Collection ID: C409
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Indiana Memorial Union. Union Board
Abstract:
The Union Board serves as the governing body for the Indiana Memorial Union, which organizes various events and activities for students on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. Established in 1909, the Union Board has since developed into the largest student programming body at Indiana University. The Collection consists of minutes of Union Board meetings and a variety of administrative documents and materials related to past programs, activities, and events.
Extent:
38.4 cubic feet (39 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item], Union Board records, Collection C409, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

The Union Board was originally organized by John M. Whittenberger in 1909 as an organization that would "further the interests of Indiana University and her students." Founding members included male students and two individuals in advisory positions, including University President William L. Bryan. In its early years, the male-only group met in the Student Building and the old Assembly Hall before the construction of the Indiana Memorial Union building was completed in 1932. In 1952, women were first admitted to the Union Board following a merger with the Association of Women Students.

Over time, the Union Board grew to consist of a governing body including an elected student Executive Team and group of student Committee Directors. As of 2010, the Union Board supported thirteen active programming committees overseen by three executive team members, making a combined total of sixteen student positions, all of whom work in tangent with Staff Advisors, Faculty and Alumni Representatives, and the Executive Director of the Indiana Memorial Union.

The goal of the Union Board is to serve students, faculty, alumni and the greater IU Bloomington community through a diverse range of events, activities, and programs. Major recurring activity initiatives organized by the Union Board include film screenings, concerts, performing arts acts, comedy shows, lectures, debates, the publication of Canvas arts magazine, Live From Bloomington local music programming, annual Madrigal Dinner performances, and a variety of international and culturally oriented events.

Scope and Content:

The Union Board records span the period from 1912-2010, with the bulk of materials concentrated between the years 1922-2008. The collection is organized into five series: Minutes, Agendas and Working Papers; Administrative Subject Files; Publications; Programs and Events, and Audiovisual.

The Minutes, Agendas, and Working Papers series (1912-2009) is divided into two subseries. The first subseries is "Official" Minutes of the Union Board, (1912-2009). These include the official, signed minutes of Union Board meetings. In most cases these minutes consist of the original handwritten or typed copy. However, there are quite a number of minutes that clearly are photocopies of the originals. Union Board administrative staff have reviewed all the minutes and selected what they regarded as the best available official version. These minutes are bound in volumes except for the more recent electronic versions of the minutes and are arranged chronologically. The vast majority of the records in these volumes are minutes, but there are also some financial records, correspondence, attendance reports and election results, and policies and proposals.

The second subseries is the Unofficial Minutes, Agendas and Working Papers (1994-2008).. Included in this subseries are annotated copies of minutes that clearly do not represent the official final version, agendas, budgetary statements, notices, proposals, documents specific to Union Board committees, and other forms of administrative documentation. Documents in this subseries organized into folders and arranged chronologically.

The second series, Administrative Subject files (1913-2010, bulk 1987-2010), contains various documents related to the Union Board's management and planning activities. Included in this series are annual reports, budgets, director handbooks, director retreat materials, strategic plans, surveys, renovation documentation, and other topical files related to various initiatives of the Union Board and the Indiana Memorial Union.

The Publications series (1980-2009) includes magazines, newsletters, and several topical publications created in part by the Union Board. Prominent among the records in this series is the publication Canvas. Compilation albums published through the Live From Bloomington local music programming committee are also included in this series. Audio materials from this series are housed at the end of the collection (box 28).

The Programs and Events series (1935-2010) is divided into four subseries: Madrigal Dinner, Concerts, Lectures, and General. The Madrigal Dinner subseries (1947-2001) includes materials created in the planning and marketing of the annual Madrigal Dinner performances organized and supported by the Union Board each December from 1947-2001. Planning documents, financial information, correspondence, audition and casting materials, historical/research information, comparative documents from other universities hosting similar performances, publicity materials, programs, photographs and a male and female historical costume are present in this subseries.

The Concerts subseries (1970-2009) contains a range of documents in relation to the scheduling, marketing, planning, and logistical matters involved with the concerts sponsored by the Union Board. Types of materials in this series include promotional musician and band photographs, contracts, correspondence, stage plans, ticket sales details, and promotional materials. The series is organized alphabetically by the name of the performer.

The Lectures subseries (1983-2006) contains a range of documents in relation to the scheduling, marketing, planning, and logistical matters involved with the Union Board's activities in bringing a wide range of lecturers to speak on campus. Types of materials in this series include promotional photographs and flyers, contracts, correspondence, venue information, and other related documents. The series is organized alphabetically by the name of the lecturer.

The General subseries (1935-2010) includes various documents pertaining to a variety of Union Board initiatives, with a large portion of materials related to planning, publicity, and Union Board subcommittees. Materials from one-time and recurring programs, anniversary celebrations, Union Board reunions, student orientations, student organizations, and the Whittenberger Society—an organization by which current Union Board Directors, Union Board alumni, and Honorary Life Members maintain a connection—are organized here. Other prominent events or topics featured in this series include the AIDS Memorial Quilt, comedy performances, films, Live From Bloomington, and theatre and musical events.

The final series, Audiovisual (1982-1995), contains videocassette format materials documenting various Union Board initiatives or programs, such as lectures, theatrical performances, Model United Nations, comedy competitions, Union Board Magazine, Union Board Television (UBTV), and National College Television (NCTV).

Acquisition information:
Accessions 1204, 7716, 2008/062, 2009/077, 2010/063, 2011/014, 2011/031, 2022/018
Appraisal information:

Employment contracts displaying social security numbers were removed from Madrigal Dinner files and shredded.

Custodial history:

The various accessions which make up the collection were transferred over time from the Union Board to the University Archives. The precise transfer date of Accession 7716 is not known; it was accessioned by the University archives February 22, 2007. Accession 2009/077 was transferred on September 8, 2009. Accession 2010/063 was transferred on July 14, 2010. Accession 2011/014 was transferred on January 24, 2011. Accession 2011/31 was transferred on March 23, 2011. Accession 2022/179 was transferrred on December 7, 2022.

Processing information:

Processed by Amy Jankowski.

Completed in 2011.

Arrangement:

Collection is organized into five series: Minutes, agendas and working papers; Administrative subject files; Publications (including some audio materials); Programs and events, and Audiovisual. The Minutes, Agendas and Working Papers are divided into two subseries: the Official" Minutes of the Union Board, and the Unofficial Minutes, Agendas and Working Papers. The Programs and Events series is divided into four subseries: Madrigal Dinners, Concerts, Lectures, and General. The Audiovisual series is arranged into two subseries: U-Matic videocassette tapes and VHS videocassette tapes.

Online content

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.

Select files are closed to researchers and are indicated in the folder list. Restricted files are related to students involved with the Madrigal Dinner performances; these records include audition papers, cast lists, and scholarship designations upon which Social Security Numbers are listed. Restricted files are stored at the end of paper-based records in box 28.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Copyrights for records originating with Indiana University administrative units, departments, and other offices are held by the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Union Board records, Collection C409, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu