Christopher N. Breiseth papers, 1863-2013, bulk 1984 - 2001
Collection
Identifier: 02-04-001-01
Scope and Content
Materials within the Breiseth series contain correspondence, memorandum, financial reports and statements, public relations materials, news clippings, meeting agendas and minutes, files of faculty, students and alumni, course and curriculum materials, legal documents, property documents and files, speech and lecture materials and transcripts, and documents from other institutions and organizations during the Christopher N. Breiseth presidential administration. Most of the documents were created during Breiseth’s administration from 1984-2001 and concern various aspects of campus development, academic and administrative departments, correspondence with Wilkes personnel and outside organizations and individuals, campus events and lectures, Wilkes finances and strategic long-range planning, and curriculum development. Some documents predate and postdate these ranges, including property documents from the late 19th century and documents that overlap into President Gilmour’s presidential administration.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1863-2013, 1984-2001
Access
While some folders are open for research, the majority of folders within The Christopher N. Breiseth papers are restricted. Materials will be open from restriction in 50-80 years from the date of their creation.
Biographical / Historical
Dr. Christopher Neri Breiseth was born on October 6, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the midst of the Great Depression. Born in the caul, his mother believed his life had special importance, and as the first male born among his siblings, he was the priority— a telling foreshadowing of his achievements to come later in his life.
He became a member of the Boy Scouts in Minneapolis and later joined Troop 48 in Culver City, California. He spent two years in the Scouts as a First Class. Afterward, he became a chaplain at Demolay International, a masonic group for young boys. In 1954, he graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School and was presented with the unique award of a pin with Hamilton’s head. Breiseth attended the University of California and earned a BA in History in 1958. Under requirement, he became a member of AFROTC, but refused to sign an oath, aligning with conscientious objection. In 1962, Breiseth went to graduate school at Oxford University and earned a Bachelor of Letters in Modern British History. In 1964, he earned his PhD in Modern European Intellectual History at Cornell University. He married Jane Morehouse in February of 1964. Together they had three daughters: Abigail, born in November of 1968; Erika, born in June of 1970; and Lydia, born in April of 1980. The Breiseth couple stayed together until Jane’s passing in 2012. Early on in his career, Breseith made sure to solidify his experience in working in the academic field. In 1959, Breiseth became a trustee of the Telluride Association and was responsible for fiduciary duties and activities for the Association. In 1963, he became the chair of the Telluride Association Summer Program board and from 1965 to 1967, he became President of the Telluride Association. During this time, Breiseth attended meetings for the Trustees of Deep Springs College, a small private college in California consisting of only 24 male students. His experience teaching in the Telluride summer program at Deep Springs in 1969 eventually emboldened him to become the college’s president from 1980 to 1983. During these years, Breseith also served as a History assistant professor at Williams College and a History professor at Sangamon State University.
In 1984, at the age of 47, Breiseth became the fourth president of Wilkes College. He served seventeen years until 2001, the second longest presidential administration in the institution’s history aside from the first president, Eugene Shedden Farley.
One of Breiseth’s most notable achievements during his administration was building the community and academic prosperity of Wilkes by overseeing the transition from Wilkes’s status as a college to a university in 1990. In 1996, under Breiseth’s administration, Wilkes created a doctoral pharmacy program for medical students, which enabled Wilkes to grow beyond its small, liberal arts nature. In 1999, Breiseth and his senior team also oversaw the construction of the Henry Student Center, the busy hub for Wilkes students and faculty for any activities and needs. Under Breiseth’s leadership, Wilkes joined a national coalition, Campus Compact, to promote student involvement and engagement in community service. His vision was to foster student engagement in the Wilkes-Barre community. Breiseth served on the Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Campus Compact, taking student leaders to conferences in Harrisburg and meeting with numerous fellow college presidents and their own student groups.
In order to bring well-known individuals to Wilkes, Breiseth promoted Wilkes commencement ceremonies and the annual Max Rosenn Lecture in the Law and Humanities. He also became involved with the university’s academic and Student Affairs departments in arranging and hosting additional visits and lectures. Under his leadership, Wilkes was able to host dinners and lecture series within the English department for notable writers that included the likes of John Updike, Imamu Baraka, and Jamaica Kincaid.
