Guide to the Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, Samuel Black McCormick, Administrative Files, 1904-1920 UA.2.10.1904-1920

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, Samuel Black McCormick, Administrative Files
Creator
University of Pittsburgh. Chancellor
Collection Number
UA.2.10.1904-1920
Extent
2.56 Linear Feet (5 boxes)
Date
1900-1920
Abstract
This collection contains administrative as wekk as some personal papers of Chancellor Samuel Black McCormick, 1904-1920.
Language
English .
Author
Archives Service Center Staff. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in January 2010.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Separated Material

Photographs from McCormick's 1914 trip (folder 28) are located in his papers, RG 90.F8.

Biography

Samuel Black McCormick accepted the position of Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh on June 16, 1904, and was inaugurated on February 22, 1905. He was born in Irwin, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on May 6, 1858 to James Irwin McCormick and Rachel Long Black. A graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, he was admitted to the bar of Allegheny County in 1882. For several years he practiced law but then took Minister's Training at the Western Theological Seminary, graduating in 1890. He accepted a position at the First Presbyterian Church of Omaha, Nebraska, and later became president of Coe College, Iowa.

His most notable achievements were in acquiring the Dental College, the West Penn Medical College and establishing the Schools of Economics (later Business) and Education. In 1909, he moved the campus of the University from Observatory Hill on the Northside to Oakland, and changed its name from Western University of Pennsylvania to the University of Pittsburgh. He presided as Chancellor during the First World War when he and 524 other college presidents were told that the U.S. government was taking over their institutions for the training of officers and technical specialists in the Student Army Training Corps. Shortly after the close of WWI, the 1918 Influenza pandemic descended on cities throughout the U.S.

McCormick resigned as Chancellor in 1920, but continued to have an office in State Hall. He died on April 18, 1928 from pneumonia.

Scope and Content Notes

These are the administrative and some personal papers of Chancellor McCormick, 1904-1920.

Previous Citation

Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, Samuel Black McCormick, Administrative Files, 1904-1920, UA.2.10.1904-1920, University Archives, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, Samuel Black McCormick, Administrative Files, 1904-1920, UA.2.10.1904-1920, University Archives, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Copyright

All rights reserved. University of Pittsburgh.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Marianne Kasica from an existing finding aid in January 2010.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • University of Pittsburgh -- Administration
    • University of Pittsburgh. Chancellor -- Records and correspondence

    Personal Names

    • McCormick, Samuel Black -- Records and correspondence

    Genres

    • Correspondence
    • Administrative records

    Other Subjects

    • Universities and colleges -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- Records and correspondence
    • Universities and colleges -- Administration -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • University of Pittsburgh

Container List

Programs and writings
Containers
box 1, folder 1

Scope and Content Notes

Commencement Programs: Dr. McCormick was a speaker for Parnassus High School, Hiram College, Shady Side Academy, Pittsburgh and Allegheny Kindergarten College and one other; Some correspondence and biography

Correspondence, 1900-1904
Containers
box 1, folder 2

Scope and Content Notes

Leaving of Coe College; First annual report to the Board of Trustees as Acting Chancellor; Called by Trustees to be Chancellor

Correspondence, 1904-1905
Containers
box 1, folder 3

Scope and Content Notes

Program from Inauguration 1905 and other material; An Act making an appropriation to the Western University of Pennsylvania ($500,000); Committee on new site; Letter to John D. Rockefeller for aid; Brief statement concerning the University

Correspondence, 1906
Containers
box 1, folder 4

Scope and Content Notes

Record of dinner given at Hotel Schenley October 30, 1906 by the Trustees; Research on "Strength of tubes" by Reid T. Stewart; Gift of Andrew Carnegie (1906)

Correspondence, 1907
Containers
box 1, folder 5

Scope and Content Notes

Merchants & Manufacturers Association; Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh; To Mr. A.W. Mellon; Mr. Nicola's proposal on buildings and land for the university; Report of Chancellor to Board of Trustees, June 3, 1907; Proposal of committee on Memorial for the Pittsburgh Female College Association

Correspondence, 1908
Containers
box 1, folder 6

Scope and Content Notes

New Mining building; Acquiring the Medical School; Memo concerning the competition for building plans; Sesquicentennial material, programs, etc.; Statistics; George Lauder letter

