By Finding aid prepared by Trevor Sandgathe
Collection Overview
Title: President's Office Records of William Jasper Kerr, 1907-1964
Predominant Dates: 1907-1940
ID: RG 013 - SG 07
Primary Creator: Kerr, William Jasper, 1863-1947
Extent: 1.75 cubic feet. More info below.
Arrangement: The President's Office records of William Jasper Kerr are arranged into eleven series: I: General Reference File, 1922-1940; II: Correspondence, 1907-1935; III: Clippings, 1908-1935; IV: Oregon State Board of Higher Curricula, 1925-1941; V: Resolutions Adopted by the State Board of Higher Education, 1935; VI: Biography of William Jasper Kerr; VII: Publications, 1908-1964; VIII: The OSC - U of O Controversy, 1937; IX: Reports to the Board of Regents, 1909-1929; X: Reorganization, 1931-1932; XI: College Surveys, 1928-1930. Materials within series are arranged alphabetically and chronologically.
Languages of Materials: English [eng]
Abstract
The President's Office Records of William Jasper Kerr document Kerr's presidency of Oregon Agricultural College between 1907 and 1932 and include materials from his tenure as Chancellor of Oregon's higher education system. The collection includes general reference files, correspondence, newsclippings, assorted reports and publications, and materials generated for the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and the Board of Regents. The collection contains materials relating to the college's educational mission, organizational structure, budget, attendance, and curricular offerings, the state of education in Oregon, and the reorganization of the Oregon educational system.
Scope and Content Notes
The President's Office Records of William Jasper Kerr are comprised of materials from Kerr's tenure as President of Oregon Agricultural College. The collection include a general reference file, correspondence, newspaper clippings, communications with the Oregon State Board of Higher Education, publications, reports to the Board of Regents, survey materials, and biographic materials. The collection contains extensive material relating to the physical and curricular growth of the college, the controversial reorganization of OAC and the University of Oregon, and the state of higher education in Oregon in the early 20th century.
Biographical / Historical Notes
William Jasper Kerr was born November 17, 1863 in Richmond, Utah. At a young age, Kerr dropped out of school in favor of a position on his father's railroad construction crew. He later returned to school, earning a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Utah in 1885. Following graduation, Kerr accepted a position teaching in Smithfield, Utah. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Superintendent of the Smithfield district. Between 1887 and 1894, Kerr taught mathematics at Brigham Young College and the University of Utah. In 1894, Kerr was appointed President of Brigham Young, a position he held until 1900 when he became President of Utah State Agricultural College. In 1907, Kerr resigned his position at Utah and became President of Oregon Agricultural College.
Kerr's presidency at OAC was defined by a period of prolonged and aggressive growth. During his tenure, the college constructed more than twenty buildings, including the Memorial Union, and more than doubled the total size of the campus to 555 acres. He tightened admissions requirements, expanded curricular offerings, and added talented staff to the college's ranks. Kerr resigned from his post in 1932, ending the longest reign of any OSC president.
After leaving the college, Kerr became the first Chancellor of Oregon's system of higher education. He held this position for three years before retiring. William Jasper Kerr died in 1947 at the age of 83.
Administrative Information
More Extent Information:
5 boxes, including 1 oversize box; 5 microfilm reels
Statement on Access:
The collection is open for research.
Acquisition Note:
These records were transferred to the University Archives by the OSU President's Office. The collection is now held by the Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Research Center.
Related Materials:
Content related to the Kerr presidency can be found in the Edwin T. Reed Papers (MSS Reed) and Subgroup 12 of the President's Office Records (RG 013). Additional materials relating to the presidents of Oregon State University include the President's Office Records (RG 013), Presidents of Oregon State University Photographic Collection (P 001), President's Office Photographs (P 092), President's Office Motion Picture Film and Videotapes (FV 092), Board of Regents Records (RG 008), Board of Trustees Records (RG 033), and the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC).
