Archives and Special Collections
92 Snell Library
360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-2351
archives@neu.edu

Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

Printable Finding Aid. Back to Browsing Version.

Collection Overview
Title: New England College of Pharmacy records
Dates:1939-1962
Location:72/1, 73/4
Call Number:M15
Volume:5.40 cubic ft. (16 boxes)
Scope and Content Abstract:The records of the New England College of Pharmacy document the institution's founding and administrative and educational programs from 1939 to 1962. Records include meeting minutes, by-laws, accreditation materials, budget materials, newspaper clippings, student records, faculty information, curriculum materials, publications, correspondence, reports to educational review boards, alumni lists, planning materials, and school seals.
Historical Abstract:In 1927, Constantine Meriano founded the Meriano School of Pharmacy in Boston. The institution was officially incorporated in 1940 as the Boston School of Pharmacy. In 1941, the Board of Trustees initiated a four-year curriculum, and in 1943 the Massachusetts Legislature authorized the Trustees to grant the degree of Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. Students enrolled in a rigorous academic program that included course work in anatomy, biology, chemistry, pharmacy, physics, business, law, and English. On January 25, 1949, the Board of Collegiate Authority approved a second name change to the New England College of Pharmacy (NECP). The New England College of Pharmacy was accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education with a Class "C" ranking in 1952, a Class "B" accreditation in 1957, and a Class "A" accreditation ranking in 1958. In 1960 the New England College of Pharmacy commenced merger negotiations with Northeastern University. In September 1962 the New England College of Pharmacy relinquished its status as an independent educational institution and formed the basis of the Northeastern University College of Pharmacy.
Arrangement:Organized into six series: Series 1. Corporation and Board of Trustees; Series 2. Office of the Dean; Series 3. Office of Admissions and Enrollment; Series 4. Office of Alumni/Development Programs; Series 5. Commencement; Series 6. Seals.
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Meriano, Constantine.

  • Boston School of Pharmacy.
  • Meriano School of Pharmacy.
  • New England College of Pharmacy.
  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). College of Pharmacy.

  • Pharmacy colleges--Massachusetts--Boston.
  • Pharmacy--Study and teaching--Massachusetts--Boston.
Restrictions:Personnel and student records (box 3, folders 62 and 65; box 4, folders 78, 85, 93, and 101; box 9, folders 153-157; box 10, folders 158-172; and microfilm in boxes 15 and 16) are restricted for 75 years from their date of creation.
Processor:Finding aid prepared by Meg Moughan, October 1997

Scope and Content Note

The records of the New England College of Pharmacy document the institution's founding and administrative and educational programs from 1939 to 1962. Records include meeting minutes, by-laws, accreditation materials, budget materials, newspaper clippings, student records, faculty information, curriculum materials, publications, correspondence, reports to educational review boards, alumni lists, planning materials, and school seals.

The records within Series I. Corporation and Board of Trustees reflect the decisions of the governing body of the NECP. The records include minutes of the trustees' meetings from 1939-1950 (on microfilm, Box 15) and from 1956-1961; minutes from 1951-1955 are missing. Additionally, this series contains a complete set of by-laws and subsequent amendments.

Series 2. Office of the Dean is the most comprehensive group of records within the collection. The series chronicles the administrative, personnel, and educational functions of the Office of the Dean during the administrations of Meriano and Keagle. The records include accreditation materials, budget materials, class lists, catalogs, correspondence, invitations, photographs, publicity materials, newspaper clippings, and reports to educational review boards, and surveys. The series contains information on course requirements and course work, including catalogs from 1939-43 and 1954-60 (catalogs from 1943-54 are missing), syllabi, and book lists for many classes. The series also contains several publications created by NECP staff, faculty, and students. Included in the publications are several newsletters as well as a complete set of the school's yearbook, Signa, from 1950-1962. Also included within the records of the Office of the Dean are materials relating to faculty and students. Minutes for both faculty committee and faculty council meetings contain detailed information pertaining to the development of the school. Individual faculty files are arranged alphabetically and contain information pertaining to individuals' educational background, professional background, teaching interests, and publishing efforts. Also included in the series are restricted student academic records from 1953 to 1963. Of special interest are the records regarding early affiliation/merger discussions that the NECP entered into with Boston University and Suffolk University (Box 1, Folders 8-11). Also, the series includes correspondence and publicity materials from 1959-1962 that document the school's decision to adopt a trimester calendar (Box 11, Folders 176-178).

