Deposited by Christina Lagnese in April 2013.
This collection was processed by Angela Course in 2011 and completed by Carly Lough in 2013. Subsequent revisions were made by Marianne Kasica.
Nationality Rooms Council Records, 1947-2003, UA.40.01.02, University Archives, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Nationality Rooms Council Records, 1947-2003, UA.40.01.02, University Archives, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
No restrictions.
The Nationality Rooms Program (NRP) was envisioned as a part of the same educational mission that inspired Chancellor John G. Bowman to found the Cathedral of Learning. Together with program advisor Ruth Crawford Mitchell, Bowman invited members of Pittsburgh communities to create apolitical classrooms symbolizing their national heritage. Participants in both Pittsburgh and the committees' cultural homelands accomplished the fundraising, design and construction of the first classrooms cooperatively. The original eighteen committees formed the Nationality Rooms Council to espouse additional cultural and educational exchange initiatives and promote and oversee the continuance of the Rooms program.
Any committee that has completed a classroom, is in the process of creating a classroom, or is dedicated to sponsoring a student exchange scholarship is eligible for representation on the Council. Meetings are tri-annual and report in March, June and October. The Council and its meetings thus serve as a consistent link between the Rooms committees and other NRP organizations, as well as their respective missions and activities.
The Nationality Rooms Council remains the governing body of the Nationality Rooms committees and allied organizations at the University of Pittsburgh. Delegates from each committee and organization form the Council, although all committee and organization officers are permitted to attend as non-voting participants.
In addition to supervising the construction of new classrooms, the Nationality Rooms Council has overseen scholarship fundraising, visiting lectures, cultural exhibits, musical and theatrical performances, and the celebration of traditional events and holidays at the University of Pittsburgh.
This collection contains records generated by the Council and its committees in the course of routine activity. The collection includes minutes, agenda, correspondence, scholarship fund accounts and financial reports, invitations and pamphlets, committee reports to Council, program publicity, scholarship awardee and selection information and other administrative records. All records were compiled by the Nationality Rooms Program (NRP) office, which maintains all Council files in addition to all committees and allied organizations.
The collection is arranged in two series according to the original filing scheme used by the Nationality Rooms Program office. Series I contains the meeting records for all Nationality Rooms Council Meetings from 1960-2003. Series II contains the administrative files the NRP office maintained for the Council. Subseries 1 contains financial accounts, scholarship information and other administrative documents. Subseries 2 contains files compiled alphabetically by subject name that were used for reference purposes by the NRP office
Series II contains the administrative files the NRP office maintained for the Council.
This subseries contains Council meeting minutes, financial reports and accounts, scholarship exchange information and correspondence.
This subseries contains the alphabetized subject files for the Nationality Council. These include records of events, member directories, Nationality Room history, and committee participation in the building of University of Pittsburgh Library collections and exhibits. Included also is a folder on the program's participation in the University of Pittsburgh Bicentennial Celebration.
Details of a plan to show the film to select groups of people to garner support for the French Classroom.
Included in this folder is Principles followed in the Develoment of the Nationality Room Program.