Preferred Citation:
President's Office Records of William Jasper Kerr (RG 013 - SG 07), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Creators
Kerr, William Jasper, 1863-1947
Oregon State Agricultural College. Board of Regents
Oregon State Agricultural College. Office of the President
Oregon State College. Office of the President
Reed, Edwin Thomas (1872-1948)
United States. Bureau of Education
People, Places, and Topics
Association of American Universities
College presidents--Oregon--Corvallis.
Education, Higher--Oregon.
Kerr, William Jasper, 1863-1947
Oregon Agricultural College
Oregon State Agricultural College
Oregon State Board of Higher Curricula
Oregon State College. Office of the President
Oregon State System of Higher Education
Universities and colleges--Curricula--Oregon--Corvallis.
Universities and colleges--Law and legislation--Oregon.
University History
Box and Folder Listing
- Series 1: General Reference File, 1922-1940
- Series I contains reports, correspondence, notes, and clippings related to agriculture in Oregon. The material spans the latter portion of Kerr's career at Oregon Agricultural College and his time as the state's Chancellor of higher education. Subjects referenced in this series include agricultural and industrial production, marketing and sales, construction, public works, agricultural sciences, college and government employees, trade law, and government organizations.
- Reel-Folder 80.1: Oregon Production Statistics, 1933-1937
- Reel-Folder 80.2: Production in Oregon and Washington, 1934-1936
- Reel-Folder 80.3: Oregon Private Marketing Firms, 1937
- Reel-Folder 80.4: Marketing Agreements - Oregon, 1936-1937
- Reel-Folder 80.5: Cauliflower Marketing Agreements - Oregon, 1937
- Reel-Folder 80.6: Hops Stabilization Program, 1935-1937
- Reel-Folder 80.7: Walnut Control Board, 1936
- Reel-Folder 80.8: Marketing Cooperative, 1932-1938
- Reel-Folder 80.9: Oregon Agricultural and Industrial Marketing Study, 1938
- Reel-Folder 80.10: Marketing Organizations in Oregon and Washington, 1936-1937
- Reel-Folder 80.11: Cooperative Organizations - Summary Agriculture and Lumber, 1935-1938
- Reel-Folder 80.12: Hood River Apple Growers Association, 1934-1937
- Reel-Folder 80.13: Interstate Associated Creameries, 1934-1938
- Reel-Folder 80.14: Northwest Dried Food Association, 1937
- Reel-Folder 80.15: Oregon Growers Union, 1937-1938
- Reel-Folder 80.16: Oregon Prune Control Board Incorporated, 1936
- Reel-Folder 80.17: Oregon-Washington Pear Bureau, 1936
- Reel-Folder 80.18: Oregon-Washington-California Pear League Inc., 1937
- Reel-Folder 80.19: Pacific Cooperative Poultry Producers, 1937-1938
- Reel-Folder 80.20: Pacific Wool Growers, Portland, Oregon, 1937
- Reel-Folder 80.21: Southern Oregon Sales Inc., Medford, Oregon, 1937-1938
- Reel-Folder 80.22: Tillamook County Creamery Association, 1935-1937
- Box-Folder 1.18: "Oregon's Problem in Maketing Agricultural & Industrial Products", 1938
- Alternate Format: Also in reel 80.23
- Reel-Folder 80.24: Research Production and Marketing - Reports, Correspondence, Memoranda and other material, 1936-1939
- Reel-Folder 80.25: Report of Agricultural Investigating Committee - Governor Martin, 1937-1939
- Reel-Folder 80.26: Oregon Marketing, 1939-1940
- Reel-Folder 81.27: Agricultural and Industrial Marketing, 1937-1939
- Reel-Folder 81.28: Marketing Miscellaneous, 1937-1940
- Reel-Folder 81.29: Services of Oregon State Agricultural College in Marketing Oregon Products, 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.30: Marketing Report Miscellaneous Editorials, 1935, 1938
- Reel-Folder 81.31: Marketing Report Miscellaneous News Stories, 1935-1939
- Reel-Folder 81.32: Marketing - Chancellor Hunter, 1938
- Reel-Folder 81.33: Marketing Report Oregon Journal Editorials, 1935-1939
- Reel-Folder 81.34: Marketing Report Oregon Journal News Stories, 1935-1939
- Reel-Folder 81.35: Marketing Report The Oregonian Editorials, 1935-1939
- Reel-Folder 81.36: Marketing Report The Oregonian News Stories, 1937-1939
- Reel-Folder 81.37: "What the State Does in Educational Preparatin for Marketing", 1939
- Reel-Folder 81.38: Division of Marketing State Board of Higher Education, 1938
