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University Relations records

 Collection
Identifier: ua00875

Collection Overview

Collection contains the records of University Relations, the central communications office of the University of Minnesota.

Scope and Content Note

This collection is arranged into 3 series:

  • Subject Files: Folders are labelled according to subject (University department, school, college, event, activity, organization). Materials include correspondence, clippings, reports, and other documents.
  • Publications: Various publications edited and published by University Relations include:
    • The Minnesotan
    • Minnesota Chats; Reports From Your University of Minnesota
    • University Report
    • Staff Bulletin
    • Report
  • Audio and Video Recordings: Materials include audio and video in various formats arranged in trays.

Dates

  • 1910-2001

Creator

Use of Materials

Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Copyright

Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Requests to publish should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives.

Historical Note

University Relations is the central communications office of the University of Minnesota. Established by the Board of Regents in 1945, University Relations was created to bolster the communication avenues with people both inside and outside of the University. The department was to strengthen public relations at the University by coordinating public contact from the Extension Division, the news service, alumni association, the campus radio station KUOM, and the publications office of University Farm. William Lee Nunn, professor of economics at the University of Newark and labor relations officer during World War II, was appointed as the first director of University Relations in June 1945.

Currently, University Relations is comprised of five units: Government and Community Relations, News Service (Media Relations), Marketing Communications, Internal Communications, and Office of Business Relations. In addition, U Relations maintains strong ties to the University of Minnesota Foundation and Alumni Association. "University Relations works to develop relationships with people both internal and external to the University through timely and accurate communications." (University Relations home page, www1.umn.edu/relate)

Extent

170 boxes (170.0 cubic feet))

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The initial donation was arranged into a loose alphabetical arrangement. Later accretions had no arrangement. To integrate later accretions, the collection is intellectually arranged in alphabetical order according to the folder name. The collection has not been physically reorganized to match the alphabetical list.

Source of acquisition

The collection was transferred to University Archives in multiple donations from 1949-2004.

Processing Information

*The collection guide is under revision (March 2023). Additional item records and descriptive notes will be added*

Title
University Relations Records, 1910-2001
Status
Under Revision
Author
Karen Spilman
Date
July 2005
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Revision Statements

  • 2010: EAD updated November 2010 by Karen Spilman. The collection was processed with later accretions added by Julia Quinn in July 2010.
  • 2023: New series added (Publications) and reorganization of series/file listing

Collecting Area Details

Contact The University Archives Collecting Area

Contact:

612-624-0562