Case Institute of Technology, 1960-1969

Two educational institutions that resided on University Circle along with the Cleveland Museum of Art were Western Reserve University, founded in 1826, and Case Institute of Technology, founded in 1880. The two merged to form Case Western Reserve University in 1967. Prior to their merger, the museum had an informal relationship with the art history Department of Western Reserve University, providing students and faculty with the use of museum resources when asked. With the merger of the two universities imminent, a study commission was formed to strengthen the bonds between the newly formed CWRU and the museum. Sherman Lee and professor Harvey Buchanan of CWRU met in 1966 and 1967 to work out the terms of a partnership between the museum and the university for the purpose of educating students in art history and museum studies. The joint program in art history began in the fall of 1967. Curators of the Cleveland Museum of Art (Sherman Lee included) served as adjunct faculty of CWRU, teaching courses to both undergraduate and graduate students. The university also employed approximately five full-time professors of art history. Courses were taught at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Students used the museum's library for their studies.

The joint program evolved to offer students several advanced degree options: a Master of Arts in Art History; a double master's program between art history and library science; a Master of Science in Art Education; a Doctor of Philosophy in Art History; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Art Museum Studies. Although some of the degree programs were eliminated, as of 2001 the joint program still offered both the graduate degree programs in art history (M.A. and Ph.D.), and art history and museum studies (M.A. and Ph.D.). CWRU also began offering an Asian Civilization major to undergraduates in the spring of 1973. A committee at CWRU, of which Sherman Lee was a member, fought for the creation of this undergraduate major. The courses created for the major were also taken by PhD students studying Asian art. Professor Morris Rossabi became the program's coordinator. Sherman Lee served as an advisor, and curator Wai-Kam Ho taught some of the courses. The program fell on hard times in 1976 when the university cut part of its budget due to too small of an enrollment, but it was able to weather this setback, and existed as of 2001.

This series contains records documenting Case Western University's involvement with the museum and with Sherman Lee. The records begin with general correspondence between Lee and the university, organized chronologically. Topics cover the formation of the university, reports on its academic status, changes in its program, and other curriculum-related issues. Lee was very interested in the well-being of the university due the CMA-CWRU joint program and the university's importance to the University Circle area. Other topics include faculty searches, special programs, and research questions relating to artwork. Correspondence with specific faculty members follows the general correspondence.

The next portion of this series documents the formation and administration of various academic programs at CWRU. There is a small amount of information about the Asian Civilization (later called Asian Studies) program and History and Museum Studies program. Most of the records relate to the joint program in art history. These begin with reports from the study commission and the agreement set forth by Harvey Buchanon and Sherman Lee. They are then divided into folders by function: general correspondence; rules and guidelines; evaluation; grants, foundations, and fellowships; staff; exams; and students. The joint program was constantly examined and revised. The tension between the university's and the museum's wants and needs is evident in the documents. Correspondence, memoranda, reports and other documents are from the faculty, trustees, and students of CWRU. Some of the records are addressed directly to Lee; others are documents sent to all parties with an interest in the joint program. There is also a small amount of interdepartmental correspondence between Lee and other museum staff, particularly Gabriel Weisberg, who was curator of art history and education from 1972-1980. This section ends with folders for individual students Sherman Lee taught directly and includes correspondence on program-related issues and numerous requests for recommendations.

The series ends with correspondence between the museum and the Press of Case Western University, the university press in charge of publishing CMA's imprint from 1967 to 1975. Prior to 1967 it was the Press of Western Reserve University. Correspondence includes sales figures. The university eliminated the press in 1973; the records end with an article from 1975 reflecting on the end of the press.