International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) Records, 1970-2016

Collection Overview

Title: International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) Records, 1970-2016

Predominant Dates: 1985-2016

ID: RG 247

Primary Creator: International Students of Oregon State University

Extent: 4.5 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The International Students of OSU (ISOSU) Records are made up of 21 series: 1. Correspondence, 1982-2014; 2. Meeting Minutes, 1970-2014; 3. Budget Requests and Information, 1975-2013; 4. Constitutions, 1978-2005; 5. Handbooks, 1986-2016; 6. Student Associations, 1976-2016; 7. Event Files, 1973-2015; 8. Publications, 1975-2010; 9. Surveys and Questionnaires, 2000-2014; 10. Flyers and Posters, 1981-2016; 11. Photographs, 1985-2012; 12. Certificates, 1994-2016; 13. Newspaper Clippings, 1971-2011; 14. Officer and Committee Member Lists, 1972-2003; 15. International Student Directories, 1982-circa 2010; 16. Business Cards, circa 1995-2016; 17. Guestbook, 2010-2015; 18. Officer Notebooks and Log, 1984-2011; 19. Scrapbooks, 1992-circa 2010; 20. Moving Images, 1993-2008; and 21. Plaque, 1997.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) Records document the administration, membership, and event programming of this organization and its affiliated student associations. The collection includes administrative records, promotional materials, photographs, scrapbooks, and video recordings. ISOSU was established in 1965 as the Foreign Students Association.

Access to International Student Directories in Series 15 is restricted due to the presence of confidential information. All requests for access to these materials should be directed to University Archivist.

The entirety of Series 4, Constitutions, has been digitized and is available upon request. The contents of box-folders 1.6, 1.10, 2.11, 3.17, and 4.3 have also been digitized.

Scope and Content Notes

The International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) Records document the administration, membership, and event programming of the organization and its affiliated student associations. The records consist of materials generated and assembled by ISOSU and include: budget requests, certificates, constitutions, digital files, flyers, a guestbook, handbooks, meeting minutes, moving images, newsletters, newspaper clippings, officer lists, photographs, posters, publications, scrapbooks, survey materials, and VHS videotapes.

Administrative activities reflected in these records primarily focus on budgetary management and event planning. There are budget requests and related documentation generated by both ISOSU, as a body receiving annual funding from the Educational Activities Committee and later the Memorial Union Board, and the student associations, which in turn, receive annual support from ISOSU. There are also separate sets of constitutions reflecting the individual student associations and ISOSU.

The coordination and publicity of events, the central activity of ISOSU and its affiliates, is reflected in photographs, flyers, posters, budgetary records, scrapbooks, moving images, handbooks, and questionnaires for post-event evaluation. Some of these events are annual dinner and performance shows organized by the affiliates to showcase their particular culture(s) (i.e. China Night, European Night, etc.). Much of the documentation generated by the affiliates reflect the organization and publicity of these shows. Other events reflected in these records, such as the International Cultural Exhibit, the International Spring Festival, and annual fashion shows, were organized by ISOSU to highlight all of the affiliate cultures in a single showcase. Traditionally, ISOSU coordinates 2-3 of these kind of events a year. Occasional ISOSU sponsored lecture series, forums, and workshops are also represented in these records.

Born digital materials in this collection are in a variety of file formats: Word documents, PDFs, GIFs, JPegs, Bitmap images, and HTML documents. These files contain meeting minutes, posters, flyers, digital photographs, officer lists, newsletters, and moving images. The bulk of these files (13866 out of a total of 13991) are made up of digital images. They are available for viewing in the Reading Room, or by request.

The entirety of Series 4, Constitutions, has been digitized and is available upon request. The contents of box-folders 1.6, 1.10, 2.11, 3.17, and 4.3 have also been digitized.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Established in 1965 as the Foreign Students Association, the International Students of OSU (ISOSU) oversees organizations of international students with administrative and budgetary support. These organizations, referred to as affiliates, identify themselves by a particular nation, geographic, or cultural region. Examples of these affiliates represented in this collection include: the African Students Association, the Association of Latin American Students, Chinese Students of OSU, the European Students Association, the Indian Students Associaton, Permias (the Indonesian Student Associaton), and the Vietnamese Students Association.

