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Maxwell School Russian Studies Program Records

An inventory of its records at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Maggie Teschler
Date: 2017

Historical Note

Syracuse University was one of the first to regularly offer courses in Russian language and area subjects. The first course was offered in 1935 and an undergraduate program was organized in 1944.

In 1935, Professor George B. Cressey offered a course on the geography of the Soviet Union. Several years later, courses in the Russian language and in Russian and Soviet history were taught by Professor Albert D. Menut and Professor Warren B. Walsh. These courses continued to be offered up into the first two years of World War II, when Syracuse University was asked to create an Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) for Russian area and language study. The ASTP operated from 1943 to 1944.

After the success of the ASTP, Syracuse University established what is believed to be the first integrated undergraduate program of Russian Studies offered for civilian students. The original four-year program was titled the "Russian Regional Sequence," and was supplemented in 1947 by the two-year "Russian Concentration." From its establishment, the program was run by the Board of Russian Studies in the Maxwell School of Citizenship. Members of the board were responsible for determining the curriculum, setting requirements, acting as advisers, and teaching courses. The program later offered a Master's degree in Russian Studies and various summer school offerings. The University also established a Russian Program for selected officers of the United States Air Force in 1951.

Although no longer an official program, Russian courses continue to be offered in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Scope and Content Note

The Maxwell School Russian Studies Program Records contains three series:

Correspondence includes letters about the program and events from 1944 to 1961. Materials are mainly from members of the Board of Russian Studies, such as Warren B. Walsh and Albert D. Menut.

The Program Materials series contains material about the program curriculum, faculty, and enrollment.

The Subject Files includes information about other Slavic programs both nationally and internationally, a pamphlet for a university forum, and a piece of student writing.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

Newspaper clippings were pulled from the collection and moved to the Clipping Files.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Menut, Albert Douglas, 1894-1981.
Walsh, Warren B. (Warren Bartlett), 1909-1979.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
Syracuse University. -- Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Subjects

Russia -- Study and teaching.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Annual reports.
Correspondence.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Maxwell School Russian Studies Program Records,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

The bulk of the Russian Studies Program Records were transferred to the Syracuse University Archives in 1962 by the Board of Russian Studies.

Processing Information

Materials have been housed in archival folders and boxes.

Arrangement

Materials have been arranged either chronologically or alphabetically within their respective series.

Table of Contents

Correspondence

Program Materials

Subject Files

Inventory