When Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew incorporated the Board of Trustees for the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1863, the fourteen members of the board were charged with creating a new agricultural college. Since that time, the Board of Trustees (including student trustees) had governed the University, meeting regularly to act on University-wide matters of policy, mission, finance, and campus maintenance. Governance responsibilities in some areas (e.g., tuition, academic program review and approval) are shared with the statewide Board of Higher Education. The Board of Trustees maintains a Chair and six standing committees: Executive, Administration and Finance, Academic and Student Affairs, Athletics, Audit, and External Affairs. The President and the Five College Chancellors administer board policy.

The bulk of the Board of Trustees records consists of meeting minutes (1906-2007) and Trustee Documents (1963-2007), along with the papers of a small number of individual trustees and the records of the Trustees’ “Commission on the Future of the University of Massachusetts” (1988-1989), which resulted in the consolidation of the state’s five public university campuses under a single President and Board of Trustees. In partnership with the Board of Trustees, SCUA has digitized the complete minutes of the Board from chartering of the university in 1863 through 2004.

Established in 1968 in response to the war in Vietnam, the AFSC office in western Massachusetts did not limit its focus to draft and military counseling, instead the organization broadened its focus over time to include educational and outreach programs for a variety of peace and socal justice issues. Today the chapter focuses on economic justice, campaigns against U.S. military intervention, and actions to combat racism and classism. With an emphasis on serving the community of western Massachusetts, the program is equally committed to calling attention to issues of both national and local importance. Recent campaigns range from ending the war in Iraq and supporting peace in Columbia to preventing the construction of a new jail in Chicopee.

The collection consists chiefly of subject files that together provide a picture of the various issues in which the western Massachusetts AFSC was involved. Topics range from the organization’s earliest focus, the Vietnam War, to the first Gulf War, landlord/tenant relations, immigration, and landmines. The collection also includes materials relating to public figures, some of whom traveled to the region to speak.

Studies were conducted by departments of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, Massachusetts State College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus in conjunction with various other college departments and agencies of the state and federal governments. The surveys encompass a number of agricultural study areas such as land use, business and farm management, dairy farm and cost of milk production, tobacco and onion production, and poultry and livestock disease surveys. Supplemental statistical information and aerial photographs are also included.

The Stockbridge Auxilliary of the Massachusetts Indian Association was formed by prominent local women in western Berkshire County who sought to aid in educational and missionary work for and among Indians, and to “abolish all oppression of Indians within our national limits.”

Records include minutes that document the group’s committees, meetings, dues, and contributions to Indians on reservations nation-wide, accounts, membership lists, and a letter.

Situated in a region known for its progressive spirit, the Western Massachusetts Library Club was established in 1898 to respond to the unique needs of librarians overseeing small or rural libraries, and to foster camaraderie among local colleagues. Almost immediately, however, the club expanded its focus, taking positions on issues ranging from modern library practices to national legislation and leading the way in the expansion of services for public libraries, all while maintaining its identity as an advocate for local libraries and librarians.

The collection is richest in records that document the early history of the club including detailed meeting minutes, news clippings, programs, and circulars. Beginning in the late 1960s, the club’s activities are captured primarily through membership lists and meeting notices and programs. Taken together, the records trace the growth of the WMLC for more than a century from its establishment to the present.

Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Local 125 was a chapter of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA) that worked to improve wages and hours of work, to increase job security, to provide facilities for advancing cultural, educational, and recreational interests of its members, and to strengthen the labor movement. Key figures in Local 125 included Aldo Cursi who, with Mamie Santora, organized the Connecticut shirtworkers and served as Manager from 1933 to 1954; John Laurie who served as Business Manager from 1933 to 1963; and Nick Aiello, Business agent in 1963 and Manager from 1964 to 1984.

The collection includes constitution, by-laws, minutes, contracts, piece rate schedules, accounts, subject files, scrapbooks, newsclippings, printed materials, photographs and a phonograph record. These records document the history of Local 125 from its founding in 1933 to 1984, when the Local office in New Haven was closed. Included also are correspondence and case materials pertaining to grievance and arbitration proceedings (access restrictions apply).

