The records in this series were created or received by Francis A. Ruzicka during his term as president of Parsons School of Design, and during the course of his earlier roles at Parsons. Some records pre-date Ruzicka's arrival at Parsons. It is unclear how these records came into Ruzicka's possession.

The records are divided into three sub-series: Administration, Board of Trustees, and Departments and programs. Files are not comprehensive -- for example, not all departments are represented in Departments and programs. Administrative records covering the same time span will be found in the records of David C. Levy, who served as director of admissions and assumed the leadership of Parsons School of Design following Ruzicka's departure.

Although the Board of Trustees series documents meetings of this governing body, researchers should be aware that Series III. Sterling A. Callisen records and Series V. Subject Files also include a large number of records addressed to or received from the Board of Trustees, particularly Chairman Richard M. Paget, reflecting the important administrative role played by the Board prior to Parsons' affiliation with the New School for Social Research in 1970. This executive governing body made many of the decisions regarding institutional affairs and worked closely with the Office of the President.

Of particular note is documentation concerning the school's fiscal crisis and efforts to resolve it in the 1960s, a crisis that ultimately resulted in Parsons School of Design's affiliation with the New School for Social Research. Also included are records of the school's ongoing preparations to become a degree-granting institution, to expand the curriculum, and to construct a "vertical campus" with adequate classroom space, administrative offices, and housing. While these goals were not achieved during Ruzicka's presidency, they were implemented in the decade following his tenure.