Skip to Main Content
Albert S. Cook Library

Special Collections and University Archives

Learn what special collections and university archives are, what we hold, and how to access the collections

Collections

This list will be amended as new records become available.

More information about how to use finding aids can be found here


Academic Council records

The governing body on campus, the Academic Council was composed of twenty-four voting members: eighteen full-time teaching faculty members (which could also include librarians and the staff at the Lida Lee Tall Learning Center) including the president of the Faculty Association, and six student members, one of whom was to be the president of the SGA. Faculty members, excluding the FA president, were elected to three year terms while students were elected for one year only. The President, Chief Academic Officer, Student Personnel Office, and Business and Finance Officers were all ex officio non-voting members as well.

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of minutes, reports, and memoranda from the Academic Council meetings, as well as from subcommittees within the Academic Council.

Dates: 1970-1982

Accessibility and Disability Services records

Scope and Contents: These records contain departmental correspondence and planning, material related to
acquiring a Kurzweil reading machine in the 1970s, campus guides, handbooks for faculty and
staff, and departmental brochures.

Dates: 1981-2001

Administrative Council records

 A governing body made up of College administrators who met weekly to discuss issues impacting the school. It was composed of  the College President, Dean of Instruction, Dean of Students, Director of Admissions, Registrar, Business Manager, and the Principal of the Lida Lee Tall School.  

Scope and Contents This collection is composed of meeting agendas and minutes for the Administrative Council, as well as some memoranda and additional informational material for committee members.

Dates: 1955 - 1966

Asian Arts & Culture Center records

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of correspondence, minutes, reports, programs, announcements, and other material related to the governance and events created by the Asian Arts and Culture Center.

Dates: 1971 - present

Athletics Department records

Scope and Contents This collection contains internal documents of the Towson University Athletics Department as well as materials generated by them with the intent of distribution to the general public. These items include: documents regarding the Mason-Dixon Conference, meeting minutes, memos, NCAA Stelf-Studies completed by Towson, reports, planning documents, newsletters published by the TSU Tiger Club, press guides for various sports, season schedules, team rosters, game programs, posters, and plaques.

Dates: 1946 - 2017

Baltimore Teachers' Training School records

Scope and Contents The Baltimore Teachers' Training School opened on January 5, 1901 at the corner of Lafayette Square and Greene Street in Baltimore City. It was established by the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners in response to a call for educational reform. This collection contains correspondence regarding the 1924 merger of the Baltimore Teachers' Training School with the Maryland State Normal School in, information about student life and activities, and official student records.

Dates: 1908 - 1924

Black Student Union records

Scope and Contents The Black Student Union was formed in 1970 to advance the professional, academic, and social development of Black students at Towson University. This collection contains documents, photographs, and artifacts dating to the inception of the organization and detailing the history of their ongoing mission.

Dates: 1968-2021

Bishop, John Joseph "Jack", Jr. Hon. papers

Scope and Contents John Joseph "Jack" Bishop Jr. was a lawyer, State Senator, and Special Appeals Court Judge in Maryland over a span of 50 years. This collection contains court opinions, co-authored Senate and House bills, professional correspondence and materials, and personal effects reflecting his long and diverse career.

Dates: 1960 - 2005

Bishop, John Joseph, III

Scope and Contents John Joseph Bishop III was a longtime Baltimore County resident and served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1987 to 1995. Bishop continued to pursue other other political offices for years after until his passing in 2021. This collection contains campaign, political, and professional materials; correspondence, photographs and video, bills, reports, and other documents documenting the almost 30 year political career of a Maryland native and provides a fascinating insight into the life of a local career politican.

Dates: 1969 - 2014

Board of Trustees of the State Universities and Colleges records

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of materials related to the administration and operation of the Maryland Board of Trustees of the State Universities and Colleges, previously called the Board of Trustees of the State Colleges. The materials include meeting minutes, annual reports, policies and procedures, memoranda, reports, programs, and other items.

Dates: 1963 - 1988

Campus Recreation records

Scope and Contents: This collection holds material related to the Campus Recreation, previously known as Intramural Sports. The materials include some correspondence and club items, but mainly hold photos from the 1980s.

Dates: 1985 - 2003

Career Center

Scope and Contents: These records contain early reports of the Placement Office, placement handbooks, and
informational flyers.

Dates: 1961 - 2008

Caret (Robert L.) records

Towson University President, 2003 - 2011

Scope and Contents This collection contains correspondence to and from Robert L. Caret during his tenure as President of Towson University.

Dates: 2003-2006

Center for Student Diversity records

Scope and Contents This collection consists of flyers, posters, newspaper clippings, correspondence, financial documents and business records, evidencing the social and academic activities of the Center for Student Diversity and its child organizations. This collection documents many of the organizations which fall under the Center for Student Diversity, with the majority of materials coming from the African American Cultural Center. While the material from this collection spans a number of decades, the majority is from 1999 - 2006.