Series 3 comprises information pertaining to the NECP Admissions Committee and to acceptance and enrollment procedures. The series contains annual reports on admissions and enrollment from 1952 to 1961 and information on policies for accepting transfer students, correspondence, lists, publications, and student records.

Series 4 contains information on early alumni programs at the NECP. The series contains alumni lists, planning materials for events, and correspondence. Additionally, the records document the planning efforts of the NECP for a long-term capital campaign. Included are correspondence, alumni lists, pamphlets, and publications.

Series 5 contains correspondence between the NECP and commencement speakers usually leaders in the fields of pharmacy and medicine, as well as state legislators and educators. Included in this group are John Enders, Sen. John F. Kennedy, Asa S. Knowles, and Sen. John E. Powers. The series also contains some commencement addresses, photographs of honorary degree recipients and NECP administrators, and biographical data on speakers. The series also contains interoffice correspondence related to commencement planning. Included are addresses, correspondence, lists, photographs, and programs.

Series 6 contains three embossing seals. Two bear the inscription "Boston School of Pharmacy," and one bears the inscription "New England School of Pharmacy" (Box 13).

Historical Note

In 1927 Constantine Meriano founded the Meriano School of Pharmacy on Huntington Avenue near Symphony Hall. After several years of growth and the success of its comprehensive one- and two-year courses for apprentice pharmacists, the institution was officially incorporated in 1940 as the Boston School of Pharmacy. In 1941 the Board of Trustees initiated a four-year curriculum, and in 1943 the Massachusetts Legislature passed an act authorizing the Trustees to grant the degree of Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. Soon after incorporation, the Trustees suspended the new curriculum program due to declining enrollmentduring wartime.

When the program resumed in 1946, the school had relocated to new quarters in a building once used by the Sharp School and later by Boston English High School at the corner of Pinckney and Anderson Streets on Beacon Hill. During the same year, the school was approved as a college by the Board of Registration in Pharmacy and by the Massachusetts Department of Education. From its earliest years, the institution focused on the "methodical and thorough training of young men and women who are interested in pharmacy and who are willing to accept the great responsibilities it entails." Towards this end, students enrolled in a rigorous academic program that included course work in anatomy, biology, chemistry, pharmacy, physics, business, law, and English.

The Board of Trustees and the institution's administration, spearheaded by Dean Meriano, embarked on an ambitious plan to oversee the school's advancement in the field of pharmacy education. On January 25, 1949, the Board of Collegiate Authority approved a second name change to the New England College of Pharmacy (NECP), which reflected the administration's intent to attract students from outside Massachusetts. Several months later, the Trustees commenced negotiations to purchase facilities at what was then the Boston University School of Theology located at 70-72 Mount Vernon Street. Students, faculty, and staff moved into the new space in October of that year.

In January 1952 the NECP was accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education with a Class "C" ranking, and in August of the same year became a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Additionally, the school received authorization to confer the honorary degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Science.

In 1957 Dean Meriano resigned from his position as Dean of the College. LeRoy C. Keagle, pledging to continue Dean Meriano's mission of growth and development for the school, was appointed President and Dean. In June of 1957, the NECP received a Class "B" accreditation from the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education. During the next few months, the curriculum was enlarged and strengthened, and additions were made to the teaching staff; in January 1958, the school reached its ultimate goal -- the granting of a Class "A" accreditation ranking.

The NECP received a great deal of publicity in 1960 when Dean Keagle introduced a trimester semester schedule. It was hoped that this plan would make fuller use of teaching resources and help meet the demand for properly educated pharmacists to serve their communities more effectively. Additionally, the trimester program appealed to students because it promised graduation sooner (in forty months) than under the traditional five-year program.

Despite the dedication and motivation of the faculty, staff, and administration, the NECP never experienced a significant degree of financial autonomy. To better serve the students and to preserve the program, President Keagle joined with President Asa S. Knowles of Northeastern University on June 21, 1961 to announce that the NECP would become part of NU in September 1962. At that time, NECP ceased to exist as an independent institution and formed the backbone of the NU College of Pharmacy. The merger meant that the pharmacy program began to operate under the cooperative education plan, incorporating extensive on-the-job training with traditional classroom learning.
Bibliography

"A Brief History of the College," ca. 1949 (Box 5, Folder 122).

"The History of the New England College of Pharmacy," n.d. (Box 5, Folder 122).

Raubenheimer, Herbert C., "The History of the New England College of Pharmacy," ca. 1963 (Box 5, Folder 122).

