The collection is open for research. Select materials, marked in the inventory, are restricted in compliance with FERPA.
Materials are arranged in five series:
[Identification of item], in RG 21.6: Christopher Kiernan Papers, [Box #], [Folder #], Salve Regina University Archives, McKillop Library, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI
Various copying restrictions apply, according to the Archives' use policy. Salve Regina University owns the copyright to material produced by employees and trustees of the University and work for hire. Requests for permission to publish material from the University Archives should be directed to the Archivist. See also the Archives' copyright and publication statement.
The collection was transferred to the Archives after Dr. Kiernan's death in 2009.
Archivist and Special Collections Librarian Maria Bernier performed an initial sort of the collection. Later Archivist and Special Collections Librarian Genna Duplisea arranged and described the collection.
RG 6.1.: Records of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Christopher Kiernan
Salve Regina publications, including yearbooks and a promotional video, were removed from the collection when they duplicated other Archives holdings. Student work, exams, and grades were destroyed in compliance with FERPA.
Christopher Michael Kiernan (October 10, 1943- August 10, 2009) was a longtime administrator, staff member, and faculty member at Salve Regina University. He attended Assumption College for his Bachelor's (1965) and Master's (1970) degrees in history, and received his Doctorate of Education from Boston College.
After working at St. Joseph's College in Standish, Maine, Kiernan came to Salve Regina College in 1980 to work as as Assistant to the President for Development of Enrollment. Over his tenure at the isntitution, he also served as Dean of Admissions, Vice President of Student Services, and Vice President for Academic Affairs/Academic Dean and Academic Vice President. His work included transitioning from college to university, maintaining accreditation, developing the Ph. D program, and creating an American Studies undergraduate program. An avid basketball player in his youth, he also coached basketball at various points in his career. He served as Academic Vice President and occasionally as a men's basketball coach. In 1995, he ended his administrative role and served as full-time faculty, teaching in history, education, and American studies.
Kiernan married Margaret Livingstone and they had four daughters: Kathleen, Coleen, Marlene, and Christine. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. St. Augustin Church's in Newport was his parish and he was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was inducted into the Salve Regina University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
The collection includes materials related to Dr. Kiernan's life and career, separate from his other administrative roles on campus. The majority of the collection is teaching materials: notes, handouts, exam forms, etc. The collection also includes papers related to faculty committees and the development of the American Studies and Cultural and Historic Preservation programs, and small amounts of correspondence, personal documentation, and research sources and notes.
This series includes administrative materials related to Dr. Kiernan's role as a faculty member, such as faculty meeting materials and the planning or development of programs. Kiernan served as speaker of the faculty, liaison to the Board of Trustees, and was a leader in the establishment of several academic programs.
This series contains materials related to Kiernan's life outside of Salve Regina, including personal correspondence and employment or service at other institutions.
Correspondence in this series relates to Kiernan's work at Salve Regina, rather than personal correspondence.
Included in this series are materials that Kiernan collected to support his teaching and administrative work.
Arranged much the way in which Kiernan himself originally organized it, this series contains course materials created by Kiernan for his classes, listed by course number and semester. Also included in this series are more general documents related to his teaching.