Alumni and Communications Development. Office of Communications and External Relations Records
This collection documents the work and files of the Office of Communications and External Relations that have helped to shape the University's public image and reputation. Prominent faculty members, students, campus events, commencements, and academic programs are documented with materials including newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, magazine copies, pamphlets, and various audiovisual materials such as DVD discs and VHS tapes.
Biographical and Historical Note
The office of Communications and External Relations at Wake Forest University communicates the University's story to external audiences. Employees of this office include writers, media strategists, the University photographer, and others who create press releases, articles, and other promotional work that helps shape the narrative of the University.
Collection Overview
This collection documents the work of Communications and External Relations (CER). Materials highlight various aspects of the university, such as prominent faculty members, students, campus events, commencements, and academic programs. There are newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, magazine copies, pamphlets, and various audiovisual materials such as DVD discs and VHS tapes.
Materials include newspaper articles, pamphlets, correspondence, and photographs and descriptions of the college throughout the decades. Photographs from 1997-2003 were taken by university photographer Ken Bennett. Some information details the school's physical relocation from Wake Forest to Winston-Salem, as well as its transition from a college to a university. Finally, the collection consists of numerous VHS tapes and DVD discs containing footage of various campus events, promotional videos, and televsion footage of prominent Wake Forest figures. Other topics covered include campus events, the lives of its faculty and staff, student achievements, commencement ceremonies, academic programs, and student life.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is organized into 18 series: 1. Academic Programs; 2. Administration, 1925-2008; 3. Admissions and New Students, 2002-2009; 4. Athletics; 5. Audiovisual Materials; 6. Campus Events, 1951-2009; 7. Commencements, 1999-2010; 8. Committees, 1977-2010; 9. Finances, 1952-2010; 10. History, 1834-2008; 11. Local and Campus Landmarks, 1981-2009; 12. Photographs; 13. Staff, 1981-2010; 14. Student Groups, 1931-1994; 15. Students and Alumni, 1979-2010; 16. University Correspondence and Announcements, 1915-2018; 17. WFU News, 1946-2009; 18. Winston-Salem News, 1993-2007. All series are arranged in alphabetical order, with the exceptions of Series 7, Commencements, 1999-2010, which is arranged chronologically; Series 5, Audiovisual materials; and Series 12, Photographs, which is arranged chronologically.
Series 5, Audiovisual materials, is divided into five subseries: Subseries A. DVDs; Subseries B. Cassette Tapes; C. DVCAM's D. VHS Tapes; E. BETACAM. Series 6, Campus Events, contains two subseries: Subseries A. Campus Speakers; Subseries B. Presidential Debate 1988, 1988 September 25. Series 15, Students and Alumni, 1979-2010, is divided into two subseries: Subseries A. Noteworthy alumni; Subseries B. Student life
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Processed by Kristin Weisse, 2014 August 21
- Revision Description
- Revised by Finley Turner, 2020 January
- Revision Description
- Revised by Stephanie Bennett, two document boxes of materials added, 2021
- Conditions Governing Access
- This collection is open for use.
- Copyright Notice
- The nature of the WFU Z.Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
- Preferred Citation
- Alumni and Communications Development. Office of Communications and External Relations Records (RG3.10), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.