President's Papers
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Inventory of the President’s Papers In the Northern Illinois University Archives UA 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page Introduction.. 1 Scope and Content.. 1 Collection Inventory. 3 John Williston Cook Papers. 4 J. Stanley Brown Papers. 7 Karl Langdon Adams Papers . 8 Leslie A. Holmes Papers. 11 Rhoten A. Smith Papers. 17 Richard J. Nelson Papers. 22 William R. Monat Papers.. 27 Clyde Wingfield Papers. 31 John E. La Tourette Papers. 32 John G. Peters Papers. 40 President's Subject Files, 1970-. 45 INTRODUCTION The University Archives acquired the Presidents' papers in numerous installments beginning in the mid-1960's. With the exception of files relating to legal counsel and personnel matters, there are no restrictions on access to the records through the Monat administration. Researchers must secure permission to publish any of the materials in these records from the NIU Legal Counsel Office. 383 boxes 181.25 linear feet 1899 - SCOPE AND CONTENT The Presidents' Papers begin with Northern's constitution and by-laws followed by a description and historical sketch of the university's administrative organization and codification of policies. The remaining records are divided into eleven records subgroups. Only one president, J. Clifton Brown (1927-1929), is not represented. Records from the later years of President John La Tourette’s administration and those from President John Peters are not yet open to researchers. Subgroup one documents John Williston Cook's presidency (1899-1919). Most of the records detail Cook's administration at Northern and the Illinois State Normal School. Of special note is the series on the Andrew Brown Estate; Brown willed money from his estate to Northern for student scholarships. Also included are personal papers, family and business correspon- dence (1862-1922), biographical and genealogical data, photographs, publications, and scrapbooks. In addition, there are several mimeographed articles by John Dewey (1896- 1988). Researchers may wish to consult the faculty papers of Charles A. McMurry for information related to the Dewey materials. The second and smallest subgroup contains the administrative correspondence of J. Stanley Brown (1920-1926). To date, these are the only available records of his administration. Subgroup three contains Karl L. Adams' records (1929-1949). Series I comprises his administrative correspondence arranged alphabetically by subject. The reports and educational records in this series provide an insight into the workings of a small teacher's college. Personal papers including biographical data, photographs, and correspondence complete the Adams Papers. President Leslie Holmes' papers comprise subgroup four (1938-1967). The subgroup begins with correspondence and information pertaining to the monthly Teachers College Board meetings. Series II contains all of Holmes' administrative correspondence arranged alphabetically. Of special note is the correspondence on the first Montgomery Arboretum Controversy (1955-1959) and on an outdoor education program at the Loredo Taft Campus Page 2 (1949-1952). Also included are commencement addresses, reports, publications, and personal papers. Subgroup five documents Rhoten Smith's presidency (1967-1971) and is divided into five series. The first and largest series comprises the administrative correspondence. Researchers studying student unrest in the late 1960's may wish to consult the military science and police science files. Smith's decision on the second Montgomery Arboretum Controversy and the activities in response to his decision also are documented in the papers. Series IV contains numerous education legislative bills which indicate problems faced by educational institutions at this time. The final series documents Smith's inauguration. The papers in the sixth subgroup document Richard Nelson's term as president (1971-1978). The administrative files are arranged alphabetically by subject and include correspondence, memoranda, reports, bulletins, and news releases. [Researchers should note, however, that there are some subject files from the Nelson years located in subgroup ten.] The administrative files series deals primarily with administrative and academic divisions on campus and contains statistical data on enrollment, financial evaluations, facilities management, and institutional studies. Perhaps the most interesting records document Nelson's request to ban the national anthem from being played at basketball games due to racial unrest (1971-1972). The subgroup contains little biographical history on Nelson's earlier careers in law and industry. William R. Monat's correspondence, speeches, and cabinet minutes may be found in subgroup seven. There are four correspondence series beginning with file copies of every letter sent in chronological order from 1978 through 1984. The other three correspondence series include Monat's personal letters, communications with various state education agencies, and the correspondence from and to academic units on campus. The introduction of the personal computer coupled with the proliferation of copy machines in the 1980's caused an explosion in volume of the records generated by and sent to the president's office. This increase in volume coupled with a relatively rapid turnover in the office (four presidents in less than ten years) precludes identifying a set of subject files for the Monat administration. All subject files from the president's office from the mid-1970's forward may be found below in subgroup ten, "President's Office Subject Files." Subgroup eight records document the brief (ten month) tenure of Clyde Wingfield as president. Inauguration planning records and administrative correspondence comprise the bulk of these files and any other documents would be found below in subgroups ten or eleven. John E. La Tourette's papers may be found in subgroup nine. This subgroup includes papers from his year as acting president (1984-1985) and from his term as president (1986-2000). Since Professor La Tourette served as NIU vice-president for academic affairs and provost (1979-1984) researchers should also consult the Provost Office Records held in the University Archives. Records from the current administration of John Peters are not open to researchers. Page 3 Subgroups ten and eleven provide important records documenting more than one president's administration. Subgroup ten is the largest of all records subgroups, the President's Office Subject Files, with the bulk of these documents dating from 1970 forward. There are several "a-z" container listings but comprehensive alphabetical subject access to all records listed in this inventory is provided in the index at the end. These subject files provide a rich, broad source for the university's history over the past twenty years as they contain incoming correspondence from on and off campus, copies of outgoing memos and letters, reports and studies on hundreds of topics, and NIU accreditation and professional affiliation documents. This subgroup is a mini-archives for the entire university from the point of view of the president's office. Also included here are materials from Anne Kaplan, Executive Assistant to the President (1986-1993), and from Curtiss Behrens, Assistant to the President (1986-1989). Since 1899 each president has reported regularly to the university's governing board and these reports are found in subgroup eleven, "President's Report to the Board of Regents." B.O.R. reports include information on all faculty personnel transactions, campus and building development, all major purchases, and on the grants and contracts in which the university participates. [Note: as of 1996 the President’s Report is included in the bound Board of Trustees Minutes, beginning with Box 18A in UA 3]. Researchers should note that other records within the University Archives may relate in whole or part to specific topics represented in these records. For further information consult a reference person or the University Archives inventories. The Audio-Visual Collection contains photographs of each president as well as tape recorded addresses from some. COLLECTION INVENTORY BOX FOLDER DESCRIPTION 1A 1a-f NIU Constitution and By-Laws, (1970-2011) 2 Administrative Organization Charts, 1947-1975 3 Historical Development of Administrative Development, 1963, 1967 4 Duties and Responsibilities of the Chief Administrative Officers, 1955, 1961 5 Statements of Policy, 1961-1973 6 Codification of Policies, 1965 UA 4 - Presidents' Papers Page 4 HISTORICAL SKETCH John Williston Cook John Williston Cook was born April 20, 1844 in Oneida County, New York. At the age of seven he came with his family to Illinois to settle on a farm in McLean County. Graduating from the Illinois State Normal School in 1865, Cook accepted a position as principal of schools in Brimfield, Peoria County, Illinois. After one year at Brimfield, Cook returned to his alma mater to become a member of the faculty. On August 26, 1867 he married Lydia Spofford; the couple had two children, John Loring and Agnes Spofford. Over a period of thirty-three years, Cook became a recognized leader in what was known as the "normal school movement". At Illinois State Normal School Cook taught geography, history, and reading, chaired the mathematics department for fourteen years, and ascended to the presidency of I.S.N.S. in 1890. Tempted by opportunities offered at the newly established normal school in DeKalb, Cook resigned from his position in 1899 and accepted the presidency at Northern Illinois State