Overview of the Collection
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Repository Name:
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Museum of History &
Industry
Sophie Frye Bass
Library
2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org
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Collection Number:
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1991.25
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Creator:
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Metropolitan
Business College (Seattle, Wash.)
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Title:
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Metropolitan Business
College Records
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Dates:
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1910-1981 (inclusive)
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Quantity:
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8 boxes
5 linear feet
2 oversize scrapbooks
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Languages:
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Collection materials are in
English.
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Summary:
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Photographs, papers and scrapbooks
related to the Metropolitan Business College in Seattle and the College's
Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Iota Sorority for businesswomen.
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Location of Collection:
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15a.3.1-2
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Historical Note
The Metropolitan Business College began in 1889 as a small private
business school called the Seattle Business College. The school was started by
Josephine Hall and her husband in Seattle's Boston building, where it remained
until 1891. Initially, the Seattle Business College taught only shorthand and
typing, expanding its curriculum to include Bookkeeping, Accounting, Business
Law, English and Mathematics after it was bought out by Acme Business College
in 1894. Mrs. Hall sold her shares in the college to W.W. DeLong, who became
the college president. The newly combined school was known as Seattle and Puget
Sound College.
In 1915, the College became the property of the Metropolitan Building
Company, moved into the White-Henry-Stuart building, and changed its name to
the Metropolitan Business College. Florence G. Douglas, a sister of one of the
company owners, served as president of the College until 1942. The College
expanded under her tenure, adding fraternities and sororities, dormitories and
a basketball team.
In 1941, the Metropolitan Building Company divested itself of the
business college, which was then purchased by Herbert Phillips, who became
president of the school. At that time, the school moved into the second floor
of a new building at 414 Union Street at the corner of Fifth Avenue. During
Phillips' tenure, the school expanded its curriculum to ten regular diploma
courses. Phillips was President of the school for 34 years, till 1976 when the
school was turned over to his stepson.
In late 1978, the Metropolitan Business College acquired the
facilities of Auerswald Business University and moved all its classes to
Auerswald's 1524 Fifth Ave. location. In 1986, Jana L. Cloward purchased the
College and set out to modernize its equipment, curriculum and staff. The
program expanded to comprise five diploma programs, in Accounting, Computer
Application, Data Entry, Secretarial and Word Processing. The school's
curriculum was designed to accommodate and provide training for its "Ability to
Benefit" students--the approximately 80% of its student body who did not have a
high school diploma. After operating for over a century at nine different
locations under eight owners, the College closed in about 1990.
The Alpha Iota Sorority is an international honorary businesswomen's
society. The Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Iota Sorority was installed at
Metropolitan Business College on July 26, 1930.
Content Description
The collection includes Metropolitan Business College catalogs,
brochures and newsletters; administrative, legal and financial papers; and
advertisements and other promotional materials such as albums. A few narratives
provide a historical background of the College.
The photographs, dated circa 1910-1980, include images of students,
faculty and staff at the School, usually in offices or classroom. Students are
depicted in classes such as typing, stenotype and business machine class.
Members of the Phi Theta Pi Fraternity and Alpha Iota Sorority are depicted at
installations, banquets and conclaves.
The Alpha Iota Sorority Historian's Books and Scrapbooks document the
activities of the club and its members over an academic year and include
photographs, meeting minutes, announcements, clippings and ephemera.
Arrangement
The collection has been arranged into four series: photographs,
subdivided by photographer; textual materials; albums and other materials; and
the records of the Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Iota Sorority
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information The collection was donated by Ludwig-Gray International (liquidators)
in 1991.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access The collection is open to the public by appointment.