Miriam U. Chrisman, 1964

A noted scholar of the social impact of the German Reformation, Miriam Usher Chrisman was born in Ithaca, New York, on May 20, 1920. With degrees from Smith College, American University, and Yale, she served for over thirty years on the faculty of the Department of History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, becoming a well-loved professor and treasured mentor to a generation of students.

A faithful and colorful correspondent, the bulk of Miriam Chrisman’s papers consist of letters written to family and friends stretching from her college days at Smith through the year before her death. The bulk of the correspondence is with her husband, Donald Chrisman, an orthopedic surgeon who was enrolled at Harvard Medical School during their courtship. Soon after the Chrismans married in November 1943, Donald left for active duty in the Navy on the U.S.S. Baldwin. The couple’s war correspondence is unusually rich, offering insight on everything from the social responsibilities of married couples to their opinions on the progression of the war. Of particular note is a lengthy letter written by Donald during and immediately after D-Day in which he provides Miriam a real-time description of the events and his reactions as they unfold. Later letters document Miriam’s extensive travels including a trip around the world. .

William Smith Clark

Born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, in 1826, William Smith Clark graduated from Amherst College in 1848 and went on to teach the natural sciences at Williston Seminary until 1850, when he continued his education abroad, studying chemistry and botany at the University of Goettingen, earning his Ph.D in 1852. From 1852 to 1867 he was a member of Amherst College’s faculty as a Professor of Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. As a leading citizen of Amherst, Clark was a strong advocate for the establishment of the new agricultural college, becoming one of the founding members of the college’s faculty and in 1867, the year the college welcomed its first class of 56 students, its President. During his presidency, he pressured the state government to increase funding for the new college and provide scholarships to enable poor students, including women, to attend. The college faced economic hardship early in its existence: enrollment dropped in the 1870s, and the college fell into debt. He is noted as well for helping to establish an agricultural college at Sapporo, Japan, and building strong ties between the Massachusetts Agricultural College and Hokkaido. After Clark was denied a leave of absence in 1879 to establish a “floating college” — a ship which would carry students and faculty around the world — he resigned.

The Clark Papers include materials from throughout his life, including correspondence with fellow professors and scientists, students in Japan, and family; materials relating to his Civil War service in the 21st Massachusetts Infantry; photographs and personal items; official correspondence and memoranda; published articles; books, articles, television, and radio materials relating to Clark, in Japanese and English; and materials regarding Hokkaido University and its continuing relationship with the University of Massachusetts.

[ A ][ B ][ C ][ D ][ E ][ F ][ G ][ H ][ I, J ][ K ][ L ][ M ][ N ]
[ O ][ P, Q ][ R ][ S ][ T ][ U ][ V ][ W ][ XYZ ]

W

WAGES

see Women’s Admissions and General Support (WAGES) RG-45/40/W6

Wail, Summer School

see Summer School Wail RG-45/00/S10

Walden Learning Center

see Psychology Department RG-25/P8/3

Waltham Experiment Station

see Suburban Experiment Station, Waltham RG-15/9

Waltham Field Station

see Suburban Experiment Station, Waltham RG-15/9

Waltham Suburban Experiment Station

see Suburban Experiment Station, Waltham RG-15/9

Ward Commission

see Massachusetts Commission on Corruption (Ward Commission) RG-36/23

Wareham Agricultural Engineering Laboratory

see Agricultural Engineering Laboratory, Wareham RG-25/M6.1

Wareham Aquacultural Engineering Laboratory

see Aquacultural Engineering Laboratory, Wareham RG-25/M6.1

Washington Irving Literary Society (1867-1892)

RG-45/40/W3

see also Literary Society (1953-1959) RG-40/3/L4

Waste Prevention, National Environmental Technology for

see National Environmental Technology for Waste Prevention Institute (NETI) RG-25/N3

Water Color Paintings (Memorabilia, general)

RG-183/5

Water Crisis, UMass Amherst (Physical Plant) (1980-1989)

RG-36/50/W3

see also Water Supply (Physical Plant) RG-36/50/W4

Water Polo

see Sports, Men’s Water Polo (1992) RG-18/2

Sports, Women’s Water Polo (1995- ) RG-18/2

Water Resources Research Center (WRRC)

