The collection contains reports and documents written and gathered by Olga E. Ellis, the registrar of Springfield College from 1946-1966, pertaining to students and classes at Springfield College. She gathered and produced these materials for what she termed as her “Spring Term Project,” completed before her retirement in 1966. Included within are reports, pamphlets, correspondence, grade cards, syllabuses, newspaper articles, and brochures.

The collection starts with a Table of Contents that describes what was gathered and written for the project as well as reports and descriptions of retention policies around the time of her retirement in 1966. There are also a number of folders containing information on Jacob’s Pillow, including a report outlining the history of SC and Jacob’s Pillow written by Olga Ellis, a bunch of letters from Ted Shawn, the first agreement between Jacob’s Pillow and Springfield College, and registration information (rosters) of students enrolled in the University of the Dance (a joint venture between Jacob’s Pillow and Springfield College). Another group of materials contains information and syllabi on “YMCX” (correspondence/“Home Study”) courses, including Syllabus for Home-Study by Leslie Tompkins, Life and Teachings of Jesus by Fred G. Bratton, and The Origin and Development of the American YMCA up to 1900, by Paul Limbert.

There are a number of studies and reports on Springfield College in the collection. These include studies conducted by Donald Crout, including Studies on Attrition of Classes from 1963-64, Junior College Transfers, 1957-1963, and Freshman Academic Achievement. Mostly, though, there are reports produced by Springfield College including enrollment reports from 1932 through 1945, list of students sent to other colleges in the summer of 1944-45, religious affiliation reports (1930-1944), students abroad lists (1935-1936 & 1936-1937), African American enrollment reports (1924-1946), AACTE report figures (1949-1955), degrees granted from 1954-1961, students graduating in the physical rehabilitation program (1949-1955), summary of degrees awarded from 1946-1959, percentage enrollment of physical education students (1946-1957), summer enrollment figures (1947-1955), part-time enrollment figures (1946-1956) and four-year plans for women’s enrollment, 1953-1957.

Finally there are materials on courses and special education programs. This includes course schedules and offerings from 1938-1948 and Commencement brochures and programs from 1925 through 1945. Of particular interest are the syllabi and information on Project CAUSE, an educational program that was involved in the Peace Corps Training Program. Among the materials are a final report, written by James E. Genasci on the 1965 Peace Corps Training Program: Venezuela Project in Physical Education, Recreation and Community Organization as well as a Directory of the participants. There are also information, correspondence, reports, newspaper clippings, and catalogs from the University of the Seven Seas. There are materials on the YMCA International School of Physical Education, Geneva, Switzerland, including a letter stating that records of students who attended institution were, at that time in 1966, held in the Archives of the World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations, Geneva, Switzerland. Finally, there are materials including course descriptions and evaluations of courses in Physics and Mathematics offered for the 323rd College Training Detachment (Aircrew) that took place in 1943-1944 and grade cards from Aviation Courses held in 1941. Other materials and reports are included such as Silver Bay summer programs and grades of special courses thought to have been given from 1940 to 1946.