The Provost is the university's chief academic officer, serving as liaison between the Chancellor and various deans and directors. Since its creation, this position has had administrative oversight responsibilities for the Division of Academic Affairs (established in 1954), and before 1966, was variously known as Chairman of the Division of Academic Affairs, Dean of the Faculty, and Vice Chancellor of the University. In 1965-1966 and since 1997, the Provost has also had oversight responsibilities for the Division of Health Affairs. In November 1988, the Office of the Provost was reorganized and charged with consolidating oversight for all educational activities at the university. The Provost became Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, while the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs became Vice Provost/Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs. This arrangement lasted until April 1996, when a general reorganization of the university's administrative structure took place. At this time, the title reverted to Provost, and the position no longer shared responsibilities with the Vice Provost/Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, who became the Vice Provost for Health Affairs. The Vice Provost for Health Affairs was eliminated in 1997, when the Provost assumed responsibility for both Academic Affairs and Health Affairs. Records include correspondence and other files relating chiefly to the administration of and programs in the Division of Academic Affairs (established in 1954) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Of particular importance are files on the research centers and institutes that report to the Provost and on matters affecting the faculty, including tenure, leaves, and salaries. Individuals who have served as Provost and who figure prominently in these records are Corydon P. Spruill, James Logan Godfrey, J. Carlyle Sitterson, C. Hugh Holman, John Charles Morrow, Samuel R. Williamson, John D. O'Connor, Richard L. McCormick, and Richard J. Richardson. Many of the files predate the 1954 establishment of the Division of Academic Affairs, probably because Corydon Spruill, its first administrator, had been Dean of the General College beginning in 1935. He continued in that capacity after he became Chairman of the Division of Academic Affairs. Undoubtedly some mixing of the files of the two offices occurred.
