Bradley University History Research Guide

From Library Reference

Bradley University History Research Guide

V. H. CHASE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS CENTER

Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm Phone Number: (309) 677-2822

Apart from the specific titles noted, the documentary record of the University is somewhat fragmentary and frequently frustrating to those undertaking historical research. Like many institutions, Bradley does not have a formal archives policy to insure the systematic retention of important records; for years, most items deemed of historic significance were simply transferred to storage in the attic of Bradley Hall where they were ultimately lost in the catastrophic fire of 1963.

While some reconstruction was possible using files from other campus offices and donations from alumni, the post-fire record is far more complete. However, because the Special Collections program was not established until 1980, a number of more recent materials may also be lacking.

The most comprehensive resource is undoubtedly Louis Yates' 1974 institutional history A Proud Heritage. Anyone interested in Bradley's early years will want to study The First Decade, 1897-1907, Charles Truman Wyckoff's later Four Decades (1897-1937), the History of Bradley Polytechnic as a Junior College, and, perhaps, the 1988 biography of Lydia Moss Bradley, Forgotten Angel, still available in bookstores.

Beyond the use of such readily accessible sources, however, research becomes somewhat more challenging, requiring both energy and creativity to assemble a coherent whole from pieces which may exist in several different formats and locations. Following is a brief description of other relevant materials held in the Special Collections Center.

• Depending upon the topic, original investigation many also be necessary. ***

Whenever appropriate, staff will attempt to provide referrals to other area resources both public and private.

BRADLEYANA COLLECTION

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESIDENTS' PAPERS Over 400 microfilmed pages relating to Bradley Polytechnic Institute during the years 1889-1925.

BRADLEY SCOUT Digitized copies of the Scout dating back to 1940 (then called Bradley Tech) are available in Special Collections and in the Reference stacks on the main floor: REF. LB3621.65.S36

CATALOGS Complete run of catalogs from 1897 to the present. Includes separate publication of the Horological Institute and many miscellaneous brochures covering specific departments, courses of study, or terms.

HANDBOOKS First known as the "B" Book. A nearly complete run from 1902 to present.

YEARBOOKS/NEWSPAPERS Complete run of newspapers from 1898 Tech to current Scout. Yearbooks from first Polyscope in 1901 to present Anaga. Some issues from 1920's too brittle for use. No indexes.

VERTICAL FILE Twelve linear feet of material dealing with Bradley people, buildings, programs, and events. Files include clippings, brochures, and photographs. Headings by people, buildings, programs, and activities or events.

NEWSCLIPS Assembled by Public Information Office. Copies of any articles relevant to Bradley appearing in Illinois newspapers. Coverage begins in 1985 and extends to present. Chronological order but no index.

ALUMNI PUBLICATIONS Includes The Bradley News and Bradley Alumni News from 1922-1938 as well as Hilltopics from 1941 to the present.

UNIVERSITY SENATE PROCEEDINGS Official minutes of faculty governing body since inception in 1952.

BPI COLLECTION Copies of most monographs written by current and past faculty. Includes President's reports, various accreditation self-studies, faculty handbooks, and newsletters as well as The Bradley Engineer magazine published by the College of Engineering between 1956 and 1970, and the literary publications Broadside (1982-) and The Bradley Review (1966-1975).

SCRAPBOOKS/PROGRAMS Best scrapbook coverage for period from 1894-1916. Others cover somewhat erratically the period from 1920 to the early 1960's. Most are chronological but none are indexed. Also includes collection of commencement, sports, drama, and Founder's Day programs extending to present day.

IMAGES Limited number of originals with best coverage of 1940's and 1950's.

LIBRARY OF THE PEORIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

CITY DIRECTORIES AND BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARIES Collection has nearly complete run of city directories from 1844 to the present. Biographical dictionaries cover prominent citizens from 1880 to about 1912. Basic source of information on people and enterprises both directly and indirectly associate with the institution.

VERTICAL FILES Society has over eighty linear feet of material in vertical file arranged by broad subjects such as family and street names, business and organization type. Files may include newspaper clippings, manuscript letters, typescripts, pamphlets, brochures and catalogs.

WPA NEWSPAPER INDEX Cites and abstracts articles appearing in fifteen area newspapers between 1834 and 1864. Newspapers available on microfilm at Peoria Public Library. Most useful for establishing historical context and antecedents of University.

IMAGE COLLECTION. Over 15,000 photographic images in print, transparency, and negative format. Collection covers people, structures (including some interiors), transportation, events, street scenes. Some images as early as 1875 but most are from first half of twentieth century. No master index but inventory lists of specific groups of images are available.

• Materials in Special Collections do not circulate but must be used in the Reading Room.***

Electrostatic and photographic copies are available for a nominal charge.

Don't See What You're Looking For?

If you didn't find the help you were looking for on this page, please call, e-mail, or append a comment to let us know what kind of research assistance you were seeking. We are here to help, and we want to know if our services could be made more useful. Thank you for helping us build a better Reference Service. For a list of who to contact, go to: http://library.bradley.edu/staff/liaison.shtml

You can access many of the Library's research resources from the Library's home page, at: http://library.bradley.edu/

--updated by Bryan Clark, baclark@bradley.edu, 11:18, 19 August 2009 (CDT)