Breiseth put a local spotlight on Wilkes after he personally arranged a special lecture event featuring Father Andrew Greeley. Back when Father Greeley was part of the National Opinion Research Center, he and Breiseth got to know each other. Father Greeley’s visit helped stir public interest and attention onto the university, as Wilkes is one of the few non-Catholic baccalaureate colleges in Northeastern Pennsylvania, despite a large portion of the population being Roman Catholic.
For Breiseth, one of his most peculiar yet personally fulfilling experiences he was involved in happened in 1998, where he helped arrange the granting of an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering to Jerzy Kluger, a close friend of Karol Wojtyla, who would become the future Archbishop of Kraków, and eventually Pope John Paul II. One of Breiseth’s two most expensive fundraising efforts raised approximately $50 million in funds: an endowment, which had originally started at $2.5 million, grew to $24 million at the time of his retirement. The other fundraiser led to the creation of the Fenner Quadrangle, the opening campus pathway that connects Northampton Street to South Street. The Quadrangle also ties the Burns Bell Tower and statue of John Wilkes into everyday Wilkes life, with students, faculty, and visitors passing by them on their regular walks throughout campus. During his administration, the university also saw the creation of a prime television studio, with funds raised from Thomas Shelburne, which collaborated with the long-standing radio and film studio that many Wilkes students used for experience in their future careers.
In addition to building upon the organization within Wilkes University, Breiseth also involved himself with local fellow educational institutions, building upon the Council of Presidents. Initially the council only included the presidents of Wilkes, King’s College, and Misericordia University (then known as College Misericordia), but Breiseth was able to organize the inclusion of presidents of Luzerne County Community College and Penn State University’s Wilkes-Barre campus. The collaboration of these higher education administrators produced a distinct influence on the K-12 education sector in the Wyoming Valley, especially after the creation of the Educational Leadership Council, which included all regional school superintendents, principals, directors, and heads of local schools, both private and public.
After an industrious seventeen year tenure at Wilkes, President Breiseth resigned in July 2001. Future Wilkes University president Pat Leahy granted Breiseth with an Honorary Doctorate in May 2014. After his resignation, Breiseth became the first President-in-Residence of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. He started his new job as President and CEO on September 4, 2001. Breiseth retired from the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute in 2008. In 2012, the second Wilkes president, Francis J. Michelini approached Breiseth to create a Wilkes Oral History project with other past presidents, Bob Capin and Tim Gilmour. From 2016 to February 2020, Breiseth returned to Wilkes’ campus regularly to conduct oral history interviews with retired faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni to preserve Wilkes’ institutional history. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these oral history interviews have continued through Zoom recordings. Today, Breiseth is currently in the process of writing his own autobiographical memoir, detailing his life through adolescence, school, and his life-long career in academia and organizations.
He became a member of the Boy Scouts in Minneapolis and later joined Troop 48 in Culver City, California. He spent two years in the Scouts as a First Class. Afterward, he became a chaplain at Demolay International, a masonic group for young boys. In 1954, he graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School and was presented with the unique award of a pin with Hamilton’s head. Breiseth attended the University of California and earned a BA in History in 1958. Under requirement, he became a member of AFROTC, but refused to sign an oath, aligning with conscientious objection. In 1962, Breiseth went to graduate school at Oxford University and earned a Bachelor of Letters in Modern British History. In 1964, he earned his PhD in Modern European Intellectual History at Cornell University. He married Jane Morehouse in February of 1964. Together they had three daughters: Abigail, born in November of 1968; Erika, born in June of 1970; and Lydia, born in April of 1980. The Breiseth couple stayed together until Jane’s passing in 2012. Early on in his career, Breseith made sure to solidify his experience in working in the academic field. In 1959, Breiseth became a trustee of the Telluride Association and was responsible for fiduciary duties and activities for the Association. In 1963, he became the chair of the Telluride Association Summer Program board and from 1965 to 1967, he became President of the Telluride Association. During this time, Breiseth attended meetings for the Trustees of Deep Springs College, a small private college in California consisting of only 24 male students. His experience teaching in the Telluride summer program at Deep Springs in 1969 eventually emboldened him to become the college’s president from 1980 to 1983. During these years, Breseith also served as a History assistant professor at Williams College and a History professor at Sangamon State University.
