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The Administration subseries documents Norman Studer's day-to-day activities as the Director of the Downtown Community School. Included are Board of Trustee meeting minutes, a copy of the Downtown Community School by-laws, core curriculum notes, teacher's guides, admissions policy reports, correspondence to parents and staff members, and material related to interracial and intercultural education. In 1963, Studer invited a group of African American parents boycotting a segregated school in Engelwood, NJ to bring their 31 children to a Freedom School at the Downtown Community School so the children could continue their education durign the struggle.

The Activities subseries contains material produced by or involving the students of the Downtown Community School, as well as Norman Studer, beyond his administrative responsibilities. Materials include notes from field trips, graduation dramas, student writings, and Downtown Community School publications, the Downtowner and Scribbler. The Downtowner was an internally published periodical containing a calendar of events, an editorial from Studer, announcements, and student writings. The Scribbler differed in that it was solely composed of student writings from each grade level. This subseries is particularly strong in its representation of field trips sponsored by Studer, many of which were taken to the Catskill Mountains. The folders often include itineraries, curricular guides, local history and maps, as well as student reflections and drawings. Many of the Downtown Community School graduation dramas were predicated on the field trip experiences. Also of interest are a number of folders containing general student writings and drawings and a file on the successful 1965 efforts by the children to help save the historic Old Merchant's House in New York City from demolition.

The Administration subseries documents the functions of the director, Board of Trustees, and staff of Camp Woodland as they relate to the operation of the Camp. Materials include annual reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, litigation, counselor in training handbooks, as well as documents related to the Larkin Committee and an investigation of Norman Studer and Camp Woodland for possible subversive activities and ties to the Communist Party. The annual reports provide fiscal summary data related to the operation of the Camp, including, but not limited to, tuition costs, expenditures, operating costs, tax liability, fixed assets and accumulated depreciation, and accumulated funds. These reports were prepared by certified public accountants and record the fiscal state of Camp Woodland in great detail. The folder entitled "Board of Director's Dispute" documents an effort by three of Camp Woodland's founders and Board members - Mrs. Ferber, Mrs. Sydney, and Mrs. Abramson - to separate themselves, legally and financially, from the Camp. It is unclear what precipitated the dispute, but ultimately, it appears there were philosophical differences as well as divergent financial interests.

The Activities subseries consists primarily of publications, event announcements, writings, and art produced by campers, or counselors of Camp Woodland. Notable materials include copies of the Camp magazine, Neighbors; programs, announcements, news clippings, and correspondence related to the Folk Festival of the Catskills; ephemeral publications; and various creative writings. There also are materials about the Folk Museum.

This small subseries contains materials documenting Camp Woodland related activities and events which occurred after the camp closed. This includes reunions and the creation of The Woodland Sampler, a compilation of Catskill folk music played at Camp Woodland, including some recordings from the annual Folk Festival of the Catskills. Norman Studer embarked on the The Woodland Sampler project in 1977, a year before his death, and it was continued by his family, including daughter Joan Studer Levine and grandson Eric Levine. The Levines published a cassette and an accompanying booklet detailing the songs, poetry and music on the tape in 1987.

The School photographs subseries contains images of children's activities, classes, field trips, special guests, including Red Thunder Cloud, and performances. The bulk of the photographs are from the Downtown Community School, but there are some images from the Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School.

The Camp Woodland photographs subseries documents the activities of the campers, the Folk Festivals of the Catskills, and many of the Catskill indigenes, including Dick and George Edwards, Harry Robinson, Grant Rogers, Ernie Sagan, Harry Siemsen, Orson Slack, and George Van Kleeck. There are a number of photographs of Norman Cazden and Herbert Haufrecht, both of whom served as musical directors for the camp, photographs of Norman Studer, as well as photographs of Pete Seeger playing his banjo. There is a file of photographs of Camp Hilltop as well.

This subseries consists of a small number of general photographs and postcards, many likely taken or acquired on trips.