Dates: 1977 - 2007

College of Education records

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of correspondence, minutes, reports, programs, announcements, and other material related to the governance and events created by the College of Education.

Dates: 1954 - 2003

College of Fine Arts and Communication records

Scope and Contents  The collection is composed of correspondence, minutes, reports, programs, announcements, and other material related to the governance and events created by the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

Dates: 1972 - 2009

College of Liberal Arts records

Scope and Contents This collection is composed of reports, committee work, meeting and correspondence files, and other material related to the administration of the College

Dates: 1969 - 2003

College Senate records

The College Senate was the chief legislative body of Towson State College and was charged with creating policy for both academic and non-academic matters, and appropriate committees or administrative offices were responsible for enforcing the policies.
There were six ex-officio members: the President of the College who served as President of the Senate, the Dean of Instruction and the Dean of Students who served as first and second Vice-Presidents, the Director of Admissions, the Registrar, and the Business Manager. The rest of
the Senate was composed of one representative elected by each department and nine at-large members.

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of minutes, reports, and memoranda from the College Senate meetings, as well as from subcommittees within the College Senate.

Dates: 1962 - 1969

Counseling Center

Scope and Contents: These records contain some correspondence, administrative files, and brochures for the Counseling Center.

Dates: 1965 - 2020

Cox (Joseph W.) records

Interim president of Towson State University, 1978 - 1979.

Scope and Contents This collection is comprised of correspondence to and from Cox during his tenure as Acting President. 

Dates: 1978 - 1979

Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education records

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of correspondence, minutes, reports, programs, announcements, and other material related to the governance and events created by the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

Dates: 1963 - 2000

Department of Dance records

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of correspondence, minutes, reports, programs, announcements, and other material related to the governance and events created by the Department of Dance.

Dates: 1972 - 2002 

Department of Mass Communication and Communication Studies records

This department was split in 2018 into the Department of Mass Communication and the Department of Communication Studies.

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of correspondence, minutes, reports, programs, announcements, and other material related to the governance and events created by the Department of Mass Communication and Communication Studies.

Dates: 1964 - 2005

Department of Music records

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of audio materials, correspondence, minutes, reports, programs, announcements, and other material related to the groups, governance, and events created by the Department of Music.

Dates: 1866 - 2003

Department of Theatre Arts records

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of correspondence, minutes, reports, programs, announcements, and other material related to the governance and events created by the Department of Theatre Arts.

Dates: 1964 - 2002

Ehrlich, Robert L., Jr. records

Scope and Contents Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. was the 60th governor of Maryland in from 2003 to 2007., with Michael S. Steele as his lieutenant governor, and served from 2003 to 2007. The collection contains materials spanning Bob Ehrlich's career in public office. It is chiefly composed of documents, photographs, and videos from 1987 to present, including letters to constituents, newspaper clippings, and televised news reports relating to his political work. The collection also includes a variety of trophies and commemorative gifts, such as plaques, baseball caps, and sports memorabilia, belonging to Bob Ehrlich during his time in office.

Dates: 1987 - 2006

Executive Council records

The Executive Council was made up of the Deans and Directors of the school’s four divisions: General Administration, Academic Administration, Student Personnel Administration, and the Business Management Administration. Charles Haslup, the Associate Dean of the College, served as Secretary to the Council.
The Council advised the President on matters relating to the everyday functions of the College, such as parking issues, staff and faculty positions, campus speakers, campus expansion, and student services.

Scope and Contents This collection is composed of meeting agendas and minutes for the Executive Council, as well as some memoranda and additional informational material for committee members.

Dates: 1967 - 1975

Faculty Committee records

Faculty committee meetings were used to communicate information to the faculty and staff of both the Model School and the teacher’s training school. In time they would become a place for faculty development and a legislative body within the school community.

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of minutes from the Faculty Meetings, either handwritten in bound notebooks, or typed. 

Dates: 1891 - 1968

Faculty Senate of the State Colleges of Maryland records

The Senate was to serve as the official voice of the faculties of the Maryland State Colleges in matters of system-wide concern. The Senate was also to evaluate matters concerning system-wide policy and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees thereafter. In addition, the Senate was to assume any responsibility or function delegated to it by the Board of Trustees of the State Colleges.

The Maryland State Colleges at this time were; Bowie State College, Coppin State College, Frostburg State College, Morgan State College, Salisbury State College, and Towson State College. Two Senators were elected from each college to represent their respective institutions on the Senate. For Towson State College and Morgan State College, which had more than two hundred faculty, one additional Senator was elected to represent each.

Scope and Contents This collection contains the recorded minutes of the Faculty Senate; correspondence, reports, special committees, newspaper clippings and various other documents pertaining to the Faculty Senate of the State Colleges of Maryland.