- Reel-Folder 81.39: By-products - Culls, 1935-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.40: Cooperative Organization Problems, 1930-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.41: Farm Purchasing Associations, 1935-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.42: Food Preparation, 1935-1936
- Reel-Folder 81.43: Brand Names, undated
- Reel-Folder 81.44: Flax Seed and Flax Fiber Possibilities, 1936-1940
- Reel-Folder 81.45: Industrial Uses for Farm Products, 1934-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.46: Industrial Uses for Farm Products - Power Motor Alcohol, 1934-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.47: Irrigation, 1934-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.48: "Possibilities for Livestock Fattening in Oregon", 1936
- Reel-Folder 81.49: Merchandising, 1936-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.50: Milk Distribution Problems, 1936-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.51: Other Domestic Market Outlets, 1936-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.52: Packaging, 1936-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.53: Processing, 1934-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.54: Producer - Consumer Sales Campaigns, 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.55: Prune Industry in Oregon - Governor Sprague, 1939-1940
- Reel-Folder 81.56: Special Prune Committee - Glenn Hogg, Chairman, 1939-1940
- Reel-Folder 81.57: Marketing Conference State System of Higher Education - Governor Sprague, 1939-1940
- Reel-Folder 81.58: Marketing Oregon Prunes, 1931, 1938-1940
- Reel-Folder 81.59: Grading of Agricultural Products, 1936-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.60: Sugar Beet Industry, 1936-1940
- Reel-Folder 81.61: Transportation, 1936-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.62: Unfair Trade Practices, 1936-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.63: Agricultural Engineering Foundation - San Francisco, California, Oswold Wilson, Mngr., 1937-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.64: Ashland Chamber of Commerce, 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.65: Bonneville Dam Project, 1937-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.66: Cooperative Grange League Federation Exchange, Inc. Ithaca, New York, 1936
- Reel-Folder 81.67: Dairy Cooperative Association, Portland, Oregon, 1936-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.68: Eugene Fruit Growers Exchange, 1935-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.69: Farm Security Administration (Resettlement Administration), 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.70: Federal Farm Board, 1930
- Reel-Folder 81.71: Fruit Growers League, Medford, Oregon, 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.72: Winter Pears--Henry Hartman, 1935-136
- Reel-Folder 81.73: Idaho Department of State, Boise, Idaho, 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.74: National Emergency Council, 1936
- Reel-Folder 81.75: National Farm Chemurgic Council, Dearborn, Michigan, 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.76: National Youth Administration, 1935-1936
- Reel-Folder 81.77: Oregon State Planning Board, 1936-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.78: Pacific Northwest Advisory Board, 1937-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.79: Pacific Northwest Regional Planning Commission, 1935-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.80: Portland Chamber of Commerce - Lumber Products, 1935
- Reel-Folder 81.81: Social Science Research Council, undated
- Reel-Folder 81.82: U.S. Forest Service, 1936-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.83: Population Developments, 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.84: General Correspondence, 1933-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.85: J.R. Beck, 1936
- Reel-Folder 81.86: H.K. Benson, 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.87: "Preliminary Study for Proposed Bonneville Industries", undated
- Reel-Folder 81.88: A.G.B. Bouquet, 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.89: W.D. Bristol, 1937
- Reel-Folder 81.90: L.R. Breithaupt, Extension Agricultural Economist, 1935-1938