RG-25/W2

Water Resources Research Center–Annual Reports (1968, 1970- )

RG-25/W2/00

Water Resources Research Center–Completion Reports (1969-1977)

RG-25/W2/00

Water Resources Research Center–Newsletter (1983-1993)

RG-25/W2/00

Water Resources Research Center–Publications

RG-25/W2/00

Water Resources Research Center–Special Reports

RG-25/W2/00

Water Supply (Physical Plant)

RG-36/50/W4

see also Water Crisis (1980-1989) RG-36/50/W3

Waugh Arboretum (Physical Plant) (1944)

RG-36/104/W3

Waugh Memorial Garden Committee (Faculty Senate, 1980)

RG-40/2/A3

W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies

see Afro-American Studies, W.E.B. Du Bois Department of RG-25/A4

W. E. B. Du Bois Library

see Library Buildings-Tower (University Library/W.E.B. Du Bois Library) (1961- ) RG-8/5/3

W.E.B. Du Bois Petition Coalition (1993-1995)

RG-45/80/W4

Weekly Biff, The (Student Publication) (1910)

RG-45/00/W4

Weekly Bulletin (1971-1985)

see Weekly Bulletin, University Bulletin, and Executive Bulletin RG-5/00/3

Weekly News, The (Student Publication) (1989)

RG-45/00/W5

Weekly Bulletin, University Bulletin, and Executive Bulletin (1912-1985)

RG-5/00/3

see also University Bulletin (newsprint format) RG-5/00/6

Campus Chronicle (newspaper)(1985- ) RG-5/00/10

West Campus Design Proposal (1993) (Physical Plant)

RG-36/104/W4

Western European Area Studies (Program and Committee)

RG-25/W3

Western Massachusetts Latin American Solidarity Committee

see Latin American Solidarity Committee, Western Massachusetts RG-45/80/L3

WFCR of Note (1991- )

RG-60/8

WFCR Program Guide (1966-1991)

RG-60/8

WFCR Radio Station

RG-60/8

WFCR Weekly Classified Music (1993- )

RG-60/8

Wheel (Student Social Action Group) (1986)

RG-45/80/W3

WIG

see Women in German (WIG) (1975- ) RG-40/3/W5

Wilder Times (Landscape Architecture Department) (1972-1993)

RG-25/L2/00

Wildlife Research Unit; Fishery Unit, Massachusetts Cooperative

(College of Food and Natural Resources) RG-15/6

Wildlife Research Unit; Fishery Unit, Massachusetts Cooperative–Contributions (1970-1974)

RG-15/6

Wildlife Research Unit Quarterly Progress Report (Massachusetts Cooperative)

see Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Quarterly Progress Report (1948-1988) RG-15/6

Winter, Alumni Day

see Mid-Winter Alumni Day (1923-1926) RG-40/2/M5

Winter School

see Summer School, Short Courses RG-6/17

WISPP

see Women in Staff Professional Positions (WISPP) RG-40/5/P7

WMUA (FM Radio Station) (1948- )

RG-45/30/W6

WOCH (Orchard Hill Radio Station) (1987- )

RG-45/30/W7

Women, Advisory Council of

see Advisory Council of Women (1921-1964) available online (Five College Archives Digital Access Project )

see also Advisory Council of Women (Film, ca. 1927) RG-186/100/1

Women and Minority Groups, Associate Provost for

see Provost for Women and Minority Groups, Associate (1968-1981) RG-6/13

see also Affirmative Action Office (1982- ) RG-4/7

Everywoman’s Center RG-7/2

Women, Dean of

see Dean of Women RG-30/3

see also Dean of Women, Helen Curtis (1902-1993) available online (Five College Archives Digital Access Project )

Women in German (WIG) (1975- ) RG-40/3/W5

Women in Staff Professional Positions (WISPP)

RG-40/5/W5

Women, National Organization for

see National Organization for Women (NOW) (1989- ) RG-45/80/N7

Women, New England Council of Land-Grant University

see New England Council of Land-Grant University Women RG-60/1/1

Women of Color Program (1993-1998) /Women of Color Leadership Network (WOCLN) (1998- )

