Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability

Collection

Identifier: UA 0004.0015

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the official records that reflect the functions and activities of the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability of the College of Arts and Science from 1960 to 2021. These records contain correspondence, memorandums, annual reports, directories, surveys, reports, self studies, and an archive of the department's website.

Dates

1960 - 2021
Majority of material found within 1960 - 2001

Creator

Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information. Please see our Sensitive Materials Statement.

Biographical or Historical Information

The Department of Geography would not be established as a separate academic unit at UNCG until 1942 when Elizabeth Edna Arundel, a geography teacher at the school, received her doctorate degree from Yale that same year. Prior to this, the subject of geography was taught through a variety of departments across campus. The first geography course was offered in 1926 through the Department of Economics. In 1929, a “Geography and Nature Studies” concentration was established through the Department of Biology. Several years later, in 1931, the first full time geographer, Dr. Charles Crittenden, was hired to teach. However, he was asked to leave the university in 1937 as the faculty struggled to find a place for geography in the curriculum. In August 2018, the department changed its name to the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability to reflect the merger of the Department of Geography with the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program.

Extent

2.50 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection primary contains correspondence which documents the activities of the Department of Geography between 1960 and 2003. Other materials in the collection include memorandums, budget plans, program proposals, and reports. There are also annual reports produced by the department spanning from 1970-2001. Lastly, the collection has various files pertaining to the Student Financial Aid Committee, which include newsletters, memorandums, reports, and other documentation dealing with the committee’s operations. The entire collection spans from 1960 to 2021.

Arrangement Note

The arrangement scheme for this collection was imposed during processing in the absence of a useable original order. This collection is organized into three series. Series 1: Correspondence and Series 2: Annual Reports are arranged chronologically. Series 3: General Files is arranged alphabetically by subject topic. Within all of the folders, items have been arranged in chronological order from earliest date to latest.

Method of Acquisition

Transferred annually from the Department of Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability from 1970-2006.

Offensive Language Statement

The UNC Greensboro University Libraries collects, preserves, and makes accessible unique and historical materials for learning and research. The nature of historical materials is such that some material may represent positions, norms, and values that are offensive and objectionable. These materials represent the opinions and actions of their creators. By providing access to these records in our reading room and through our digital collections, we recognize that archives and rare books can play a vital role in holding those creators accountable and in helping us learn from the past.

Our finding aids and other collection descriptions may occasionally re-use language provided by creators or former holders of the materials, but we strive to place outdated or offensive terminology in context. That said, we recognize that we may not always make the right decision and welcome feedback from all sources so we can learn and adjust our practices. Please contact us at scua@uncg.edu if you encounter problematic language in our finding aids or other collection description. We will review the language and, as appropriate, update it in a way that balances preservation of the original context with our ongoing commitment to describing materials with respectful and inclusive language.