Merrimack Valley Branch Commencement Programs, 1972-1977

Collection number: UA 20/1/7 [Offsite Storage]
Size: 1 box (.33 cu.ft.)

About the University of New Hampshire, Merrimack Valley Branch

The Merrimack Valley Branch of the University of New Hampshire was established in Manchester in September 1967. The branch started as an extension center. There were thirty-one credit courses, taught almost entirely by regular faculty members from the main campus, and enrolling 590 students. There also were seven short-term certificate courses enrolling 231. The first branch director, Frederick J. Robinson '49, had a small office in the Manchester Memorial High School and the classes met evenings in the high school. A year later, a house in the neighborhood was rented as an office and library building, while the growing number of classes continued to meet in Memorial High School and in nearby Southside Junior High. The unit got its first recognition as a separate entity when the 1969 legislature voted an appropriation of $60,000 for planning a campus. During the next few years, with the assistance of interested citizens, members of the Board of Trustees, and legislators, several sites in the region were investigated to determine their suitability for a commuter campus. A site within the City limits of Manchester was finally selected after a Feasibility Study of the site proved that it was satisfactory. The first building, named French Hall in honor of J. Fred French, a trustee for the University System for 11 years, opened on Hackett Hill Road in 1975. In 1977, the Legislature passed the House Bill 1006 establishing the MVB as a college in its own right with all the necessary powers and duties. Renamed the Merrimack Valley College, it became the fourth institution within the University System.

About the Merrimack Valley Branch Commencement Programs

This collection contains the programs and a newspaper article for the commencement ceremonies of Merrimack Valley Branch.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open. Please note, the MVB files are housed in the Library Storage Building and require 24 hour notice for retrieval.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the University of New Hampshire.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Merrimack Valley Branch Commencement Programs, 1972-1977, UA 20/1/7, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.

Acquisitions Information

These records were transferred from the University of New Hampshire at Manchester Library in March 2002.

Separated Material

Photos and videotapes from this collection are housed with the UNH Commencement collection in Dimond Library.

Collection Contents

Box 2
Box 2, Folder 1Aug. 4, 1972Commencement Program and News Article (Photos Removed)
Box 2, Folder 2June 1, 1973Commencement Program
Box 2, Folder 3Dec. 17, 1974Commencement Program
Box 2, Folder 4June 8, 1975Commencement Program
Box 2, Folder 5May 28, 1976Commencement Program
Box 2, Folder 6May 27, 1977Commencement Program and News Article (Photos Removed)
Box 5
Box 5, Folder 1Sept. 14, 1973Commencement Program
Box 5, Folder 2June 3, 1974Commencement Program