Communications and Marketing at Binghamton University records

Collection

Identifier: BUA-0025

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The University Communications and Marketing records documents the research and work of University Communications and Marketing (UCM). While all the records were transfered from the UCM office, the majority of the collection documents activities, events, and personell from other departments. UCM kept extensive subject and faculty biographical files, in order to communicate campus activities and events out to the media. UCM also employed the official University Photographer and Videographer, so the department also held extensive video recording and photographic records of people, events, and buildings on campus. Because of this, the UCM records include documentation of a wide range of subjects related to Binghamton University.

In addition to these outward-facing files, the collection also contains a small amount of materials documenting the work that took place in the department, including in the program files and in the records that were maintained by individual staff members. These files include market research, clippings of media coverage, branding files, event planning, and correspondence.

Dates

Creation: 1921 - 2021
Creation: Majority of material found within 1950 - 2021

Creator

State University of New York at Binghamton. Division of Communications and Marketing (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Materials in this collection have been thoroughly reviewed for possible restrictions. Series 1 and 4-7 are open for research.

Series 2 and 3 contain personal and employment information about faculty members and President Lois B. DeFleur. Because of this, these files are restricted until the death of individual faculty members. Please contact the University Archives & Special Collections in advance to request access.

Historical Note

University Communications and Marketing (UCM) is responsible for public and media relations for Binghamton University.

UCM was originally called University Relations and was presumed to be started sometime in the 1950s or 1960s. Over the years, the department has expanded to cover new media and formats, like web design and videography. The department changed to University Communications and Marketing in around 2002, and the publications production and staffing was expanded.

On the department's official website in 2023, they described the work of the department: "Binghamton’s Division of Communications and Marketing is an ad agency, a public relations firm, a publishing house and a web development group, all rolled into one and all focused on Binghamton University. We develop the image, branding, positioning and marketing of the University, ensuring its desired strategic position is clearly communicated internally and externally.

"Communications and Marketing staff work with schools, colleges, departments and offices throughout the University, providing expertise in these areas: copywriting/editing; Dateline and B-Line [University newsletters]; graphic design; internal/crisis communications; magazines; marketing campaigns; media/public relations; mobile applications; photography; printing; social media; video; web."

Extent

60 Linear Feet (68 boxes and 1 map case folder)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The University Communications and Marketing records documets the research and work of University Communications and Marketing (UCM). University Communications and Marketing is responsible for public and media relations for Binghamton University. While all the records were transfered from the UCM office, the majority of the collection documents activities, events, and personell from other departments.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into 7 series.

Series:

Audiovisual and digital materials
Faculty biographical files
Lois B. DeFleur biographical files
Photographs
Program files
Staff records
Subject files

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

The collection holds CDs, VHS tapes, audiocasettes, DV tapes, and DVDs. These materials may need special equipment in order to view their contents. Please contact the University Archives & Special Collections in advance to request access.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

University Communications and Marketing began to transfer files to the archives in around 1992. They have continued to donate material since that time.

Related Materials

The Office of Communications and Marketing produced Inside, a publication about events on the Binghamton University campus. The archives holds issues of Inside in its collection of publications.

Processing Information

In 2023-2024, Madison White, Archival Processing Manager, moved data from all the CDs in the collection onto a computer server. Preservation and access metadata were created during this process. Blank CDs, disks that could not read, projects related to individual faculty/staff/students, commercial music, and duplicates were weeded from the CDs at this time.