In 1984, at the age of 47, Breiseth became the fourth president of Wilkes College. He served seventeen years until 2001, the second longest presidential administration in the institution’s history aside from the first president, Eugene Shedden Farley.
One of Breiseth’s most notable achievements during his administration was building the community and academic prosperity of Wilkes by overseeing the transition from Wilkes’s status as a college to a university in 1990. In 1996, under Breiseth’s administration, Wilkes created a doctoral pharmacy program for medical students, which enabled Wilkes to grow beyond its small, liberal arts nature. In 1999, Breiseth and his senior team also oversaw the construction of the Henry Student Center, the busy hub for Wilkes students and faculty for any activities and needs. Under Breiseth’s leadership, Wilkes joined a national coalition, Campus Compact, to promote student involvement and engagement in community service. His vision was to foster student engagement in the Wilkes-Barre community. Breiseth served on the Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Campus Compact, taking student leaders to conferences in Harrisburg and meeting with numerous fellow college presidents and their own student groups.
In order to bring well-known individuals to Wilkes, Breiseth promoted Wilkes commencement ceremonies and the annual Max Rosenn Lecture in the Law and Humanities. He also became involved with the university’s academic and Student Affairs departments in arranging and hosting additional visits and lectures. Under his leadership, Wilkes was able to host dinners and lecture series within the English department for notable writers that included the likes of John Updike, Imamu Baraka, and Jamaica Kincaid.
Breiseth put a local spotlight on Wilkes after he personally arranged a special lecture event featuring Father Andrew Greeley. Back when Father Greeley was part of the National Opinion Research Center, he and Breiseth got to know each other. Father Greeley’s visit helped stir public interest and attention onto the university, as Wilkes is one of the few non-Catholic baccalaureate colleges in Northeastern Pennsylvania, despite a large portion of the population being Roman Catholic.
For Breiseth, one of his most peculiar yet personally fulfilling experiences he was involved in happened in 1998, where he helped arrange the granting of an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering to Jerzy Kluger, a close friend of Karol Wojtyla, who would become the future Archbishop of Kraków, and eventually Pope John Paul II. One of Breiseth’s two most expensive fundraising efforts raised approximately $50 million in funds: an endowment, which had originally started at $2.5 million, grew to $24 million at the time of his retirement. The other fundraiser led to the creation of the Fenner Quadrangle, the opening campus pathway that connects Northampton Street to South Street. The Quadrangle also ties the Burns Bell Tower and statue of John Wilkes into everyday Wilkes life, with students, faculty, and visitors passing by them on their regular walks throughout campus. During his administration, the university also saw the creation of a prime television studio, with funds raised from Thomas Shelburne, which collaborated with the long-standing radio and film studio that many Wilkes students used for experience in their future careers.
In addition to building upon the organization within Wilkes University, Breiseth also involved himself with local fellow educational institutions, building upon the Council of Presidents. Initially the council only included the presidents of Wilkes, King’s College, and Misericordia University (then known as College Misericordia), but Breiseth was able to organize the inclusion of presidents of Luzerne County Community College and Penn State University’s Wilkes-Barre campus. The collaboration of these higher education administrators produced a distinct influence on the K-12 education sector in the Wyoming Valley, especially after the creation of the Educational Leadership Council, which included all regional school superintendents, principals, directors, and heads of local schools, both private and public.
After an industrious seventeen year tenure at Wilkes, President Breiseth resigned in July 2001. Future Wilkes University president Pat Leahy granted Breiseth with an Honorary Doctorate in May 2014. After his resignation, Breiseth became the first President-in-Residence of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. He started his new job as President and CEO on September 4, 2001. Breiseth retired from the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute in 2008. In 2012, the second Wilkes president, Francis J. Michelini approached Breiseth to create a Wilkes Oral History project with other past presidents, Bob Capin and Tim Gilmour. From 2016 to February 2020, Breiseth returned to Wilkes’ campus regularly to conduct oral history interviews with retired faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni to preserve Wilkes’ institutional history. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these oral history interviews have continued through Zoom recordings. Today, Breiseth is currently in the process of writing his own autobiographical memoir, detailing his life through adolescence, school, and his life-long career in academia and organizations.
