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Pennsylvania State University, College of the Liberal Arts records

 Collection
Identifier: 00574
Link: https://arks.libraries.psu.edu/ark:/42409/fa8wk6r

Scope and Contents

This collection contains university records which are restricted for a period of 20 years from the date of their creation, in accordance with University Policies AD35 and AD95.

This collection contains university records which are subject to Pennsylvania State University’s Retention Schedule. In accordance with University Policies AD35 and AD95, all university personnel records are restricted for 72 years or until the death of the individual.

Dates

  • 1909-2015

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection contains university records which are restricted for a period of 20 years from the date of their creation, in accordance with University Policies AD35 and AD95.

This collection contains university records which are subject to Pennsylvania State University’s Retention Schedule. In accordance with University Policies AD35 and AD95, all university personnel records are restricted for 72 years or until the death of the individual

Conditions Governing Use

Photocopies of original materials may be made available for research purposes at the discretion of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Photocopies or reproductions of original materials may be subject to fees as outlined by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries reproduction policies. Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Patrons seeking advice on the availability of unpublished materials for publication should consult relevant copyright law and laws of libel

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.

Extent

383 Linear Feet (383 Linear Feet and 4 videotapes)

Additional Description

Abstract

The School of the Liberal Arts was created in 1908 and became the College of the Liberal Arts in 1953. This collection of records of the College of the Liberal Arts documents liberal arts programs on all Penn State campuses, and liberal arts programs offered to undergraduates. Collection material include correspondence, comittee reports, meeting minutes, faculty information, personnel files, and administrative records.

Physical Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Penn State University Libraries catalog via the link above. Archival collections may be housed in offsite storage. For materials stored offsite, please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval.

Biographical / Historical

Classes in the liberal arts have been taught at Penn State since the beginning of the Farmer's High School in 1855. Students were offered courses in philosophy, rhetoric, and English grammar and composition, and soon after in languages, political science, literature, and history. The School of Language and Literature was established in 1895 under Benjamin Gill; the same year, the School of History, Political Science, and Philosophy was created, with George W. Atherton as its first head. In 1907, the School of History, Political Science, and Philosophy became the School of History, Mathematics, and Philosophy. In 1909, the two were combined to form the School of the Liberal Arts. The first dean of the new School was Edwin Erle Sparks, former head of the School of History, Mathematics, and Philosophy who held the position of acting dean while he began his term as President of the College, from 1908 to 1910. In 1953, when the Pennsylvania State College became the Pennsylvania State University, the School of the Liberal Arts became the College of the Liberal Arts.

Deans of the School of the Liberal Arts and dates of service:

Erwin Erle Sparks, 1909-1910 (acting)

Samuel Edwin Weber, 1910-1914

Arthur Holmes, 1914-1915 (acting)

Thomas Charles Blaisdell, 1915-1920

Charles William Stoddart, 1920-1945

Charles C. Wagner, 1945-1946 (acting)

Ben Euwema, 1946-1953

Deans of the College of the Liberal Arts and dates of service:

Ben Euwema, 1953-1964

Kenneth D. Roose, 1964-1968

Arthur O. Lewis, 1968-1969 (acting)

Stanley F. Paulson, 1969-1984

Hart M. Nelsen, 1984-1990

Theodore Kiffer, 1990-1991 (interim)

Susan Welch, 1991-2019

Clarence Lang, 2019-present

Subjects

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Pennsylvania State University, College of the Liberal Arts records
Status
Published
Author
Prepared by Special Collections Library faculty/staff and Robyn Dyke
Date
2013; 3/3/14; 6/9/14
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 4/16/13; 7/15/13; 7/8/1/13; 8/5/13; 8/21/13; 9/25/13; 11/12/13; 12/20/13; 1/13/14; 4/25/14: RD - Updated InventoryRD - Added Scope and Content
  • 2019: As part of See Something request by Angel Diaz, updated Bio/Hist note. Also added and updated standard notes for batch update, including resource type, updated container summary, updated preferred citation, and updated conditions governing access. Additionally updated notes for grammar. Lexy deGraffenreid, August 20, 2019
  • 2021: As part of bulk updates, Benjamin Mitchell updated standardized notes to current standard

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library Repository

https://libraries.psu.edu/specialcollections
Contact:
104 Paterno Library
Penn State University
University Park 16802 USA