The mission of ISOSU is to facilitate cross-cultural engagement by hosting events and programs that provide social interaction and learning opportunities for international students and faculty as well as members of the Oregon State and Corvallis communities. Any recognized student organization at Oregon State that identifies itself as an international student organization or association can apply to become an affiliate organization of ISOSU. The organization also manages the International Resource Center (IRC) which was formed in 2009 to serve as a public space where international students, their visiting families, and culturally curious locals could gather together informally and for events. From 1977 to 1987, ISOSU was known as the International Student Organization.

Author: Karl McCreary

Administrative Information

Accruals: Additions to the collection are expected.

More Extent Information: 1395 photographs; 9 VHS videotapes; 6 boxes, including 1 oversize, and 1 map folder. 2.65 Gbytes and 13991 files.

Statement on Access: Access to International Student Directories in Series 15 is restricted due to the presence of confidential information. All requests for access to these materials should be directed to University Archivist. All other materials in this collection are open for research.

Acquisition Note: These materials were transferred to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center between 2012 and 2017.

Related Materials:

Other collections that document international students at Oregon State include: Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU) Records (RG 011), English Language Institute Records (RG 234), and the International Education Records (RG 164).

Photographs of international students, including views of ISOSU events and officers, can be found in Harriet's Photograph Collection (P HC), the News and Communication Services Photograph Collection (P 057), the Gwil Evans Photograph Collection (P 082), and the University Publications Photographs (P 094).

Collections reflecting other OSU international student organizations include the Chatter Club/Friendship Internationale Scrapbook (MSS ChatterClub), the Association of Latin American Students Records (MSS ALAS), the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center Records (RG 245) and the Asia University America Program Photographs (P 209). The OSU Yearbook also contains information on international student clubs and activities.

Interviews with international students that were conducted in 2015 by the OSU Special Collections and Archives Research Center as a part of the OSU Sesquicentennial Oral History Project can be accessed here.

Preferred Citation: International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) Records (RG 247), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Finding Aid Revision History: The preliminary guide for this collection that was created in 2013 has been updated to reflect full processing and to incoporate additions received in 2015-2017.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Correspondence, 1982-2014

Series 1 is made up of correspondence, memoranda, and press releases documenting interaction amongst ISOSU members as well as with ASOSU and OSU adminstrators. Topics addressed include event planning, workshop announcements, budgetary management, and policy clarification.

Box-Folder 1.1: Correspondence, 1982-1995
Box-Folder 1.2: Correspondence, 1996-2014

Series 2: Meeting Minutes, 1970-2014

Series 2 consists of agendas, minutes, and notes from meetings of the ISOSU Executive Team, the ISOSU Advisory Board, the Finance Committee, and the ISOSU Leadership Council. This series also contains digital files.

Box-Folder 1.3: Meeting Minutes, 1970-1985
Box-Folder 1.4: Meeting Minutes, 1989-1999
Box-Folder 1.5: Meeting Minutes, 2006-2014
Digital Folder 1: Meeting Minutes and Agendas, 1995-2008: This folder contains 28 born digital files reflecting ISOSU meetings and is made up of minutes, agendas, a meeting schedule, and a rolecall list for meeting attendance. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.

Series 3: Budget Requests and Information, 1975-2013

Series 3 contains budget requests submitted annually by ISOSU to the Educational Activities Committee for funding. Other materials in this series relating to ISOSU's budgetary management include memoranda, meeting minutes, expenditure listings, and budget submission guidelines.

The contents of box-folders 1.6 and 1.10 in this series have been scanned and are available upon request.

