Collection Summary
Information for Researchers
Scope and Content
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Records of the Regents of the University of California,
Date (inclusive): 1868-1933
Collection Number: CU-1
Creator:
University of California (System). Regents
Extent:
101 v. and 97 boxes
Repository: The
Bancroft Library. University Archives.
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
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.
Languages Represented:
English
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft
Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which
must also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Records of the Regents of the University of California, CU-1, University Archives, The Bancroft
Library, University of California, Berkeley.
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.