Restrictions on Use The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in
the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research,
publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI
before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to
all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may
require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation Metropolitan Business College Records, Museum of History &
Industry, Seattle
Subjects
| Seattle
(Wash.) |
| Photographic
prints |
| Business
schools--Washington (State)--Seattle |
| Fraternities &
sororities--Washington (State)--Seattle |
| Universities &
colleges--Washington (State)--Seattle |
| Other Creators : |
| Auerswald
Business University |
| Dudley,
Roger (photographer) |
| Miller,
Walter P. (photographer) |
| Peak, Roy
M. (photographer) |
| Alpha Iota
(Sorority). Upsilon Chapter (Metropolitan Business College) |
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Photographs , circa 1910-1980
All photographs dated circa 1910-1980 unless a more specific date
is given
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Container(s)
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Description
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Dates
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Photographs
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Roger Dudley,
Seattle
(
photographer)
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1-3:
Students in typing class
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4:
College President Herbert
Phillips talking to student
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5:
Three students talking in
hallway
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6-7:
Man and woman seated at office
desk
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8:
Students typing with two women
seated in private office
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9:
Students and teacher seated in
classroom
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10-11:
Students in typing class
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12:
Students and teacher in
Classroom 10, Room 208 (image/jpeg)
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circa 1935 |
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13:
Students in Accounting
Department classroom
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14:
Students in typing class
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15:
Three women working behind
Information desk in General Business Office
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16:
Fourth Avenue looking south
from Union Street, showing White Building, 1338 Fourth Avenue (image/jpeg)
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1930s |
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17:
Three women in school office
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18:
Herbert Phillips, President MBC
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circa 1948 |
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19:
Man seated at desk
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20:
Students and teacher in
stenotype class
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22:
Students seated at tables
writing, classroom in background
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24:
Five people in "Principal and
Registrar" office
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25-26:
Students writing in classroom,
instructor in front
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27:
College President Herbert
Phillips talking to student
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Photographs
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Walter P. Miller,
Seattle
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28:
Students typing near two
private offices
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29:
Students working in room near
private offices
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30:
Students and teacher in
stenotype class
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31:
Students typing near two
private offices
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32:
Private office
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33:
Typing classroom
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34:
Classroom
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35:
Private office
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36:
Students and teacher in typing
class (image/jpeg)
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circa 1930 |
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37:
Students reading in class
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38:
Four women behind Information
desk in General Business Office
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39:
Students taking dictation from
Mrs. Snyder
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1927 |
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40:
Students in Accounting
Department classroom
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41:
Students in typing class
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42:
Fourth Avenue between Union and
University, showing White Building, 1338 Fourth Avenue
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1920s |
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43:
Banquet for Alpha Iota Sorority
initiation of pledges and Phi Theta Pi Fraternity installation.
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44:
Women at banquet
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45:
Large group outdoors
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Photographs
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Roy M. Peak,
Seattle
(
photographer)
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46:
Business machine class
(image/jpeg)
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circa 1935 |
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47:
Men at banquet
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48:
Phi Theta Pi fraternity
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49:
Banquet at 8th annual
convention of Alpha Iota Sorority
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1938 July |
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50:
Mother-daughter banquet of
Upsilon Chapter Alpha Iota Sorority
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Other photographers
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51:
Four portraits of instructors
Edwin Hages, Ida Ann Rees and Frances J. Hastings
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53a, 53b:
Four women using "Metromatic"
machine
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54:
Jeanne Hanover, winner of essay
contest, includes clipping
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56:
Louis Beck, Bookkeeping and
Accounting instructor
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57:
Northeast from Westlake Avenue
and Olive Way, Metropolitan Business College in foreground (image/jpeg)
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1910 |
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58:
Business machine class
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59a-d:
Individual studio portraits of
four instructors
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60:
8th annual convention, Alpha
Iota Sorority in front of Seattle Art Museum
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1938 July |
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61:
Casual group seated outdoors
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62:
Clarence Stone, C.P.A.,
instructor
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63:
Eighteen studio portraits,
probably instructors
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64:
Snapshots, probably students
and their families
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circa 1970s |
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65:
Two women and calculator
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66:
Three students at College
entrance
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67:
Students working at business
machines
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68:
Instructor and students in
classroom
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70:
Instructor and three students
with globe
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71:
Letterhead (film)
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72:
Miscellaneous films for
printing (Letterheads, captions, images)
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73:
Eight instructors and student
around table with Knapp College brochure.
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Associated Photographic Service,
Tacoma, WA
(
photographer)
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74:
Heman Hunt (?), Arden Farms
Company
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Bruno
(
photographer)
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75:
Four people at luncheon or
dinner
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George J.
Carkonen
(
photographer)
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76:
Edith L Gaspard
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Leonid
Fink
(
photographer)
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77:
Mrs. Edna P. Kent, National
Vice President, Alpha Iota Sorority
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1938 |
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Leonid
Fink
(
photographer)
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79:
Students in typing
clas
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Forde
Photographers
(
photographer)
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80:
Group of men (possibly students
and faculty).
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Grady
(
photographer)
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81:
Two men and women with
typewriter in front of Christmas tree
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Frank
Jacobs
(
photographer)
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82:
Aerial view of Seattle business
district with White-Henry Stuart building circled
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Chas.
Laidlaw
(
photographer)
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83:
Group of women, First Northwest
Conclave of Alpha Iota Sorority, YWCA Camp, Bainbridge Island (image/jpeg)
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1933 July |
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Linkletter
Studio
(
photographer)
see Scrapbook 1932-36 for identifications
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84:
Group of women, Second
Northwest Conclave of Alpha Iota Sorority, YWCA Camp, Bainbridge Island
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1934 May |
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Linkletter
Studio
(
photographer)
see also Scrapbook 1932-36
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85:
Group of women, Third Northwest
Conclave of Alpha Iota Sorority, YWCA Camp, Bainbridge Island
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1935 |
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Linkletter
Studio
(
photographer)
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86:
Horrace Parrish
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Nordlunds (?) Foto.
