Varsity Letters

A study of the functions of colleges and universities, Varsity Letters is intended to aid those responsible for the documentation of these institutions. The seven functions examined are: to confer credentials, convey knowledge, foster socialization, conduct research, sustain the institution, provide public service, and promote culture. The functional approach provides the means to achieve a comprehensive understanding of an institution and its documentation: a knowledge of what is to be documented and the problems of gathering the desired documentation. Samuels offers specific advice about the records of modern colleges and universities and proposes a method to ensure their adequate documentation. She also offers a method to analyze and plan the preservation of records for any type of institution.

Author Biography

Helen W. Samuels has been Institute Archivist and Head of Special Collections in the MIT Libraries since 1977 and has previously worked as both an archivist and a librarian. Her publications focus on the documentation of science and technology and the methods, such as documentation strategies, that can be used to improve the record of modern society. She is a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists.