Aleph Number:
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Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
[Identification of item], University Council Records, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
The University Council records were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1963, 1965, 1973.
Processed by Sally Sullivan, July 2008
Encoded by Sally Sullivan, July 2008
Accessions UA63-3, UA65-177, UA73-93 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory:
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
The creation of the University Council was recommended by the General Faculty's Commission on Faculty Reorganization and authorized by the Board of Trustees in a 1952 revision of the University Bylaws. There were fifteen members, ten elected by the faculties of the various schools and colleges, and three appointed by the President. The President and the Vice President in the Educational Division (later the Provost) were members ex officio. There were three officers: the Chair, filled by the President, and a Vice Chair and Secretary, elected annually. The University Council was considered a standing committee of the Faculty and served as an advisory body on matters of general University policy and interest. It was intended to be a means by which the President could keep the Faculty informed of major policy matters, served as an investigative body, and tried to facilitate two-way communication between the Faculty and the Administration. It was supplanted by the Academic Council in 1962.
For histories and evaluations of the University Council. see R.L. Watson's "Report of the Vice Chairman to the University Council," May 23, 1962, and the Faculty and Duke Government: A Year on the University Council," by W. B. Hamilton (1961) located in box 3 below.
The collection contains original typed minutes, printed summary minutes, committee records and reports, correspondence, memoranda, agenda, rosters, election results, and other records ranging in date from 1952-1962.
Major subjects include appointment, tenure and promotion policies, group life and medical insurance, tuition awards for faculty children, and other fringe benefits, the summer session, admission and grading standards, student life and government, and athletics and academics. Also of interest are reports and discussions about desegregation, the Gross-Edens affair, the format and function of the Academic Council, and the faculty's role in the selection of a president and in the revision of the University's Bylaws.
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.