Extent
54 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Provenance
The Christopher N. Breiseth papers (Accession 00010 and Accession 00012) were donated by Christopher N. Breiseth to Weckesser Hall. They were located in the Weckesser Hall basement and transferred to the Archives in July 2013. In 2017, these files were combined together into one collection (approximately 17 cubic feet white boxes). Additional records that were kept by secretaries in the music room were donated prior to 2012 and maintained separately in file cabinets by University Historian Harold Cox. In 2012, Computer Science and Public Services Librarian Elizabeth Sullivan inventoried these file cabinet records.
Acquisition
The Christopher N. Breiseth papers were transferred to the Archives from the Weckesser Hall basement from July 8th, 2013 through July 11, 2013. Accession numbers 00010 and 00012 were combined together on February 10, 2017. A separate file cabinet containing Breiseth papers was kept in the Archives prior to 2012 and was inventoried by former Computer Science and Public Services Librarian Elizabeth Sullivan in 2012.
Condition Note
Due to the use of iron-containing materials such as staples and paperclips, some papers have traces of rust on them. Older documents, mainly ones that are labelled from the 50s-70s, have an abundance of rust on them, but are still generally readable. In these cases, these papers should be handled with care as their condition has left them fragile. Additionally, a majority of the correspondence is carbon copy paper, or labelled as “0.25” or “25%” paper and are thinner than normal paper; these papers must be treated gently.
Copyright Status
Wilkes University retains copyright of the Christopher N. Breiseth papers.
References
Drafts of Breiseth’s personal memoir.
Series Descriptions
The Christopher N. Breiseth papers are arranged into 14 series, with a total of 6 subseries.
Series I: Administration, 1955-2008
Series I: Administration, 1955-2008, is arranged into four subseries: Subseries I: Board of Trustees, 1982-2001, Subseries II: Administrative Development, 1984-2000, Subseries III: Past Administrations, 1955-1987, and Subseries IV: Future Administrations, 2001-2008. The documents found within this series are arranged alphabetically. Subseries I: Board of Trustees, 1982-2001 Subseries I: Board of Trustees, 1982, 2001, is arranged alphabetically and contains documents that relate to the Board of Trustees during Bresieth’s administration, which sought to elect officials to manage the administrative decisions of Wilkes, ensuring that the college maintained its best possible value. Materials include correspondence, contact information, memorandum, meeting agendas and minutes, and personal notes. A notable folder includes the presidential search that led to the hiring of Breiseth. Subseries II: Administrative Development, 1984-2000 Subseries II: Administrative Development, 1984-2000, is arranged alphabetically and contains the chronological developments of Wilkes during Breiseth’s presidency. These documents revolve around the public image of Wilkes and its relation to the campus community, and ways that the administration sought to improve the institution. One example includes the five-year endeavor in seeking university status for Wilkes.
Subseries III: Past Administrations, 1955-1987 Subseries III: Past Administrations, 1955-1987, is arranged alphabetically and contains documents from past administrations. Although there are numerous documents present throughout the entire collection that date from before Breiseth’s administration, the documents present in this subseries do not relate to Breiseth. Some materials include the restoration of the Stark Learning Center after flood damage from Hurricane Agnes during the Michelini administration, and the application for the creation of Bucknell Junior College in 1933.
Subseries IV: Future Administrations, 2001-2008 Subseries IV: Future Administrations, 2001-2008, is arranged alphabetically and contains documents from future administrations that succeeded Brieseth. This subseries include materials from Joseph E. Gilmour’s presidency (2001-2012) and include meeting minutes, commencement files, and public relations materials.
