Office of Public Relations Records Finding Aid: Collection Overview

Title: Office of Public Relation Records

Date(s): Unknown Dates, 1970-1998

Repository I.D.: US: MBEmm: OPR-2015-2

Collection Call No.: OPR-2015-2

Author: 
Emmanuel College (Boston, Mass.). Office of Public Relations
Berggren, Richard
Plastichrome
GAF Corporation

Location: Emmanuel Archives—Cardinal Cushing Library 202

Extent: 3.91 Linear Feet (4 Boxes / 51 Folders/ 242 slides)

Language(s): The collection is entirely in English.

Abstract: This collection contains the publications Interchange and Emmanuel Extra that was issued by the office of Public Relations from 1970-1998 as well as miscellaneous documents.

Access Restrictions: 1) The collection is not restricted. 2) Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the College Archivist.

Preferred Citation: [Item Title]. [Box Number]. Office of Public Relations Records. Cardinal Cushing Library, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA.

Related Collection(s):
Emmanuel Magazine. Cardinal Cushing Library, Emmanuel College Archives, Boston, MA.
Emmanuel News. Cardinal Cushing Library, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA.
Emmanuel College Student Newspapers. Cardinal Cushing Library, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA.
Office of Marketing and Communications Records.Cardinal Cushing Library, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA.

Provenance: This collection was obtained by the Emmanuel College Archives in 2010.

Processed By: Collection processed in July 2019.

Biography/History: The development of the Public Relations Office began with the creation of Publicity Committee in 1925, a student organization that was responsible for increasing the public profile of Emmanuel College through the preparation of articles that appeared in the press that discussed the entertainment, lectures, athletics, dances and teas that were sponsored by the institution and by attending student recruitment events. In 1956, the Publicity Committee, by then known as Public Relations Club aided in the use of television to increase public awareness of Emmanuel with a recording of the dedication of Marian Hall. The Public Relations Club ceased in 1964. In the mid-1960s, internal communications among students were overseen through the Bulletin Board Committee that was responsible for the order and arrangement of notices posted on student bulletin boards. It consisted of the two-sophomore student representative, that were assisted by members of the student clubs.

In 1969, the Office of Public Information was established by Emmanuel College under the direction of Pauline Fitzgerald with the mandate to create a public identity to inform the College community and the general public about Emmanuel through various mediums, including print newspapers, newsletters and television. The Department continued operating as the College’s community press office throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s under various Department names that ranged from Office of Public Information to Office of Public Relations to Office of Admissions and Marketing.

By 2000, the Office of Public Relations was replaced by the Office of Communications and Community Relations (later renamed Office of Government, Community and Public Relations). Its responsibilities were institutional publications web site content and effectively communicate the Emmanuel brand to a variety of internal and external audiences, tasks which were taken over by the Office of Marketing and Communications in 2008.

Scope and Content: The collection describes events, activities and important dates related to the function of Emmanuel College. All dated material in the collection dates from 1970-1998. The newsletters in the collection informed readers of events at Emmanuel College and related off-campus events.

Each of the series is in non-consecutive sequential order. The Interchange does not hold records past 1995. Emmanuel Extra, the replacement publication for the Interchange holds periodicals in non-consecutive sequential order. The miscellaneous documents range from the 1970s and 1990. Each series illustrates on and off campus activities like lectures, film showings, history month events, academic award ceremonies, field trips, theatre performances, faculty panels and on and off campus lectures. All series overall are similar in their content.

Collection Arrangement: The collections are arranged into four series: Interchange, Emmanuel Extra, miscellaneous document and photographic material. The series is arranged chronologically by academic year. This order has been imposed by John Healey, Archives Librarian, and student intern Andrew Melia.