Collections : [Western Connecticut State University Archives and Special Collections]

Carl A. Pettersch was Professor of Social Science 1946-1955, Dean of Graduate Studies 1955-1973, Faculty Emeriti 1973-2003 as Professor of History. This collection comprises the papers of Dr. Pettersch while Dean of Graduate Studies.

The Connecticut State University System dates back to 1849. Colleges in the system all began as teachers colleges and gradually were given responsibility for educational programs such as liberal arts, business, technology, and health services. They were brought together into a state college system in 1965, and were granted university status in 1983.

The Danbury Industrial Corporation was established between 1916-1918 to promote the City of Danbury as an attractive location for business and industry initially through the purchase of land for industrial development. The collection includes the D.I.C. records, clippings, correspondence, legal documents and most notably a three volume Danbury Industrial Survey which contains comprehensive descriptions and statistical analyses of Danbury's business and industrial community from 1918.

This is a small collection of the records of the Town of Danbury. It includes Selectmen, financial, School Board, Town Clerk, and Town Counsel records. Materials document town construction projects, social welfare, roads, the School Board, the airport, the 1955 Danbury flood, the agreement between the town and the AFSCME/AFL-CIO, the 1934 project for sewers, drains and treatment plant, town audits, town taxes and 1950s fallout shelters. These documents include announcements of upcoming Town Meetings, school bonds, budgets, property transactions, petitions, tax revaluation and appeals, town financial statements and a ledger of Registered Physicians in Danbury.

The role of the the Division of Academic Affairs has evolved in name and purpose over the history of the WCSU. Currently the division is headed by the V.P. of Academic Affairs & Provost. The Division of Academic Affairs collection includes: administrative records, accreditation records, admissions data, institutional research and assessment records, and strategic planning information.

The records of the Office of Finance and Administration contain records from the following departments under the V.P. for Finance & Administration: Fiscal Affairs, Institutional Services, and the Division of Public Safety. Also incuded are University Events' invitations and programs from commencements, convocations and events from 1906-2007.

The Division of Student Affairs is responsible for oversight of university functions affecting student life and for setting and enforcing related policies. The division's records consist of administrative information, committee files, annual reports, and budgetary records as well as files pertaining to student organizations. The records of the Division of Student Affairs span the dates 1926'-2006, and are organized into seven series: (1) Athletics/Recreation, (2) Campus Ministries, (3) Career Development Center, (4) The Counseling Center, (5) Health Services, (6) Housing/Residential Life, (7) Student Life, and (8) Student Affairs.

The June Goodman Collection documents her local activism in the 1960s. She received a master's degree in education from WestConn in 1970. The collection focuses on Goodman's commitment to education, specifically her work with the Committee of 1,000 and its fight to improve and expand the Danbury school system in the 1960s. Much of the collection chronicles the bitter nature of the debate.

The Pinkerton Detective Agency was hired by the City of Danbury to help solve a rash of arson cases that had begun in 1888. There are 18 written reports from the Pinkerton Operative and statements the were taken by the operative from firemen, citizens, witnesses and suspects.

The Student Government Association (SGA) is the governing body for the students at Western Connecticut State University. The SGA sponsors numerous academic, recreational, and other student-run clubs and organizations at WCSU. The records include the accumulation of records by successive SGA presidents.

This is a digital collection of University Senate records which include minutes, agendas and supporting documents.