| Emerson College Archives and Special Collections

Welcome to Emerson College Digital Archives, Special Collections, and Exhibits

Explore our growing collection of unique digital records documenting the history of Emerson College, its students, alumni, and staff. Access archival materials such as student and staff publications; videos of Emerson College events, such as commencement ceremonies, move-in-day, and promotional videos of Emerson programs; and student organization records, such as Emerson’s Black Organization with Natural Interest (EBONI).

Top level collections

American Comedy Archives Oral Histories

The American Comedy Archives Oral Histories consists of audiovisual interviews conducted by comedian Bill Dana, archivist/historian Jenni Matz, comedian Eddie Brill, archivist/historian Robert Fleming, and television producer/professor Dan Pasternack with comedians, directors, writers, producers, agents, and experts on comedy. Oral history interviews were conducted with Bea Arthur, Ed Begley, Jr., Shelley Berman, Lewis Black, Kevin Bright, Eddie Brill, Jack Carter, Dick Cavett, Tim Conway, Irwin Corey, Norm Crosby, Billy Crystal, Bill Dana, Sam Denoff, Vin DiBona, Phyllis Diller, Diane English, Barbara Feldon, Budd Friedman, Larry Gelbart, Shecky Greene, Dick Gregory, Charles Grodin, Pat Harrington, Jr., Hugh Hefner, Buck Henry, Doug Herzog, Arte Johnson, Austin "Rocky" Kalish, Irma Kalish, Hal Kanter, Don Knotts, Norman Lear, Rose Marie, Peter Marshall, Dick Martin, Jamie Masada, Jackie Mason, Chuck McCann, Jayne Meadows, Carlos Mencia, Howard Murray, Jan Murray, Bob Newhart, Louis Nye, Gary Owens, Janis Paige, Bill Persky, Tom Poston, Carl Reiner, Jack Riley, Tony Roberts, Paul Rodriguez, Andy Rooney, Jay Sandrich, George Schlatter, George Shapiro, Leonard Stern, Howard Storm, Tracey Ullman, Dick Van Dyke, Dick Van Patten, Betty White, Fred Willard, Henry Winkler, Jonathan Winters, Steven Wright, and "Weird Al" Yankovic. The bulk of the interviews were originally recorded on DVcam tapes from February 2005 through May 2007 and duplicated at Emerson College. Some of the oral histories were done in conjunction with the American Television Foundation. In addition to the video oral histories there are transcripts for certain interviews.

2005-02-21 - 2020-01-30

Charles W. Emerson Homestead Photographs Collection

The Charles W. Emerson Homestead Collection is a collection of glass plate negative prints from our College founder Charles Wesley Emerson's summer estate in Rochester, Vermont. Depicting Emerson, his family, home and surroundings, this collection offers a glimpse into his country life during the 1890s.

1890 - 1899

Course Catalogues

Graduate, Undergraduate, and Department of Professional Studies and Special Programs Catalogues, include course descriptions, admission guidelines, degree requirements, expenses, and administrative information about Emerson staff, departments, and offices.

2002 - 2022

Emerson College Beacon Magazine

The Emerson College Alumni Magazine *Statement on Offensive Content in Archival and Special Collections *The Emerson College Archives & Special Collections recognizes that some of its digital and physical collections contain potentially offensive content that is not condoned by the College. The Archives & Special Collections is committed to upholding the principle of equal and free access to historical information and presents these collections in their original and unaltered forms for the purpose of research, study, and personal reading. Providing online and physical access to these historical documents does not endorse any attitudes, prejudices, or behaviors depicted in them. The Archives & Special Collections is fully committed to the College's efforts to achieve inclusive excellence as well as the belief that society must recognize its past offenses in order to improve itself and ensure they do not happen again.

1959 -

Emerson College Factbooks

The factbook is updated annually and contains historic data about the College.

2012 -

Emerson College Intercultural Student Affairs

The collection contains posters, publications, fliers, invitations, and other publicity material to promote cultural events and holidays, general meetings, banquets, panels and discussions, and other activities sponsored by multicultural student groups at Emerson.

1969 -

Emerson College Southwick Recitals

The Southwick Recital series was an Emerson tradition and one of the oldest oratory recitals in the United States. The series featured distinguished Emerson faculty and alumni/a, along with honored guest artists. The series was founded by Henry Lawrence Southwick in 1900 when he was dean of Emerson College, he later became the third president of Emerson in 1908.

1969 - 2001

Emerson College Student Handbooks

The student handbook provides an overview of policies, procedures, and services for graduate and undergraduate students.

2006 -

Emerson Endures: Documenting Our Shared COVID-19 Experience

Emerson Endures: Documenting Our Shared COVID-19 Experience illustrates the affect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Emerson College community; it contains original works created and submitted by faculty, staff, and students and includes writings, poetry, images, audio and video recordings, artwork, and other records illustrating the impact.

2020

Emersonian Yearbooks

The Emerson College Archives & Special Collections recognizes that some editions of the Emersonian yearbook contain potentially offensive content that is not condoned by the College. The Archives & Special Collections is committed to upholding the principle of equal and free access to historical information and presents this collection in its original and unaltered form for the purpose of research, study, and personal reading. Providing online access to these historical documents does not endorse any attitudes, prejudices, or behaviors depicted in the pages of the Emersonian. The Archives & Special Collections is fully committed to the College's efforts to achieve inclusive excellence as well as the belief that society must recognize its past offenses in order to improve itself and ensure they do not happen again. The Emerson College yearbook, The Emersonian, was published annually with some gaps during the 1930s and 1940s until it ceased publication, the last issue is 2016. Digitization sponsorship from the Boston Public Library and the Digital Commonwealth, and digitization courtesy of the Internet Archive for the 1908-2014 yearbooks.

1908 - 2016

Expression Magazine

"Expression" magazine is published three times a year, and it includes updates about the Emerson College community, curriculum, and alumni. The digital collection is missing the Fall 2010 and Fall 2013 issues, but they are available in hard copy at the Emerson College Archives and Special Collections. Prior to being renamed "Expression" in 2000 the publication was called the "Emerson Beacon," "The Emerson College Bulletin," and "Beacon."

Historical Emerson Photographs

Photographs highlighting life at Emerson College over the years, includes images of students, faculty, staff, alumni, sporting events, lectures, reunions, and campus facilities.

1881 -

Little Building News

The Little Building published its own newspaper, the Little Building News, from 1922 to 1925. Known as the "City Under One Roof," the Little Building was built in 1917, it was designed by prominent Boston architect Clarence Blackhall and named for Boston businessman and philanthropist, John Mason Little. Now one of our beloved dormitories, the Little Building was once home to offices, a shopping arcade, restaurants and even a post office. Digitization of the Little Building News has been made possible thanks to the Digital Commonwealth.

1922-04 - 1925-03