Purdue University Convocations records, 1876-2012 | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

By Archive Staff

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: Purdue University Convocations records, 1876-2012

Predominant Dates:1903-2012

Primary Creator: Purdue University Convocations (1876-)

Extent: 28.75 Cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The Records are organized into six series: Administrative Records, 1948-1970; Performers and Performances, 1903-1979; Promotional Materials, 1892-2012; Scrapbooks, 1965-1979, 1981-2000; Chairman of the University Convocation Committee Scrapbooks, 1923-1955; and Program Scrapbooks, 1876-circa 1918. The series are arranged, for the most part, chronologically by material type. Some of the performer files in Series 6 are organized alphabetically.

Date Acquired: 02/08/2012

Forms of Material: Black-and-white photographs, Clippings (Information artifacts), Correspondence, Financial records, Minutes, Newsletters, Press releases, Programs, Scrapbooks

Languages: English

Abstract

Correspondence, contracts, financial statements, meeting minutes, newspaper clippings, photographs, press releases, programs, season schedules, and other materials and records relating to the lectures and performances offered by Purdue Convocations from its Lecture and Concert Course beginnings to the present day.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Purdue University Convocations Records (1892-2012, predominant 1903-2012; 28.75 cubic feet) documents the pre-history and history of Purdue Convocations. This collection offers researchers an excellent glimpse into the wide-variety of performances offered and showcased courtesy of Purdue Convocations. Types of materials include: budgets and other financial statements, committee meeting minutes, performance schedules, performer contracts, photographs, programs, etc.

Biographical Note

Purdue Convocations began in 1902 with the “Lecture Concert and Course” and today offers a wide-variety of performers in the genres of ballet and dance, Broadway-style shows, cinema, comedy, popular and classical music, and stage theatre. A number of performers have made multiple appearances at Purdue University, courtesy of Purdue Convocations, including Bill Cosby, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Beach Boys, Amy Grant, Chicago, Alan Jackson, STOMP, and the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performed on over forty-five occasions between 1932 and 2002. During its rich history, Purdue Convocations has also offered students, faculty, and local residents an opportunity to see a number of overseas performers, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Chinese Acrobats of Taiwan, Danzas Venezuela, the Hungarian Quartet, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Ballet of Canada, the National Chinese Opera Theatre, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Stars of Soviet and Eastern European Ballet, and the Warsaw Philharmonic. Notable lecturers have included Dean Acheson, George Ade, Clement Attlee, Jimmy Carter, Barry Goldwater, John F. Kennedy, and Alex Haley. Purdue Convocations continues to provide the university and local community with quality entertainment presented in a wide-variety of genres.

Administrative Information

Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Alternate Extent Statement: 10 c.f. boxes, 37 mss. boxes, 10 loose scrapbooks

Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions: Purdue University

Physical Access Note: The scrapbooks comprising Series 5 and Series 6 are very fragile and need to be handled with care. Loose materials from the scrapbooks have been removed and placed in acid-free folders, which accompany their respective scrapbooks in flat boxes.

Acquisition Source: Purdue University Convocations

Acquisition Method: Records transfer

Preferred Citation: UA 12.05.06, Purdue University Convocations Records, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Administrative Records, 1948-1970],
[Series 2: Performers and Performances, 1903-1979],
[Series 3: Promotional Materials, 1892-2012],
[Series 4: Scrapbooks, 1965-1979, 1981-2000],
[Series 5: Chairman of the University Convocation Committee Scrapbooks, 1923-1955],
[Series 6: Program Scrapbooks, 1876-circa 1918],
[All]

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1948-1970

Committee on Convocations and Public Lectures records (including budgets, correspondence, expense and suggestion lists, meeting minutes, and season schedules), 1948-1957; Budget statements and miscellaneous financial records (expenditure statements, vouchers, cost estimates and reports), 1954-1969; miscellaneous administrative records (meeting minutes, correspondence, etc.), 1959-1968; Victory Varieties Committee records (mostly correspondence and meeting minutes), 1951-1965, 1970; mock-up designs for the proposed Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1999; and commissioned music, circa 1980s-2000s.

Materials in the series are arranged by topic, then chronologically by material type. (2.8 cubic feet)

Series 2: Performers and Performances, 1903-1979

Series largely consists of files kept on performers who appeared, or were scheduled to appear, at Purdue between 1947 and 1979. These files include agent press releases, contracts, correspondence, programs, and promotional photographs. The series also includes promotional photographs, circa 1970s; addresses and messages given at Purdue, 1903-1950 (see inventory for inclusive dates); performer and performances slides, circa 1972-1982; and three reel-to-reel tapes of the “Diefenbacker Lecture,” 1970.

Performer files for 1957-1969 were originally arranged alphabetically; files for 1969-1970, chronologically. This arrangement has been maintained. The remaining materials in the series are arranged chronologically by material type. (8.7 cubic feet)

Series 3: Promotional Materials, 1892-2012

Items in this series include programs, 1899-1981; performance schedules, 1892-2012; miscellaneous schedule materials (flyers and brochures, schedule cards, posters, DVDs), 1928-2008; and miscellaneous promotional materials (announcements, booklets, correspondence and memorandums, event brochures, newsletters, newspaper articles and clippings, and order cards), 1896-2006. See attached inventory for predominant dates of materials in the series.

Materials in the series are arranged chronologically by material type. (2.6 cubic feet)

Series 4: Scrapbooks, 1965-1979, 1981-2000

The scrapbooks comprise largely of programs, flyers, and newspaper advertisements, articles, and clippings pertaining to Convocation performances.

Materials in the series are arranged chronologically but are stored either in boxes or as loose items. (11.1 cubic feet)

Series 5: Chairman of the University Convocation Committee Scrapbooks, 1923-1955

Series comprises of scrapbooks kept by Professors J.T. Gunn and Ross Smith during their respective terms as Chairman of the University Convocation Committee. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings, photographs, and programs, along with some correspondence.

The series is arranged chronologically. (3.15 cubic feet)

Series 6: Program Scrapbooks, 1876-circa 1918

This series consists of two scrapbooks of programs from events and performances that took place between 1876 and 1918. The bulk of the programs range from 1876 to 1904.

The series is arranged chronologically. (0.4 cubic feet)