RG2 Office of the President

Historical Note

Lucy Sprague Mitchell was the founder and leader of the Bureau of Educational Experiments from 1916 to 1956. Following her tenure, there were five presidents of Bank Street College through the end of the 20th century. John H. Niemeyer was appointed first official president in 1956 and served in that position until 1973. He was followed by Francis J. Roberts from 1973 to 1979, Richard R. Ruopp from 1979 to 1988, Joseph Shenker from 1989 to 1996, Augusta Souza Kappner from 1996 to 2008, and Elizabeth D. Dickey from 2008 to the present.

Scope and Content Note

The records of the Office of the President (28 cubic feet) contain subgroups for the founder and each president of Bank Street College. Each subgroup contains eight series. These series are: Official Correspondence and Reports; Committees; Personnel; Academics; Programs; Proposals; External Affairs; and Personal. The records of the Office of the President cover the time period from 1916 to 1999. Records created or acquired by the president during his/her tenure may be included in this record group even if the subject matter does not directly relate to the official duties as president of the College. Some records may also have been created before or after the person occupied the Office of the President.

Descriptions

To search and read detailed descriptions of the series and lists of folder titles within each series, click the following link to access the guide for the entire record group.

Complete Guide to Record Group 2 – Office of the President (pdf)

The record group consists of the following subgroups and series.

SUBGROUP 1
Lucy Sprague Mitchell (1916-1969)

Scope and Content Note:

Subgroup 1 contains significant documentation of the creation of the Bureau of Educational Experiments and its evolution into the Bank Street College of Education. This subgroup contains the papers and records of Lucy Sprague Mitchell (1878-1967), the principle founder of the Bureau of Educational Experiments and first acting president of Bank Street College. She served the College from its inception in 1916 until 1955. She was involved in all aspects of Bank Street, including serving as acting president, Working Council chair, member and chair of the Board of Trustees, researcher and teacher. This group also contains records of Mitchell’s studies of children’s use of language, a book manuscript with notes, cover and interior sketches for books and sets of acetate maps drawn by Mitchell. Her professional and personal correspondence, photographs and ephemera are included. The records cover the time period from 1916-1971. (Note that the Butler Library of Columbia University holds the early personal papers of Lucy Sprague Mitchell as well as those of her husband Wesley Clair Mitchell.)

SERIES A – Official Correspondence and Reports 1916-1917, 1930, {1956-1966}

SERIES B – Committees (1919, 1941–1954)

SERIES C – Personnel (1951)

SERIES D – Academics (1916-1963)

SERIES E – Programs (1918-1921 and 1950-1953)

SERIES F – Proposals

SERIES G – External Affairs (1927-1966)

SERIES H – Personal (1903{1950-1967}1969)

SUBGROUP 2
John H. Niemeyer (1933 {1955-1974} 1999)

Scope and Content Note:

Subgroup 2 contains the papers and records of John H. Niemeyer, the first official president of the College. His term of office lasted from 1956-1973, during which time he oversaw the expansion of Graduate Programs and the School for Children, the establishment of a Field Services division, and the College’s move to Morningside Heights. He also encouraged a renewed focus on the College publications.

In addition to his work within the College, Niemeyer was an active and influential member of the progressive education community, serving as a consultant to the United States Office of Education regarding desegregation and the formation of Head Start. He also acted as a consultant and trustee for other organizations such as the Day Care and Child Development Council of America, Mobilization for Youth and the Joint Council on the Mental Health of Children. From the late 1950s through the 1970s Niemeyer was an active and popular speaker on topics including education reform, decentralization and desegregation. Due to his active involvement outside of his role as president of the College, the bulk of materials can be found in the personal series.

SERIES A – Official Correspondence and Reports (1955-1974)

SERIES B – Committees (1956-1976)

SERIES C – Personnel

SERIES D – Academics (1940-1997)

SERIES E – Programs (1957-1975)

SERIES F – Proposals (1960-1975)

SERIES G – External Affairs (1942-1994)

SERIES H – Personal (1933 {1960-1999})

SUBGROUP 3
Francis J. Roberts (1973-1981)

Scope and Content Note:

This subgroup contains the papers and records of Francis J. Roberts, who served as president from 1973-1979. The bulk of the subgroup is official correspondence and memos spanning the duration of his tenure.

SERIES A – Official Correspondence and Reports (1973-1979)

SERIES B – Committees (1973-1977)

SERIES C – Personnel (1973-1979)

SERIES D – Academics (1973-1979)

SERIES E – Programs (1974-1979)

SERIES F – Proposals (1972-1981)

SERIES G – External Affairs (1973-1979)

SERIES H – Personal (1975)

SUBGROUP 4
Richard R. Ruopp (1970 {1980-1988})

Scope and Content Note:

This subgroup contains the papers and records of Richard R. Ruopp. He served the College from 1979 to 1988. Prior to coming to Bank Street, Ruopp worked at Abt Associates in a number of capacities, including as director of the National Day Care Study for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1974 to1979. Ruopp continued to be active in day care initiatives during his time at the College. During his tenure, Ruopp was involved with the search committee for the New Perspectives director and vice president and dean of Graduate and Children’s Programs positions.

SERIES A – Official Correspondence and Reports (1980-1988)

SERIES B – Committees

SERIES C – Personnel / Credentials (1980)

SERIES D – Academics

SERIES E – Programs

SERIES F – Proposals (1980-1981)

SERIES G – External Affairs

SERIES H – Personal (1968-1983)

Photographs from the Office of the President Record Group:

Controlled Access Headings