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RG/F

Record Group RG/F UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1967-- A Guide to the Collection UMDNJ Libraries -- Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., MD University Archives University of Medicine &Dentistry of New Jersey March 1999

79-07, 91-25, 91-38 91-48, 91-59, 91-67 91-119, 92-05, 92-143 94-63, 95-102

INTRODUCTION

The records of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences date from 1967 to the present, with bulk dates from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. The records total approximately 3 linear feet. They form Record Group RG/F in the Bergen University Archives. The records are open for research without restriction under the conditions of the Archives' access policy.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

Graduate biomedical programs were instituted at Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry when chartered by the State Board of Education in 1961. The first class of graduate students matriculated in 1962. The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) became a separate and independent school when it was established by the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry on July 1, 1969. GSBS educates individuals in the basic biomedical disciplines within the departments of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Injury Sciences; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Microbiology and Molecular Genetics; Neurosciences; Oral Biology; and Pharmacology and Physiology. The Graduate School's primary function is to ensure that students acquire pertinent scientific information and knowledge of current methods of scientific inquiry so that they may ultimately serve as biomedical research scientists, or important contributors to other aspects of the scientific community.

The graduate school maintains programs in the Newark and Piscataway/New Brunswick and Stratford Campuses. Each of the divisions draws on faculty from the respective dental and medical schools on these campuses. The Piscataway Division is predominantly a joint degree program with Rutgers University. GSBS offers programs leading to a joint MD/PhD, joint DMD/PhD, and joint DO/PhD degrees.

Deans of GSBS:
Desmond D. Bonnycastle, MD, PhD (Chair, 1969-1970)
Wilhelm R. Frissell, PhD (Acting Chair, 1971-1972 )
Morris F. Schaffer, PhD (1973-1976)
Edward Cafruny, MD, PhD (1978-1987)
Vincent Lanzoni, MD, PhD (Interim, 1990-1996)
Henry E. Brezenoff, PhD (Acting, 1997--)

PROVENANCE

The records of the GSBS have been given to the UMDNJ Begen University Archives since the 1990s. The records are continually added to as materials are donated by faculty, staff, and students.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The GSBS records span the years 1967 to the present. The bulk of the material dates from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. The most recent material (from the 1990s) is located mainly in Series I, Publications; the records are strongest in this area. The collection is most lacking in material from the GSBS Alumni Association. The early development of faculty and curriculum are well represented.

The collection is divided into six series: Publications, Office of the Dean, Committee on Graduate Studies, Executive Council, and the Alumni Association. One series has been left open for future records.

SERIES DESCRIPTION

SERIES I. PUBLICATIONS, 1969-Current.
This series consists of various GSBS publications. Materials include course catalogs, student handbooks, research bulletins, and departmental brochures. There is one publication not housed with the collection; the Alumni News section printed in HealthState began in the October 1991 issue. Please note that the Alumni Chronicle newsletter is contained in Series VI with the GSBS Alumni Association records.

SERIES II. OFFICE OF THE DEAN, 1968-1978.
This series contains material originating from the GSBS Dean's Office. It also includes pre-Dean records from Chairs and Acting Chairs from 1968 to 1972. The series is divided into two subseries:

SUBSERIES A: MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS, 1968-1975.
This includes memos, correspondence, handwritten notes, lecture notes, thesis proposals, financial documents, and graduate curriculum.

SUBSERIES B: DEAN'S SEARCH COMMITTEE, 1977-1978.
This series documents the search for a new GSBS Dean. Materials include curriculum vitae, list and schedules of interview candidates, memos, correspondence, and some minutes of committee meetings.

SERIES III: COMMITTEE ON GRADUATE STUDIES. MINUTES, 1967-1971.
This series consists of the minutes of meetings of the Committee on Graduate Studies. The Committee had jurisdiction over academic matters pertaining to the graduate program. It consisted of the Dean of the Graduate School serving as Chair and at least one member from each of the Basic Science Departments. It existed from 1969 to 1977. The President and Deans of the College of Medicine and Dentistry served as ex officio members. The Committee was responsible for the acceptance or rejection of applicants and had the authority to request the withdrawal of a student whose performance did not meet the standards established by the School.

SERIES IV. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. MINUTES, 1978-1988.
This series consists of the minutes of Executive Council meetings. The Council acts on behalf of the faculty, supervising all matters relating to the academic programs of the Graduate School. Members of the Council include the chairperson and one faculty representative from each department. The dean serves as chairman. This Council began in 1978, following the Committee on Graduate Studies (Series III).

SERIES V. OPEN

SERIES VI. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. RECORDS, 1976-Current.
The GSBS Alumni Association (GSBSAA) originated in 1975. Drs. Robert Hawley (Microbiology '75) and John Pinto (Biochemistry ‘74) served as President and Vice-President, respectively from 1975 to July 1982. Prior to 1990, the GSBSAA drafted by-laws, held several meeting and social functions, but did not collect dues or act as a structured association within the University. The series includes a brief history of the GSBSAA, a 1976 alumni directory, reunion material, and a brief run of the Alumni Newsletter, Chronicle.

Sarah A. Hull; 4/99

Page Revised: 3/1/01

For reference service and information contact:

Robert Vietrogoski
Special Collections
vietrora@umdnj.edu
(973) 972-7830
FAX (973) 972-7474

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