The Archives holds records dating back to the founding of St.
John’s University in 1870, although the bulk of records are from
the post-World War II era. The Archives contains administrative
records, manuscripts, audio/visual materials, photographs,
memorabilia, and other artifacts. Finding aids or inventories are
available for many of the collections.
The collections include records and papers of the founding and
establishment of St. John's College (and St. John's Preparatory
School), Brooklyn, New York, in the 1870s; the formation of the
School of Education in 1908; the creation of law, business and
pharmacy schools in the 1920s at a separate campus in downtown
Brooklyn ("Brooklyn Center"); the college's transition to
University status and the establishment of a doctoral program in
the 1930s; on-campus military training during World Wars I and II;
the post-war impact of the G.I. bill and the commencement of
coeducation; the growth and importance of intercollegiate
athletics; the withdrawal of the University from the two Brooklyn
campuses to the Queens campus between 1955 and 1972; the creation
of a professional college, now called the College of Professional
Studies in 1962; the faculty strike of 1965-67 that marked a
profound transition in administrative structure and governance of
the University; and the establishment of branch campuses at the
former Notre Dame College of Staten Island, Oakdale, and Manhattan,
and the international campuses in Rome and Paris.
Partial List of Collections
Course bulletins
Commencement and convocation programs
Alumni directories
Yearbooks
Newspapers
University and student magazines, journals, and
newsletters
Related Records at Other Institutions
St. John’s Prep Records
The St. John’s University Archives holds selected original
St. John’s Prep materials, including some yearbooks. The Diocesan
Archives of Brooklyn has custody of the original student records up
to August 1972. Records after 1972 are in the custody of the
current St. John’s Prep.
Office of the Archivist
R.C. Diocese of Brooklyn
310 Prospect Park West
Brooklyn NY 11215
(718) 965-7300
archives@dobmail.org
St. John's Preparatory School
21-21 Crescent Street
Astoria, NY 11105
(718) 721-7200
Vincentian Archives
The St. John’s University Archives formerly housed records of the
Eastern Province USA of the Congregation of the Mission. The
Vincentian records are now housed at St. Vincent's Seminary in
Philadelphia.
Fr. John Carven, C.M.
St. Vincent's Seminary
The Ducournau Archives
500 East Chelten Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Phone: (215) 713-2434
Fax: (215) 848-5074
E-Mail: ducarccm@cmphlsvs.org