Collections : [UCF University Archives]

This collection contains self-study reports done by campus departments and programs describing their educational programs, financial resources, staffing, and more. The documents in this collection contain statements relative to questions concerning the structures and developments of departments and colleges within Florida Technological University, now the University of Central Florida, between the years of 1966 through 1973. Series I: Self-Study During the 1972-1973 school year, the colleges at Florida Technological University, now the University of Central Florida, prepared self studies for each of their departments and programs. The administrative departments at the university followed suit. Each department described the roles that existed within each of their respective fields. These roles included teaching, researching, counseling, advising, evaluating, and the general scope of the departments themselves. In some cases, departments discussed classes that had been offered and cancelled in the aforementioned period of time. Each self study covers the philosophy, the organization, the educational program, the financial resources, the faculty, the library services, student personnel, the physical space, special activities provided by, and additional information relating to their respective departments. Each self study begins with a brief abstract that describes how each of the departments or colleges operate in accordance with directives from the Board of Regents and the University. The self studies exist to provide the guidelines and information relating to the departments while also coinciding with the guidelines provided by higher-up university and state officials. The period covered for each department goes back to their creation, with most relating back to 1968, and was completed in Spring of 1973.

Series I: History of CREOL, 1984-1991 includes a brief overview at the beginning that explains how the materials came to be collected and thereafter are arranged chronologically. Dr. Martin Stickly asked Dr. Ronald L. Phillips to collate the materials that show how government support was rallied, funds were solicited and faculty hired for CREOL. These records include letters, memoranda, reports and news releases and they provide insight into the history of CREOL. Originally created as the State University System's Center of Excellence in optical and laser sciences, the Center for Research in Electro-Optics and Lasers was renamed in 1996 as the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers. It is now a research center within the College of Optics & Photonics. CREOL provides education in optical science and engineering, conducts scholarly fundamental and applied research and aids in the development of Florida's technology-based industries.

This collection provides insight into the creation of the University of Central Florida seal and contains correspondence, drawings, photographs, and news releases. Series I: Correspondence, 1966-1967, holds correspondence and sketches from various designers, citizens, Board of Regents officials, and Dr. Charles Millican. The correspondence in this series shows how the search for the seal began and the effort by the Board of Regents to gather information from all of the public and private Florida universities. Series II: Seal Design, 1967, holds notes, suggestions photographs, and logo examples. Many handwritten lists were created as well as typewritten seal queries for the FTU staff. There are also handwritten notes that were taken during an unnamed university seal conference. Series III: Publicity, 1968, holds news releases, a photograph, and a graphics usage brochure. The collection holds several copies of the news release sent to inform the public of the new FTU seal design. A photograph and a copy of the newspaper article it was featured in is included in this collection, as well as a university publication that explains how to use the university seal in digital form. Series IV: University Seal Preliminary Designs, undated (est. 1967-1968), is comprised of artwork created as design concepts for the new university seal. There are forty-two in this series and all are primarily made from a heavy paper or paper board while some use plastic sheets with logos painted on them to create the final piece. The seal of the University of Central Florida was one of the first items created for Florida Technological University. In 1966, a local citizen wrote a letter to the Florida Governor asking to take into consideration some thoughts he had as to what the new seal should look like. Within a few months, the staff at the newly formed Florida Technological University, with the help of the Board of Regents, began to collect information and designer input as to what the new seal should be. In a twenty-two month long process, the seal was finally chosen and unveiled to the public on April 5th, 1968. The final seal is made up of the Pegasus, designed to "bridge the gap between the humanities and space technology" and was chosen to keep with the university's goal of moving forward and making a "rendezvous with space and the stars". This collection highlights the initial correspondence between the community and the university and the task undertaken by the staff at FTU to create the new university seal.

The Colbourn Oral History collection contains interviews conducted between Dr. Colbourn and people who were vital to the foundation of the University such as founders, previous presidents, donators, faculty/staff, and other contributors. This collection offers insight into the founding of Florida Technological University (now, the University of Central Florida) Series I: Final Transcripts, 1987-2006 contains the final released transcripts of the interviews along with duplicates of those transcripts. Series II: Edited Transcripts, 1993-2006 contains the edited transcripts of the final transcripts that have not been released to the public by the interviewee. Series III: Audio Tapes, 1995-2006 contains the audio tapes of the original interviews. These audio tapes have also not been released to the public by the interviewee. H. Trevor Colbourn was born in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia on 24 February 1927. Known by his second name, Trevor Colbourn became President of Florida Technological University, now UCF, in 1978. After retiring as president, Dr. Colbourn returned to teaching history full-time at the University. In 1990, he earned the title President Emeritus and assumed the role of University Historian in 1991. As part of the latter appointment, he compiled an oral history of the University. Dr. Colbourn interviewed many people that were vital to the foundation of the University, such as founders, other presidents, donors, faculty, and staff.

