Collection inventory

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Syracuse University College of Fine Arts Collection

An inventory of the collection at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Erin Carter
Date: 2015

Revision history:
2016	additional inventory added (AES); 2024 - two items added to existing folders, two folders of records that do not fit collecting scope were removed, restrictions were added (HL)

Historical Note

The College of Fine Arts at Syracuse University was inaugurated on June 23, 1873, as the first fine arts college of its kind in America. Founded by George Fisk Comfort who served as its first dean until 1894, the College was established to "equate the study of art with the other elements of a liberal education" and students and faculty worked closely with the College of Liberal Arts. The original majors offered by the College were architecture and painting. In its first year, fifteen students matriculated. A Department of Music was inaugurated in 1877, but others such as sculpture, photography, oratory, and industrial art would eventually arise. Originally housed in the Hall of Languages, the College took up residence in the John Crouse Memorial College when it was finished in 1889. The founding of the College was met with both positive and negative commentary, but as enrollment and approval steadily grew over the years, dissent vanished.

The College continued to grow rapidly over the years. After a brief reprieve from Syracuse, Comfort returned to establish the Syracuse Museum of Fine Arts (now the Everson Museum) in 1900. Students of the College worked closely with the museum, adding fine arts exhibitions to the long list of events in which they partook. After the turn of the century, the College gained momentum. Seen as a cultural center, it had adapted well to the changing times and growth in student population, developing more fine arts programs, unique classes, and ways to open itself up to the surrounding community. Student groups began to sprout up as well. The Boar's Head Dramatic Society was founded as a performance group in 1905 and would continue for many decades. In 1910 the Department of Oratory was founded, which would eventually evolve into the School of Speech and Dramatic Arts in 1913. The early twentieth century was a period of great growth for the College.

In 1945, after the end of World War II, the College was reorganized into three schools: the School of Architecture, the School of Art, and the School of Music. This change was made to ensure that each field, and its subsequent programs, received the best direction and most attention possible. Enrollment boomed post-war and, coupled with the new design of the College, the Schools were in search of places to expand. In the years after the war, art study rooms were developed, as well as a photography center, new music rehearsal spaces, and a ceramics lab. Operatic performance was added to the long list of potential areas of study, and the College thrived under the new, fortified leadership.

In 1972, the College of Fine Arts was disbanded and the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) took its place, comprising the School of Art, the Drama Department, the School of Music, and the Department of Speech Communication.

Scope and Content Note

The Syracuse University College of Fine Arts Collection is divided into three series:

The Bulletins series contains individual and multi-volume bound bulletins that describe courses and policies relating to the College.

The Office files series contains general information files, meeting minutes from the Executive Committee, faculty, and Board of Graduate Studies, and information on foundations the College worked with.

The Works by students of Edward C. Fricke series is comprised of artworks from the students of Fricke's design classes in the 1960s.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Files that hold academic information about students have been restricted in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Files containing confidential information about faculty have been restricted in accordance with University policy. These records are restricted for 80 years from date of student or faculty separation from the University. Please consult with an archivist for questions about restriction release dates.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

More information on the College of Fine Arts can be found in the Syracuse University Clipping Files Collection, the Photograph Collection, and the George Fisk Comfort Family Collection.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Comfort, George Fisk, 1833-1910.
Fricke, Edward C.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
Syracuse University. -- College of Fine Arts.

Subjects

Art -- Exhibitions.
Art students.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Bulletins.
Correspondence.
Minutes (administrative records)
Works of art.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Syracuse University College of Fine Arts Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Transfer of most materials from departments affiliated with the College of Fine Arts between 1964 and 1995; an additional gift from Elizabeth Sterling in 2024.

Processing Information

Materials were re-boxed and placed in acid-free folders. Some documents were placed in protective mylar sleeves.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged in alphabetical order.

Table of Contents

Bulletins

Office files

Works by students of Edward C. Fricke

Inventory