Vice President For Development and University Relations Office

Collection

Identifier: RHC-UA-14-##9ni

Scope and Contents

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The Office of the Vice President for Development and University Relations Collection contains three series. The first series, Development Office, consists of the office's newsletter, Corporate Commentary, and records from the various organizations the office oversees, including Parents for Northern and the Huskie Club. The second series, Corporate Relations, contains correspondence and subject files from that office, including Business and Industry for Northern, DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, and Illinois Research and Development Corridor. The third series, Vice President for Development and University Relations Office, contains correspondence and subject files including records relating to the Northern Star, WNIU, and Alumni Relations. Researchers should also consult the following collections in the University Archives for offices reporting to the Vice President for Development and University Relations: Publications Office, NIU Foundation, WNIU-FM, Alumni Association, Public Information Office. Of special interest to the researcher is a history of the NIU Foundation in Box 4, Folder 13. There is also an oral history series on the history of the foundation available in the archives.

Dates

created: 1960-2011
Other: Majority of material found in 1968-1991
Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1950

Biographical or Historical Information

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The Alumni Executive Secretary handled fundraising of all kinds until 1965 when the secretary's duties were divided and assigned separate directors. At that time a Director of Development was appointed to oversee fundraising from corporate and community sources. In 1972 the Development Office as a separate unit in the university's administration was established. It coordinated the activities of the Parents for Northern organization and the Huskie Club. In addition, the Development Office put out a newsletter, called Corporate Commentary, which kept businesses informed of the university's activities and research. A Parents' Club was organized in 1965, which became the NIU Parents' Association in 1968. Dues from the association's members provided the funds for several scholarships. In 1976 Parents for Northern was organized. Its primary purpose was to increase communication between the university and students' parents. In addition to raising funds, Parents for Northern sponsored Parents' Day for several years. George "Chick" Evans, the university's athletic director, organized the Booster Club in 1955. Individuals from the community were offered memberships which included season tickets to university football and basketball games. Dues were used to fund the athletic grants-in-aid program. After Evans retired in 1968, his successor, Robert Brigham, reorganized the Booster Club into the Huskie Club. Beginning May 1, 1986, the position of Vice President for Development and University Relations was created with Thomas Montiegel serving as the first officer. Reporting to the Vice President of Development and University Relations are the Director of Development (includes Annual Giving, Corporate Relations, Prospect Research and Alumni Relations), the NIU Foundation Controller, and the Assistant to the Vice President who oversees Publications, Printing, Public Information, Periodicals, Records and Systems, and Northern Public Radio (which includes WNIU-FM, WNIJ-FM and NIRIS).

Note written by

Full Extent

15.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

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Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

Records from the Office of the Vice President for Development and University Relations came to the University Archives in several installments beginning in the 1950's. There are no restrictions on access to these records.