The Archives of President’s Office: A Guide
Collection Number: UA-3Fonds-level description created and electronic version prepared by Laurena Fredette, August 2006
Collection Level Description
Title: President’s Office fonds
Dates: 1820-2004
Extent: 145 m of textual records and other materials
Although the first President of Dalhousie University (then Dalhousie College), Thomas McCulloch, was appointed in 1838 it wasn’t until 1945 that the Board of Governors determined the specific responsibilities of the position within the structure of the university. In 1945, the Board determined that the President should be responsible for the general supervision of the university, encompassing all areas from the academic program to the student body.
This supervisory role continues today. The President of Dalhousie acts as the Chief Executive Officer of the university and is responsible for implementing the policies put forth by Senate and the Board of Governors. To do this, the President works with both agencies. The Board of Governors is responsible for the overarching direction of the university, its assets, and its mission, while the Senate oversees the internal regulation of the university. The President of the university is responsible to both parties and is an ex-officio member of both groups.
The Office of the President includes the President as well as support staff and other senior administration. Five Vice-Presidents oversee various aspects of university administration and serve as advisors to the President. Members of this senior administrative group include the Vice President Academic and Provost, Vice President (Finance and Administration), Vice President (Student Services), Vice President (Research), and Vice President, External.
Past Presidents of Dalhousie University have included the following individuals: Thomas McCulloch (1777-1843), 1838-1843; Hugo Reid, 1856-1863; Rev. James Ross (1811-1886), 1863-1885; John Forrest (1842-1920), 1885-1911; Stanley MacKenzie (1865-1938), 1911-1931; Carleton Stanley (1886-1971), 1931-1945; Rev. Alexander Kerr (1896-1974), 1945-1963; Henry Hicks, 1963-1980; W.A. MacKay, 1980-1986; Howard Clark, 1986-1995; and Tom Traves, 1995-.
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Senior Administration. n.d. Dalhousie University. 13 June 2006 <http://senioradministration.dal.ca/sr_admin_1100.html>
Waite, Peter B.The Lives of Dalhousie University. Vol. 2. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1998. 2 vols.
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Materials have been donated by the President’s Office on an ongoing basis since 1972.
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Further accruals are expected.
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This fonds consists of photographs; audiovisual materials; newspaper clippings; pamphlets and posters; Dalhousie publications and other printed material; student and personnel files; correspondence; manuscripts; reports created by or reviewed by senior administration; financial materials including accounts payable and receivable documents, budgets, and ledgers; legal documents, including deeds and leases; diaries; scrapbooks; meeting minutes and agendas; academic plans; speeches; and other documents related to the senior administration’s sphere of responsibility.
Inventory available onsite.
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[Identification of item], President’s Office fonds, UA-3, Box [box number], Folder [folder number], Dalhousie University Archives and Special Collections, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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