Series II: Councils and Committees, 1982-2002 Series II: Councils and Committees, 1982-2002, is sorted alphabetically. These boxes contain documents relating to various councils and committees running Wilkes, typically created by the Board of Trustees for certain issues or topics. Some of these include committees relating to labor, education, academic programs, student affairs, campaigns and others. Series III: Correspondence, 1970-2000 Series III: Correspondence, 1970-2000, is sorted alphabetically. This series includes Breiseth’s correspondence and memorandum with college insitutitions, nonprofit organizations, public figures, Wilkes faculty, departments and administrations, Correspondence and memorandum range from typical discussions, administrative reviews, student admission proposals and agreements, and organization of events, projects, centers, and initiatives. Series IV: Historical Info of Family Properties, 1863-2013 Series IV: Historical Info of Family Properties, 1863-2013, is sorted into two subseries: Subseries I: Property Documents, 1863-2013, and Subseries II: Annette Evans Property and Foundation, 1969-1986. Although a large portion of these documents are from before Breiseth’s presidency, the folders all contain similar filing formats. Therefore, they have been kept in this series for organizational purposes. Subseries I: Property Documents, 1863-2013 Subseries I: Property Documents, 1863-2013, is arranged alphabetically, and contains a large collection of property documents from the 1860s to the 2010s that are located in Wilkes-Barre and its surrounding areas. Many properties are owned by families with influence in Wilkes, either donating their properties to Wilkes or having these properties purchased and/or dedicated by Wilkes. The various properties include administrative or administrative buildings, residence halls, or apartments. Materials include memorandum and correspondence with families and attorneys, legal documents, and property deeds.
Subseries II: Annette Evans Property and Foundation, 1969-1986 Subseries II: Annette Evans Property and Foundation, 1969-1986, is arranged alphabetically. Annette Evans, who passed away in 1972, signed a trustee deed with Wilkes College in 1969 that made her house a donation to the college. This series contains information regarding her property, the legal deed, and financial documents from the Annette Evans Foundation. Series V: Legal Documents, 1947-2005 Series V: Legal Documents, 1947-2005 is sorted alphabetically. The legal documents series is a collection of various legal agreements and student and faculty files, some of which are highly sensitive. Therefore, boxes 21 and 22 are permanently restricted from public use due to their confidential materials.
Series VI: Convocations, Lectures and Seminars, 1982-2000 Series VI: Convocations, Lectures and Seminars, 1982-2000, is arranged alphabetically and contains numerous special events that happened during Breiseth’s presidency. These materials revolve around commencement ceremonies, convocations, the Rosenn lecture series, seminar series, Sordoni Art Gallery exhibits, and memorandum and correspondence. Series VII: Campus Development, 1925-2004
Series VII: Campus Development, 1925-2004, is sorted alphabetically and contains documents and files relating to various developmental projects and initiatives to improve the life, image and property of Wilkes, such as creating and organizing fundraising campaigns and events. This series also includes development files of the Marts Center construction and creation of the Bell Tower. Series VIII: Departments, 1978-2001 Series VIII: Departments, 1978-2001, is arranged alphabetically and contains a large variety of documents from various academic and administrative departments and programs across Wilkes. Materials include department and program publications, memorandum and correspondence, department reports, program and course descriptions, bachelor’s and master’s degree descriptions, and event flyers and booklets.
Series IX: Strategic Long-Range Planning, 1981-2001 Series IX: Strategic Long-Range Planning, 1981-2001, is arranged alphabetically and contains materials regarding Wilkes’s self-study reports and Middle States Association. Materials include memorandum and correspondence, reports and drafts. Due to the sensitive and confidential nature of these documents, all strategic long-range planning documents (boxes 38-41) are restricted. Series X: Institutions and Organizations, 1975-1991 Series X: Institutions and Organizations, 1975-1991, is arranged alphabetically. It contains documents to and from various institutions and organizations that the Breiseth administration worked and communicated with, such as schools, colleges and universities, and organizations, both national and international. Some local and national institutions included Harvard University, Temple University, Allentown College, and New York schools. Some international organizations included those from Bulgaria, Malaysia, Sweden, and others. Series XI: Alumni, 1974-2013 Series XI: Alumni, 1974-2013, is arranged alphabetically. It contains documents relating to alumni relations at Wilkes. Materials include memorandum and correspondence with alumni, alumni donation files, and other documents relating to and from the Alumni Faculty House. Due to the sensitive and confidential nature of these documents, both alumni boxes (46 and 47) are restricted from public use and viewing. Series XII: Finances, 1983-2000 Series XII: Finances, 1983-2000, is sorted alphabetically. The series contains various financial documents and records regarding the funding of Wilkes, payouts to faculty, tuition, and donations. Due to the confidential nature of these documents, all finance boxes (48-50) are restricted.
