9D/1985-1989 Vice President for Finance and Administration (Burton Sonenstein)

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Restrictions: An effort has been made to keep as much material open as possible, hence the separation of portions of folders rather than restricting the whole folder. The following types of materials are restricted:

• 1. Student records generated and maintained by the college cover by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): grades, work, faculty/class evaluations, questionnaires, recommendations, et cetera. Information will be released only if permission is granted by the office, which created the documents.
• 2. Minutes and other records of the Board of Trustees. Access to this material is granted only through the Trustees. Requests for access should be directed to the Clerk of the Board of Trustees. Members of the Wellesley College Senior Staff may have access when the information is necessary for their work.
• 3. Information relating to specific salaries, pensions or financial transactions between the College and individual employees. Access to this material must be granted by the President’s Office.
• 4. Materials relating to reappointment, promotion and tenure are restricted. Access must be granted by the President’s Office.
• 5. Recommendations and performance evaluation of individual employees are restricted, as are evaluations of candidates for College positions. Access must be granted by the President’s Office.
• 6. Materials published by consortia of colleges and universities, specifically the Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE) and the Higher Education Data Sharing (HEDS), which conduct surveys of various institutes promising confidentially. Members of Senior Staff may have access when the information is necessary for their work.

• Wendell H. Kayser, 1923-1928
• Charles Hodges, 1928-1938
• Donald W. Height, 1938-1952
• Irwin French, 1952-1956
• Robert Schneider, 1956-1970
• Joseph Kiebala, Vice President for Business Affairs, 1970-1976
• John Hartley, Vice President for Financial and Business Affairs, 1976-1985
• Burton Sonenstein, Vice President for Finance and Administration, 1985-1989

Joseph (Joe) Kiebala became Vice President for Business Affairs in May 1970. At that time the Business Office oversaw the following departments: Wellesley College Club, Systems, Controller's Office, Physical Plant, Purchasing, Duplication, Personnel, Food Service and Post Office. He reported to the President of the College. The Treasurer's Office was in Boston and reported directly to the Board of Trustees. In the fall of 1975 the Security Office, which had previously come under the Physical Plant became the Campus Police. April 1, 1976, Mr. Kiebala left Wellesley College to become Assistant Director of the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute.

Harry Jones, Controller, filled the Vice President function until John (Jack) Hartley arrived September 15, 1976, as Vice President for Financial and Business Affairs. The Business Office continued to supervise the same offices, although some names were changed. Systems became Data-Processing and Purchasing and Duplication came together under the Distribution Center. When the Boston-based Treasurer's Office was closed, an investment firm took over some of its duties and others were absorbed into the Business Office. Barry Monahan became Business Manager and took over many of the day to day functions of the Business Office as well as relations with the Town of Wellesley. This gave Hartley more time for the financial side of the office. Mr. Hartley retired in May 1985.

Burton (Burt) Sonenstein became Vice President for Finance and Administration following Hartley's retirement, but attended meetings and familiarized himself with issues of the office prior to Hartley's departure. During Mr. Sonenstein’s term additional departments came under his supervision, including Financial Aid, Director of Conferences and Campus Facilities Planner and the number of senior administrators grew. Barry Monahan became Assistant Vice President for Administration in 1986 and Margaret (Peggy) Plympton was hired as Assistant Vice President for Finance in 1988. Sonenstein left Wellesley in August 1989 to become President and Chief Executive Officer of Washington D.C. based United Educators, an insurance company for universities, colleges and schools. Ms. Plympton served as Acting Vice President of Finance and Administration until William Reed arrived in January 1990.

The date range of these records of the Finance and Administration Office is May 1985 through December 1989. Mr. Sonenstein left in August of 1989, but Margaret Plympton served as Acting Vice President of Finance and Administration until William Reed arrived in January of 1990.

The records came to the Wellesley College Archives in various accessions from the originating office and storage areas. The office of Vice President for Finance and Administration has a major role in all aspects of Wellesley College.

The collection includes budget materials and financial records; records for support and maintenance of the Physical Plant, as well as those for major building and renovation projects; records of salaries and benefits for faculty and administrative staff; student financial records, records relating to the College’s involvement in organizations studying and supporting higher education and Trustee materials relating to the financial needs of the College.

Generally, the collection is arranged in alphabetical order by subject. Where there is more than one folder on the same subject, they will be arranged chronologically. Restricted materials have been removed from the main sequence, as have materials, which require flat storage. The cartons of restricted materials follow the main collection and the oversized materials are housed separately. Notice of removal is given in each instance with an explanation of location and method of access.

Of particular interest during the period are materials relating to Andrew Webb and the Cistron patents, the Wellesley Community Children’s Center growth and construction, the reorganization of food services on campus, the planning and development of the Jewett Arts Project, the development of a campus-wide computer network and the development of the North Forty.

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Accession Numbers: A84-010, A85-056, A93-064, the Kiebala merged files and portions of 9D/1957-1974

Produced May 15, 2002, by Mary Bicknell