To set the stage for the presentation on the historical role of the registrar, the session presenter, Karla Leybold-Taylor, Registrar at Wells College in Aurora, NY, asked the attendees to sketch graphic representations of how they "see" their current positions in registrar-related areas. Each attendee then presented his or her drawing and gave a brief explanation.

Next, Ms. Leybold-Taylor presented a paper that delineated the historical origins of the registrar’s profession, beginning at the end of the twelfth century with the establishment of the universities of Bologna (Italy), Paris (France) and Oxford (England).

Ms. Leybold-Taylor described the duties of the early registrars, or bedels (also spelled beadles) as they were then called, and also noted other items of interest, such as how they were paid and what types of punishments they could expect to receive for transgressions both major and minor. She also included some fascinating information about how intensely political (believe it or not!) was the appointment of so-called Esquire Bedels at Oxford.

Then, Ms. Leybold-Taylor described the position of registrar as it existed at the early American universities, which of course were heavily influenced by the British tradition; most British universities by this time had begun to use the current term "registrar." It is interesting to note that the great majority of early American registrars were not first and foremost registrars at all, but rather teaching faculty members who were assigned additional duties. The position did not become a full-time administrative one until the end of the nineteenth century.

After outlining the responsibilities of the new breed of registrar that emerged at the end of the last century, Ms. Leybold-Taylor moved on to discuss the role of the registrar in the academy of today, given the rapid pace of technological and other types of change. She closed by suggesting several ways the registrar can act to ensure the future of his or her position as a vital one in the academy.

(November, 1999)
 

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