This subseries contains manuscript and typescript drafts, typescripts, notes, reprints, monographs, and a small amount of correspondence related to Studer's writing projects. Of interest are two typescript drafts of unpublished projects: Community Life and Woodland Story both of which are reflective pieces examining Studer's life and work at the Downtown Community School and Camp Woodland respectively. Please note that Studer published some Woodland Story chapters separately. For instance, "Folklore from a Valley that Died" (Chapter 9) was a standalone article in New York Folklore Quarterly in 1956. The standalone article "Yarns of a Catskill Woodsman" (Chapter 16) appeared in New York Folklore Quarterly in 1955. "Mike Todd's Story" (Chapter 11) later evolved into and was published as A Catskill Woodsman. A draft of Woodland Story's Chapter 17 entitled "Our Catskill Teachers" also appears as a section of a draft of Chapter 3. Therefore draft text is found in both files. This collection is missing later draft chapters of Woodland Story so there are gaps in the order.

The Diaries and Travelogues subseries consists primarily of travelogues documenting several school field trips and family vacations. The diaries document aspects of Studer's personal landscape, and were kept sporadically.

This subseries documents Schenectady County's Human Rights Committee and its day-to-day activities, as well as learning materials developed by the group for the community. The subseries contains agendas, annual reports, minutes, news clippings, magazines, pamphlets and booklets. It features materials on the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration, the March 19th Coalition and information on other coalitions that combated racism. Included in this subseries are the 1972 Mont Pleasant High School hearings, during which Helen Quirini questioned students at her alma mater about escalating racial tension.

Helen Quirini joined the Schenectady YWCA in 1943 and later became one of its strongest advocates. She went on to serve on the board of directors and was elected president in 1979. This subseries contains materials illustrating the YWCA's day-to-day activities and its contributions to the community. The subseries consists of agendas, minutes, newsletters, magazines and flyers. It also features pamphlets on domestic violence, racism, feminism and equality as well as information on the YWCA-run battered women's shelter in Schenectady.

Despite not having children of her own, Helen Quirini was very involved in Schenectady County day care. She originally represented labor on the Child Care Coordinating Council during World War II. She chaired the Schenectady County Child Care Council and was also a board member of the New York State Child Care Coordinating Council. She worked directly with day care centers such as the Christ Church Day Care center and the Refreshing Springs Day Care where she was an administrator alongside her longtime friend Reverend Georgetta Dix, who founded and ran the center.

The materials in this subseries concern housing, energy and development in Schenectady County. Some materials were gathered by Helen Quirini in response to development plans by the Metroplex Development Authority in Schenectady County, Industrial Development Agencies (IDA) and Schenectady Economic Development Corporation (SEDC). Metroplex was created in 1998 to coordinate economic development activities. Several of Metroplex's proposals met with resistance from the public, including the proposal to tear down the Gazette Building on State and Broadway and replace it with a new Department of Transportation office building. Quirini, with others from Preserve Schenectady's Future, filed a lawsuit to save the Gazette Building. Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization (CPR) and the March 19th Coalition were organizations formed in opposition to Metroplex and its proposals. In 2002, the Glenville Energy Park was proposed and Citizens Advocating Responsible Development (CARD) petitioned against it. Quirini gathered other materials as part of activities with consumer advocacy groups. She joined Better Neighborhoods Inc. in 1971, was elected to the board in 1981 and served as president from 1984-1986. She also served on the Consumer Advisory Council of Niagara Mohawk in the late 1980s.

During her retirement, Helen Quirini was extremely active in many organizations for senior citizens on local, statewide and national levels. In addition to work on behalf of the GE Retirees, she served for many years as president of Chapter 490 (Schenectady County) of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and as president of the Schenectady County Council of Senior Organizations. The files contain meeting minutes, events materials, financial records, correspondence, newsletters and petitions from these two groups.