Signa, Summer 1962. (Box 9, Folder 148).
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Series:
1. Corporation and Board of Trustees, 1939-1961
Volume:0.25 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
BoxTitleDate
1By-laws and Amendments1949-1960
15Corporation and Trustee Records (microfilm)1939-1950
1Minutes (5 folders)1956-1961
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Series:
2. Office of the Dean, 1945-1972 (bulk 1945-1964)
Volume:3.5 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
BoxTitleDate
1Accreditation1952-1959
Affiliation Discussions
1Boston University (2 folders)1952-1956
1Meriano Correspondence, Re: Affiliation1952-1956
1Suffolk University1959
1American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (2 folders)1952-1957
American Council on Pharmaceutical Education
1Correspondence1952-1958
1Progress Reports from NECP1958-1961
1American Pharmaceutical Association1954
Board of Collegiate Authority, Massachusetts
2General (2 folders)n.d.
2Department of Education1945-1956
2Budget Materials (5 folders)1957-1962
2Certificates of Merit1957-1960
2Class Lists1949-1962
Course Catalogs
2The Boston School of Pharmacy (4 folders)1939-1943
2NECP (4 folders)1954-1960
Course Materials/Curricula
2Anatomy1958-1959
2Basic Pharmacy1958-1959
2Book Lists for the Library1957-1961
2Botany1959
2Chemistry1958-1959
2"Courses for Special Students"1948
2Dispensing Pharmacy1958-1959
2Drug Assay1959
2Drug Marketing1958-1959
3Drug Store Accounting1959
3History of Pharmacy1950-1958
3Inorganic Chemistryca. 1958
3Microbiologyn.d.
3Organic Chemistry1958-1959
3Pharmaceutical Chemistry1958-1959
3Pharmacognosyn.d.
3Pharmacology1958-1959
3Physicsn.d.
3Public Health1958-1959
3Retail Pharmacy1959
3U.S. Public Health Service, Pharmacy Internship Training Program1958-1962
3Veterns Administration Pharmacy Trainee Student Program1962
3Zoology1958-1959
3Dean Meriano: Student Correspondence and Recommendations1949-1959
3Faculty and Staff Photographsca. 1950-1958
3Faculty Appointments (2 folders)1957-1962
Faculty Committees
3Committee Functions1960-1961
3Committee on Academic Standing (Restricted)1960
3Committee on Awards and Scholarships (2 folders)1961-1962
3Committee on Records (Restricted)1960-1962
3Pension Plan Committee1957-1962
3Faculty Council Meeting Minutes1952-1958
3Faculty Lists1957-1959
3Faculty Meeting Minutes (3 folders)1951-1960
Faculty Members
4Adomaitis, Vyto1949-1957
4Ballard, Kenneth J.1960-1971
4Barton, Beverly1958-1960
4Benoit, Eugene1950-1952
4Beutner, Reinhard1948-1959
4Bey, Hasan1960-1965
4Browne, Gordon (Restricted)1949-1953
4Caputo, Sabino1960
4Chouinard, Albert E.1947
4Coar, Herbert G.1949-1956
4Coles, Clifford H.1955-1958, 1970
4Crisafi, Robert C.1956-1960
4Decaneas, Demetre J.1946-1958
4DeFelice, Eugene Anthony (Restricted)1956-1964
4Edwards, Dr. Beatrice G.1950-1952
4Eusebi, Albert J.1952-1954
4Feldman, Harold1950-1952
4Finkelstein, Harry1948-1963
4Gilbane, Brendan F.1961-1962
4Greenwald, Samuel1949-1956
4Heichman, Gerald1951-1954
4Honigberg, Irvin (Restricted)1956-1957
4Johnson, George P.1958
4Karsh, Max1949-1951
4Katz, Phillip1951-1952, 1970
4Koss, Frederick N.1960
4Kreisman, Wallace S.1955, 1972
4Kurkjy, Yousuf1947-1959
4Lurensky, Maurice1949-1959
4Marshall, Alton (Restricted)1949-1953
4Metlay, Max1958
4Nakamura, Mitsuru J.1952-1957, 1973
4Nichol, John T.1954-1972
4Nixon, Dr. C. William1956-1962
4Norton, Ruth1956-1962
4Panagiotakos, Paul C.1949-1953
5Parsons, Leavitt1947-1954
5Patel Babu N.1951-1961
5Paxinos, Robert1955-1967
5Perkins, Herbert1949-1958
5Polan, Harold H.1955
5Rosenberg, Norman1955-1956
5Saxe, Milton1949-1954
5Silverman, Samuel1949-1963
5Sirotenko, Aleksey A.1956-1958
5Tobin, Louis1948-1952
5Valencia, Samuel1950-1952
5Van Steenburgh, Watson1949-1954
5Zaratzian, Virginia1949-1956