Box-Folder 1.6: Budget Requests and Information, 1975-1985: The contents of this folder have been scanned and are available upon request.
Box-Folder 1.7: Budget Requests and Information, 1985-1987
Box-Folder 1.8: Budget Requests and Information, 1990-2001
Box-Folder 1.9: Budget Requsts and Information, 2006-2010
Box-Folder 1.10: Budget Requests and Information, 2010-2013: The contents of this folder have been scanned and are available upon request.

Series 4: Constitutions, 1978-2005

Series 4 is comprised of ISOSU constitutions.

The contents of the single folder in this series have been scanned and are available upon request.

Box-Folder 1.11: Constitutions, 1978-2005

Series 5: Handbooks, 1986-2016

Series 5 consists of handbooks, manuals, and guidelines issued by ISOSU, the Office of Student Involvement, and the Educational Activities Committee. About half of the handbooks are general overviews of policies and procedures while others focus upon specific subjects such as: election guidelines, budgetary management, and event planning and publicity.

Box-Folder 1.12: Election Guidelines, 1986-1999
Box-Folder 1.13: Event Committee and Programs Manual, 2010
Box-Folder 1.14: Event Planning, 1993-2007
Box-Folder 1.15: Financial Manuals, 1996-2011
Box-Folder 1.16: General, 1999-2008
Box-Folder 1.17: General, 2011-2015
Box-Folder 1.18: International Resource Center Events Handbook, 2016
Box-Folder 1.19: International Resource Center Handbook, 2016
Box-Folder 1.20: ISOSU Ambassador Manual, 2007
Digital Folder 2: Guidelines and Application Packets, 1996-2008: This folder is made up of 6 born digital files containing guidelines for the ISOSU election of 1996/97 and application packets for ISOSU officers with hiring guidelines and job responsibilities. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.

Series 6: Student Associations, 1976-2016

Series 6 documents the student affiliate organizations administered by ISOSU and reflects financial management, event planning, annual reviews, and mission statements. This series includes budget proposals, constitutions, correspondence, flyers, newspaper clippings, and digital files.

The contents of folder 2.11 in this series have been digitized and are available upon request.

Box-Folder 1.21: African Students Association, 1982-2015
Box-Folder 1.22: Arab Students Association, 1994-2006
Box-Folder 2.1: Association of Latin American Students, 1984-2016
Box-Folder 2.2: Bangladesh Student Association, 1984-1985
Box-Folder 2.3: Cambodian Student Association, 1994-2015
Box-Folder 2.4: Chinese Association at OSU, 1976-2016
Box-Folder 2.5: The Club Down Under, 1995: "To promote Australian/New Zealander/Oceanic cultural awareness"
Box-Folder 2.6: European Student Association, 1985-2012
Box-Folder 2.7: Friends of Palestine, 1982-1985
Box-Folder 2.8: Hmong OSU, 2004-2016
Box-Folder 2.9: Hong Kong Student Association, 1985-2010
Box-Folder 2.01: Indian Student Association, 1982-2016
Box-Folder 2.11: Indonesian Student Association (PERMIAS), 1992-2016: The contents of this folder have been digitized and are available upon request.
Box-Folder 2.12: Iranian Student Association, 1983-1998
Box-Folder 2.13: Isang Bansang Pilipino (Filipino students), 1992-2016
Box-Folder 2.14: Japanese Student Association, 1984-2015
Box-Folder 2.15: Korean Student Association, 1986-2011
Box-Folder 2.16: Kuwaiti Student Association, 2005-2006
Box-Folder 2.17: Laos Student Association, 1992-2016
Box-Folder 2.18: Malaysian Student Association, 1982-2016
Box-Folder 2.19: Pakistan Student Association, 1984-1996
Box-Folder 2.02: Persian Student Association, 1996-1997
Box-Folder 2.21: Saudi Arabian Student Association, 2009-2011
Box-Folder 2.22: SPICMACAY of OSU (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth), 1997-1999
Box-Folder 2.23: Taiwanese Student Association, 2005-2013
Box-Folder 2.24: Thai Student Association, 1984-2010
Box-Folder 2.25: Tunisian Student Association, 1984-1985
Box-Folder 2.26: Turkish Student Association, 1994-2007
Box-Folder 2.27: Vietnamese Student Association, 1979-2016
Digital Folder 3: Student Associations, 2007-2008: This folder contains 16 born digital files that are primarily made up of mission statements for 13 of the ISOSU affiliate organizations. These appeared on the ISOSU website in 2007. There is also a blank application packet for affiliate registration for the 2008-2009 year. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.

