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University of Chicago Library

Preliminary Inventory to the John A. Smetanka Alumni Collection 1968-2006

© 2025 University of Chicago Library

Descriptive Summary

Title:

Smetanka, John A. Alumni Collection

Dates:

1968-2006

Accession Number:

2021-068

Size:

5 linear feet (4 boxes)

Repository:

Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center
University of Chicago Library
1100 East 57th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.

Abstract:

John Andrew Smetanka graduated from the University of Chicago in 1971. He worked as a university professor and later worked in international banking. This collection contains Smetanka’s undergraduate coursework and memorabilia, including a complete yearBox, which University of Chicago students created in 1970 as a summary souvenir of the year.

Information on Use

Access

This collection is open for research.

Citation

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Smetanka, John A. Alumni Collection, Acc #, Box #, Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Biographical Note

John Andrew Smetanka was born in either 1948 or 1949. He attended high school at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Michigan from 1963 to 1967. Before attending the University of Chicago, Smetanka studied at Wayne State University, also in Detroit, from 1967 to 1968. He was accepted into the University of Chicago in 1968. During his undergraduate career, Smetanka demonstrated stellar performance, constantly making the Dean’s List. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in 1971, which is also the year that he graduated from the University of Chicago. He subsequently earned his MA and PhD from Harvard University. He worked as a university professor before embarking on a career in international banking, from which retired after returning to the United States from his international travels in 2011. Since 2013, Smetanka has been involved with the University of Chicago Board of Alumni Club. In this organization, he served as Head of Careers Committee from 2013 to 2018 and Vice President from 2016 to 2017. He served on the Alumni 50th Reunion Committee from 2020 to 2021.

Scope Note

This collection contains Smetanka’s undergraduate coursework notebooks from 1968 through 1971, which include handouts, homework, and essays, graded and ungraded.

It also contains Smetanka’s University of Chicago transcript, awards, and financial aid documents. Smetanka saved memorabilia from several Class of 1971 reunions, which is included in this archive as well. Finally, Smetanka included a complete yearBox, which University of Chicago students created in 1970 as a summary souvenir of the year.

INVENTORY

Box 1

Calculus I and II, Autumn 1968-Winter 1969

Box 1

History 201 and 202, Autumn 1968-Winter 1969

Box 1

Physical Science 115 and 116, Autumn 1968-Winter 1969

Box 1

Statistics 200 and 304, Autumn 1968, Autumn 1969

Box 1

Physical Science 116 and 117, Winter-Spring 1969

Box 1

Calculus II and III, Winter-Spring 1969

Box 1

Calculus III, Spring 1969

Box 1

History 203, Spring 1969

Box 1

Humanities 106, Spring 1969

Box 1

Physical Science 117, Spring 1969

Box 1

Biology 108, Autumn 1969

Box 1

Introduction to Art 101, Autumn 1969

Box 1

Psychology 211, Autumn 1969

Box 1

Psychology 220, Autumn 1969

Box 1

Biology 137, Winter 1970

Box 1

Psychology 207, Winter 1970

Box 1

Social Science 275, Winter 1970

Box 1

Anthropology 214, Spring 1970

Box 1

Biology 165, Spring 1970

Box 1

Sociology 209, Spring 1970

Box 1

Social Science 225, Autumn 1970

Box 1

Psychology 242, Autumn 1970

Box 1

Psychology 268 and Sociology 244, Autumn 1970-Winter 1971

Box 1

Psychology 294 and 417, Music 267, Autumn 1970-Spring 1971

Box 1

Honors Research Project, Psychology, 1970

Box 1

Social Science 228 and 227, Winter and Spring 1971

Box 2

Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges: University of Chicago, 1968

Box 2

Student Photo Identification Cards, 1968-1969

Box 2

Invoices, Notices, Receipts, 1968-1971

Box 2

The Chicago Maroon (two copies), Vol. 77, No. 31, 1969

Box 2

The Chicago Maroon, Vol. 77, No. 66, 1969

Box 2

Award Letters, 1968-1971

Box 2

Honors Awards Assembly and Convocation Pamphlets, 1970-1971

Box 2

The Chicago Maroon, Vol. 79, No. 61, 1971

Box 2

Official Academic Record, 1973

Box 2

Class of 1971 Twentieth Reunion Directory, 1991

Box 2

Class of 1971 Twenty-fifth Reunion Handouts and Correspondence, 1995-1996

Box 2

Class of 1971 Thirtieth Reunion Handouts, 2001

Box 2

Dean’s Letter to Alumni, 2001

Box 2

Class of 1971 Thirty-fifth Reunion Handouts and Correspondence, 2006

Box 2

Class of 1971 Portrait Directory, n.d.

Box 2

University of Chicago Photo Cards, n.d.

Box 3

Student Aide Cap, n.d.

Box 3

Graduation Cap, n.d.

Box 4    Folder yearBOX 1970

  • “It’s Good Old Hyde Park: The University Board Game”
  • “Hyde Park Cook Book”
  • “The Year of the Pigskin”
  • “The Red Herring Statement”
  • “Hyde Park Bar Tour,” Roger Black
  • “Senior Stamp Album”
  • “The Deflatable Bust of Ed Levi”
  • “Ed Levi Tie”
  • “1970: The Year and the Strike”
  • “Chicago Portfolio”
  • Vinyl Record, “Mack the Knife” and “Blue Greens and Beans,” Little Lester and the Rednecks
  • “Don’t Worry-Be Happy”
  • yearBox credits
  • Letter from Emmet Gonder, Business Manager of The Chicago Maroon