University School Records
And The Ohio State University Archives

By Raimund E. Goerler (University Archivist )
and Tamar Chute (Associate Archivist)

What the OSU Archives has:
Letters sent to parents of University School students from 1932 until 1968.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not have K-6 letters before 1942.

How the material is arranged:
The parent letters are a section of the records of University School. The letters are arranged chronologically and then by grade. For example: K-6 1951-52, 7th grade 1951-52, 8th grade 1951-52, etc. This was the original arrangement by the school and it is customary practice among professional archivists to maintain original order when possible.

Other files of students, largely transcripts, are held in the College of Education. The OSU Archives does not receive student transcripts from colleges or the Registrar. Moreover, the College of Education wished to keep the transcript files of University School. Contact Karmella Spears, 121 Ramseyer Hall, 29 W. Woodruff, Columbus, Ohio, 43210 (spears.5@osu.edu)

Access to records:
According to the US Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), student records are only available to the student. This covers all student records both before and after the law was passed. Therefore, OSU will only release student records to the individual whose records they are. If students would like to share their records with others, they have the right to do so. However, without signed permission from the student, no one else may have access to these records.

 

After a student is deceased, OSU interprets FERPA to say that the student’s descendants may have access to the records. The descendant must provide proof of their relationship and a notice of the student’s death.

These records will remain a part of The Ohio State University Archives and will not be destroyed.

To receive your own student records or to make them available for research:
Send a signed letter to the OSU Archives stating that you would like to have a copy of your records sent to you. Include your full name (maiden name if needed) as well as the years and grades you were a student at University School.

If you wish researchers to have access to your records, you will need to say this in your letter also.

Once we receive your signed letter we will send the copies to you. If you live in Columbus and would like to pick up the material, the Archives is open Monday through Friday from 9-12 and 1-4:30. Please either send a letter or email to Tamar Chute if you plan to pick up the copies. We will need a week notice if you plan to pick them up so that we can get the material together.

If you have additional questions, please contact

The Ohio State University Archives
2700 Kenny Road
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-5769

or, email

Kevlin Haire, Archives Assistant, OSU Archives ( for parent letters )
haire.14@osu.edu