Series 7: Event Files, 1973-2015

Series 7 pertains to the planning and publicity of events organized by ISOSU and the various student associations. In addition to programs and flyers for the events, this series also contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, event schedules, checklists, recipes, and registration paperwork. This series also contains born digital files.

Box-Folder 2.28: A Cultural Affair: Cultures of OSU, 2013
Box-Folder 2.29: End of the Year Celebration, undated
Box-Folder 2.30: Event Programs, 1992-2004
Box-Folder 2.31: General, 1984-2014
Box-Folder 2.32: Healthy Campus Initiative, 2013
Box-Folder 2.33: International Cultural Exhibitions, 1993-1996
Box-Folder 2.34: International Food Fair, 1984-1986
Box-Folder 2.35: International Nights, 1973-1998
Box-Folder 2.36: International Resource Center Grand Opening, 2015
Box-Folder 2.37: International Student Experience Forum, 2011-2012
Box-Folder 2.38: ISOSU Coffee Hours, 2008-2013
Box-Folder 2.39: ISOSU Homecoming Conference, 2013
Box-Folder 2.04: ISOSU Retreats, 2009-2010
Box-Folder 2.41: International Thanksgiving Dinner, 2002-2003
Box-Folder 2.42: International Week, 1983-2001
Box-Folder 2.43: Planning Materials and Forms, 1988-2013
Box-Folder 2.44: Planning Materials and Forms, 1998-2009
Box-Folder 2.45: Sign-In Sheets, 2008-2011
Box-Folder 2.46: Spring Festival, 2000-2013
Box-Folder 2.47: Spring Festival, 2012
Box-Folder 2.48: Winter Festival, 1985-2011
Digital Folder 4: Event Files, 1995-2008: This folder consists of 39 digital files relating to ISOSU events. In addition to monthly calendar listings of events, these files also contain letter templates for the soliciting of event sponsorship, a roster of ISOSU Fashion Show participants, and a list of budgetary resources available to the affiliates for annual event expenses. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.

Series 8: Publications, 1975-2016

Series 8 consists of publications generated and collected by ISOSU that include newsletters, brochures, reports, and two editions of a cookbook featuring recipes from the world. There are also publications from the OSU Office of International Education, the OSU International Cultural Service Program, and other universities. This series also contains born digital files.

Box-Folder 2.49: Informational Brochures, 2005-2016
Box-Folder 2.50: International Cookbooks, 1987; 1996: Published by ISOSU and the International Cultural Service Program. Some of the recipes were featured in ISOSU's 1985 and 1987 International Food Fair events.
Box-Folder 2.51: International Cultural Service Program Roster, 2001
Box-Folder 2.52: International Student Assessment Report, 2010
Box-Folder 3.1: ISOSU Newsletters, 1975-2009
Box-Folder 3.2: ISOSU Year End Report, 2002
Box-Folder 3.3: Non-University Brochures and Programs, 1985-2000
Box-Folder 3.4: Office of International Education Newsletters, 1984-1998
Box-Folder 3.5: Publications from Other Universities, 1970-2000
Digital Folder 5: Publications, 2008: This folder contains 11 born digital files of ISOSU newsletters and resource guides prepared for international students at OSU. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.

Series 9: Surveys and Questionnaires, 2000-2014

Series 9 relates to surveys and questionnaires distributed to attendees of ISOSU sponsored events and to international students to assess their needs and feelings at OSU. Primarily comprised of completed evaluation forms, this series also contains correspondence, blank forms, and aggregate data compiled from surveys.

