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Summary

Abstract:
The files of the School of Criminal Justice consist primarily of records kept by Deans Richard Myren 1966-1976, and Donald Newman, 1977-84. They document the organization and formation of the School, particularly during the critical years of development (1963-1969).
Extent:
14 cubic ft.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, School of Criminal Justice Records, 1963-1988. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as [shortened name]).

Background

Scope and Content:

The files of the School of Criminal Justice consist primarily of records kept by Deans Richard Myren 1966-1976, and Donald Newman, 1977-1984. They document the organization and formation of the School, particularly during the critical years of development (1963-1969). Topics covered in the correspondence, faculty meeting minutes, Dean's Reports and planning documents primarily involve curriculum development and faculty recruitment. The correspondence demonstrates the involvement of Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller and the legal community in the formation of the School. The later documents reflect the day to day operations of the School of Criminal Justice, and the eventual absorption of the School into the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy in 198?. This is evidenced through the daily correspondence, student handbooks, and school publications.

Also included are the records of the Schools' Center on Minorities and Criminal Justice, established in 1980 and directed by Scott Christiansen. The Center conducted research into areas of criminal justice such as the differential incarceration rate. The Center annotated and indexed scholarly literature relating to minorities and criminal justice in the Index to Minorities and Criminal Justice and also in various bibliographies compiled by members of the Center. Correspondence and publications document the development of those research activities of the Center on Minorities and Criminal Justice through its closure in 1982.

For records relating to the School of Criminal Justice, see also the personal papers of Deans Vincent O'Leary, Richard A. Myren, and Donald J. Newman, doctoral dissertations and masters essays.

A small number of photographs of students and staff from the School of Justice from the University Archives Photograph Collection are available for viewing online from the University at Albany Libraries' Digital Collections database.

Biographical / Historical:

The idea for a school of criminology was originally proposed by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller during his first term as Governor (1958-1962), and on March 11, 1965, the SUNY Board of Trustees authorized the creation of the School of Criminal Justice [Proposal for the Program- Master of Science in Criminal Justice, September, 1966, p. 1]. The formation of the School was a "frank attempt to meet the current lack of meaningful research and educational programs relating to the criminal justice systems of the world" [Programs of the Ph. D. (Criminal Justice) and M.A. (Criminal Justice), February 1968, p. 2]. On June 15, 1966, Richard A. Myren was appointed as Dean of the School of Criminal Justice [Richard A. Myren, A Status Report, SUNYA School of Criminal Justice, November 1966, p. 2], and he was charged with the task of developing the graduate academic program of the School as well as with faculty recruitment.

In September of 1968, the first group of students was admitted to the newly formed School of Criminal Justice [Richard A. Myren, State University of New York at Albany, School of Criminal Justice, 1976, p. 27]. The two programs of the School were the M.A. and the Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, and in August 1971, the first Ph.D. from the School of Criminal Justice was awarded [Dean's Report, School of Criminal Justice, 1970-1971, p. 1]. In 1981 the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy was formed, and the School of Criminal Justice became one of the four interdependent schools that comprise the college. In 1982, an undergraduate program (B.A.) in Criminal Justice was instituted [Programs and Priorities, Assessing a Decade, 1980-1990, p. 15].

In October of 1980, the Center on Minorities and Criminal Justice was founded to continue the activities of the Training Program in Criminal Justice in Education (established in 1977). Under the Directorship of Scott Christiansen, the goals of the Center were to continue the Minority Fellowship Program, and to conduct research relating to minorities and criminal justice. Due to a lack of continued funding, the Center was officially disbanded in January of 1982.

In 1985, the School of Criminal Justice was ranked as the top program in its field in the United States based on scholarly productivity and reputation [Criminal Justice Review, 10: 7-17, Fall 1985]. The School became affiliated with the Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Center, a leading center for the analysis and dissemination of criminal justice statistics information [Programs and Priorities, Assessing a Decade, 1980-1990, p.65].

Deans of the School of Criminal Justice

Richard Myren, 1966-1976

Vincent O'Leary, 1976-1977

Donald Newman, 1977-1984

Terence Thornberry, 1984-1987

David Duffee, 1987-1996

Acquisition information:
These records were transferred to the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, by the School of Criminal Justice in February, 1992.
Processing information:

Processed in 1992 by Linda A. Keller (April 14, 1992).

Arrangement:

Divided into 5 file series.

Physical location:
The materials are located onsite in the department.

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Access

Using These Materials

ACCESS:
The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
RESTRICTIONS:

Access to these records is unrestricted.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

PREFERRED CITATION:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, School of Criminal Justice Records, 1963-1988. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as [shortened name]).

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