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Purdue University International Students collection

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MSP 152

Scope and Contents

The Purdue University International Students collection is comprised of statistical reports of degrees conferred for international students from the Office of the Registrar and other printed material related to international students at Purdue. The reports include degrees by school, program, session and gender. Please note that some of the 1992-1999 reports are for "ethnic students." Statistics are broken down as follows; degrees by school, program, session and gender for, African America students, American Indian students, Asian American students and Hispanic American students and include a total for all groups. All of the reports contain a section with historical degrees by degree level dating back to 1975-the year designated in the report.

The collection contains Purdue Office of International Affairs newsletters, an international student group photograph and listing of Purdue international students, a newspaper clipping, a historical bulletin and a general information pamphlet. Types of materials include: statistical reports, a photograph, list of international students, newspaper clipping, a historical bulletin, pamphlet and newsletters.

Dates

  • Creation: 1930 - 2002
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1992 - 2002

Language of Materials

Collection material is in English.

Access Information

Collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Copyright held by Purdue University. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Historical Information

The year 1887 was key year in the history of international students at Purdue University. It was in that year that Mrs. Amelia Weir from Ottawa, Ontario, enrolled as the first student from outside the United States at Purdue University. She came to study wood carving. A year later, two students from Japan and Spain enrolled in the department of Agricultural Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering respectively. The reputation of Purdue University was beginning to spread to all corners of the globe. From this time on the number of students from other lands and the number of countries from which they came increased steadily.

Since the end of World War II, and in accordance with the formal policy promoted by the United States Department of State, there was a tremendous increase in the number of foreign students and the number of countries they represented. By 1951 it was necessary to appoint a full-time staff member as advisor to foreign students. Purdue continues to consistently have one of the largest international student populations among all public United States colleges and universities.

The increase in enrollment over the years was paralleled by the organization of the foreign students on campus. The formation of the Purdue Cosmopolitan Club was reported in the year 1907-1908. In 1916-1917, the Cosmopolitan Club affiliated with the International Corda Fratres, an international brotherhood organization. The Cosmopolitan Club aims at better understanding among foreign students as well as better understanding among foreign students and American students on the Purdue campus.

In keeping with the increased enrollment, the Purdue Cosmopolitan Club was replaced in 1945 by the International Association of Purdue University with a different constitution. However, the aims were the same, "to build an area of understanding among the people of the world here at Purdue, to unite for their mutual benefit intellectually and socially and to promote a spirit of internationalism."

Citation

  1. Master, Karson. In Recognition Of The World At Purdue’s Doorsteps: 1887-1955.
  2. West Lafayette, Indiana: International Association of Purdue, 1955. Print. “International Students and Scholars - Purdue University.” 2014 Web. 4 Apr. 2014. http://www.iss.purdue.edu.

Extent

0.60 Cubic Feet (One letter-size manuscript box and one half-width letter-size manuscript box)

Abstract

Collections consists of statistical reports, historical brochure, general information pamphlet, newsletters, a 1930 group photograph, and 1941-42 listing of international students at Purdue University.

Arrangement

The collection consists of two series, and the material is arranged chronologically within each series.

  1. Statistical Reports, Purdue University Office of the Registrar, Degrees Conferred - “International” and “Ethnic” Students
  2. Historical Bulletin, General Information Pamphlet, Purdue Office of International Affairs Newsletters, Photograph and List of International Students

Acquisition Information

Source and date of acquisition are unknown.

Related Materials

MSP 99, Collection of Student Newspapers at Purdue University, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries. Issues of The International Reporter from 1967-1971 are present in Series 2.

Processing Information

All materials have been housed in acid-free folders and acid-free boxes. The photograph is in a polyester sleeve.

Title
Purdue University International Students collection
Status
Completed
Author
Mary A. Sego
Date
2018-11-28
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Second edition. Collection description was first completed 2014-06-03.

Repository Details

Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839