Eisenhower College records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RITArc-0518

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Eisenhower College records contains newsclippings, newsletters and news releases about the college and its activities from 1965-1983, as well as Executive Committee meeting minutes from 1965-1979. It also includes Board of Trustee and Board of Overseers meeting minutes. There are Long Range planning project records from 1979, records from the dissolution of the College and plans for the future of the Seneca Falls, NY campus from 1982-1984. There are several student publications, yearbooks and campus newletters from 1964-1980, campus directories, some course information, commencement programs, and Slater Library records, as well as one box of general history about Eisenhower College. Also included within this collection are memorandums, promotional materials, and information for prospective and incoming students. Within the history is information regarding RIT's takeover and subsequent dissolution of the College.

Of note in this collection is a medallion presented to Eisenhower College on August 11, 1967 by Frances Diment through courtesy of Mrs. Francis J. Flagg (Dr. Mildred Buchanan Flagg). The accompanying note reads: I take pleasure in presenting to the museum of Dwight D. Eisenhower this medallion which was given to me by Susan B. Anthony who was the guest speaker at a convention of Women's Clubs held in Oswego, N.Y. about the year 1897. My mother was the presiding officer and I was proud to be a page for Miss Anthony. Frances Diment. The medallion has a photograph of Susan B. Anthony on one side and a quote by her on the other: "Perfect equality of rights for women."

Dates

Creation: 1970-1990

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Historical Information: Eisenhower College

Eisenhower College was founded as a response to the need of more collegiate institutions; babies from the 1940s were reaching college age and more of the population was aspiring to a college degree. Dr. Scott Skinner, who founded the college, decided that calling the school Eisenhower College would create visibility and lend credibility to the institution. Skinner also saw the use of Eisenhower’s name as a fundraising opportunity; Eisenhower possessed many friends and admirers who might give generously to the college.

The decline of the college began in the early 1970s when the administration had difficulty raising the money necessary to run the institution and pay back loans. The enrollment numbers of freshman steadily declined beginning in 1974. Trustee member John Wiley proposed a merger with RIT in January 1979 and the boards of Eisenhower College and RIT approved the acquisition in March of 1979. The resulting closure of Eisenhower College by RIT in 1982 was due to a lack of federal financial aid, a declining pool of college aged students, and the inability to attract sufficient financial support.

Extent

28 Linear Feet (12 Boxes, hard-bound college paper, catalogs, and miscellaneous documents)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

The collection of Eisenhower College records contains documentation of the operations of the college from the beginning until its' takeover by RIT and eventual closing in 1982. Included are newsclippings, executive committee minutes, Board of Trustee minutes, promotional brochures, planning project, newsletters and news releases, commencement programs, course information, yearbooks, and the college newspaper, The Paper.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series.

Physical Location

C.S. South, Shelves 177-182, Boxes 1-12

Other Finding Aids

In addition to this finding aid, an inventory is available below. For more information, please contact the RIT Archive Collections.

Eisenhower College records