This subseries contains documents from different social service and relief organizations in Schenectady County. These include the Human Services Planning Council, the Schenectady Friends of Human Services, the Youth Employment Services Committee, and Quest. It documents their day-to-day activities as well as their contributions to the community. The subseries contains agendas, annual reports, by-laws, correspondence, financials, meeting minutes, news clippings, pamphlets, and reports. It includes information on social service, job referral in the Schenectady area, as well as each organization's efforts to help members of the Schenectady community. It also contains information on Judy Atchinson, a prominent member of Quest who wrote consistently in her blog, which is included in the subseries. Helen Quirini was active with these organizations during her retirement and kept up-to-date with these committees until 2009.

Helen Quirini was active with the United Way for several decades, both through Local 301 and during her retirement. This subseries documents United Way's day-to-day activities and its contributions to Schenectady and nearby areas. It contains agendas, meeting minutes, allocations, financials, fund distribution materials, newsletters, magazines, flyers, and pamphlets. It also features information on the Joseph A. Beirne Community Services Award, which Quirini received in 1978. The subseries includes Quirini's handwritten notes and her personal binders. There is also information on United Way's executive committee and the group Concerned Citizens for a Fair and Inclusive United Way.

This subseries is composed of materials produced and collected by Helen Quirini during her work with a number of organizations on the issues of health care and health care reform. It features correspondence, news clippings, publications, meeting agendas and minutes, reports and subject files. One organization documented in this subseries is the Health Systems Agency of Northeastern New York (HSA/NENY). Quirini served on its board of directors for many years beginning in the late 1970s. Established by Congress during the Gerald Ford administration, HSA/NENY was one of eight agencies in New York created to control rising health care costs. The materials for HSA/NENY were frequently shipped in bundles in preparation for upcoming meetings and much of the material in this subseries has been maintained in that order. Other organizations documented in the subseries include the Schenectady County Committee on Health Care Issues, an advocacy organization for quality regional health care, and the Health Care Action Line, a help line started to assist people with questions about health care reach trained volunteers. The Berger Commission's recommendations to reform and restructure New York's health care became legal mandates on January 1, 2007. In Schenectady, St. Clare's Hospital, Bellevue Woman's Hospital, and Ellis Hospital were restructured or merged as a result. Quirini was very active in seeking to maintain high quality care in the community.

This series consists of reels containing annual meeting minutes (with tables of contents), correspondence, CSEA President's reports, and verbatim transcripts of Board of Directors, County and State Delegate, and State Executive Committee meetings. Also contained on Reel 10 are the minutes of special delegates meetings and the records of the Capital City Council of the Civil Service Association which formed in 1918. The series also includes Board of Director Meeting files related to the quarterly Board meetings. These files feature committee reports, memorandums, state officer reports, interim Board of Directors meeting materials, and meeting minutes.

Included in the Annual Delegate Meetings subseries are agendas, resolutions, and bylaws under consideration, officer reports, lists of delegates, committee reports, and meeting minutes. Annual Delegate Meetings are held on a yearly basis over a three or four day period.

The Capital Punishment Symposium subseries contains course materials, abstracts, and other course supplemental materials.

This subseries focuses around the Criminal Law course, including the syllabi, student papers, and a week by week layout of the course and the material that was covered.

The Miller-El Research series is an overview of the decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that clarified the constitutional limitations on the use by prosecutors of peremptory challenges and of the Texas procedure the "jury shuffle."

The Military Study revealed disparities depending on whether the victim in the underlying crime was also a member of the military or was a civilian. The subject files shows the background around that report.

This series includes agendas and minutes of the Executive Committee of the Faculty and University Senate, Executive Committee Reports, and general correspondence relating to its responsibility for the general operations of the senate. The Executive Committee is responsible for preparing the agendas for the senate meetings. It also has "urgency powers" to act for the University Senate whenever it is impractical to convene the Senate to make a decision. However, any actions taken under this provision must be approved retroactively by the Senate. The Executive Committee also may serve in an advisory capacity to the President of the University ( Faculty Handbook , 1984, p. 12). Also included in this series are audio cassettes of Executive Committee Meetings (1987-88,90)

