University of Minnesota. Inventory Dept.

In a letter dated April 9, 1931 to University president Lotus Coffman, comptroller W.T. Middlebrook states the Inventory Department carries out the following duties: "To abstract from the Accounting Department's monthly list of expenditures all equipment purchased during the month and record the equipment ..., To record ... information showing kind of equipment, date of purchase, cost, and identification number, To indicate on all new equipment purchased identification numbers, To make an actual physical check by means of the departmental list of all equipment owned by the University at certain stated periods". The inventory department was overseen by University Service Enterprises. The department name was changed to Property Accounting Department, and later to Inventory Services.