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Emmanuel College Student Protests Collection Finding Aid: Collection Overview

Title: Emmanuel College Student Protests Collection

Date(s): Undated, c. 1959-1977

Repository I.D.: US: MBEmm: Pro-2013-1

Collection Call No.: Pro-2013-1

Location: Emmanuel Archives—Cardinal Cushing Library 202

Extent: 1.5 linear feet (31 folders/2 boxes)

Language(s): Materials are in English.

Abstract: This collection contains material from student and political protests and gatherings at Emmanuel College (Boston, Mass.) and various locations in the United States. It also contains the meeting minutes and correspondences of the 3-3-3 committee that was charged by the Emmanuel College Board of Trustees with reviewing the Students’ Bill of Rights and Demands before its approval by the trustees in December 1972.

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, Folder Number]. Emmanuel College Student Protest Collection. Cardinal Cushing Library, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA.

Provenance: The collection was received by the archives from the Presidents’ Office in 2010. 

Processed By: Processed in July 2013 by John P. Healey, Jr.

Biography/History: As the 1960s progressed there were protests not only for civil rights and against the Vietnam War, but also for parietal rules, and students’ role in College governance, which led to the creation of a Student Bill of Rights. It began, at Emmanuel College, in the winter of 1969 as commuter students, in an attempt to deal with the cold weather, wore slacks that were not allowed under student regulations. Concurrently resident students, through their inter-dormitory council conducted a referendum on student determined curfews.   Ninety-one percent (91%) of voting students answered “yes” to the question: “Should students determine their own curfew system by vote?” Faced with these challenges to its authority the College Administration relaxed its regulations and by March 1969 commuters were allowed to wear slacks and resident students were given permission to set their own curfews. Once this was accomplished students had an increased desire to play a greater role in College governance and were angered when Sr. Marie Barry was appointed president without student consultation. Then on April 18, 1970, in an attempt to clarify and strengthen their position in regard to the establishment of policy at the College the students presented the Board of Trustees with a “Bill of Rights.” The Board agreed, in theory, in the implementation of such a document. However, it requested that a committee of students, faculty and administrators study the document before it approved implementation. The panel was known as the 3-3-3 Committee because it was composed of three students, three faculty and three administrators. After the committee finished its review of the document, the Board of Trustees formally approved the Student Bill of Rights on December 9, 1972.  

Scope and Content: The collection contains drafts of the Student Bill of Rights and Demands, the minutes and correspondences of the 3-3-3 Committee, memorandums, announcements/flyers and newspaper and magazine clippings on issues ranging from student protests to education to urban and environmental concerns for the period between the c. 1959 through 1977. Although the collection contains material on issues from across the United States it focuses on Emmanuel College and Boston, MA.

Collection Arrangement: The collection is arranged into three (3) series that are arranged chronologically and then alphabetically. 1. Student Rights and Demands and the 3-3-3 Committee. 2. Memorandums and Protests Announcements. 3. Newspaper and Magazine Clippings.