Records of the largest academic division at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM),
which administers numerous centers, departments, and programs. The records document the
administration of the college's six deans: Joseph G. Baier (1956-1966), Roy G. Francis
(1966-1969), Howard J. Pincus (1969-1972), William F. Halloran (1972-1998), Marshall Goodman
(1999-2002), and Richard Meadows (2002-2011). Most of the records date from 1965 to 1980,
but the collection contains a few records from UWM's predecessor institutions and three
boxes of post-1980 material from the Halloran administration.
The majority of the collection consists of the dean's files concerning the centers,
departments, and programs within the college. The records document the development of new
courses and degrees; staffing and equipment needs; plans for future expansion; and efforts
to streamline operations. Also included are copies of correspondence, reports, and
background materials either created by the dean or sent to him from other offices. The files
also contain agendas, minutes, and supporting materials from departmental ad hoc and
standing committees.
The files often contain frank assessments written by the faculty or staff most intimately
involved with the operations, which are very useful in understanding the development of
plans and programs. In many cases, correspondence between the vice chancellor and the dean
found in the departmental files also provides useful documentation. Among the most
well-documented operations are the Centers for Latin American and Twentieth Century Studies;
the Departments of Chemistry, English, and Mass Communication; the Honors Program; Master of
Arts in Foreign Language and Literature Program; and the WUWM radio station.
The records of the Academic Deans Council document the L&S Dean's involvement in
general administrative concerns such as the budget, relevant decisions of the UW System
Regents, and grading and salary policies.
There are numerous records concerning the relations with the local African-American
community and minority students at UWM. Materials can be found in files on "Achievements,
Plans, Resources"; the Ad Hoc Committee on Afro-American Students; affirmative action plan;
Black student advising; the proposed 1968 mentor project; minority students; and the Dept.
of Afro-American Studies. Controversies concerning the cancellation of radio programs aimed
at the African American community are well documented in the files pertaining to the WUWM
radio station.
The chancellor's files, which are most extensive for the early 1960s, usually contain
correspondence regarding general policy issues. Of interest are occasional letters from
Chancellor Klotsche regarding the division of responsibility for a program between the
College and another academic unit.
The correspondence files contain the dean's incoming and outgoing letters with individuals
on and off the campus, usually concerning general policy issues, funding, staffing, and
other administrative concerns. The files also contain some copies of the correspondence of
other university personnel when it pertained to college operations. There is overlap in the
files of correspondence for the years 1964-1966. Some of the correspondence can also be
found in the files on committees, centers, departments, and programs.
The records of the Course and Curriculum Committee normally contain agendas, minutes, and
supporting materials. The committee reviewed plans for new degrees, majors, and minors. It
also discussed and approved course action requests such as changing a course description or
title, or adding and dropping courses. The committee, appointed by the dean, met about every
two weeks.
The records of the Dean's Faculty Advisory Committee normally contain agendas, minutes, and
supporting materials. The committee met monthly to discuss general issues with the dean that
were raised by the Committee members. The records of the college's faculty meetings normally
contain the agendas, minutes, and supporting materials. The faculty approved recommendations
for consideration of candidates for degrees and honors, and approved annual reports and
special reports of the committees within the College. The faculty met once in the spring
semester and once in the fall semester.
Files on the history of the college include a copy of The First Ten
Years, written by Dean Joseph Baier in 1975, and the proceedings, and audio and
video recordings of Forum 1977, a symposium celebrating the
20th anniversary of the college.
The collection contains an extensive run of the memos sent by the dean and the assistant
and associate deans to members of the college. Most of the memos concern routine procedural
matters about meetings, or budgetary, staff, or student affairs.
An excellent overview of the college's operations and plans in the 1970s is the files
containing "Ten Year Plans," and for the 1980s in the files containing "Achievements, Plans,
Resources." The latter normally include a formal organizational chart, and detailed analyses
of affirmative action plans, budgets, student retention, workloads, and other issues.
The statistical analyses and reports contain both summary and detailed information on class
size and cumulative grade point averages; and the number of courses, sections, and students.
The information is presented in graphs and tables.
The collection contains extensive correspondence between the dean and the vice chancellor,
copies of which can sometimes be found in the departmental files. The correspondence usually
discusses funding and staff levels for college operations or major changes in university
procedures.
Also included in the collection is a selection of photographs from various Letters &
Science events and publications. The majority of these are portrait photos of faculty and
staff, but also present are photos of students and alumni, including documentation of the
1999-2000 Alumni College. There are numerous photos of student life, such as students in
class and laboratories, students clubs & groups, and the freshmen scholar picnic. A
folder of departmental files includes scenes from events sponsored by the departments of
Forensic Science, Psychology, and Biology, among others.
