Contents and Arrangement Expanded View
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Collection Overview

Creator:
Princeton University. Office of the President.
Title:
Office of the President Records: William G. Bowen Subgroup
Repository:
Princeton University Archives
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/mg74qm091
Dates:
1940-2005 (mostly 1972-1987)
Size:
467 boxes, 1 folder, and 2 items
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Boxes 1-467; S-000511
Language:
English

Abstract

The collection contains the files compiled by the Office of the President during the presidency of William G. Bowen GS'58 (July 1972 to January 1988). The files consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, speeches, publications, and other assorted material. Series 18 includes the files of three assistants to the president, biographical and photographic material about Bowen, and a card index of the files. There is some overlap between the files in this collection and the files of presidents Goheen and Shapiro. Records found here are sometimes duplicated in the records of other administrative offices on campus.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The collection contains the files compiled by the Office of the President during the presidency of William G. Bowen GS'58 (July 1972 to January 1988). The files consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, speeches, publications, and other assorted material. Series 18 includes the files of three assistants to the president, biographical and photographic material about Bowen, and a card index of the files. There is some overlap between the files in this collection and the files of presidents Goheen and Shapiro. Records found here are sometimes duplicated in the records of other administrative offices on campus.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into eighteen series, organized as closely as possible to the original filing system, and a final series comprised of miscellaneous material. Most series contain subseries, each described individually in the description section below. Items in the folders are filed in reverse chronological order unless otherwise noted. The filing system was largely inherited from Bowen's predecessor, Robert F. Goheen '40, and was bequeathed in turn to Bowen's successor, Harold T. Shapiro GS'64. A card index to Bowen's files, maintained by Bowen's secretaries and still usable, can be found as Subseries 18G (boxes 434-450).

Collection Creator Biography:

Princeton University. Office of the President.

The President is the chief executive officer of the University. They preside at all meetings of the boards of trustees and of the faculty and at all academic functions at which they are present and represent the University before the public. The Trustee by-laws charge them with the general supervision of the interests of the University and with special oversight of the departments of instruction.

Collection History

Acquisition:

The records were received by the University Archives from the Office of the President in March 1989 and July 2001 . Subseries 18.3 may have originated in the Office of Public Affairs, not the Office of the President.

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Matthew Reeder in January through September 2003. Finding aid written by Matthew Reeder in January through September 2003. Accessions of photographs and other material donated by Mary Ellen Bowen were added by Phoebe Nobles in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Material in this collection is restricted for thirty years. The contents of a folder may not be viewed until thirty years after the most recent date marked on the folder.

Subseries 9A: General, and Subseries 9B: Faculty and Staff Individuals, contain some material that is restricted for 75 years, and Subseries 16B: Students--Individuals is restricted for 75 years. Restrictions beyond thirty years are noted in the relevant series and folder descriptions, and on the relevant boxes and folders.

Subseries 18C: Supplementary Materials--Bowen Biographical and Subseries 18I: Supplementary Materials--Photographs are open immediately with no restrictions.

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.

Credit this material:

Office of the President Records: William G. Bowen Subgroup; Princeton University Archives, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/mg74qm091
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): Boxes 1-467; S-000511

Find More

Related Materials

This collection follows, in sequence, the Office of the President Records: Jonathan Dickinson to Harold W. Dodds (AC #117) and the Office of the President Records: Robert F. Goheen (AC #193); and is followed by the Office of the President Records: Harold T. Shapiro (unprocessed). The Princeton University Historical Audiovisual Collection (AC #47) includes three items from Bowen's Office of the President Records: an audiotape entitled "Coeducation at Princeton Forum, 1970," originally found in box 104, folder 13; a videotape labeled "News Film Outs for 11-29-71 Princeton Pres." (the date coincides with the announcement of Bowen's appointment as president); and a videotape labeled "The First 'Presidential Tape' of the Bill-Bo Regime." The records of other administrative and academic departments, offices, organizations, and committees may also relate to this collection.

Other Finding Aids

The Office of the President Records: William G. Bowen Subgroup forms part of the Princeton University Office of the President Records. Finding Aids for other subgroups and portions of the collection are also available online:

Office of the President Records: Jonathan Dickinson to Harold W. Dodds Subgroup, 1746-1999 (bulk 1830-1869): Finding Aid.

Office of the President Records: Robert F. Goheen Subgroup, 1924-1988 (bulk 1957-1972): Finding Aid.

Office of the President Records: Harold Shapiro Subgroup, 1961-2001 (bulk 1987-2001): Finding Aid.

Subject Terms:
College administrators.
Education and state.
Education, Higher -- New Jersey.
Endowments -- United States.
Universities and Colleges -- Administration -- New Jersey -- Princeton.
Names:
Princeton University
Princeton University Faculty.
Princeton University Students
Princeton University. Trustees
Bowen, William G.