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Records of the Dean of the College

 Collection
Identifier: 3D-1992-1999

Scope and Content

Collection consists of the records of Dean of the College Nancy Kolodny, dating July 1, 1992, through June 30, 1999. The 21 linear feet of records were transferred from the dean's office in several accessions (see list below).

The records are primarily those of Nancy Kolodny, but include those of Jens Kruse and Lee Cuba. In most instances the records of the Associate Deans are filed together with Kolodny's, but some are clearly those of a specific individual and are labeled as such. In general, the records are arranged alphabetically in a single subject file. In instances of more than one folder per subject, the files are arranged chronologically. Restricted materials were removed from the main sequence. Notice of removal is given with and explanation of location and method of access. Faculty Records Office files are a separate sub-series.

These records include, in large measure, materials relating to faculty, academic departments and curriculum, as well as records pertaining to the Center for Research on Women, the library and the registrar's office. There is correspondence and meeting material (agendas, minutes and handouts), as well as dean's office and academic department budget materials. The records contain proposals and discussions of courses and research projects, as well as reports and evaluations.

These files indicate continued concern with grant-funded projects. Kolodny's records also document an extensive review of the entire curriculum. Materials relating to this can be found in self study and visiting committee files within the academic departments, as well as in a large group of files under the heading Curriculum Review.

Includes files regarding a controversy surrounding Anthony Martin of the Africana Studies Department.

Dates

  • Creation: 1992-1999

Access

The following types of materials are restricted:

1. Student records generated and maintained by the college cover by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): grades, work, faculty/class evaluations, questionnaires, recommendations, et cetera.

2. Minutes and other records of the Board of Trustees. Access to this material is granted only through the Trustees. Requests for access should be directed to the Clerk of the Board of Trustees.

3. Information relating to specific salaries, pensions or financial transactions between the College and individual employees.

4. Materials relating to reappointment, promotion and tenure are restricted.

5. Recommendations and performance evaluation of individual employees are restricted, as are evaluations of candidates for College positions.

6. Materials published by consortia of colleges and universities, specifically the Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE) and the Higher Education Data Sharing (HEDS), which conduct surveys of various institutes promising confidentially.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright in some papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright publishing quotations from any material in the collection.

Biographical/Historical Note

Nancy H. Kolodny, a faculty member in the Wellesley College Chemistry Department, became Dean of the College in July 1992. She continued to hold her faculty appointment as well. Jens Kruse of the German Department became Associate Dean. Elizabeth Lieberman, Director of the Office of Sponsored Research and member of the Chemistry Department, continued her sponsored research position and became Assistant Dean responsible for data relating to the faculty. She later left her teaching position in the Chemistry Department. Ruth Anne Nuwayser continued to manage Faculty Records and Barbara Viechnicki became Academic Budget Officer. Mary Greenwood became office secretary.

In 1995 Lee Cuba joined the dean's office as a second Associate Dean. All three deans worked together as a team, but each had primary responsibility for a specific area (Jens Kruse focused on faculty matters and Lee Cuba on curricular matters) with Kolodny having overall responsibility for academic affairs.

Kolodny returned to teaching upon her retirement as dean in July 1999.

Lee Cuba, a member of the Sociology Department became Dean of the College in July 1999. Andrea Levitt of the French Department and Andrew Sheenan of the History Department became Associate Deans at the same time.

History of the Office

Margaret E. Stratton, Dean, 1895-1899

Katharine Coman, Dean, 1899-1900

[no Dean appointed], 1900-1901

Ellen Fitz Pendleton, Dean, 1901-1911

Angie Clara Chapin, Dean, 1911-1913

Alice Vinton Waite, Dean, 1913-1931

Mary Lowell Coolidge, Dean, 1931-1938

Lucy Wilson, Acting Dean, 1938-1939

Ella Keats Whiting, Dean of Instruction, 1939-1954

Ella Keats Whiting, Dean, 1954-1961

Laura Bornholt, Acting Dean, 1961-1962

Laura Bornholt, Dean, 1962-1963

Virginia Onderdonk, Acting Dean of the Faculty, 1963-1964

Virginia Onderdonk, Dean, 1964-1968

Phyllis Fleming, Dean, 1968-1972

Robert Garis, Acting Dean, 1972-1973

Alice Stone Ilchman, Dean, 1973-1978

Maud H. Chaplin, Acting Dean, 1978-1979

Maud H. Chaplin, Dean, 1978-1982

Edward A. Stettner, Acting Dean, 1982-1983

Maud H. Chaplin, Dean, 1983-1986

Dale Roger Marshall, Dean, 1986-1987

Edward Stettner, Acting Dean, 1987-1988

Dale Rogers Marshall, Dean, 1988-1992

Nancy Kolodny, Dean, 1992-1999

Extent

20.55 Linear Feet (15 record cartons, 4 file boxes, 1 half file box)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The records are arranged alphabetically by subject. Where there is more than one folder on the same subject, they are arranged chronologically. Restricted materials have been removed from the main sequence.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Dean's Office and the Registrar's Office, 1996-2002.

Title
Wellesley College. Office of the Dean of the College. Records of the Dean of the College, 1992-1999: a guide.
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Wellesley College Archives Repository

Contact:

781-283-3745