(Everywoman’s Center ) RG-7/2/2/9

see also Third World Women’s Programmer (1979-1989) RG-7/2/2/5

Women, Status of, Committee on (Faculty Senate, 1970- )

RG-40/2/A3

Women, University

see University Women RG-40/7

Women’s Admissions and General Support (WAGES) (1985-1989)

RG-45/40/W6

Women’s Caucus and Vietnam Veterans Against the War (1971-1972)

RG-45/80/W5

Women’s Clubs

see Engineering Faculty Women’s Club (Engineering Wives) RG-40/7/3

New Comer’s Club RG-40/7/2

University Women RG-40/7

Women’s Conference, Five-College

see Five-College Women’s Conference, Valley Women’s Studies Journal RG-60/9

Women’s Educational Equity Project (WEEP)

see Women’s Equity Project RG-7/2/2/1

Women’s Equity Project (1972-1984)

RG-7/2/2/1

Note: Formerly Women’s Educational Equity Project (WEEP)

Women’s Health, Center for Research and Education in

see Center for Research and Education in Women’s Health (CREWH) RG-17/1/2

Women’s Leadership Project (1984-1989)

RG-45/80/W6

Women’s Network, Graduate

see Graduate Women’s Network (1994- ) RG-45/40/G7

Women’s News in the Collegian (Official University Committee) (1978)

RG-40/2/W6

Women’s Physical Education (WOPE)

see Physical Education, Women’s RG-25/P3.2

Women’s Program Development

RG-7/8

Women’s Programmer, Third World

see Third World Women’s Programmer RG-7/2/2/5

Women’s Rights, Progressive Organization of

see Progressive Organization of Women’s Rights (POWER) (1989- ) RG-45/80/P7

Women’s Student Government Association (WSGA)

RG-45/4

see also Women’s Student Government Association Handbooks for Women (1925-1941) available online (Five College Archives Digital Access Project )

Women’s Studies Newsletter (1976- ) RG-25/W5/00

Women’s Studies Program

RG-25/W5

Wood Science and Technology

RG-25/W7

WOPE Department

see Physical Education, Women’s Department (WOPE) RG-25/P3.2

Worcester Medical School

see Medical School, Worcester RG-55/2

Wrestling

see Sports, Men’s Wrestling (1965, 1970-1971) RG-18/2

Writing Program

RG-25/E3/1

see also University Writing Program RG-7/11

Writing Program, ad hoc Committee for (Faculty Senate, 1982- )

RG-40/2/A3

WRRC

see Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) (1970- ) RG-25/W2

WSGA

see Women’s Student Government Association (WSGA) RG-45/4

WSUR (Southwest Radio Station) (1998)

RG-45/30/W8

WSYL (Sylvan Radio Station) (1986)

RG-45/30/W9

The International Oil Working Group (IOWG) is one of a number of organizations that worked to implement an oil embargo initiated by the United Nations General Assembly against South Africa to protest the country’s policies of apartheid. The IOWG grew out of the Sanctions Working Group established in 1979. Although the nature and timing of the change in names is unclear, it appears that Dr. Teresa Turner was instrumental in the formation of both groups and was primarily responsible for their organization and administration. Other directors included Luis Prado, Arnold Baker and Kassahun Checole. While the group was loosely organized, it maintained the basic structure of a special advisory board with a pool of research associates. Primary activities involved researching topics related to the oil embargo; writing papers for regional, national, and international conferences; giving testimony at UN meetings; providing information to governments, unions and other groups committed to aiding in the implementation of the oil embargo; lecturing to students and members of the community on the subject of sanctions against South Africa; and collaborating with the UN Center Against Apartheid. Research topics included tanker monitoring to detect and expose those shipping companies that broke the embargo; the energy needs in those countries in southern Africa which depend upon South Africa to meet some of their energy demands; ways to effectively implement and enforce the oil embargo; trade union action by oil transport workers; Namibian independence and decolonization; and underground oil storage in South Africa.

Collection consists of administrative papers including financial records, minutes and association history materials; correspondence; printed materials produced by the IOWG; conference files; UN documents relating to South Africa and sanctions; and reference materials, including published reports, news clippings, newsletters and journals, related to oil shipping, tanker information and South African economic and political activity generally.