- Reel-Folder 81.91: Gordon G. Brown, Hood River Experiment Station, 1935
- Reel-Folder 81.92: W.S. Brown, 1936-1937
- Reel-Folder 81.93: Paul Carpenter, 1936-1937
- Reel-Folder 82.93: Paul Carpenter (continued), 1936
- Reel-Folder 82.94: R.L. Clark, Bodine and Clark Commission Company, 1936
- Reel-Folder 82.95: Berkeley Davis, 1937
- Reel-Folder 82.96: William Einzig, Great Western Malting Company Inc., 1938
- Reel-Folder 82.97: A.E. Engbretson, 1936-1938
- Reel-Folder 82.98: Eric Englund, 1936-1937
- Reel-Folder 82.99: A.C. Forrester, Industrial Distilleries, 1935-1937
- Reel-Folder 82.100: Dan D. Freeman, Oregon Manufacturer's Association, 1936
- Reel-Folder 82.101: O.G. Hughson, 1935-1936
- Reel-Folder 82.102: G.R. Hyslop, 1936-1938
- Reel-Folder 82.103: E.R. Jackman, Oregon State College, 1937-1938
- Reel-Folder 82.104: Arthur S. King, 1937
- Reel-Folder 82.105: George M. Knox, Hood River County Assessor, 1937
- Reel-Folder 82.106: L.L. Laws, 1940
- Reel-Folder 82.107: Earl G. Mason, 1937
- Reel-Folder 82.108: Victor P. Morris, 1937
- Reel-Folder 82.109: Harry L. Riches, Marion County Agent, 1936
- Reel-Folder 82.110: J. L. Taylor, Vale Chamber of Commerce, 1937-1938
- Reel-Folder 82.111: I. H. Vanwinkle, Attorney General, 1938
- Reel-Folder 82.112: E.H. Wiegand, 1936-1937
- Reel-Folder 82.113: Walter C. Winslow, 1938
- Reel 180: American Association of University Women, 1922-1927
- Box-Folder 1.1: Emergency Board Request for Extension Service & Experiment Station, 1930
- Box-Folder 1.2: Statement of Services Lost to the Institution & State for the Year 1931-32, December 1931
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1907-1935
- Series II includes correspondence relating to the management and operation of Oregon Agricultural College. The series contains correspondence between William Jasper Kerr, OAC faculty, the Association of American Universities, students, figures associated with the institution, and the general public. Topics include equipment and materials for college use, reports from faculty members, the donation of a McCormick Reaper replica, legislation impacting OAC, Extension Service programming, faculty appointments, and budget matters.
- Reel 82: Microfilmed Correspondence, 1907-1929
- Box-Folder 1.3: General Correspondence, 1907, 1930-1935
- Series 3: Clippings, 1908-1935
- Series III is comprised of newspaper clippings relating to Oregon Agricultural College. Subjects include state educational funding, college attendance, faculty activities and research, development of the campus, and OAC's curricular offerings. The series contains both photocopies and a selection of original clippings.
- Box-Folder 1.4: General, 1908-1909
- Box-Folder 1.5: General, 1910
- Box-Folder 1.6: General, 1911
- Box-Folder 1.7: General, 1912
- Box-Folder 1.8: General, 1913
- Box-Folder 1.9: General, 1932
- Box-Folder 1.10: General, 1935
- Box-Folder 1.11: General, undated
- Box-Folder 5.3: Selected originals of newspaper clippings, 1909-1911, 1932
- Series 4: Oregon State Board of Higher Curricula, 1925-1941
- Series IV contains official reports and statements made by Oregon Agricultural College to the Oregon State Board of Higher Curricula between 1925 and 1941. The series also contains an outline of a plan for dividing programmatic efforts between the University of Oregon and OAC.
- Box-Folder 1.12: Brief, Oregon State Agricultural College to the Oregon State Board of Higher Curricula, May 18, 1925
- Box-Folder 1.13: Outline of a Suggested Division of Work Between University of Oregon and Oregon State Agricultural College, June 5, 1925
- Box-Folder 1.14: Report to the Board of Higher Curricula, April 27, 1928
- Box-Folder 1.15: "Statement of Oregon State Agricultural College to the State Board of Higher Curricula", May 2, 1928
- Box-Folder 1.16: "Statements by Representatives of Oregon State College Before Curricula Committee of State Board of Higher Education", December 8, 1941
- Series 5: Resolutions Adopted by State Board of Higher Education, 1935
- This series is comprised of a document entitled "Resolutions Adopted July 22, 1935, by the State Board of Higher Education Regarding Dr. Kerr, Retiring Chancellor."
