Archives/1. Administrative

Overview Responding to the needs of the Boston business community in 1898, the Greater Boston Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) began to offer business courses to train clerks. By the turn of the century, with business practice becoming increasingly complex, the need to educate businessmen in more modern techniques of administration and contemporary business ethics became apparent.   In 1907, the Evening Institute at the Greater Boston YMCA (the predecessor to Northeastern University) formed a...

Overview Plans for Northeastern University's centennial celebration began in 1990. In 1992, the plans formally took shape under the direction of NU President John A. Curry, assistant director of University Relations Barbara Burke and History Department Chair William M. Fowler. The planning ultimately spanned nine years and culminated with a large celebration that included a concert by the Boston Pops and an appearance by actress Shirley Jones, who is best known for her starring role in the 1970s sitcom...

Overview Records of the Northeastern University Commencement Committee document commencement ceremonies between 1912 and 2002. The first series documents eligible degree candidates and is restricted. The second series contains information about Northeastern University commencement ceremonies, including planning and publicity efforts, the students who were in the ceremonies, and the individuals who received honorary degrees and gave addresses. Included are scattered commencement addresses, particularly...

Overview In the early 1900s, alumni activities at Northeastern University were organized by each department. In 1927 William C. White, who later became Executive Vice President of Northeastern University (NU), was appointed the first Alumni Secretary. Rudolf O. Oberg replaced White in 1929 as Alumni Secretary of the Day Colleges. Oberg expanded the role of organizing alumni events and furthering alumni relations, and due to his efforts, an alumni office was created in 1943, with Oberg as Director of...

Overview The Office of Public Information was established by Northeastern University President Asa S. Knowles in 1959. In the mid-1980s, Senior Vice President for Public Affairs, James B. King divided the office into two subdivisions: University Relations and Public Relations. The Division of University Relations focused on internal communications while Public Relations focused on external relations. In 1986 the Office of Public Information became the Office of Communications whose mission was to...

Overview In 2001, the office of University Development and the Office of Alumni Relations merged under the name Office of Institutional Advancement. The Office of Institutional Advancement is responsible for overseeing the staff, budget, and operations of all alumni, corporate, and development activities.

Overview The Office of Institutional Research and Data Administration collects data for and about Northeastern University. Overseen by the Office of the Provost, the statistics the Office compiles are used to analyze and improve the institution as a whole, in order to better benefit students, faculty, alumni, staff and the outside community. Prior to being called the Office of Institutional Research and Data Administration, or OIR, the Office went through several name changes. From the years 1959-1961,...

Overview Compiled by Northeastern University's Office of Public Relations, the scrapbooks consist entirely of newspaper clippings, mostly from Boston and regional newspapers, concerning news items related to or involving Northeastern University and its faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Overview Asa S. Knowles, Northeastern University's (NU) third president, created the Office of University Development (OUD) in 1959 to increase NU's resources through fundraising activities and campaigns. These activities include Planned Giving, which encourages bequests, annuities, trusts, and life income agreements; Corporation and Foundations, which promotes capital gifts and grants from corporations, foundations, and other organizations; Alumni and Friends, which manages donations from former...

Overview This collection contains nine slide shows and accompanying audio cassettes developed for the Office of Admissions, Alumni Relations, Northeastern Corporation meetings, Founders Day, and National Council meetings.