This series contains memoranda, correspondence, proposals and reports. The Governance Commission was responsible for developing and revising the by-laws of the University Senate as well as dealing with other matters concerning the governance of the University Senate as a whole. The Governance Commission has been variously called the Special Committee to Review Faculty By-Laws, the Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty-Student Governance, the Committee on University Governance, the Governance Committee, the University Governance Commission, and the University Commission on Governance. The Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty-Student Governance was formed in 1969 to review Faculty by-laws and recommend revision, and to fashion ways of involving students more in the development of University Policy, "perhaps through the formation of a University-wide Senate" (Governance Commission, Records, 200/20/01). The records in this series from 1967 and 1968 consist of reports by the Faculty Governance Sub-Committee of the state-wide University Faculty Senate. These reports appear to have been the catalyst that led to the formation of the Governance Commission which is responsible for the relationship between the Senate and the councils, schools, and colleges. The SUNYA Governance Commission records reflect the working out of these questions as well as the admission of administrative personnel and students to the University Senate. This series also contains the records of the Committee on Faculty By-Laws (1962-84, 1988-90). This committee continues to review and revise the University faculty by-laws. Also included are University Faculty Senate by-laws and manuals, meeting reports, general SUNY-wide correspondence, ad-hoc SUNY center committees, and policies of the Board of Trustees.

This series includes agendas and minutes, annual reports, bills and resolutions, and correspondence of the Graduate Academic Council, created in 1961 as the Graduate Council. The Council has responsibility for implementing graduate academic planning as established by the Council on Educational Policy ( Faculty Handbook , 1984, pp. 21-22). The Graduate Academic Council has been concerned with residence requirements (1971), credit transfer policy, guidelines for independent study and research investigations, the conferral of degrees, and the evaluation, revision, and adoption of academic programs. The Graduate Academic Council predates the formation of the Faculty Senate, having functioned as a general council of the College independent of the Faculty Council ( Faculty Handbook , 1962, p. 20). The Graduate Council was created on May 26, 1961, by the Graduate Faculty and replaced the Committee on Doctoral Studies (established in 1960) and the Committee on Graduate Studies (a subcommittee of the Academic Council); the Council also assumed the responsibilities for graduate study that had been the province of the Academic Council (Report of the Graduate Council, May 7, 1962).

Includes agendas, minutes, annual reports, reports to the Senate, and correspondence. The Research Council is empowered to review research activities, to consider ways in which the University can increase the effectiveness of its research activities, to review procedures of research conducted on campus when human subjects are involved, to set safety standards, and to allocate research funds within the university.

This series includes minutes, annual reports, bills and resolutions, and correspondence. The council recommends individuals for promotions in rank and for continuing appointment ( Faculty Handbook , 1984, p.26).

This series contains agendas and minutes (1972-98) and reports to the Senate (1972-82). The Council considers problems and recommends policies concerning matters of academic freedom and standards of professional ethics both inside and outside the university community (Faculty Handbook, 1984, p 25.) The Council on Academic Freedom and Ethics deals with matters concerning student grievances and professional codes of ethics. The predecessor of the Council on Academic Freedom and Ethics was the Committee on Academic Freedom of the Faculty Council (Faculty Handbook, 1962, p. 16).

This series includes agendas and minutes, annual reports, bills and resolutions, correspondence, and reports to the Senate. The responsibilities of the Library Council include establishing policies for the library and guidelines for its development and selecting candidates for the Excellence in Librarianship Award ( Faculty Handbook , 1984, p. 26). The Council has considered policy measures regarding the schedule for fines, budget planning, growth of library, acquisition and circulation, and providing searching on bibliographic utilities. In 1988, the title of the Council was changed from Library Council to Council on Libraries, Computing and Information Systems, and its responsibilities were expanded to "review plans for and recommend policies for the development and operation of informational systems and technology as well as for library facilities" ( Faculty Handbook , 1989-90, p. 25).

This sub-series contains the Community newsletter that the Pride Center published. The newsletter updated the members of the center on the events that were happening, as well as any updates or changes that were made. The newsletter also included stories written by members of the center. Due to limited funds, the newsletter was often cut short or not printed at all, so some years or months are missing from the collection.