Dates: 1969 - 1974

Financial Affairs

Scope and Contents These records, which date from 1876 to 1970, consist of financial ledgers, journals, receipts, and correspondence used by Towson University to track expenditures and costs of various university endeavors and projects.

Dates: 1876 - 1970

Fisher (James L.) records

Towson State College and then Towson State University President, 1969 - 1978

Scope and Contents These records are composed of correspondence, various school reports, documents filed according to subjects created by the originator -- either Fisher or his assistants, transcripts of speeches and radio broadcasts, articles and publications authored by Fisher, and photographs.

Dates: 1969 - 1979

Fraternity and Sorority Life records

Very limited collection -- much of the material about the history of Greek organizations remains with the organizations and is not housed in SCUA. Some materials in this collection may be restricted due to the presence of confidential or sensitive content.

Scope and Contents Documents include compiled histories, minutes and reports, rosters, personal information of members, behavior or offense reports, correspondence, and advising notes.

Dates: 1926 - 2002

Hawkins (Earle T.) records

President of the State Teachers College at Towson and then Towson State College, 1947 - 1969.

Scope and Contents This collection is composed of correspondence both to and from Hawkins, reports, newsletters, and committee notes, notes and transcriptions for speeches and radio programs, various awards and honors given to Hawkins, conference material, personal items, and documents related to organizations outside Towson to which Hawkins belonged.

Dates: 1920 - 1972

Health Center records

Scope and Contents: These records are composed of administrative files, correspondence, reports, and training
manuals.

Dates: 1950-2001

Housing & Residence records

Scope and Contents: These records include handbooks for students living on campus; guides for those looking
for housing off-campus; administrative records such as reports, budget requests, and
correspondence; and files from the University Residence Government, a student organization
representing all on-campus residents.

Dates: 1921 -2016

Jones (Dan L.) records

Interim president of Towson University, 2002 - 2003.

Scope and Contents These records contain Jones’ resume, biography, articles about and by him in the University’s Recommended Reading publication, as well as scripts and schedules for the opening of Unitas Stadium and the Field House.

Dates: 2003

Lida Lee Tall School records

The Model School, as the Lida Lee Tall School was originally named, was primarily used as a campus demonstration elementary in the Maryland State Normal School, with the purpose to help train teachers. It began with the act of 1865 by the General Assembly of Maryland which provided for a “uniform system of free public schools for the State of Maryland.” That same act stipulated that the State Superintendent create a model primary and grammar school.

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of materials related to the administration, operation, and various activities of the Lida Lee Tall School. Included are correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, policies, programs, historical materials, students’ writings and works, newspaper clippings, and other materials. 

Dates: circa 1919 - 1992

Maryland State Board of Education records

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of materials related to the administration and operation of the Maryland State Board of Education. It contains correspondence, meeting minutes, agendas, reports, newsletters, and policy manuals. The meeting minutes comprise the bulk of the collection, and reveal the legislative process of the Board, including payments and contracts, construction reports, appointments or separations of teachers and other staff, and the determination of their salaries. 

Dates: 1938 - 1967

Military & Veterans Center

Scope and Contents: This collection contains a number of thank-you letters addressed to Towson University's
Veterans Services and their former Coordinator, Patrick Young. This collection also contains
awards that reflect Towson University's service to its veteran students. This collection contains
a number of pamphlets, programs, posters, magazines, and handbooks that outline the
accomplishments of Veterans Services and their staff members. Lastly, this collection contains
one compact disc and an issue of the Towson University Towerlight; both briefly outline the
history and career of Patrick Young.

Date: 2010 - 2016

New Student Programs records

Scope and Contents This record group's materials are largely textual and contains schedules, correspondance, budget requests, reports, minutes, floor plans, pamphlets, handbooks, photographs, and other material related to the planning and execution of orientation. Included in the material related to the execution of orientation are handouts and a gift students would have received, as well as banners used during the event.

The majority of material falls within 1962 - 1997.

Dates: 1927 - 2004

Newell (M. A.) records

Principal of the Maryland State Normal School from 1866 until 1890.

Scope and Contents These records are composed of Newell’s publications, tributes, biographies, and correspondence.

Dates: 1889 - 1977

Normal & Pestalozzi Literary Societies records

The Maryland State Normal School established two student groups in the late 1800s: the Normal Literary Society and the Pestalozzi Society. These groups were created to foster a sense of community in the school which at that time had enrollments of 200 to 400 students per year. As literary societies, the groups created literary journals, and then moved into friendly competition with various entertainments such as public speaking, singing, and even drama production and sporting events. They were disbanded sometime before WWII as new student groups on campus emerged.

Scope and Contents: The records contain literary works by members; programs, tickets, invitations to Society events, and administrative material concerning meetings and their members.

