Career Center Office records, 1938-2000

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Summary

Creator:
Duke University. Career Center
Abstract:
Contains the records of the Appointments Office, a career placement service for students of Duke University. The Appointments Office was later known as the Office of Placement Services and Career Development Center and is currently (2007) known as the Career Center. This collection also contains professional correspondence, writings, and speeches of Fannie Y. Mitchell, director of the Appointments Office from 1947-1968. Types of materials include correspondence, speeches, short writings, conference presentation materials, annual reports, minutes, newsletters, fliers, clippings, and a photograph. Major subjects include Duke University students, the Appointments Office, Office of Placement Services history, Fannie Y. Mitchell, student employment, recruiting, and career guidance. Materials range in date from 1938-2000.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet
1,200 Items
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
UA.09.14.0001
University Archives Record Group:
09 -- Student Affairs
09 -- Student Affairs > 14 -- Career Center

Background

Scope and content:

Contains materials pertaining to the Appointments Office (now known as Duke Career Center) and professional papers of Fannie Y. Mitchell, director of the Appointments Office. Materials range in date from 1938-2000.

Biographical / historical:

The Duke University Appointments Office, a student career placement service, was created around 1938. James Simpson was the first director, serving from 1938 until 1940. When he left in 1940, William Upchurch assumed the position of Director, and he remained in charge until 1942. Fannie Mitchell came to the Appointments Office in 1942 and was acting director until she assumed the full responsibilities of director in 1947. She was the first woman to hold the position of director.

The Appointments Office originally placed students in either teaching or commercial positions, but by the 1950s had expanded the scope of their placement efforts to include a variety of fields. The Appointments Office has helped students locate career leads by inviting representatives of companies to come to campus to interview students. The Appointments Office also counseled students on job searching, interviewing skills, resume writing, and compiled confidential evaluation records of student recommendations.

Fannie Mitchell was a well-connected professional in college recruiting. She relied on acquaintances in the United States and abroad to secure choice recruiters to come to campus, and to further the positive image of Duke University graduates. Mitchell participated in many Duke University conferences regarding the employability of Duke University graduates, and women's achievement in the workplace, and she also advised many academic departments on the interests of recruiters. Mitchell also served on the Woman's College Advisory Committee.

Mitchell held leadership positions in professional organizations including the Southern College Placement Association, College Placement Services, Southern Education Foundation, Western College Placement Association, Durham Business and Professional Women's Club Federation, and the State Business and Professional Women's Club Federation.

When Fannie Mitchell retired from her position in 1968, an endowment created in her honor established the Fannie Mitchell Conference on Career Choices. There is also a Fannie Mitchell student scholarship. Patricia O'Conner succeeded Fanny Mitchell becoming the director in 1968. In 1969, the office was renamed Office of Placement Services. Laurence Maskel was the director from 1988 to 1990, and in 1990 the named of the department changed to the Career Development Center. John Noble became director of the Center in 1991. The department is currently (2007) known as the Career Center.

The Career Center continues to serve all Duke University students and works with academic departments to develop industry-specific job searching strategies. As of 2003, the Career Center of Duke University is a department of the Division of Student Affairs.

Acquisition information:
The Career Center Office records were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1968, 1993.
Processing information:

Processed by Emily Glenn, March 2003

Updated by Sherrie Bowser, February 2007

Encoded by Sherrie Bowser, June 2007

Accessions 68--329, 74--146, A93-29 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Career Center Office Records, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.