- Reel 82
- Series 6: Biography of William Jasper Kerr
- This series is comprised of an excerpt from Edwin T. Reed's William Jasper Kerr, A Biography.
- Reel 82
- Series 7: Publications, 1908-1964
- Series VII contains publications authored by William J. Kerr and members of Oregon Agricultural College between 1908 and 1964. Topics include the importance of Home Economics during wartime, the construction of the Memorial Union, higher education in Oregon, and the state of land grant institutions. The series also contains programs and materials from the dedication of the Kerr Library.
- Reel-Folder 82.1: OSC - Illustrated Booklets, 1929-1930
- Reel-Folder 82.2: Relations of Land-Grant Colleges to State University, 1908
- Reel-Folder 82.3: OAC - Sources of Income and Departments of Instruction, 1908
- Reel-Folder 82.4: National Education Association - Session at Harvard, 1910
- Reel-Folder 82.5: Some Land Grant College Problems, 1910
- Reel-Folder 82.6: Education and the World War, 1917
- Box-Folder 1.17: The Spirit of the Land Grant Institution, 1931
- Alternate Format: Also in Reel 82.7
- Reel-Folder 82.8: Recent Experiences - Centralized Control of Higher Education in Oregon, 1933
- Reel-Folder 82.9: Phi Kappa Phi Journal, 1934
- Box-Folder 1.18: Oregon Problems in Marketing Agriculture and Industrial Products, 1938
- Alternate Format: Also in Reel 82.10
- Reel-Folder 82.11: William Jasper Kerr - dedication of Library address, 1964
- Reel-Folder 82.12: Letter to State Board of Higher Education, 1931
- Box-Folder 1.19: Administrative Regulations, 1921
- Series 8: OSC - U of O Controversy, 1937
- Series VIII is comprised of a memo drafted by Godfrey Vernon Cospon regarding the reorganization of Oregon Agricultural College and the University of Oregon and the ensuing controversy.
- Reel 82
- Series 9: Reports to the Board of Regents, 1909-1929
- This series contains reports to the Board of Regents summarizing the state of Oregon Agricultural College between 1909 and 1914. The series also contains a report for 1929.
- Reel 82: Reports, 1909-1914
- Box-Folder 1.20: Report to the Board of Regents, 1929
- Series 10: Reorganization, 1931-1932
- This series is comprised of materials relating to the reorganization of Oregon Agricultural College and the University of Oregon in 1931-1932. The contents of this series relate to the reassignment of subject specialities, programs, faculty, and funding between the two universities.
- Reel-Folder 82.1: Agriculture
- Reel-Folder 82.2: Architecture - Landscape
- Reel-Folder 82.3: Art
- Reel-Folder 82.4: Brief - Educational Survey
- Reel-Folder 82.5: Budgetary Material
- Alternate Format: Also found in Box 5
- Reel-Folder 83.5: Budgetary Material (continued)
- Reel-Folder 83.6: Building Projects - Self-financing
- Reel-Folder 83.7: Commerce
- Reel-Folder 83.8: Cost data
- Reel-Folder 83.9a: Curricula
- Reel-Folder 83.9b: Curricula Committee
- Reel-Folder 83.10a: Dormitories
- Reel-Folder 83.10b: Director of Dormitories
- Reel-Folder 83.11: Education
- Reel-Folder 83.12: Enrollment
- Reel-Folder 83.13: Extension - Radio, Summer School, Research
- Reel-Folder 83.14: Extra Compensation for Staff Members
- Reel-Folder 83.15: Field of Higher Education Developed in Oregon
- Reel-Folder 83.16: Graduate Work
- Reel-Folder 83.17: High School Relations
- Reel-Folder 83.18: Home Economics
- Reel-Folder 83.19: Journalism and News Service
- Reel-Folder 83.20: Library
- Reel-Folder 83.21: Lower Division
- Reel-Folder 83.22: Military
- Reel-Folder 83.23: Miscellaneous
- Reel-Folder 83.24: Mines
- Reel-Folder 83.25: Music
- Reel-Folder 83.26: Normal Schools
- Reel-Folder 83.27: Personnel (Deans and Directors) and Location of School
