The Tisch School of the Arts collection is divided into five main series, some of which are subdivided. The three principle series titles are: I. Dean Robert W. Corrigan, II. David J. Oppenheim, III. Miscellaneous Reports, IV. Development and V. Administrative Files. While the bulk of the material falls within the Oppenheim series, a significant portion relates to Corrigan's tenure as Dean of the School of the Arts and merits separation from the rest of the material. Chronologically, the Corrigan material is presented first since the series is devoted mainly to the founding of the School of the Arts in 1965, and its early years thereafter. It is divided into five subseries which make up the first two boxes of the collection and the first four folders of box three. Each subseries is arranged chronologically to give a sense of the early development of the School of the Arts. The subseries headings are:

A) Corrigan Correspondence and Papers (box 1, folders 1-23)B) Theodore Hoffman Correspondence (box 1, folders 23-25)C) Reports/ Bulletins (box 2, folders 6-12)D) School Administration (box 2, folders 13-33)E) Press Clippings (box 2, folders 34-36)F) Nanine Bilski Exams and Writings (box 3, folders 1-4).

The second series of this collection contains information and material relating not only to the Tisch School of the Arts, but also to David J. Oppenheim's career before coming to NYU. Indeed, this material comprises the bulk of the collection and dates as far back as 1956. It is included here because it was in the possession of Oppenheim while he was affiliated with NYU. It also supplies information on his extensive work with the performing arts before replacing Corrigan in 1969.

This series is divided into three major subseries, each of which covers a significant part of Oppenheim's career, before and during his tenure at NYU. These divisions are:

A) Career at CBS (boxes 3-5, and the first 19 folders of box 6)B) Career at the Public Broadcasting Laboratory (PBL)(folders 20-29 of box six and box 7, folders 1-25)C) Early Career at NYU (folders 24-27 of box 7, and folders 1-5 of box 8)

It should be pointed out that the Oppenheim papers covering the years between his arrival at NYU and the 1981 sesquicentennial are contained in the larger part of the main collection that had a preexisting arrangement prior to being accessioned.

Each subseries is further divided along lines similar to the divisions made in Series I:

A) Subseries A, for example, begins with Oppenheim's general correspondence while at CBS (box 3, folders 5-14). B) The next subseries comes under Research/Programming (box 3, folders 15-36; and box 4, folders 1-19), which provides information on the background work and research Oppenheim oversaw on his productions while at CBS. The broadcasts for which there is such information include "Casals at 88," Oppenheim's show on Igor Stravinsky, and "Pop Life: The Rock Revolution." C) Following the background series is a subseries made up of old scripts and transcripts(box 4, folders 20-26; all of box 5; and box 6, folders 1-6) dating as far back as 1956. Most are scripts from the Hallmark Hall of Fame productions. It is not clear if Oppenheim actually had anything to do with these productions, but these scripts were in his possession. Also included here are transcripts from his Stravinsky and "Pop Life" productions, among others. D) The fourth subseries(box 6, folders 7-9) covers administrative issues at CBS. E) The Reports/Conferences subseries covers issues relating to television and broadcasting (box 6, folders 10-12). F) The next subseries consists of promotional material for the "Play of the Week" broadcasts (box 6, folders 13-17). G) Press Clippings, most of which are reviews of different Oppenheim broadcasts (box 6, folders 18-19).

Subseries B is divided in the following manner:

A) General Correspondence at the Public Broadcasting Laboratory (box 6, folders 20-29).B) Research and Programming (box 7, folders 1-18). Included here is background information on a number of programs produced by Oppenheim, including his Jean-Luc Godard special, the Buffalo Arts Festival, and the Living Theatre.C) Scripts and Transcripts (box 7, folders 19-21).D) Public Broadcasting Laboratory Administration (box 7, folders 22-23).

Subseries C, the smallest of the three, is divided in this way:

A) Early NYU Correspondence (box 7, folders 24-25).B) Early NYU Administration (box 7, folders 26-27).C) NYU Sesquicentennial (box 8, folders 1-5).

The reports in the final series are separate because it is unclear how they fit in to either of the deans' tenures at the School of the Arts

Miscellaneous Reports is the smallest of the five series and was created because the original collection contained a number of documents whose relevance to the Tisch School could not easily be deciphered. The series, which is mostly made up of reports and research projects pertaining to the performing arts, comprise almost all of box 8 in this collection. It includes Ford Foundation reports, a paper on the history of African theater, and writings by Donald Shoulty.

A later accession, 93-025, was added to the collection. Series IV, Development and Series V, Administrative Files are included in this accession. Series V is the largest of the five series.