St. College Correspondence Collection (c. 1900)

Overview

The St. College Correspondence Collection is a small archival set of handwritten letters and related documents dating from around the turn of the twentieth century. The materials are presented as digitized images (JPEG format) with accompanying OCR transcriptions. The collection is cataloged as a “Collection” in the PINAX repository (ID 01KCJ50CXQBTZQ5DQ577Z7ZCDJ) and is accessible via the Arke Institute digital platform.

Background

The correspondence originates from “St. College,” an unnamed higher‑education institution operating in the United States in the early 1900s. The creator of the letters is not identified in the metadata, and the institution’s administrative records do not appear to be part of this deposit. The letters were likely authored by a faculty member or administrator who was grappling with internal ethical disputes concerning college governance, diploma validity, and the enforcement of institutional regulations. The collection reflects broader concerns of the period about academic integrity and the professional responsibilities of college staff.

Contents

The digitized portion of the collection presently consists of a single scanned page (scan_1.jpg, 383 KB). The OCR transcription reveals a candid, self‑reflective missive that addresses several key issues:

* Ethical dissent: The writer expresses an inability to continue participating in “gradations or incapacitants” and objects to what is perceived as ongoing misconduct by the faculty. * Resignation and protest: The author declares a decision not to sign an “invalid diploma,” indicating a refusal to endorse a credential deemed compromised. * Calls for reform: The letter urges the reconstruction of regulations or alternative mechanisms to prevent recurrence of the cited wrongs, suggesting that mere resolutions or pledges are insufficient. * Personal resolve: The writer states a firm intention to withdraw from St. College unless satisfactory corrective measures are implemented.

The image captures the original handwriting, while the OCR text provides searchable content for researchers.

Scope

The collection covers a narrow temporal window (circa 1900) and is geographically limited to St. College in the United States. Its thematic focus includes college administration, ethical disputes within academic institutions, and the legitimacy of diplomas. While the current deposit contains only one document, the collection is framed as a broader set of correspondence that may encompass additional letters, memos, or related administrative records concerning the same ethical controversy. Materials not directly related to these administrative or ethical matters are excluded from this collection.