5Founder's Day1960
5History of the Collegen.d., 1939-1949, 1963
5House Bill 15211956
5House Bill 18691948
5Keagle, LeRoy: Appointment at President1957
5Library1958-1960
5Maimonides Oathn.d.
5Meriano Testimonial Dinner1960
5Newspaper Clippings (2 folders)1949-1963
5Press Releases1957-1962
Publications
5"The Capsule"1952-1958
5"N.E.C.P. Bulletin"1960-1962
5"N.E.C.P. Newsletter"1957-1958
5-9"Signa" (Yearbook) (14 folders)1950-1962
9Publicity and Public Relations1960-1961
9Scholarships1959-1963
9Student Fraternal Organizations1961-1962
9Student Life1960-1961
Student Records
9Grade Changes (4 folders) (Restricted)1953-1957
10Grade Reports (15 folders) (Restricted)1949-1962
10Microfilm Grade Reports (Restricted)1953-1963
11Student Rules and Regulations1959-1960
11Surveys1957-1961
11Swain, Dr. Robert Lee: Testimonial1960
Trimester Calendar
11"A New Combined Liberal Arts: Pharmacy Program of Education for the New England College of Pharmacy"1959
11Publicity Materials: "A New Plan in Pharmacy Education1959
11Trimester Plan: Correspondence1959-1962
11United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, "Nonquota" Immigrant Students1947-1949
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Series:
3. Office of Admissions and Enrollment, 1952-1961
Volume:0.25 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
BoxTitleDate
11Admissions Committee1960-1961
11Enrollment List1952-1953
11Reports on Admission and Enrollment1952-1961
11Transfer Students1958-1961
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Series:
4. Office of Alumni/Development Programs, 1948-1961
Volume:0.25 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
BoxTitleDate
11Alumni Day1960
11Alumni Lists1960-1961
11Alumni Organizations1954-1961
11Capital Campaign1958
14Fund Raising Booklet1948
11Fund Raising Brochure1956
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Series:
5. Commencement, 1950-1962
Volume:0.80 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
BoxTitleDate
11Honorary Degree Recipients: Lists1950-1962
Honorary Degree Recipients and/or Speakers (* indicates a speaker)
11Baughman, George*1957
11Beal, George*1953
11Berman, Charles A.1959
11Bilotti, Nicola1957
11Bobst, Elmer H.1958
11Bristol, Lee H.1960
11Brow, Charles F.1952
11Brown, Francis C.1958
11Brush, Alvin G.1962
11Chapman, A.L.*1960
11Cusick, John*1954-1957
11Dart, Justin*1959
11Enders, John1961-1962
11Gross, Boone1958
11Hiebert, J. Mark*1952
11Jordan, Peter1956
12Kennedy, John F.*1958
12Klumpp, Theodore*1961
12Knowles, Asa S.*1962
12Longmire, Conrad1961
12Loring, Edward1962
12Meriano, Constantine1956
12Meriano, Mary (Mrs. Constantine)1962
12Michael, George1960
12Persons, Leavitt1960
12Powers, John E.1959
12Scott, David*1958-1962
12Shannon, James A.1960
12Silverman, Samuel1958
12Smiley, Charles1960
12Smith, Austin*1962
12Stepner, Gerald1962
12Stevens, Raymond1961
12Swain, Robert*1956
12Weston, William1959
12Woodward, Robert1961
Invited Honorary Degree Recipients and Speakders (declined to participate)
12Bibeault, Aldor1962
12Boyer, Francis1960
12Briggs, Paul1962
12Burney, LeRoy1962
12Killian, J.R.1958
12Land, Edwin1961
12McKeen, John1960
12Mecca, Sebastian1961
12Salk, Jonas1961
12Shannon, James A.1962
12Stevenson, Earl P.1961
12Photographs
12Planning (5 folders)1958-1962
12Programs1950-1962
12Speakers and the Titles of Their Addresses: Lists1950-1962
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Series:
6. Seals, 1939-1940
Volume:0.35 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
BoxTitleDate
13Large Iron Embossing Seal, New England College of Pharmacy, Est. 1927, Inc.1940
13Small Aluminum Pocket Seal, The Boston School of Pharmacy1939
13Small Metal Pocket Seal, The Boston School of Pharmacy1940
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