Records of the Regents of the University of California, 1868-1933

Summary

Creators:

University of California (System). Regents

Abstract:

The bulk of these records cover the period 1868 to 1918; records after 1918 consist of an incomplete set of minutes of Regents' meetings. Boxes of records are arranged by chronological periods, then into three groups within each period : administrative files, correspondence files, and files relating to the Affiliated Colleges. After 1910 Affiliated Colleges files are integrated into the administrative files. Volumes consist of letterpress copy books. Vol. 1-101 are letters of the Secretary of the Regents, Nov. 1868-Feb. 1905.

Extent:

101 v. and 97 boxes

Language:

English

Background

Scope and content:

The Regents are the governing body of the University. In the early history of the University the Regents were involved in day to day operations, so the bulk of these records document all facets of the growth and development of the University, especially in the 19th century. After the arrival of President Benjamin Ide Wheeler many operations came under the control of the President; the administrative and correspondence files in this collection do not go past 1918, and the Records of the President sometimes yield additional or even greater information during the early 20th period than these records.

While there is an incomplete series (1911-1933) of minutes of Regents meetings at the end of this collection, University Archives unfortunately does not have a complete set of Regents minutes. University Archives does have a separate set of minutes, complete beginning with January 1964 (CU-1.4), and a set of Regents meeting agenda materials, beginning January 1985 (CU-1.2). The Office of the Secretary of the Regents has a complete set on microfilm, with indexes, which may be consulted.

There are basically three series of records in this collection: administrative files, correspondence files, and the minutes. In addition there is a distinction between general administrative files and files of the Affiliated Colleges (medicine, dentistry, etc., located in San Francisco) These are arranged in somewhat inconsistent chronological groups as outlined below.

The administrative files consist primarily of subject files by general topic (e.g., finance, land) or by name of department (e.g., agriculture, german). Correspondence files are generally filed alphabetically within each year, although those for 1911-18 are in one alphabet for the entire span of years. Unfortunately, most of the folders bear only the part of alphabet they cover; there are relatively few folders for specific correspondents and thus access by name is almost non-existent.

In addition to this list of the collection, University Archives has a subject index on cards which was compiled some years ago. The references in this index refer in many cases to subjects mentioned in the correspondence files, which are not evident from this list. Researchers looking for topics not immediately apparent in this list are encouraged to inquire whether a certain topic is to be found in the card index.

Physical location:

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Location of this collection:

UC Berkeley, University Archives

University of California, Berkeley, University Archives, The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US

Contact:

(510) 642-6481

bancref-library@berkeley.edu

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