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Carol C. Harter Professional Papers (UA-00147)

Abstract

The Carol C. Harter Professional Papers (1940-2023) consist of material documenting Harter's scholarly and administrative career. The collection includes letters, publications and reports, speeches, and photographs from Harter's time as the 11th and first female president of State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo and as the 7th president of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). As of 2024, Harter was UNLV's longest-serving and also its first female president.

Finding Aid PDF

Date

1940 to 2023
bulk 1989 to 2006

Extent

6.78 Cubic Feet (11 boxes)
7.18 Linear Feet

Related People/Corporations

Scope and Contents Note

The Carol C. Harter Professional Papers (1940-2023) consist of material documenting Harter's scholarly and administrative career. The collection includes letters, publications and reports, speeches, and photographs from Harter's time as the 11th and first female president of State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo and as the 7th president of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). As of 2024, Harter was UNLV's longest-serving and also its first female president. Harter's UNLV files include presidential evaluations, progress reports, fundraising information, letters of support, and State of the University speeches. Also included are newspaper clippings and publications featuring articles written about Harter during her tenure at UNLV, which document the community's perception of her presidency. Harter's literary research and teaching files are also included in the collection.

Access Note

Collection is open for research. Where use copies do not exist, production of use copies is required before access will be granted; this may delay research requests. Advanced notice is required.

Publication Rights

This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. The donor, Michael Harter, transferred all right, title and interest they had in the Carol Harter Professional Papers (UA-00147) to UNLV. However, some material may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Acknowledgement of the UNLV University Libraries is requested. For more information, please see the UNLV Special Collections policies on reproductions and use or contact us at special.collections@unlv.edu.

Arrangement

Materials are grouped by time period.

Biographical / Historical Note

Carol C. Harter was the 7th president of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from 1995 to 2006. She was UNLV's longest-serving and first female president.

Born June 1, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York, Harter attended Harpur College (now Binghamton University) where she studied literature. She held a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in English and American literature. After serving as a faculty member and in two vice presidential roles at Ohio University, she became the 11th and first female president of State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo. In 1995, Harter was appointed as the 7th president of UNLV and led the university during a time of significant growth until stepping down in 2006. Major contributions to the university include: construction of 17 new buildings, creating 100+ new degree programs, ambitious fundraising programs, making UNLV a more student-centered university, and much more. After stepping down in 2006, she went on to lead the international literary center, Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute, which she cofounded. She later served on the BMI Advisory Board and was a member of the Guinn Center for Public Priorities Board of Directors.

Carol and Michael Harter were married for over 62 years and have two children. Carol C. Harter passed away in San Diego, California, on September 14, 2023.

Sources:

"Let Her Record Prove Them Wrong," by Steve Bornfeld. UNLV News Center. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://www.unlv.edu/news/article/let-her-record-prove-them-wrong

"Carol Harter, UNLV's longest-serving and first female president, dies at age 82," by Tabitha Mueller and Jacob Solis. The Nevada Independent. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/longest-serving-president-of-unlv-carol-harter-dies-at-age-82

Related Collections

The following resources may provide additional information related to the materials in this collection:

Carol Harter oral history interview, 2021 June 18. OH-03786. [Cite format consulted: Audio recording or Transcript.] Oral History Research Center, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Carol Harter oral history interview, 2007 April 20. OH-00802. [Cite format consulted: Audio recording or Transcript.] Oral History Research Center, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.

UNLV TV Audiovisual Collection, approximately 1980-2023. UA-00098. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1vx52

University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation Records, 1981-2013. UA-00079. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1dd2q

University of Nevada, Las Vegas Creative Services Records, 1959-2016. PH-00388. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Preferred Citation

Carol C. Harter Professional Papers, 1940-2023. UA-00147. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1f78k

Acquisition Note

Materials were donated in 2024 by Michael Harter; accession number 2024-083.

Processing Note

In 2024, Sarah Jones accessioned the collection, rehoused the material into boxes, and wrote a brief finding aid in ArchivesSpace.

Resource Type

Papers

Collection Type

EAD ID

US::NvLN::UA00147

Appraisal Note

Acquired by Sarah Quigley, Director of Special Collections and Archives, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives' holdings on University history.

Finding Aid Description Rules

Describing Archives: A Content Standard
English