Co.
(
photographer)
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87:
Doris Doolittle, of Ryan,
Askren and Ryan
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Ralston
Studio
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photographer)
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129:
Woman and student at office
desk
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130:
Two women holding stuffed
animals
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131, 136:
Four women using "Metromatic"
(see also #53)
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132:
Students in typing class
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133, 134, 138:
Man seated at desk
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135:
Three people in hallway
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137:
Two students with typewriter
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Textual Materials
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Container(s)
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Description
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Dates
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88:
Catalogs and brochures
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1927-1987 undated |
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89:
Metropolitan Business College
newsletters
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1927-1938 1983-1986 |
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89b:
Metropolitan-Auerswald Business
University newsletters
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1979-1980 |
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89c:
Metropolitan Bulletin, bulletin
of the Metropolitan Building Company
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1927-1929 |
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90:
Registration agreements
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91:
Class schedule
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1985 |
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92:
Certificates, mostly professional
association memberships
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1942-1981 |
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93:
Form letters
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1942-1979 |
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94:
Letterheads, envelopes and
typefaces
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undated |
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95:
Newspaper advertisements for
Metropolitan Business College and other business colleges
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1918-1982 |
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96:
Telephone directory ads for
Metropolitan Business College
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1979-1981 |
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97:
Financial information
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1926-1978 |
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98:
Historical information, including
historical narratives about the College, Boards of Directors listings, and
clippings about President Herbert Phillips and his wife, Alma.
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1942-1988 |
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99:
Leases and related correspondence
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1952-1977 |
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100:
Equipment-bills and
correspondence
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1942-1979 |
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101:
Loans
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1976-1981 |
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102:
Agreements on use of college
premises for non-college courses
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1975 1979 |
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104:
Miscellaneous faculty related
papers, including letter of resignation, contracts, and staff list
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1963-1980 |
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105:
Stockholders [stock
subscriptions, sales, meeting records]
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1975 |
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106:
Permits
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1972-1978 |
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107:
Floor plans
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undated |
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108:
Correspondence with and
evaluations of other business schools
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1939-1968 |
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109:
Manuals on practical skills
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1932 1947 |
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110:
Booklets on running a private
commercial school
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1935 December 1948 |
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Albums and Other Materials
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Container(s)
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Description
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Dates
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115:
Box of driving training course
materials (includes filmstrips, slides and cassette tapes)
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undated |
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115b:
Pocket dictionary with embossed
MBC cover
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circa 1926 |
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119:
Album of clippings, brochures,
promotional material, photographs
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circa 1930 |
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124:
Poster for Metropolitan Business
College
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circa 1930 |
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125:
Album of color photographs of
people, possibly students and staff
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139:
Miscellaneous papers including
attendance records and an exam
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1932-1986 |
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140:
Scrapbook
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circa 1925 |
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Largely advertisement clippings, brochures and form letters
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141:
Promotional album
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circa 1930 |
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Brochures, clippings and photographs
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Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Iota
Sorority
The Upsilon Chapter's Historian's Books are yearbooks documenting
the activities of the club and its members over an academic year. They include
formal and informal photographs of sorority members, meeting minutes,
engagement and wedding announcements, and photographs, clippings and ephemera
from regional and national trips and events.
Sorority scrapbooks tend to be more informal, including member's
lists, newsletters, cards, clippings, snapshots and ephemera from various
sorority events.
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Container(s)
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Description
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Dates
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1991.25.142:
Historian's Book
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1947-1948 |
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1991.25.143:
Historian's Book
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1948-1949 |
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1991.25.118:
Historian's Book
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1949-1950 |
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1991.25.145:
Historian's Book
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1950-1951 |
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1991.25.144a:
Historian's Book
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1951-1952 |
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oversize
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1991.25.144b:
Historian's Book
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1954-1955 |
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oversize
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1991.25.111:
History of Alpha Iota Sorority,
Supplement II
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1942 July -1946 May |
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1991.25.112:
Receipt books
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1947-1954 |
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1991.25.113:
Rosters and yearbooks
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1947-1964 |
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1991.25.120:
Scrapbook
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1930-1933 |
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1991.25.127:
Scrapbook
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1932-1936 |
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Loose photographs removed from
1932-1936 Scrapbook
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1932-1936 |
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1991.25.126:
Scrapbook
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1936-1938 |
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1991.25.121:
Scrapbook
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1947 |
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1991.25.114:
Secretary's file, including
membership records, financial statements and IRS tax returns
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1947-1954 |
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1991.25.117:
Plaque of past presidents, Sigma
Xi Chapter of Chi Rho International
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undated |
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1991.25.116:
Wood-bound volume of The Upsilon
Echo, monthly newsletter of Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Iota, Volume 1, Nos. 1-10.
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1947 May-1948 March |
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