- Reel-Folder 83.28: Pharmacy
- Reel-Folder 83.29: Physical Education
- Reel-Folder 83.30: Press Bureau and Editor's Office
- Reel-Folder 83.31: Public Speaking
- Reel-Folder 83.32a: Budgetary and Financial
- Reel-Folder 83.32b: Attitudes of University People
- Reel-Folder 83.32c: Executive Secretary's Prerogatives and Authority
- Reel-Folder 83.32d: Methods of Procedure
- Reel-Folder 83.32e: Miscellaneous
- Reel-Folder 83.33: Research
- Reel-Folder 83.34: Rural Organization - College, University
- Reel-Folder 83.35a: Salary Analysis and Personnel
- Reel-Folder 83.35b: Salary Cuts
- Reel-Folder 83.36: Science
- Reel-Folder 83.37: Social Science
- Reel-Folder 83.38: Student Welfare - Housing, Deferred Pledging
- Reel-Folder 83.39: U of O
- Box-Folder 2.1: Brief, Oregon State Agricultural College to the Oregon State Board of Higher Education Regarding the Survey of Oregon State Institutions of Higher Learning, April 18, 1931
- Box-Folder 2.2: Supplementary Brief, Oregon State Agricultural College to the State Board of Higher Education, In Reply to the Twelve Briefs of the University of Oregon Dated April 20, 1931, April 27, 1931
- Box-Folder 2.3: Second Supplementary Brief, Oregon State Agricultural College to the State Board of Higher Education, In Reply to the Eleven Resolutions Proposed by the University of Oregon, May 1, 1931, May 13, 1931
- Box-Folder 2.4: Reply to Dean Faville's Brief on the Commerce School Problem from Oregon State Agricultural College to Oregon State Board of Higher Education, May 24, 1931
- Box-Folder 2.5: Joint Statement to the State Board of Higher Education Submitted by the Presidents of the State University and the State College, May 27, 1931
- Box-Folder 2.6: Survey of Public Higher Education in Oregon, 1931
- Box-Folder 2.7: Course Changes Proposed for 1931/32 Catalog, 1931
- Box-Folder 2.8: Survey Commission Working Documents, 1931-1932
- Box-Folder 2.9: Survey Commission Working Documents, undated
- Box-Folder 2.10: "A Study of Facts and Figures Bearing on Music", 1932
- Box-Folder 2.11: "Basic Data Showing Existing Conditions in the Science Departments of Oregon State College", 1932
- Box-Folder 2.12: "Revised Budgetary Estimates for Eighteen Month Period July 1, 1931 to December 31, 1932", 1931
- Box-Folder 2.13: Institutional Budget, 1932-1933
- Box-Folder 5.2: Science Departments, Oregon State College, Cost of Instruction per Course and by Departments, 1931-1932
- Box-Folder 5.1: Report to the Oregon State Board of Higher Education Curricula Committee on Vocational Education and Teacher Training, February 1932
- Series 11: College Surveys, 1928-1930
- This series is comprised of four bound volumes relating to surveys of land grant institutions conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Education. It includes one volume of completed portions of the survey for Oregon Agricultural College, one volume providing a detailed report of the state of higher education in Oregon, and two volumes of results of the survey from other institutions across the United States.
- Box-Item 3.1: Oregon State College to U.S. Bureau of Education: Land-Grant College Survey., 1928
- Box-Item 3.2: Survey of Oregon State Institutions of Higher Learning as Made by the United State Office of Education, Department of the Interior., 1930
- Box-Item 4.1: Survey of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, U.S. Department of the Interior Bulletin. Volume 1., 1930
- Box-Item 4.2: Survey of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, U.S. Department of the Interior Bulletin. Volume 2., 1930

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