Box-Folder 3.6: Blank Survey Forms, 2013
Box-Folder 3.7: Career in the U.S. Workshop, undated
Box-Folder 3.8: Evaluations of ISOSU, 2000
Box-Folder 3.9: International Cultural Service Program Speakers, 2014
Box-Folder 3.01: International Student Clime Assessment, 2010
Box-Folder 3.11: International Student Experience Forum, 2012
Box-Folder 3.12: ISOSU International Week Kickoff Event, 2001
Box-Folder 3.13: ISOSU Retreat Evaluations, 2001
Box-Folder 3.14: OSU Without Borders Event, undated
Box-Folder 3.15: Questionnaire For International Students, 2007-2008
Box-Folder 3.16: Winter Break Activities, Undated

Series 10: Posters and Flyers, 1981-2016

Series 10 is made up of posters and flyers publicizing events organized by ISOSU as well as the OSU Asian and Pacific Cultural Center. This series also contains digital files.

The contents of folder 3.17 in this series have been digitized and are available upon request.

Box-Folder 3.17: Posters and Flyers, 1981-2016: The contents this folder have been digitized and are available upon request.
Box-Folder 5.1: Posters and Flyers, 1983-2016
Map-Folder 6: Posters and Flyers, 2013-2016
Digital Folder 6: Posters and Flyers, 2003-2008: This folder consists of 18 born digital files containing posters and flyers publicizing events organized by ISOSU and it's affiliated organizations. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.

Series 11: Photographs, 1985-2012

Series 11 consists of photographic and digital images documenting ISOSU events, students, and staff. In total, there are 1207 physical photographs in this series (981 prints, 173 slides, and 53 negatives) and 13866 digital images.

Box-Folder 3.18: Africa Nights, 1997
Box-Folder 3.19: China Night, 2002
Box-Folder 3.02: Chinese New Year, 1996
Box-Folder 3.21: Chinese Student Association, 1999
Box-Folder 3.22: Colorado Trip, 1997
Box-Folder 3.23: European Nights, 1997-2002
Box-Folder 3.24: Filipino Night, 2002
Box-Folder 3.25: Group Shots, 1996
Box-Folder 3.26: Hui o Hawaii Luau, 1997
Box-Folder 3.27: Images Used as Part of an Unidentified Display, undated: The photographic images are portrait shots of ISOSU officers printed out on paper. The other parts of the display are graphics of flags of various countries and geographical border outlines.
Box-Folder 3.28: India Night, 2002
Box-Folder 3.29: International Cultural Exhibits, 1989-1995
Box-Folder 3.30: International Education Week Kickoff, 2001
Box-Folder 3.31: International Fashion Shows, 1985-1997
Box-Folder 3.32: International New Year Celebration, 2000
Box-Folder 3.33: International Night, 1994
Box-Folder 3.34: International Night, 1996
Box-Folder 3.35: International Night, 1998
Box-Folder 3.36: International Night, 1998
Box-Folder 3.37: International Spring Festival, 2000
Box-Folder 3.38: International Spring Festival, 2002
Box-Folder 3.39: Latin Night, 1996
Box-Folder 3.40: OSU Without Borders Lecture Series, 2002
Box-Folder 3.41: Portrait Shots, 1995-2012
Box-Folder 3.42: Staff Retreat, 2002
Box-Folder 3.43: Unidentified Events, 1985-2000
Box-Folder 3.44: Vietnamese New Year, 1996
Box-Folder 3.45: "What Is Race"? Workshop, 1999
Digital Folder 7: Photographs, 2004-2012: This folder contains 13866 digital photographs arranged in 428 digital folders. They were taken by ISOSU staff and document various ISOSU events. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.

Series 12: Certificates, 1994-2016

Series 12 is made up of certificates awarded to ISOSU by the Office of Student Involvement and the Student Activities Center in recognition of the organization of cultural events for OSU. There are also certificates given by ISOSU to individual student organizations for various honors.

Box-Folder 3.46: Certificates, 1994-2016

Series 13: Newspaper Clippings, 1971-2011

Series 13 is made up of articles and advertisements clipped from the Daily Barometer newspaper about ISOSU sponsored events, ISOSU members, and budgeting issues.

