Using These Materials
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this record group is unrestricted with the exception of several folders marked below. While Ivan Steen subsequently asked individuals interviewed for the oral history projects he conducted to sign a clearance form or an agreement, not all interview files donated to the archive contain forms. Therefore notes, transcripts and audio of a select number of interviews are restricted until clearance may be obtained from the interviewees or their heirs.
Navigate the Collection
Summary
- Abstract:
- The Ivan Steen Papers document Steen's service as a Professor of History at the University at Albany as well as his oral history projects.
- Extent:
- 5.29 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, The Ivan Steen Papers, 1928-2013. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Steen Papers).
Background
- Scope and Content:
The Ivan Steen Papers document his work at the University at Albany, including his numerous oral history projects, research conducted for the projects, and his time as an associate professor of History, founding director of the Oral History Program and founding director of the Public History Graduate Program. This collection is divided into two series. The first series, Oral History and Research Files, is arranged alphabetically while the second series, University at Albany History Department, is arranged chronologically.
The Oral History and Research Files series contains audio cassette tapes, transcripts, notes and related correspondence of the interviews conducted by Steen, his colleagues, and his students. Steen's research materials for his multiple oral history projects are housed in this series as well. Researchers should note that material pertaining to the Public History and Oral History Programs are found within the first series, as these programs often produced the work found in said series. Steen's History Department records, which include memorandum, meeting minutes, correspondence, and reports are retained in Series 2.
Researchers should note that some materials Professor Steen donated were moved to separate collections because he created these records as a member or officer of an organization and not as an individual. Therefore, archivists transferred material pertaining to UUP and the University Senate to their respective collections. Archivists also transferred records to the UUP Oral History Collection. These collections are all found in this department.
For related material, please see the Brothers Records, Daniel Evan Button Papers, Dolores Carrara Papers, Victor A. Lord Papers, Harold Rubin Papers and Malcolm Wilson Papers.
- Biographical / Historical:
Ivan D. Steen was a long time professor at the University at Albany. He began his career at Hunter College of the City University of New York after completing his schooling at New York University, where he received his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. After three years on the faculty at Hunter College, Steen joined the University at Albany's History Department in 1965 as an assistant professor. He became founding director of the University's Public History Graduate Program in 1983, an associate professor in 1985 and associate professor emeritus in 2010. He also served as Vincent O'Leary Associate Professor of History from 2010-2013. During his tenure at the University at Albany, Steen published numerous articles and essays, attended and spoke at academic conferences, lectures, and panels across the country and internationally, and hosted workshops. He was a member of the University Senate as well as a member of United University Professions (UUP). He was elected vice president and president of UUP's Albany chapter during the 1990s and early 2000s. Steen continues to co-direct the Center for Applied Historical Research at the University.
Professor Steen is passionate about oral history and local history. As founding director of the University's Oral History Program, Steen's projects often focused on a combination of the two. Two of Steen's major projects were the Erastus Corning Years Oral History Project and The Rockefeller Years: An Oral History of the State of New York Under Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. Steen, along with students in the program, worked on other projects pertaining to local history such as Albany's black community, the history of the Fort Orange Club, local area Holocaust survivors, and memories of radio personnel. Steen personally conducted many interviews as did his research associates and students in the Oral History Program. Records of these projects are found in Series 1 along with materials relating to Steen's research of former Prisoners of War (POW) from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
In 2013 Steen officially retired from his positions at the University at Albany.
- Acquisition information:
- Ivan Steen donated his papers to the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives in a series of acquisitions in 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2023.
- Processing information:
Processed in 2014 by Jamie Brinkman.
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1 - Oral History and Research Files, 1936, 1959-2013 Undated
- Series 2 - University at Albany History Department, 1965-2013, Undated
Series 1 is arranged alphabetically and Series 2 is arranged chronologically.
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Subjects
- Subjects:
- African Americans and Civil Rights Organizations
Radio and Television Broadcasting
Military and Armed Conflict
Albany, New York
Oral history--New York (State)
Education, Higher--New York (State)
Audio cassettes
Interviews
Transcripts
Articles
Memorandums - Names:
- State University of New York at Albany
New York (State). Governor (1959-1973 : Rockefeller)
Steen, Ivan D., 1936-
Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich), 1908-1979
Corning, Erastus, 1909-1983 - Places:
- New York (State)--Politics and government
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this record group is unrestricted with the exception of several folders marked below. While Ivan Steen subsequently asked individuals interviewed for the oral history projects he conducted to sign a clearance form or an agreement, not all interview files donated to the archive contain forms. Therefore notes, transcripts and audio of a select number of interviews are restricted until clearance may be obtained from the interviewees or their heirs.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, The Ivan Steen Papers, 1928-2013. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Steen Papers).