The Office of the Secretary of the University was officially created at the February 3, 1936 meeting of the Board of Trustees. The duties of the Secretary were to "supervise the relations of the University to the public and to the alumni, to assist in the coordination of the information concerning the work of the University and to perform such other duties as may be delegated to him by the President." (Trustees Minutes, February 3, 1936) At this time, the office of the Secretary of the University was distinct from that of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

From 1936 to 1942, [Peter] Stewart Macaulay was the Secretary of the University under President Isaiah Bowman. Macaulay helped the President with alumni groups, and with various public addresses. Macaulay served as Secretary of the University until 1942 when he was named Provost. In 1959 he was appointed Executive Vice-President by President Eisenhower. He retired in 1966.

In 1960, Keith Spalding, an assistant to President Milton S. Eisenhower, became Secretary of the University and of the Board of Trustees. He relinquished the post of Secretary of the Board to Ross Jones in 1963, and, in 1966, Jones also assumed the position of Secretary of the University. From 1970 until 1976, Victor H. Dates served as Secretary of the University, while Jones remained Secretary of the Board. In 1976, Dates left Hopkins and Jones once again filled both positions. At some point, probably in 1982, the positions of Secretary of the University and Secretary of the Board were merged.

In 1968, Ross Jones was named Vice President for University Affairs. His office underwent a change in title four times during his tenure, each reflecting changes in responsibility. Between 1968 and 1977, the Vice President for University Affairs was concerned with public relations, development projects, and alumni relations for the Homewood campus. In 1977, the title was changed to Vice President for Institutional Affairs to include responsibility for public relations for all the University institutions, especially the School of Medicine. The title was changed again to Vice President for Public Affairs in 1979, when the development function was assigned to a newly-created vice presidency. Ross Jones continued to be responsible for public information, special events and publications (including the Johns Hopkins Magazine), Community Affairs, University Collections, and Alumni Relations. In 1982 the office was split again, with Jones assuming the title of Vice President and Secretary. He retained control of University Collections and Trustee relations and liaison, and he carried out special assignments for the President and Chairman of the Board. B. J. Norris, with the title of Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs, took over official responsibility for public relations.

In 1989, the office of Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs was abolished, with the duties of that position reverting back to Ross Jones as Vice President and Secretary.

Bibliography:
French, John C. A History of the University Founded by Johns Hopkins. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1946.
The Johns Hopkins University. "Minutes of the Board of Trustees." February 3, 1936.
"Macaulay, Hop V.P., To Retire at End of Year." The News-Letter, December 10, 1965.