The Duke University Office of Cultural Affairs was created in 1969 as part of the Division of Student Affairs and existed until 1993, when, as part of a reorganization of the Division, it was superceded by the Office of University Life. The Office of Cultural Affairs Records, 1931-2002 (bulk 1958-2002), consist of budgets and financial reports; calendars; contracts; correspondence; meeting minutes; printed materials; black-and-white, color, and 35mm photographs; and videocassettes, audiocassettes, and digital audio tapes. Materials primarily span the years of the OCA's official existence, 1969-1993, but also contain earlier materials about its first director, Ella Fountain Pratt, and later records created by the Office of University Life. Arranged in five series: Subject Files, which provide a broad overview of the OCA's activities, including early correspondence between Duke University and the American Dance Festival, which moved to Duke in 1977; the Chamber Arts Society, a group that promoted chamber music performance in Durham and surrounding areas; the Duke Artists Series, a concert series that began in 1930 and came under the oversight of OCA upon its creation in 1969; the Summer Session, programming for which also became one of the OCA's primary responsibilities; and the Triangle Dance Guild, a group independent of Duke that coordinated with the OCA to promote dance performance on campus and in Durham and surrounding areas from 1976-1984.
Since its inception in 1969, the Office of Minority Affairs (formerly known as the Office of Black Affairs and currently the Office of Intercultural Affairs) has primarily addressed the needs of the African American student population at Duke University, providing an organizational structure through which Black participation in the University and local communities can obtain the greatest degree of effectiveness. The collection contains a variety of administrative materials, including reports, correspondence, minutes and programs, documenting the directives and activities of the Office of Minority Affairs. Also included are materials pertaining to the Summer Transitional Program, which was established in 1969 and managed by the Office of Minority Affairs.
The Office of University Life was created in the 1993 reorganization of the Division of Student Affairs and is responsible for cultural programming and scheduling of cultural facilities. It is also responsible for the oversight and advising of student organizations, including student government and the University Union. It was previously known as the Office of Cultural Affairs. This collection includes files on events, correspondence, memoranda and files created by Associate Dean of University Life, Richard Cox. The collection also contains files associated with the Greek Life Task Force, 1993-1994, which was established by the Student Affairs Board of Trustees Committee to examine the interaction between greek organizations and student life at Duke.