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Cornell A. Bell papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 18

Scope and Contents

The Cornell A. Bell papers document the personal and professional life of Dr. Cornell Bell from his childhood through his retirement from Purdue and eventual passing in 2009. Materials include: Cornell’s personal papers, such as records from his elementary, high school, and college days, funeral programs for friends and colleagues, and contact information; material owned by members of Cornell’s family, including his wife Dr. Mildred Bell’s doctoral dissertation, his uncle Henry Sanders’s copy of the bible, and funeral programs for Mildred, Henry, and his aunt, Katie Sanders; records from Cornell’s professional career working in Indiana high schools and at Purdue University; correspondence with friends, family, colleagues, and past students; and various photographs, newspaper clippings, VHS tapes and DVDs, and publications documenting the lives and influence of Cornell and his friends and family.

Also included in the collection are numerous artifacts and awards related to Cornell’s personal life and honoring his many achievements, including but not limited to the 1987 Special Boilermaker Award, the 1996 Sagamore of the Wabash Award, and Cornell’s bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees.

The collection also briefly documents how Cornell’s life was remembered and celebrated after his passing, through programs from his funeral, a remembrance brunch, and a guestbook from the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Exhibit “Purdue’s Bellwether of Diversity: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Cornell Bell".

Dates

  • circa 1800s-2010
  • Majority of material found within 1970s-2000s

Creator

Access Information

This collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

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

Biographical Information

Cornell A. Bell was director of the Purdue University Business Opportunity Program (BOP) for 37 years. Born in Evansville, Indiana on December 1, 1926, he moved to East Chicago at the age of 10. He graduated from East Chicago Washington High School in 1941 as a member of the National Honors Society. Cornell later received a Bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1947 and a Master's degree in education in 1959, both from Indiana University. In 1957, he was married to Dr. Mildred Bernice Bell. Cornell would pursue a doctoral degree in education from Purdue after starting as director of the BOP, which he earned in 1972.

Cornell worked as a chemist for Stauffer Chemical Co., taught science classes at Pulaski School in Gary and served as guidance counselor, assistant principal and principal at Gary Froebel School and Gary Tolleston High School before taking the position at Krannert School of Management at Purdue University in 1969. As director of the BOP, which was designed to create a more diverse student body, Cornell helped recruit hundreds of graduate and undergraduate students to the West Lafayette campus. He was also active with the Graduate Management Admission Council nationally to increase diversity in schools of business throughout the country.

Cornell distinguished himself in education with his personal involvement and dedication in helping provide opportunities to hundreds of students through the BOP. The program began with 11 student participants in 1968, and under Cornell's leadership and guidance, it grew to include 500 minority undergraduate students and more than 300 minority graduate students.

Cornell's efforts were widely recognized. He received the Special Boilermaker Award from the Purdue Alumni Association in 1987 for his contributions to the quality of student life at Purdue. He received the M. Beverley Stone Non-Academic Counseling Award in 1990, recognizing him as an individual who shows personal concern, gives unselfishly of time, and who shares love through outstanding service to Purdue students. He also received the Indiana Bell Award in 1991 and the Harold T. Amrine Visionary Award in 1994. Indiana Governor Evan Bayh honored Cornell with a Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest award given by the governor, in 1996. That year, in recognition of his extraordinary efforts, the Business Opportunity Program was renamed the Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program.

Cornell retired from Purdue in 2006 due to a worsening of his health. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Management degree from Purdue University. Cornell passed away on March 20, 2009 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Extent

14.861 Cubic Feet (Five cubic foot boxes, one letter-size full-width manuscript box, four shoe boxes, one artifact box, one slide box, 13 flat boxes, six legal-size folders, and one flat folder)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The Cornell A. Bell papers are arranged into eleven series by document type and subject matter.
  1. Personal Papers
  2. Family Records
  3. Professional Career
  4. Correspondence
  5. Photographs
  6. Newspaper Clippings
  7. Publications
  8. Remembering Dr. Cornell Bell
  9. Audio-Visual Materials
  10. Awards, Certificates, and Diplomas
  11. Artifacts

Technical Access Information

Audio-visual materials must be migrated to a digital format before use. Contact Purdue University Archives and Special Collections if interested in using this material.

Physical Access Information

Some artifacts and awards in the collection are fragile and may be damaged. These items should be handled with care.

Physical Access Information

The following items have been temporarily removed from the Cornell Bell papers for display in the Parrish Library, by request of the donor, Roland Parrish: Special Boilermaker Award, 1987; National Black MBA Association, Inc. Educator of the Year Award, 1995; Sagamore of the Wabash, 1996; Business Opportunity Program Renaming Plaque, 1996; and INROADS Educator of the Year Award, 2000. These items may be viewed in the Parrish Library, located on the 2nd floor of the Daniels School of Business, Krannert Building.

Acquisition Information

Collection materials donated by Roland Parrish, executor of the Cornell Bell estate, on July 13, 2009. Additional material donated by an unknown source on November 5, 2009, Roland Parrish on June 16, 2010, and Sonia Winslett on July 6, 2010.

Separated Materials

Spring 2008 edition of the Purdue Black Alumni Organization "Insights" newsletter moved to UA 182, Purdue Alumni Association records. Winter 2000 edition of the Black Cultural Center Newsletter moved to UA 176, Purdue University Black Cultural Center records. Undated black and gold "Krannert School of Management" folder moved to UA 94, Purdue University Krannert School of Management records. Unbound copy of the Purdue University 183rd Commencement Spring 2001 program moved to MSP 158, Purdue University Commencement programs and invitations collection. Poster, program, and pamphlet for the Archives and Special Collections exhibit "Purdue’s Bellwether of Diversity: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Cornell Bell" moved to the archives exhibit collection.

Processing Information

Materials have been housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Acid-free paper has been interleaved between brochures to prevent ink from rubbing off onto other items. The original order has been replaced with an imposed order, to aid in researcher navigation and understanding of the collection. Letters have been removed from envelopes and most envelopes have been photocopied and discarded. Most photographs and certificates have been removed from their frames and placed in acid-free folders. When appropriate, materials have been moved to related resources; this is indicated in the collection description.
Title
Cornell A. Bell papers
Status
Under Review
Author
Shauna Borger, Amanda Rumba, Emily Jones, and William Niner
Date
2023-02-15
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Edition statement
Fourth edition. Collection description first completed 2010-01-03 by Shauna Borger.

Revision Statements

  • 2020-04-27: Collection description updated by Amanda Rumba to align with data entry standards.
  • 2022-10-10: Dates at all levels were edited from single dates to inclusive dates. The titles of the instances were edited. The appropriate instances were added at each series and subseries. At each subseries level, the scope and contents were edited to include all items that are included. All done by Emily Jones.
  • 2023-02-15: Collection rearranged and collection description updated by William Niner to meet archival standards.

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