President records, 1950-1989, 5 cubic feet

Four presidents of Drexel University are represented in the collection: James Creese (1896-1966, president 1945-1963), William Walsh Hagerty (1916-1986, president 1963-1984), William Samuel Gaither (b. 1932, president 1984-1987), and Richard Breslin (b. 1937 or 1938, president 1988-1994).  The collection consists of subject files, reports, and other materials compiled by the staff of the Office of the President between 1950 and 1989.

The collection is partially processed.  A preliminary inventory is available; for more information, contact the archivist at archives@drexel.edu.  Because the collection may contain confidential information, portions are currently restricted pending review by the archivist.

UR 1.5 Office of the President records, 1913-1954, 9 cubic feet

Six presidents of Drexel Institute are represented in the collection: Hollis Godfrey (1874-1936, president 1913-1921), Kenneth Matheson (1864-1931, president 1921-1931), Parke R. Kolbe (1881-1942, president 1932-1942), George P. Rea (1894-1978, president 1942-1944), R. C. Disque (1883-1968, interim president 1944-1945), and James Creese (1896-1966, president 1945-1963). The collection consists of annual reports, financial records, Board of Trustees files, and subject files on events, individuals, and subjects significant to the history of the Drexel Institute.

Finding Aid

PC 13 Planning, Design and Construction photographs, 1965-2002, 2.5 Cubic feet

The Planning, Design and Construction Photographs Collection is from the files of Jerry McFarland, former director of Planning and Construction at Drexel University.  The collection consists of color photographs, negatives, and slides that document a variety of university projects undertaken during McFarland’s tenure at the university.

Ranging from 1966-1993, the majority of the collection documents campus sites before, during, and after the completion of major construction projects.  Some photos were taken as McFarland sought opportunities for future growth and beautification projects, both on the campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The collection is arranged alphabetically by site name with each folder representing one roll of film. While the majority of rolls feature only one site, some feature multiple sites.  The last series includes two slide presentations compiled from multiple rolls (campus projects, slide presentation and campus construction, slide presentation).

Finding Aid

UR 12.1 Periodicals collection, 1896-2005, 5.6 cubic feet

Periodicals published by Drexel University and its predecessor organizations.  Includes general news periodicals, alumni news, student publications, and specialty periodicals published by departments and offices within the university.  Collection also contains course catalogs, informational circulars, and other periodicals published for students and staff on a weekly, monthly, or yearly schedule.

See inventory arranged by date.

See digitized items from this collection.

PC 4 People photographs, 1880-2000 , 8 cubic feet

This collection consists of a series of files containing photographs of individual people, primarily Drexel faculty, trustees, and staff, as well as some alumni. Photos date as early as 1880 and as late as 2000, but are chiefly from the 1980s and early 1990s; many are undated. The bulk of the photos are black-and-white or color prints, but files also contain a few negatives and contact sheets. Some photographs transferred from the Office of University Relations have captions or annotations associated with them, providing dates and additional information about the subject of the photograph.

Although the provenance of the photographs is not known, it is believed that most were originally transferred to the University Archives from the Office of University Relations. Archives staff have also occasionally added photos to this collection as they are found among unrelated records or accessioned.

Some additional photographs of people are filed with biographies, CVs, newspaper clippings, and other materials about the individual in UR 10.2, the Biographical Reference Collection.

Finding Aid