Guide to the Thomas F. Shutte records, 1982-1993

Series I. Subject files
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, meeting minutes and agendas, and consultant reports comprise the Subject files, 1982-1993. Maintained by President Schutte’s administrative staff, the files document his interaction with trustees, administrators, faculty and staff, students, and outside institutions as well as accreditation, communications, consultations, campus events, discussions, meetings, manuals, and decisions affecting Rhode Island School of Design.

Subjects include institutional and academic planning and restructuring; accreditation; outreach to Japanese art and design institutions; closure of the Culinary Arts program; expansion and renovation of the RISD physical plant; relations with Brown University, Providence, and the redevelopment of the downtown area; Cabinet and President’s staff meetings; commencement, honorary degrees, and convocation; correspondence with faculty, staff, parents, students, and alumni; cooperative projects with IBM and Disney; Museum of Art expansion including the donation of the Farago Collection; and RISD’s relations with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the East Coast Art Schools Consortium.

The files are arranged alphabetically by subject. The finding aid consists of a cumulative file list and subseries file lists. The bulk of the records were transferred to the Archives intact; however, subseries IV and files from subseries I were located within other presidential collections and organized artificially because of closure restrictions.

Arrangement:

The materials in this series are arranged in four sub-series:

• I. 1983-1993
• II. 1983-1988, bulk 1984-1986
• III. 1983-1993
• IV. 1982-1993

Subseries I. 1983-1993
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, meeting minutes and agendas, and consultant reports comprise the Subject files, 1983-1993. The files are an artificial series composed of Schutte records found among the General Correspondence series (02.02.1) and transferred because of closure restrictions and records stored in the Library's archives cage. Files marked by an asterisk were created for a previous arrangement.

The files include records for Elaine Berke, an administrative consultant (1984-1989); correspondence to and from alumni awarded honorary BFA's 1990; honorary degrees (1990-1992); the Policy and Procedures Manual (1986); and Public Affairs annual reports (1983-1987). Meeting files include minutes, reports, notes, and/or agendas for President's Staff meetings (1989-1992); Investment Committee (1988-1991); Facilities Committee (1984-1992); Educational Policy Committee (1984-1991); and Cabinet meetings (1983-1988). Correspondence files include alumni, faculty, parents, and students (1984; 1988-1992).

Correspondents and subjects include the Center for the Advanced Study in the Arts (1986); NASAD (1984-1990); NEASC (1989-1991); Providence zoning and preservation issues; artist George Morrison; Provost Paul Nash; Geoffrey Beane; Museum of Art Director Frank Robinson; Aaron Siskind; and Friedrich St. Florian.

Materials are arranged alphabetically.

Subseries II. 1983-1988, bulk 1984-1986
Containing primarily correspondence and memoranda, the typical file holds one to three items with the bulk from 1984-1986. Arranged alphabetically, the records were stored in four record cartons. The box containing "S-Z" is missing leaving files covering "A-S." Originally called General Correspondence - Dead, the files have been organized with the Subject files because of the continuity of the file headings.

The files include correspondence from alumni, faculty, parents, and students (1984-1986); records for honorary degree committees (1984-1986) and commencement (1985-1986); the European Honors Program Alumni Questionnaire (1984); administrative records from Acting Provost Friedrich St. Florian (1983-1985) and Provost Paul Nash (1985-1986); and records for strategic planning (1986-1988).

Committees documented include Finance (1984-1987); Investment (1985-1987); Museum Council (1984-1986); South African Investment (1985-1986) and Sponsored Research (1985). Faculty records document the development fund (1984-1986) and development program (1986); the faculty handbook (1985); leave of absences and sabbaticals (1985-1986); and the faculty lounge (1985). Accreditation records document the Architecture Department (1984-1986) and the 1986 self-study and NEASC/NASAD visit.

The records include correspondence with foundations the Balfour (1986); Kresge (1985-1986); Levy (1985-1986); Luce (1986); and Polaroid (1985-1986). RISD's involvement with the East Coast Art Schools Consortium (1984-1986); Brown University (1984-195); the National Endowment for the Arts (1985-1986); and the RI Independent Education Association (1985-1987) is documented.

Materials are arranged alphabetically.

Subseries III. 1983-1993
Correspondence, memoranda, and reports covering the breadth of the Schutte administration provide the backbone of the collective Schutte Subject files. The files contain correspondence for faculty, alumni, parents, and students (1985-1993). Records for administrative functions document Academic Affairs (1985-1993); Administrative Services (1984-1993); Cabinet meetings (1986-1988); the Finance Department (1985-1993); Admissions (1984-1993); Security (1984-1992); and Personnel (1985-1988).

Records for academic programs document the Culinary Arts Program including its closure (1985-1991); Continuing Education (1984-1991); Fine Arts and its programs (1984-1993); the European Honors Program (1991-1993); the NEASC and the accreditation process (1985-1987); and academic reorganization (1989-1992). Faculty records document search procedures (1987-1993) and the role of women on the faculty.

Records for RISD relations with institutions include Alliance of Independent Colleges of Art, American Academy in Rome, Art Institute of Chicago, Balfour Foundation, Brown University, East Coast Art Schools Consortium, GM, IBM, Independent Colleges of Art, Johnson and Wales University, Kodak, Kresge Foundation, Lannon Foundation, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Montserrat College of Art, NISDA (Nantucket Island School of Design and the Arts), Newport Art Museum and Art Association, Nissan Design International, Inc., Parsons School of Design, Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, Rayon Foundation, Rhode Island Independent Higher Education Association, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Materials are arranged alphabetically.

Subseries IV. 1982-1993
The files contain correspondence, memoranda, and reports created during the Schutte administration and maintained within the Roger Mandle Subject files. The records, covering the period 1982-1993, document Schutte's visit to Japan and his work with Japanese art and design institutions (1989-1992); and his contact with and travel to RISD alumni clubs in California, Washington, Florida, Texas, the Midwest, and the East Coast (1985-1992). The records document honorary degrees (1986-1992); relations with Brown University and President Howard Swearer (1983-1993); a Museum of Art feasibility study (1985-1986); Artists for Awareness (1989-1990); and the What Cheer Campaign (1990-1991).

Correspondents include Ellen Hassenfield Block, Akira Mori, Selma Robinson, Jenne Stahl, Richard Verunni, Chester Zardis, and Provost Hardu Keck. RISD events documented include the Artists Ball, Founder's Day, President's Ball, and Convocation.

Materials are arranged alphabetically.