Box-Folder 4.1: Newspaper Clippings, 1971-2011

Series 14: Officer and Committee Member Lists, 1972-2008

Series 14 contains listings of officers for both the ISOSU administration and the affiliate student associations. Some of these lists are featured on student organizaton annual review forms. This series also contains born digital files.

Box-Folder 4.2: Officer and Committee Member Lists, 1972-2003
Digital Folder 8: Officer Lists, 1996-2008: This folder is comprised of 7 born digital files containing lists of ISOSU officers. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.

Series 15: International Student Directories, 1982-circa 2010

Series 15 consists of directories listing international students enrolled at OSU. Access to these directories is restricted due to the presence of confidential information. All requests for accress to this material should be directed to the University Archivist.

Box-Folder 7.1: RESTRICTED: International Student Directories, 1982-circa 2010

Series 16: Business Cards, circa 1995-2016

Series 16 is made up of business cards collected by ISOSU that reflect a combination of ISOSU members, OSU staff in various departments, ASOSU members, student media staff, and off-campus businesses.

The contents of the single folder in this series have been digitized and are available upon request.

Box-Folder 4.3: Business Cards, circa 1995-2016

Series 17: Guestbook, 2010-2015

Series 17 consists of a guestbook containing messages, drawings, and poems written by visitors to the International Resource Center.

Box-Folder 4.4: Guestbook, 2010-2015

Series 18: Officers' Notebooks and Log, 1984-2011

Series 18 is made up of notebooks assembled by ISOSU officers that reflect administrative activities and contain budgetary information, meeting minutes, memoranda, notes, and positon descriptons.The log contains written messages between officers.

Box-Folder 4.5: Officers' Log, 1984
Box-Folder 4.6: Officers' Notebook, 1999/2000
Box-Folder 4.7: Officers' Notebook, 2010/2011

Series 19: Scrapbooks, 1992-circa 2010

Series 19 is made up of four scrapbooks assembled by ISOSU staff and students. Primarily comprised of photographs and newspaper clippings, the scrapbooks document ISOSU events as well as containing stories about malevolent spirits and haunted places from around the world. This series contains 188 photographic prints.

Box-Folder 4.7: 1991/1992
Box-Item 5.2: 2004/2005
Box-Folder 4.8: Haunted Houses Around the World, circa 2010: Contains images (printed from the web) and descriptions of buildings and places around the world connected with legends of ghosts and hauntings. Loose squares of paper with images of demonic figures from different cultures found inside the scrapbook are beng retained in the same folder as the scrapbook. The scrapbook is handmade with sheets of paper bound by pieces of ribbon.
Box-Folder 4.9: Scary Stories from Around the World, circa 2010: Contains images (printed from the web) and stories of haunted folk tales from Japan, Mexico, Australia, and other places. The scrapbook is handmade with sheets of paper bound by pieces of ribbon.

Series 20: Moving Images, 1993-2008

Series 20 consists of nine VHS Videotapes and two digital files containing recorded footage of ISOSU events, including: China Night, Japan Night, International Thanksgiving, and the International Fashion Show.

Box-Item 4.1: European Night, 1993
Box-Item 4.2: International Fashion Show, 1995
Box-Item 4.3: Latin Night, 1996
Box-Item 4.4: European Night, 1998
Box-Item 4.5: International Night, 1998
Box-Item 4.6: International Thanksgiving, 2003
Box-Item 4.7: Spring Showcase and Japanese Night, undated
Box-Item 4.8: Japanese Night, undated
Box-Item 4.9: ISOSU Collage, undated
Item 10: China Night, 2007: Video can be accessed here.
Item 11: Promotional Video for ISOSU, 2008: Video can be accessed here.

Series 21: Plaque, 1996

Series 21 is comprised of a plaque recognizing the service of ISOSU presidents from 1989/90 to 1995/1996.

Box-Item 4.12: Plaque, 1996