Guide to the Records of the Office of the Director of College and Community Relations, Robert J. McKenna, 1969-1994 (bulk

1973-1981

)

Salve Regina University Archives
McKillop Library
100 Ochre Point Ave.
Newport, RI 02891
Tel: 401-341-2276
Fax: 401-341-2951
email: archives@salve.edu

Published in 2018

Collection Overview

Title:	Records of the Office of the Director of College and Community Relations, Robert J. McKenna
Date range:	1969-1994, 1973-1981
Creator:	McKenna, Robert J.
Extent:	1.875 Linear Feet 4 document cases and 1 half-size document case
Abstract:	Includes materials related to the tenure of Robert J. McKenna as Director of College and Community Relations, mainly correspondence and other documentation related to Salve Regina, with some biographical materials.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Salve Regina University Archives
Collection number:	RG.5.6.1

Scope & content

Most of the collection consists of correspondence related to McKenna's duties as Director of College and Community Relations. There is also a series of other types of documents related to Salve Regina. A small series of biographical material includes documentation of his role as a state senator and mayor of Newport.

Access Points

Subject Topics

• Universities and colleges -- Departments -- Administration
• College facilities
• Universities and colleges -- Public relations

Document Types

• Correspondence
• Reports

Subject Names

• McKenna, Robert J.
• McKillop, Lucille, Sister, R. S. M.
• Pell, Claiborne, 1918-2009

Subject Topics

• Education

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

I. Biographical and Personal

II. Communications

III. Salve Regina College

Biographical Note

Robert J. McKenna (1931-2012) served as Director of College and Community Relations at Salve Regina College/University from 1975 to 1991, and Assistant to the President from 1991 to 1995.

Son of James C. McKenna and Margaret V. (Gorman) McKenna, he was born in Providence, RI, on February 23, 1931, he attended La Salle Academy and Brown University, where he graduated in 1953. Afterward, he served in the United States Army and as a Russian Linguist in the Army Language School in Monterey, California. He married Mary Jean Kelly and moved to the District of Columbia, where he worked in a number of political departments, including as a Special Assistant to Senator Claiborne Pell. He received his Master of Arts from Catholic University of America.

McKenna married Mary Jean Kelly of Pawtucket, RI in 1956 and they had seven children.

In 1965, McKenna moved to Newport to work at Salve Regina College. He was a professor of Social Studies, History, Philosophy, and Political Science. He served as President of the Faculty Senate 1969-1970. In 1973 became Director of College and Community Relations, a position he filled until 1991. From 1991 to 1995, he worked as Assistant to the President.

McKenna was also a politician, serving as a State Representative 1969-1973 and as a State Senator 1974-1985. He was also mayor of Newport 1988-1994. Additionally, he was involved in organizations such as the Preservation Society of Newport County; Oldport Association; Rhode Island Independence Commemorative at Newport, Inc.; Historic Hill Association; Ancient Order of Hibernians; Newport Boys Club; and the Church Community Corporation of Newport.

Our Lady of Providence Seminary presented McKenna with an honorary Doctor of Education in 1975. McKenna served as president of the Rhode Island Independent Higher Education Association for 18 years. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame and the La Salle Academy Hall of Fame, and he was a Knight of Saint Gregory the Great.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	The collection is open for research. Select folders are restricted to staff of the originating office.
Use of the materials:	Various copying restriction apply, according to the Archives' use policy. Guidelines are available from the Salve Regina University Archives. Salve Regina University owns the copyright to material produced by employees and trustees of the University and work for hire. Requests for permission to publish material from the University Archives should be directed to the Archivist. See also the Archives' copyright and publication statement.
Preferred citation:	[Identification of item], in RG # 5.6.1, Records of Robert J. McKenna, Director of College and Community Relations, [Box #, Folder #], Salve Regina University Archives, McKillop Library, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI, USA.
Contact information:	Salve Regina University Archives McKillop Library 100 Ochre Point Ave. Newport, RI 02891 Tel: 401-341-2276 Fax: 401-341-2951 email: archives@salve.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Accruals:	No additional accruals are expencted.
Processing information:	The collection was arranged sometime prior to 2014. In 2018 this arrangement was refined by Genna Duplisea, University Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, and Brittany Fox '18.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Genna Duplisea
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2018 June 28.
Descriptive rules:	Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Additional Information

Inventory

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