Series XIII: Faculty, 1979-2005 Series XIII: Faculty, 1979-2005, is arranged alphabetically and contains information and documents related to Wilkes faculty. These materials include faculty memorandum and correspondence, faculty evaluations, prospects of faculty, course proposals, and resumes and CVs. Due to the sensitive and confidential nature of the materials in this series, both faculty boxes (51 and 52) are restricted. Series XIV: Curriculum and Education, 1981-2000 Series XIV: Curriculum and Education, 1981-2000, is arranged alphabetically. It contains documents about review of Wilkes’s curriculum and enrollment. Materials include memorandum and correspondence, core and course review committee documents, publications and studies regarding Wilkes’s educational endeavors and collaborative projects.
Series I: Administration, 1955-2008
Series I: Administration, 1955-2008, is arranged into four subseries: Subseries I: Board of Trustees, 1982-2001, Subseries II: Administrative Development, 1984-2000, Subseries III: Past Administrations, 1955-1987, and Subseries IV: Future Administrations, 2001-2008. The documents found within this series are arranged alphabetically. Subseries I: Board of Trustees, 1982-2001 Subseries I: Board of Trustees, 1982, 2001, is arranged alphabetically and contains documents that relate to the Board of Trustees during Bresieth’s administration, which sought to elect officials to manage the administrative decisions of Wilkes, ensuring that the college maintained its best possible value. Materials include correspondence, contact information, memorandum, meeting agendas and minutes, and personal notes. A notable folder includes the presidential search that led to the hiring of Breiseth. Subseries II: Administrative Development, 1984-2000 Subseries II: Administrative Development, 1984-2000, is arranged alphabetically and contains the chronological developments of Wilkes during Breiseth’s presidency. These documents revolve around the public image of Wilkes and its relation to the campus community, and ways that the administration sought to improve the institution. One example includes the five-year endeavor in seeking university status for Wilkes.
Subseries III: Past Administrations, 1955-1987 Subseries III: Past Administrations, 1955-1987, is arranged alphabetically and contains documents from past administrations. Although there are numerous documents present throughout the entire collection that date from before Breiseth’s administration, the documents present in this subseries do not relate to Breiseth. Some materials include the restoration of the Stark Learning Center after flood damage from Hurricane Agnes during the Michelini administration, and the application for the creation of Bucknell Junior College in 1933.
Subseries IV: Future Administrations, 2001-2008 Subseries IV: Future Administrations, 2001-2008, is arranged alphabetically and contains documents from future administrations that succeeded Brieseth. This subseries include materials from Joseph E. Gilmour’s presidency (2001-2012) and include meeting minutes, commencement files, and public relations materials.
Series II: Councils and Committees, 1982-2002 Series II: Councils and Committees, 1982-2002, is sorted alphabetically. These boxes contain documents relating to various councils and committees running Wilkes, typically created by the Board of Trustees for certain issues or topics. Some of these include committees relating to labor, education, academic programs, student affairs, campaigns and others. Series III: Correspondence, 1970-2000 Series III: Correspondence, 1970-2000, is sorted alphabetically. This series includes Breiseth’s correspondence and memorandum with college insitutitions, nonprofit organizations, public figures, Wilkes faculty, departments and administrations, Correspondence and memorandum range from typical discussions, administrative reviews, student admission proposals and agreements, and organization of events, projects, centers, and initiatives. Series IV: Historical Info of Family Properties, 1863-2013 Series IV: Historical Info of Family Properties, 1863-2013, is sorted into two subseries: Subseries I: Property Documents, 1863-2013, and Subseries II: Annette Evans Property and Foundation, 1969-1986. Although a large portion of these documents are from before Breiseth’s presidency, the folders all contain similar filing formats. Therefore, they have been kept in this series for organizational purposes. Subseries I: Property Documents, 1863-2013 Subseries I: Property Documents, 1863-2013, is arranged alphabetically, and contains a large collection of property documents from the 1860s to the 2010s that are located in Wilkes-Barre and its surrounding areas. Many properties are owned by families with influence in Wilkes, either donating their properties to Wilkes or having these properties purchased and/or dedicated by Wilkes. The various properties include administrative or administrative buildings, residence halls, or apartments. Materials include memorandum and correspondence with families and attorneys, legal documents, and property deeds.
