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Collection Overview

Creator:
Colman, Jeffrey D.
Title:
Robertson v. Princeton University Case Records
Repository:
Princeton University Archives
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/rj4307196
Dates:
1961-2008
Size:
34 boxes and 29 digital files
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1-34
Language:
English

Abstract

The Robertson v. Princeton University lawsuit was a dispute between the university and members of the Robertson family regarding the use of a multi-million dollar endowment given by Marie Robertson, wife of Charles Robertson, a member of the Class of 1926. The collection consists of board meeting materials of the Robertson Foundation, depositions of Princeton University administrators including then university president Shirley Tilghman, expert reports, and other documents pertaining to the Robertson v. Princeton University lawsuit.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of records related to the Robertson v. Princeton University lawsuit including: board meeting materials of the Robertson Foundation, the depositions of several Princeton University administrators including former presidents William G. Bowen, Robert F. Goheen, Harold T. Shapiro, and Shirley Tilghman, reports from experts in finance and law, financial statements, and other legal documents pertaining to the Robertson v. Princeton University lawsuit.

Please see descriptions in contents list for additional information about individual series.

Arrangement

Records have been arranged in five series: Meetings, Depositions, Expert Reports, Audit Reports, and Miscellaneous Documents.

Collection Creator Biography:

Colman, Jeffrey D.

The Robertson v. Princeton University lawsuit was a dispute between the university and members of the Robertson family regarding the use of a multi-million dollar endowment given by Marie Robertson, wife of Charles Robertson, a member of the Class of 1926. The funds established the Robertson Foundation in 1961 for the expansion and support of academic study at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. As a result of disagreements over control and disbursement of the funds, in July of 2002 William S. Robertson '72, along with other members of the Robertson family, filed a lawsuit against the University and designated Trustees of the Robertson Foundation. A settlement agreement was reached on December 9, 2008, that called for the dissolution of the Robertson Foundation and the creation of a new fund that would continue support of the graduate program at the Woodrow Wilson School. The records in this collection were transferred to the University Archives through an attorney, Jeffrey D. Colman, acting on behalf of an anonymous donor.

Collection History

Acquisition:

Materials were transferred to the University Archives in July 2014 (Accession number AR.2014.053).

Appraisal

No materials were separated from the collection at the time of accessioning.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Rossy Mendez in 2015. Finding aid written by Rossy M. Mendez in 2015 with the aid of Jarrett M. Drake.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is closed until November 17, 2026.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. For instances beyond Fair Use, if copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of materials from the Princeton University Archives.

For instances beyond Fair Use where the copyright is not held by the University, while permission from the Library is not required, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

This collection contains materials created and used in digital formats. Researchers are responsible for meeting the technical requirements needed to access these materials, including any and all hardware and software.

Credit this material:

Robertson v. Princeton University Case Records; Princeton University Archives, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/rj4307196
Location:
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
65 Olden Street
Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
(609) 258-6345
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1-34