Correspondence, 1909
Containers
box 1, folder 7

Scope and Content Notes

General business, Alumni, Funding

Correspondence, 1904
Containers
box 1, folder 8

Scope and Content Notes

Psychology Department vacancy

Correspondence, 1904-1914
Containers
box 1, folder 9

Scope and Content Notes

Athletic Department

Correspondence, 1906-1908
Containers
box 1, folder 10

Scope and Content Notes

Campaign for funding

Correspondence, 1908
Containers
box 2, folder 11

Scope and Content Notes

Building Program

Correspondence, 1908
Containers
box 2, folder 12

Scope and Content Notes

Building Program Architect

Correspondence, 1909
Containers
box 2, folder 13

Scope and Content Notes

Perrysville Avenue property sale

Correspondence, 1909
Containers
box 2, folder 14

Scope and Content Notes

Westinghouse letter

Correspondence, 1910
Containers
box 2, folder 15

Scope and Content Notes

General correspondence and William A. Robinson case

Correspondence, 1910
Containers
box 2, folder 16

Scope and Content Notes

United Boys Brigade, Union Theological Seminary, University Extension Society, Union Rescue Mission, Ullman and the Classics Dept., University Club

Correspondence, 1910
Containers
box 2, folder 17

Scope and Content Notes

Correspondence V-Z: Includes, YMCA and letters from Yocum

Correspondence, 1910-1912
Containers
box 2, folder 18

Scope and Content Notes

Memos from Department Heads for Chancellor's meeting in Harrisburg; University history; School of Education; Black students refused in University Band; Smoke nuisance; Gifts from Trustees; Trees Gymnasium, the first building given in whole by one individual

Correspondence, 1911
Containers
box 2, folder 19

Scope and Content Notes

Letters from Henry Buhl about Smith cabinet

Correspondence, 1911
Containers
box 2, folder 20

Scope and Content Notes

Letters from Francis Newton Thorpe about European Universities

Chancellor's Report, 1911
Containers
box 2, folder 21

Scope and Content Notes

Includes reports of departments

Correspondence, 1911
Containers
box 3, folder 22

Scope and Content Notes

Law School; Board of Trustees; Facts concerning the University; Distribution of students; An Act – concerning appropriations; List of faculty

Registrar's Report, 1911
Containers
box 3, folder 23
125th Anniversary, 1912
Containers
box 3, folder 24

Scope and Content Notes

Notes on the celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the Pittsburgh Academy, February 27-19, 1912.

125th Anniversary, 1912
Containers
box 3, folder 25

Scope and Content Notes

Programs, Proclamations, Exercises; "The Vision of she-who-knows," by George Seiber (pageant); Official prospectus; Committee on honorary degrees

Correspondence, 1913-1914
Containers
box 3, folder 26

Scope and Content Notes

Chancellor's report for 1913/14; Gifts list, beginning with 1905-1914; Notes from Deans' reports; Historical address at Erie, PA, by Francis Newton Thorpe "Building of the Fleet"; Salary by academic units; Information bulletins 1914 & 1915; Letter of protest against the 1914 Owl co-ed article.

Peace Movement, 1913-1915
Containers
box 3, folder 27

Scope and Content Notes

Emergency Peace Federation, World Peace Foundation, St. Louis Peace Conference (1913), Price of peace; World Court Congress; American League to limit armaments; Church Peace Union; Suggested basis upon which to form an international court of arbitration with a view to ending the present conflict in Europe, and to prevent in future all such similar conflicts, by H. Francis Dyruff; Plan for an international court

McCormick's trip to Europe and the Middle East, 1914
Containers
box 4, folder 28

Scope and Content Notes

Handwritten notes of his trip. Includes England, Germany, Switzerland, Italy as well as Greece, Constantinople and Palestine. Some articles written for the Pitt News.

Correspondence, Governor Martin Brumbaugh, 1914-1915
Containers
box 4, folder 29

Scope and Content Notes

Correspondence with Martin G. Brumbaugh, Governor or Pennsylvania. Invitations, Public Service Commission, various letters of recommendation for appointments.