The Joe Benton UCF campus slides, 1994-1999 documents campus life at the University of Central Florida (UCF). It consists of slides depicting students, faculty, buildings, and programs held at UCF in the mid to late 1990s. These slides include scenes of students participating in sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, swimming, and football as well as academic programs, leisure activities, and studying. Joseph "Joe" Benton is a photographer from Charleston, South Carolina. He previously worked for Southern Living Magazine and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a staff photographer before opening his own freelance business in 1983. Benton photographed stories for publications such as Time, Newsweek, and the New York Times and advertising campaigns for companies including Coca-Cola, IBM, and The Home Depot. He also photographed marketing campaigns for colleges and universities nationwide, including the University of Central Florida (UCF). UCF employed Benton to capture photographs of the campus in the late 1990s. Benton is currently retired, residing in Charleston, South Carolina.  

The John Marini Memorabilia collection, 1994-2005 contains memorabilia relating to UCF Atheltics collected during John Marini's career as a journalist, and later as UCF's Sports Information Director and Assistant Director for Media Relations. This collection provides insight into UCF Basketball and Football events, championships, and marketing during the mid-90s to mid-2000s. After graduating with his bachelors, John Marini became influential within athletics from his journalism coverage of UCF's basketball and football team. He was employed as UCF's Sports Information Director in 1998 and later as Assistant Director for Media Relations in 2000.

The John T. Washington collection, 1957-1980, documents UCF professor John T. Washington's life outside of his affiliation with UCF and his legacy. It chiefly consists of church sermons and materials, photographs, programs, minutes, agendas, and awards relating to John T. Washington's community service and role as a pastor as well as the scholarship award and honor society established in his name after his death. The collection provides insight into John T. Washington's life as the founder and pastor of the First Church of Peace and the efforts to maintain his legacy after his death with the John T. Washington Community Service Awards and Scholarship and the John T. Washington Honor Society. John Thomas Washington was born in 1940 in Immokalee, Florida. He was an associate professor of sociology at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and one of UCF's first Black faculty members. Washington worked to promote diversity at UCF, serving as one of the first advisors for the Black Student Union as well as other student organizations. He also aided in developing UCF's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action and the Office of Multicultural Academic and Support Services. Before his time at UCF, Washington served as an airman in the United States Air Force from 1962-1964. He went on to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees at Rollins College and his Ph.D. at the University of Florida. In addition to his work at UCF, Washington founded the First Church of Peace in Orlando and served as the church's pastor. Washington died in 1983 at the age of 42 from a sudden heart attack. Following his death, the Student Services Building was renamed the John T. Washington Center in 1984. The John T. Washington Community Service Awards & Scholarship were also founded in his honor. In 1996, the John T. Washington Honor Society was established to uphold Washington's values of public service.

This collection contains materials related to the Knights Racing program, which spawned from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) chapter at Florida Technological University, now University of Central Florida. Materials found in this collection include newspaper clippings, chapter documents, photographs, plaques, racing car designs, and more. This collection provides insight into the Knights Racing program at Florida Technological University (University of Central Florida) and the groups involved. The Knights Racing Program has been a staple of the University of Central Florida since the creation of the FTU chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) in 1972. Before the program became widely known as "Knights Racing," the racing teams were simply referred to as simply the members of the ASME chapter. The program's name, "Knights Racing," originated with UCF's mascot change in 2007 which shortened the UCF's mascot from "The Golden Knights" to "The Knights." The Mini Baja Competition was coined under the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), who began to hold competitions for the Baja carts. This competition consists of students designing, building, and operating a recreational offroading vehicle. At the time of their creation, the Baja Racing Team and the Formula SAE team were one team; however, they separated in 2019 due to Student Government Association funding limitations. Since their divorce in 2019, the teams compete, design, and build their cars independently. As of 2021, the Formula SAE and Baja Racing Teams remain under the umbrella of the "Knights Racing Program" though they act independently.

Dr. Cyndia Morales Muñiz is a UCF Alumna who works as UCF's Director of HSI Culture and Partnerships. Her collection contains information regarding several organizations, programs, and events tailored towards the Latino and Hispanic population at the University of Central Florida.

These materials consist of DVDs and advertising materials for the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government symposia at the University of Central Florida.