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Roy Heath Class of 1954 Advisee Project Interviews, 1950-1954: Finding Aid

AC004

Princeton University Shield

Published in 1997

©2006 Princeton University Library

Summary Information

Creator:

Heath, Roy.

Title and dates:

Roy Heath Class of 1954 Advisee Project Interviews, 1950-1954

Abstract:

The eighteen box collection comprises a study Heath, a clinical psychologist, conducted on 36 members of the Class of 1954 during their years at Princeton. Most of the documents are transcriptions of interviews Heath conducted with the students on a regular basis. The students are coded by number, but Heath provided a list to enable individuals to be identified once the collection is opened in 2035. Heath's work was published in The Reasonable Adventurer (1964), which spawned a follow-up volume comparing the study participants with other members of the class of 1954 as part of the class' 25th reunion activities.

Size:

8.1 linear feet (18 boxes)

Call number:

AC004

Location:

Princeton University Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.
Princeton University Archives.
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA

Language(s) of material:

English.

Storage note:

This collection is stored onsite at the Mudd Manuscript Library.

Biography of Roy Heath

Roy Heath was a member of the Princeton University class of 1939. He later served on the faculty as professor of psychology and was appointed director of a sweeping study of undergraduate education at Princeton, the results of which were published in The Reasonable Adventurer (1964). The study entailed Heath acting as the advisor to thirty-six members of the Class of 1954 throughout their undergraduate careers and documenting the social and academic progress of the students through periodic interviews.

Description

Heath maintained eight folders on each student: three on their freshman year, one on their sophomore year, two on their junior year, and two on their senior year. Exceptions exist when folders are missing, or when students died during the course of the study (as did students number 156 and 181), or dropped out of Princeton (as did students number 103, 249, and 371). The first folder contains information on student grades and extracurricular activities.

Although the bulk of the documents are transcriptions of interviews, there is a variety of other material on the students as well. Because Heath served as their faculty advisor all four years, he kept extensive records of their progress at the university academically, socially, and emotionally. He visited the students' homes and took notes on their family make-up and socio-economic background. A few files contain student personal memorabilia Heath considered of interest, such as drawings, newspaper clippings, and freshman English compositions.

The interviews themselves primarily concern University issues, such as course selection and rooming arrangements. Many of the students discussed deeply personal matters with Heath as well. There are some standard questions Heath asked each student to address at different points, questions relating to their perceptions of ethnic and racial minorities, religion, sexual behavior, women, and the Princeton club system. During November of the academic year 1953-54 Heath gave each student a short test for which they had to produce a drawing and writing sample; he discussed it with them afterwards and the interviews were transcribed.

All the interview sheets have code numbers printed on their upper-right hand corners which correspond to the code numbers of the discs on which the interviews were recorded.

Access and Use

Access

This collection is closed until January 1, 2035, but may be used by scholars who agree to use it for statistical purposes only.

Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the University Archivist. The Library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any question of copyright.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

The collection is the gift of Roy Heath.

Accession Number: AR 1990-18

Processing and Other Information

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Andrea Schorr in 1990. Finding aid written by Andrea Schorr in 1990.

Descriptive Rules Used

Finding aid content adheres to that prescribed by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.

Encoding

Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Techbooks and Cristela García-Spitz on December 23, 2006.

Finding aid written in English.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Roy Heath Class of 1954 Advisee Project Interviews, Box and Folder Number; University Archives, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Subject Headings

These materials have been indexed in the Princeton University Library online catalog using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.

• Princeton University. Class of 1954.
• Princeton University -- Students -- Psychological testing.
• Princeton University -- Students -- Social conditions.
• College students -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- Psychological testing -- 20th century.
• College students -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- Psychological Studies.
• Princeton University. Class of 1954.

Browse other finding aids related to the following terms:

• Princeton University

Contents List

1. Files on students number 008, 014

   Box 1

2. Files on students number 014, 022, 027

   Box 2

3. Files on students number 027, 044, 067

   Box 3

4. Files on students number 067, 091

   Box 4

5. Files on students number 103, 156, 181, 207

   Box 5

6. Files on students number 207, 215, 219

   Box 6

7. Files on students number 219, 243, 248

   Box 7

8. Files on students number 248, 249, 277, 279

   Box 8

9. Files on students number 279, 287, 333, 339

   Box 9

10. Files on students number 339, 359, 371

    Box 10

11. Files on students number 371, 429, 459

    Box 11

12. Files on students number 459, 461

    Box 12

13. Files on students number 519, 569

    Box 13

14. Files on students number 569, 591

    Box 14

15. Files on students number 619, 627

    Box 15

16. Files on students number 627, 655, 679

    Box 16

17. Files on students number 679, 711, 747

    Box 17

18. Files on students number 747, 755

    Box 18

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Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/c247ds09s

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