Thomas F. Shutte records (02.11)

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.

Series II. Correspondence and Memo Logs
The records contain correspondence and memo logs, and day files maintained chronologically by Schutte's administrative staff, primarily 1983-1985. The correspondence logs, 1983-1985 and 1989-1991, contain copies of Schutte's correspondence and occasional memos, some handwritten, to administrative staff, faculty, trustees, parents, students, and non-RISD correspondents. The logs include letters, originals and copies, sent to Schutte as well as letters and memos sent by staff and faculty. Memos to or from staff regard letters received by Schutte and administrative and faculty issues. The bulk of the 1989-1991 letters are thank you notes sent to non-RISD correspondents and include some letters received by Schutte. There are few 1989-1991 records regarding administrative matters. There are a few letters by Acting President Friedrich St. Florian sent to faculty July 1983.

The memo logs, July 1983-July 1984, are primarily administrative memos to or from staff and faculty. There are few memos from non-RISD correspondents. The day files, November 1983-July 1984, are primarily copies of Schutte's handwritten notes and letters sent to staff, faculty, and non-RISD correspondents. The records are similar in content to the Correspondence Logs. There are few original notes or letters from Schutte.

Materials are arranged chronologically by type.

Series III. Accreditation and Visiting Committee files
Organized by division or department, the records document the work and impact of national accreditation committees and RISD's visiting committees. The accreditation committees represent the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER), the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB), and the American Association of Landscape Architects (ASLA). The accreditation files may include committee schedules, member cv's, reports (draft and final), correspondence, department profiles with faculty cv's, course schedules and descriptions, and mission statements, and comments by staff and faculty.

Visiting committees are authorized by the Board of Trustees and organized by the administration and faculty for the peer review of departments. The files include records similar to the accreditation files and may include Thomas Schutte's handwritten notes on exit interviews with committee members and faculty recommendations for and comments on committee members. The Architectural Division files include records relating to student petitions on the future of the division and the appointment of the head of the division (1988) and administrative matters. The Painting and Printmaking files include records regarding the Tap Room and petitions submitted by Illustration students regarding health and safety issues (1988-1989).

Materials are arranged alphabetically by division or department.

Series IV. Development and Institutional Research files
The records document work of the Development and Institutional Research offices, 1984-1993. The Institutional Research office, formerly the office of Planning and Research within Administrative Services, became part of the President's Office in 1986. The director, Felice Billups, served as acting VP for Development, 1992-1993. Development files (1.0 linear ft.) include a cumulative financial report for 1969-1990 detailing money raised for the school, Museum of Art, alumni, NEA challenge grants, and other funds; Development Committee records, 1984-1991, including agendas, minutes, memos, and correspondence; consultant reports; foundation files (1989-1992); and gift prospect files, both collective and individual, with correspondence, memos, and staff reports on visits (1984-1992).

The Institutional Research files (.25 linear ft.) consist primarily of reports prepared by or for the office, 1986-1993. The reports include Associates Degree research (1991); Continuing Education market research (1990-1991); Graduate Program survey (1990); the Minority Distribution report, (1989); and student surveys (1988-1991). One file includes the IR office mission statement as well as a budget and job description (1986, 1993).

Materials are arranged alphabetically.

Arrangement: The materials in this series are arranged in two sub-series:

• I. Development files, 1984-1993
• II. Institutional Research files, 1986-1993, bulk 1990-1991

Subseries I. Development files