Guide to the Papers of Catherine N. Stratton MC.06 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit March 0, 06 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute Archives and Special Collections MIT Libraries Building N-8 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, Massachusetts, 09-07 67..690 mithistory@mit.edu
Table of Contents Summary Information... Biography... Scope and Contents of the Collection... Administrative Information... Related Materials... Controlled Access Headings...6 Bibliography...7 Collection Inventory... 8 - Page -
Summary Information Repository Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute Archives and Special Collections Creator - Stratton, Catherine N. Title Catherine N. Stratton papers Date [bulk] Bulk, 97-969 Date [inclusive] 9-0 Extent.6 cubic feet ( record carton, manuscript boxes) Location Materials are stored off-site. Advance notice is required for use. Language English Citation Catherine N. Stratton Papers, MC 6, box X. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Institute Archives and Special Collections, Cambridge, Massachusetts. - Page -
Biography Catherine (Kay) Nelson Stratton (9-0) was the wife of Julius A. Stratton, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 99 to 966. She was actively involved in social life and campus life at MIT for many years. She was instrumental in the growth of the visual arts at MIT, founding the MIT Art Committee in 960 which led to formation of the MIT Council for the Arts in 97. Catherine Stratton was also active in arts, education, and social programs outside MIT, serving as the visual arts chair of the New York City Cultural Council, as a member of the board of Bank Street College of Education in New York City, as a member of the National Board of the YWCA, and as a trustee of Lesley College in Cambridge, MA. In 988, Mrs. Stratton initiated an annual seminar called "Aging Successfully" to explore health topics of concern especially, but not exclusively, to an aging population. From its inception, this seminar has been co-sponsored by the MIT Women's League and MIT Medical. In 99, when Mrs. Stratton celebrated her 80th birthday, the Women's League established in her honor an annual Lecture on Critical Issues, a panel discussion with experts in their fields that focuses on topics of global concern in the world today. Together the two seminars are known as the Catherine N. Stratton Lecture Series. A fuller biographical description about Catherine Stratton can be found at: http:// newsoffice.mit.edu/0/catherine-kay-stratton-obituary-096 Scope and Contents of the Collection The collection contains Catherine Stratton's correspondence and notes about social functions sponsored by Julius Stratton and his wife, Catherine Stratton, during the years 99-966 when Julius Stratton served as president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Social notebook files include working notes, correspondence, guest lists, menus, and invitations for functions. Most of the correspondence is from the MIT community, but there is interesting correspondence from others such as a letter from Andrew Wyeth to Catherine Stratton about the exhibit of his work in Hayden Gallery at MIT in 960 (box ). In 96, during the Stratton presidency, MIT celebrated the Centennial of its founding. There are files in the collection related to the planning of social events for faculty notably the Centennial Ball and Operation Mixer. There is also a later recollection written by Mrs. Stratton about the Centennial. Of interest are the minutes and working notes of an Institute committee, the MIT Faculty Environment Committee, active in the years 96-96. Mrs. Stratton was a member of the committee which investigated the feasibility of MIT's providing housing services for faculty, and which conducted a housing survey. - Page -
As a faculty wife, Mrs. Stratton was a long-time member of the Technology Matrons (since 97 known as the MIT Women's League). The collection contains Mrs. Stratton's records of the Technology Matrons (97-966) which include annual reports, minutes, and correspondence. There are records of the Matrons' Survey Committee for long-range planning, which focused attention on activities for newcomers to MIT, and also Matrons' Planning Committee records. Mrs. Stratton's work related to art at MIT can be found in collection AC 66, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Art Committee records. Information about the Catherine N. Stratton Lecture Series can be found in the MIT Women's League records (AC 8). Both collections are in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. Administrative Information Publication Information Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute Archives and Special Collections Revision Description 0, 06 Access note Contact Institute Archivist. Intellectual Property Rights Access to collections in the Institute Archives and Special Collections is not authorization to publish. Separate written application for permission to publish must be made to the Institute Archives. Copyright of some items in this collection may be held by respective creators, not by the donor of the collection. Related Materials Related Materials in the Institute Archives Julius A. Stratton Papers, MC, box, May 97 diary of trip to Poland and Russia. - Page -
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Office of the Arts Records, AC 0. Technology Wives Organization Records, AC 0. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Women's League Records, AC 8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Art Committee records, AC 66. Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Faculty Environment Committee Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Newcomers Committee MIT Women's League Technology Matrons Function(s) events Personal Name(s) Stratton, Catherine N. Subject(s) centennial celebrations faculty social life and customs Massachusetts Institute of Technology--Women. presidents' spouses - Page 6 -
Bibliography Stratton, Catherine N. "A Passion for the Arts." In Jerry Wiesner: Scientist, Statesman, Humanist: Memories and Memoirs, edited by Walter A. Rosenblith. Cambridge: MIT Press, 00. pp. 89-97. MIT 0 Infinite History Video Project Interview with Catherine N. Stratton. http://mit0.mit.edu/ infinite-history-a-z - Page 7 -
Collection Inventory Box Remarks at the dedication of the Catherine N. Stratton Lounge 988 September Stratton obituaries 99, 0 Social notebook 97-98 Social notebook 99 Social notebook 96-96 Social notebook 99-960 Social notebook 960-96 Social notebook 96-96 Social notebook 96-96 Social notebook 96-96 Social notebook 96-96 Social notebook 96-96 - Page 8 -
Social notebook 96-96 Social notebook 96-966 Social notebook 96-966 Operation Mixer records 960-96 Centennial Ball Committee records 960-96 Centennial Ball Committee records 960-96 Recollection of Centennial circa 99 Faculty Environment Committee records 96-96 Faculty Environment Committee records 96-96 Faculty Environment Committee records 96 Faculty Environment Committee records circa 96 Faculty Environment Committee records circa 96 Technology Dames 960-96 Technology Matrons notebook 97-98 - Page 9 -
Technology Matrons notebook 98-99 Technology Matrons notebook 99-960 Technology Matrons notebook 960-96 Technology Matrons notebook 96-96 Technology Matrons notebook 96-96 Technology Matrons notebook 96-96 Technology Matrons notebook 96-96 Technology Matrons notebook Box Technology Matrons Survey Committee records 9-98 Technology Matrons Survey Committee records 99 Technology Matrons Survey Committee 96-96 Technology Matrons Survey Committee notebook 96-96 Technology Matrons Survey Committee notebook 96-96 - Page 0 -
Technology Matrons Survey Committee 96-96 Technology Matrons Survey Committee records 96 Technology Matrons Survey Committee notebook 96 Technology Matrons Survey Committee notebook 96 Technology Matrons Survey Committee notebook 96 Technology Matrons Workshop Planning Committee records, folders 96 6 Ford Foundation Social notebook, folders 966-969 6 - Page -