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I E-2

Arnold Arboretum. Records of the Visiting Committee (1910-2003): A Finding Aid

Arnold Arboretum Archives, Jamaica Plain
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
July 2003

© 2003 President and Fellows of Harvard College

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Arnold Arboretum Archives of Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, MA
Call No.: I E-2
Title: Records of the Visiting Committee 1910-2003
Creator: Arnold Arboretum
Quantity: 1.3 linear ft., 3 boxes and 2 bound volumes

Processing Information:

Processed: July 2003
By: Jessica M. Parr

Acquisition Information:

These papers were created by the Arnold Arboretum Visiting Committee, an advisory group that makes recommendations regarding the Arboretum's research, living collections, public programs, and physical facility. The HOLLIS # for this collection is 009146855 and the file name is ajp00029.

Access Restrictions:

Researchers seeking to examine archival materials are strongly encouraged to make an appointment. The Director, or an office of origin, may place restrictions on the use of some or all of its records. The extent and length of the restriction will be determined by the Director, office of origin, and the Archivist and will be enforced equally for all researchers.

Use Restrictions:

The copyright is held by The President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Arnold Arboretum Archives of Harvard University. The copyright on some materials in the collection may be held by the original author or the author's heirs or assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining written permission from the holder(s) of copyright and the Arnold Arboretum Archives prior to publishing any quotations or images from materials in this collection.
Photocopies may be made at the discretion of the Arnold Arboretum Archives staff. Permission to make photocopies does not constitute permission to reproduce or publish materials outside the bounds of the fair use guidelines.

Historical Note

"The duty of visitation is a responsibility of Harvard's Board of Overseers imposed upon them by the University's charter. The goal of the visitation process is not only to keep the Board of Overseers well informed about the state of the University, but also to make them helpful, understanding, and effective counselors to the University and educated interpreters of its mission to a larger word. To this end, the Board has developed visiting committees, whose members are chosen for their experience or specialized knowledge. Visiting committees prepare written reports which, accompanied by departmental responses, are presented to standing committees of the Board. The standing committees transmit the reports with comments and recommendations to the President and Fellows and, when appropriate, to the Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. These reports enable the governing boards to ensure that the appropriate mechanisms, practices, and processes are in place to achieve the objectives of the University as effectively as possible, to ascertain whether priorities are being reviewed and pursued, to ask how decisions made now fit with these priorities and will affect the future and to evaluate whether the University's resources are being employed and developed so as to secure its vigor and quality over the long term."

Scope and Content

The Records of the Arnold Arboretum Visiting Committee includes membership lists, meeting notes and agendas, reports with the Visiting Committee's recommendations, and correspondence between the director of the Arnold Arboretum and various members. The earliest available records for the Arnold Arboretum's Visiting Committee are from 1909. Also included are Arnold Arboretum publications, photos, and public relations materials included in the folders that are given to the Committee members at each meeting.
These records are arranged into four series:
Series I: Membership
Series II: Reports of the Visiting Committee
Series III: Meetings
Series IV: Arboretum Reports to the Visiting Committee
Series IV includes a bound volume of the Visiting Committee meeting minutes from 1956-1961 and a bound volume of the reports of Visiting Committees of the Arnold Arboretum, Botanic Gardens, Bussey Institute and the Gray Herbarium from 1909-1928.

Container List

List of Correspondents:


ajp00029