Dates: 1870 - 1925

Office of the Provost records

The head of the academic departments on campus, this position has previously been known as "Dean of Instruction" and "Dean of the College".

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of correspondence, minutes, reports, and memoranda. 

Dates: 1949 - 2004

Perkins (Mark L.) records

Towson University president from 2001 until 2002.

Scope and Contents These records include information about Perkins' work before he arrived at Towson, correspondence from Perkins and associates in both Green Bay, WI as well as Towson, MD. The collection also includes some publications, inauguration materials, and a number of photographs.

Dates: 2001 - 2002

President's Staff Meetings records

In July of 1976, Towson State College became Towson State University and the President’s advisory board, the Executive Council, was re-named the President’s Staff. Meetings were held on a regular basis with top University administrators to discuss topics relevant to the day-to-day running of the school as well as issues related to outreach and work with state legislators.

Scope and Contents This collection is composed of meeting agendas and minutes for the President’s Staff meetings, as well as some memoranda and additional informational material for members.

Dates: 1976 - 2001

Prettyman (E. B.) records

Principal of the Maryland State Normal School from 1890 until 1905.

Scope and Contents This collection is composed of correspondence and memoranda to and from Prettyman, and biographies written about Prettyman.

Dates: 1890 - 1932

Richmond (Sarah E.) records

Principal of the Maryland State Normal School from 1909-1917.

Scope and Contents: These records are composed of Sarah Richmond’s personal items, biographies, reports, speeches, correspondence, and memorials.

Dates: 1860 - 1937

Smith (Hoke L.) records

President of Towson State University and Towson University from 1979 - 2001.

Scope and Contents These records are composed of correspondence and memoranda, copies of speeches, publications, and meeting information collected by Smith while in office.

Dates: 1980 - 1999

Special Collections and University Archives records

Scope and Contents This collection is composed of correspondence to and from the Archives office of Towson State College, Towson State University, and Towson University; policies relating to the Archives of TSC/TSU/TU; questions frequently asked of the Archives of TSC/TSU/TU; and documents relating to the student practicum established by the History department.

Dates: 1968 - 2012

Student Affairs records

Scope and Contents: These records are from the administrative offices of the Division of Student Affairs and its
predecessors, as well as records from the Student Life Council.

Dates: 1950s - 2000s

Student Government Association records

Scope and Contents This collection consists of documents generated by or about the Student Government Association (SGA). The documents range from governing documents, minutes, and financial documents to ephemera and correspondence.

Dates: 1921 - 2005

Student Organization records

Scope and Contents: Records related to different student-created and led organizations across campus from almost the beginning of the institution.

Dates: 1870 - present

Tall (Lida Lee) records

Principal of the Maryland State Normal School from 1920 until 1935, and president of the State Teachers College at Towson from 1935 until 1938. 

Scope and Contents These records contain personal items, official correspondence, school reports, items relating to Tall’s retirement celebration, memorial service programs, and notebooks relating to various committees on which Tall served.

Dates: 1896 - 1942

Towson University historical scrapbook collection

Scope and Contents The Towson University historical scrapbook collection houses the personal scrapbooks of alumni from both during their school years and reunions as well as collections of clippings and news materials kept by school staff during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Dates: 1886 - 1980

University Senate records

The University Senate was the main governing body of Towson State University and Towson University. It was composed of elected and appointed members of the entire campus community and served as an advisory body to the President of the University.

Scope and Contents The collection is composed of minutes, records, and memoranda from the University Senate meetings, as well as from subcommittees within the University Senate.

Dates: 1981 - 2013

Ward (George W.) records

Principal of the Maryland State Normal School from 1905 until 1909.

Scope and Contents These records which date from 1905 to 1909 are composed of correspondence and memoranda from Ward, as well as biographies written about Ward by archives staff.

Dates: 1905 - 1909

West (Henry S.) records

Principal of the Maryland State Normal School from 1917 until 1920. 

Scope and Contents These records contain biographies, correspondence, and reports relating to the three years West was Principal at the Maryland State Normal School.

Dates: 1917 - 1920

Wiedefeld (M. Theresa) records

President of the State Teachers College at Towson from 1938 until 1947.

Scope and Contents These records contain personal items, personal and official correspondence, school reports, and various publications authored by Wiedefeld. 

Dates: 1899 - 1976

Women's Athletic Association records

The Women’s Athletic Association (WAA), originally called the Athletic Association, started at the Maryland State Normal School in 1922. It was a campus organization made up of the entire female student body that planned and participated in the program of recreational sports and activities offered to all women students. 

Scope and Contents These records consist of subject files, including materials such as correspondence, reports, programs, handbooks, memorandums, meetings and minutes, notes, newsletters, pamphlets, articles, bylaws, and other items; files related to the various electives sponsored by the association, including records of attendance, awards, and scores; financial records; photographic material; and ephemera.

Dates: 1926 - 1971