Bureau of Government Research

University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2007

Collection Overview

Title:	Bureau of Government Research
Date range:	1959-1983
Creator:	University of Rhode Island. Bureau of Government Research
Extent:	1 box(es) (0.5 linear feet)
Abstract:	Contains the records of the University of Rhode Island Bureau of Government Research, including materials on the establishment, operation, and history of the Bureau from 1959-1983.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections
Collection number:	Rec. Gr. 14

Scope & content

The Records of the Bureau of Government Research consist of correspondence, memoranda, annual reports, meeting minutes, and resumes documenting the establishment, history, and activities of the Bureau from 1959-1983.

Arrangement

The records are arranged in one series as follows:

• 1. Subject Files

Historical note

On February 19, 1959, the Rhode Island Public Finance Officers Association
passed a resolution requesting that the Board of Trustees of State Colleges
establish a bureau within the University of Rhode Island to provide fact finding, analysis, and research services to municipal governments in the State of
Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Public Finance Officers Association had long worked to establish criteria for municipal annual reports to State government, and wanted an organization to assist municipal officials in this task.

The Board of Trustees voted on July 20, 1959 to establish the Bureau of Government Research, assigning to the Bureau the ability to provide research services when requested by municipal officials, as well as providing training and teaching services to assessors, clerks, treasurers, and other state and municipal officials and employees. The Board of Trustees placed the Bureau under the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, and intended for the Bureau to work in conjunction with the History and Political Science Departments.

President Francis H. Horn appointed John O. Stitely, Associate Professor of history and political science, as the Director of the Bureau on November 6, 1959. Horn also appointed an Advisory Council consisting of both faculty and non-faculty members to assist in the formulation of Bureau policies and to aid in the guidance of its activities. The Bureau began operating on February 1, 1960 with offices in Bliss Hall. The following year the offices relocated to Washburn Hall, and finally, in March 1962, relocated once again to their final location in Taft Hall. Stitely remained Director until his retirement in 1973. Robert J. Hoffman was named as Stitely's replacement in November 1973, and served in the position of Director until the Bureau lost its funding from the University in 1982.

During the time the Bureau was active, it was responsible for the administrative control of the Masters of Public Administration graduate program, including helping students in the program obtain internships with local governments. In addition to its research role, the Bureau also hosted and sponsored conferences, provided teaching services to state and municipal employees (including an annual school for Rhode Island assessors and Boards of Review), and established three series of publications: the Research Service, Information Service, and Metropolitan Studies series.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.
Use of the materials:	Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Preferred citation:	Bureau of Government Research, Rec. Gr. 14, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information:	University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Processing information:	The materials were processed in 2007.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by David Sherman.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by David Sherman 2007 July 25, updated by Erin C. Mullen on 2011 December 13, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 22.
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS).

Additional Information

Inventory

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Inventory