Subseries II: Annette Evans Property and Foundation, 1969-1986 Subseries II: Annette Evans Property and Foundation, 1969-1986, is arranged alphabetically. Annette Evans, who passed away in 1972, signed a trustee deed with Wilkes College in 1969 that made her house a donation to the college. This series contains information regarding her property, the legal deed, and financial documents from the Annette Evans Foundation. Series V: Legal Documents, 1947-2005 Series V: Legal Documents, 1947-2005 is sorted alphabetically. The legal documents series is a collection of various legal agreements and student and faculty files, some of which are highly sensitive. Therefore, boxes 21 and 22 are permanently restricted from public use due to their confidential materials.
Series VI: Convocations, Lectures and Seminars, 1982-2000 Series VI: Convocations, Lectures and Seminars, 1982-2000, is arranged alphabetically and contains numerous special events that happened during Breiseth’s presidency. These materials revolve around commencement ceremonies, convocations, the Rosenn lecture series, seminar series, Sordoni Art Gallery exhibits, and memorandum and correspondence. Series VII: Campus Development, 1925-2004
Series VII: Campus Development, 1925-2004, is sorted alphabetically and contains documents and files relating to various developmental projects and initiatives to improve the life, image and property of Wilkes, such as creating and organizing fundraising campaigns and events. This series also includes development files of the Marts Center construction and creation of the Bell Tower. Series VIII: Departments, 1978-2001 Series VIII: Departments, 1978-2001, is arranged alphabetically and contains a large variety of documents from various academic and administrative departments and programs across Wilkes. Materials include department and program publications, memorandum and correspondence, department reports, program and course descriptions, bachelor’s and master’s degree descriptions, and event flyers and booklets.
Series IX: Strategic Long-Range Planning, 1981-2001 Series IX: Strategic Long-Range Planning, 1981-2001, is arranged alphabetically and contains materials regarding Wilkes’s self-study reports and Middle States Association. Materials include memorandum and correspondence, reports and drafts. Due to the sensitive and confidential nature of these documents, all strategic long-range planning documents (boxes 38-41) are restricted. Series X: Institutions and Organizations, 1975-1991 Series X: Institutions and Organizations, 1975-1991, is arranged alphabetically. It contains documents to and from various institutions and organizations that the Breiseth administration worked and communicated with, such as schools, colleges and universities, and organizations, both national and international. Some local and national institutions included Harvard University, Temple University, Allentown College, and New York schools. Some international organizations included those from Bulgaria, Malaysia, Sweden, and others. Series XI: Alumni, 1974-2013 Series XI: Alumni, 1974-2013, is arranged alphabetically. It contains documents relating to alumni relations at Wilkes. Materials include memorandum and correspondence with alumni, alumni donation files, and other documents relating to and from the Alumni Faculty House. Due to the sensitive and confidential nature of these documents, both alumni boxes (46 and 47) are restricted from public use and viewing. Series XII: Finances, 1983-2000 Series XII: Finances, 1983-2000, is sorted alphabetically. The series contains various financial documents and records regarding the funding of Wilkes, payouts to faculty, tuition, and donations. Due to the confidential nature of these documents, all finance boxes (48-50) are restricted.
Series XIII: Faculty, 1979-2005 Series XIII: Faculty, 1979-2005, is arranged alphabetically and contains information and documents related to Wilkes faculty. These materials include faculty memorandum and correspondence, faculty evaluations, prospects of faculty, course proposals, and resumes and CVs. Due to the sensitive and confidential nature of the materials in this series, both faculty boxes (51 and 52) are restricted. Series XIV: Curriculum and Education, 1981-2000 Series XIV: Curriculum and Education, 1981-2000, is arranged alphabetically. It contains documents about review of Wilkes’s curriculum and enrollment. Materials include memorandum and correspondence, core and course review committee documents, publications and studies regarding Wilkes’s educational endeavors and collaborative projects.
Processed By:
Emily Cherkauskas, Archives intern, supervised by Suzanna Calev, Archivist, Spring 2021.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu