School of Engineering records, 1931 - 2025

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Access restricted. Some materials in this collection are Duke University administrative materials. For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the...
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Summary

Creator:
Duke University. School of Engineering
Abstract:
The College of Engineering was established in 1939. It became the School of Engineering in 1966, later renamed the Pratt School of Engineering in 1999. It is composed of four departments: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. This collection includes records of the departments, the Engineering Student Government, and the Engineering Alumni Association. Type of materials include biographical files, general subject files, correspondence, photographs, clippings, rosters, minutes, reports, proposals, course descriptions, memoirs, honors, and vitae. Major subjects include Duke University, students, School of Engineering, the study and teaching of science and engineering, and scientific research.
Extent:
61.25 Linear Feet
0.98 Gigabytes
Language:
Materials in English.
Research Center:
Duke University Archives
Collection ID:
UA.21.01.0001
University Archives Record Group:
21 -- Pratt School of Engineering
21 -- Pratt School of Engineering > 01 -- Pratt School of Engineering

Background

Scope and content:

Contains the records of the School of Engineering pertaining to courses of instruction, employees, research, students, and general management. Includes publications; engineering student group records; proposals and reports; administrative records; photographs; recordings of conferences, events, and marketing communications; and materials related to the Duke Smart Home Program. Also contains recordings from the Invisibility Cloak project and original interview footage with former deans for the School of Engineering's 75th anniversary.

Biographical / historical:

Engineering instruction at Duke University traces back to 1851 when the catalogue for Normal College, the forerunner of Trinity College and Duke, advertised a classical engineering course which included surveying for sophomores as well as architecture and engineering for seniors. The College of Engineering was established in 1939. It became the School of Engineering in 1966, later renamed the Pratt School of Engineering in 1999 in honor of Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. The School of Engineering is composed of four departments: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. There are also shared research facilities and joint research activities with numerous other departments including Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics and Medicine.

Source: https://pratt.duke.edu/about/history/, accessed 4/3/2025

Acquisition information:

Received 1976. School of Engineering, Subject files of Associate Dean Edward K. Kraybill. Accession number: 76-32 (Boxes 1-6)

Received 1976. School of Engineering, Subject files of Dean Charles R. Vail. Accession number: 76-32 (Boxes 7-15)

Received 1978 and 1983. School of Engineering, Office of the Dean, alphabetical subject files. Accession numbers: A83-62, A78-143 (Boxes 16-28)

Received 1989. School of Engineering, Office of the Dean, faculty and staff biographical files. Accession numbers: A89-006 (Box 29)

Received 1993 and 1996. School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Accession numbers: A93-24, A93-98, 96-107. Also received 1982. Engineering Student Government. Accession numbers: A82-41 (Box 30)

Received 1984, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1999. School of Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering. Accession numbers: A84-14, A85-93, A88-038, A91-62, A99-36 (Box 31)

Received 1977, 1979, 1994. School of Engineering, Engineering Alumni Association. Accession numbers: A77-27, A79-21, A94-115, A94-132 (Boxes 32-33)

Received 1983. School of Engineering, Office of the Dean, alphabetical subject files. Accession numbers: A83-62 (Boxes 34-36)

Received 2015. Pratt School of Engineering, 75th anniversary video files. Accession number UA2015.0004

Received 2021. Pratt School of Engineering, Office of the Dean. Accession number UA2021.0026.

Received 2022. Pratt School of Engineering, Communications Office. Accession number UA2022.0073.

Received 2023. Pratt School of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Accession number UA2023.0037.

Received 2024. Pratt School of Engineering, Office of the Dean. Accession number UA2024.0014.

Received 2024. Pratt School of Engineering, Duke Smart Home Program. Accession number UA2025.0001.

Received 2026. Pratt School of Engineering, Office of the Dean. Accession number UA2026.0009.

Processing information:

Processed by Emily Glenn

Completed January 15, 2003

Encoded by Valerie Gillispie, May 27, 2003

Accession UA2015.0004 processed and finding aid updated by Tracy M. Jackson and Matthew Farrell, February 2015.

Collection level notes and restriction information updated by Tarcy M. Jackson, July 2019.

Accessions UA2021-0026 and UA2022-0073 added and finding aid updated by April Blevins, February 2023.

Accession UA2023-0037 added by April Blevins, August 2023.

Accession UA2024-0014 added by April Blevins, April 2024.

Accession UA2025-0001 added and history note updated by April Blevins, April 2025.

Accession UA2026-0009 added by April Blevins, April 2026.

Arrangement:

Materials have been arranged by accession. Within the accessions, materials in subject files are roughly organized by topics. Engineering Alumni files are largely unordered. Faculty and staff biographical files are ordered alphabetically by last name.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Access restricted. Some materials in this collection are Duke University administrative materials. For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the office of origin and the University Archivist is required for use of administrative records. After twenty-five years, records that have been processed may be consulted with the permission of the University Archivist. Contact Research Services for more information.

Access restricted. Some materials in this collection are personnel records. Records pertaining to employment where individuals are identified are closed for 70 years.

Access restricted. Some materials in this collection include student records. In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits students to inspect their education records and limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records. Contact Research Services for more information.

Access note. Some materials in this collection are original audiovisual items that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Access note. Some materials in this collection are electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.

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], School of Engineering records, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1hh6c