Correspondence and other materials on the War in Europe, 1914-1921
Containers
box 4, folder 30

Scope and Content Notes

1914-21 War material; McCormick and others stranded abroad; University's War Activities and Efforts, American soldiers at school; List of addresses delivered outside the university, 1915-17

Correspondence and minutes, 1915-1918
Containers
box 4, folder 31

Scope and Content Notes

Roswell H. Johnson on Socialism, Bolshevism, Eugenics and Birth Control controversy, 1916-1918; Commencement 1915, Dean's minutes for Feb. 17 and March 3, 1915 and March 31 1920.

Correspondence and proclamations, 1916-1917
Containers
box 4, folder 32

Scope and Content Notes

Correspondence with PA. Governor Martin H. G. Brumbaugh; Arbor Day proclamations; letter recommending Robert Vann to the Negro National Education Congress, Governor's Thanksgiving proclamation 1915-1918; Agricultural tour; Mansfield's endorsement for PA Board of Motion Picture Censors; Pharmacy and Dental Examiners Boards; Appropriations; League to Enforce Peace; International Industrial Exhibition; Topographic and Geologic Survey Commission; Student's Army Training Corps; Lew H. Palmer;

State Appropriations, correspondence, documents and clippings, 1917
Containers
box 4, folder 33

Scope and Content Notes

Correspondence with Babcock and others about state appropriations request; clippings and documents regarding Penn State and Penn's requests; Correspondence with Edgar Fahs Smith and Edwin E. Sparks on appropriations.

National Education Association, 1918
Containers
box 4, folder 34

Scope and Content Notes

Convention in Pittsburgh, 1918. Map of Pittsburgh & Schenley Farms District (good)inside brochure; Tentative draft of a bill to create a Department of Education (U.S.); Program of convention

State Appropriation correspondence and documents, 1919
Containers
box 4, folder 35
Correspondence, 1919
Containers
box 4, folder 36

Scope and Content Notes

Chancellor's biography & family ties; Dr. Marley (Miss Auleene) working among islanders (Alumna); Correspondence (personal) between Chancellor S.B. McCormick and his cousin, Lizzie F. McCormick, The Manse, Moneymore, Ireland; January 1918-August 1919

Correspondence with Andrew Carnegie, 1910
Containers
box 4, folder 37

Scope and Content Notes

Also the Carnegie Foundation

Correspondence with H.J. Heinz, 1916-1920
Containers
box 4, folder 38

Scope and Content Notes

Budget for religious education; Resolution on the death of Henry John Heinz by University Trustees; Heinz House for Christian Associations

Students in Military Service, 1917-1919
Containers
box 5, folder 39

Scope and Content Notes

Letters of recommendation and related correspondence 1917-1919

Reserve Officer Training Corps
Containers
box 5, folder 40

Scope and Content Notes

Inspection report 9/25/1919; History and evaluation of ROTC program at the university, February 1919; establishment of the program 3/7/1918 and 6/30/1918; List of faculty and students to report to Plattsburg, NY, 7/16/1918; Inspection report; appointment of Lt. Col. Stickle as professor of Military Science 1/1918 correspondence concerning faculty for ROTC; equipment orders; Procedure preliminary to inauguration of Military Training 1916; correspondence related to establishing ROTC program.

Correspondence, 1918-1920
Containers
box 5, folder 41

Scope and Content Notes

Letter McCormick to T.H. McKnight concerning Medical School; University activities in War (WWI); Lists of Professors and instructors of draft age; College faculty working with Student Army Training Corps 9/9/1918; staff for War Aims course; Lists of essential teachers; Report: "Civil Administration of University of Pittsburgh as a Students' Army Training Corps unit 1919; Letter concerning H.J. Heinz bequest 10/14/1919; agreement with Elizabeth Steel Magee Hospital 5/12/1919 and related correspondence.

Minutes of Faculty Meetings, 1906-1908
Containers
box 5, folder 42

Scope and Content Notes

Library rules; athletic reports; arrangements for lighting; etc

Minutes of Faculty Meetings and Special Committees, 1906-1910
Containers
box 5, folder 43

Scope and Content Notes

Medical department; football scholarships; curriculum; literary society, proposed course in engineering

Minutes of the Finance Committee, 1906-1911
Containers
box 5, folder 44

Scope and Content Notes

Correspondence from A.W. Mellon about stock; expenses; other bonds and stocks; budget matters