Guide to the Archives
RG2 Office of the President
Title: Record Group 2 – Office of the President
Call #: RG2
Dates: 1916 – 1999
Quantity: 28 cubic feet
Abstract: This record group of the institution was generated by the Office of the President beginning in 1916. In over eight decades of Bank Street College and predecessor, the Bureau of Educational Experiments, the leadership of the school generated official documentation in the form of correspondence, reports, committee and personnel records, and proposals. Personal memorandum and notes on studies are also included. The processed subgroups represent the tenures of four administrations of the institution.
Language of Material: English
Location: Bank Street College Archives New York, NY
Preferred Citation: Record Group 2 – Office of the President, Box #, Bank Street College Archives, New York, NY
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.
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)