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Drama, Debate, and Oration Clippings Scrapbooks, 1920-1963

By Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Nielsen.

Collection Overview

Title: Drama, Debate, and Oration Clippings Scrapbooks, 1920-1963

ID: MSS Drama

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. Department of Speech

Extent: 3.0 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The Drama, Debate, and Oration Clippings Scrapbooks consist of clippings from the campus, local, and regional newspapers documenting speech, debate, oratory, and dramatic activities at Oregon State University from the 1920s to early 1960s.

Scope and Content Notes

The Drama, Debate, and Oration Clippings Scrapbooks document speech, debate, oratory, and dramatic activities at Oregon State University from the 1920s to early 1960s. The scrapbooks include clippings, arranged chronologically, from the Barometer campus newspaper and the local Corvallis newspapers as well as newspapers published in Portland, Oregon, and elsewhere in Oregon. The clippings announce the results of speech and debate events; profile students participating in speech and drama activities; and includes announcements and reviews of dramatic performances at Oregon State.

The collection consists of 4 volumes. These are for 1920-1930 (volume 1); 1930-1937 (volume 2); 1937-1955 (volume 3); and 1959-1962 (volume 4). Loose clippings for 1962-1963 are included in a separate folder in the front of the 4th volume. Many of the clippings, especially in volumes 3 and 4, are detached from the scrapbook pages.

It is likely that the scrapbooks were assembled by the Speech Department.

Biographical / Historical Notes

The Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics was established in 1920, as the first Speech Department in Oregon, and grew quickly during the 1920s. When higher education in Oregon was re-organized in the early 1930s, responsibility for speech degrees was transferred to the University of Oregon and several faculty moved to establish the program. However, the service department at Oregon State continued to offer courses in debating, extempore speaking, oratory, voice and diction, and radio speech and coordinated an extensive program of forensics and dramatic activities for students.

C.B. (Charles Buren) Mitchell joined the faculty of Oregon Agricultural College in 1920 to head the new Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics. As department head, he established and developed the dramatics and forensics programs at Oregon State. Earl W. Wells joined the department at about the same time (1921); he was instrumental in developing the forensics and public speaking program and coached orators who gained national prominence. Wells served as Speech Department Chair from 1952 until his retirement in 1962. Elizabeth Barnes also joined the faculty in the early 1920s (1922) and was the main force behind the theater program until her retirement in 1946.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 2 oversize boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The immediate source of the scrapbooks is unknown.

Related Materials:

The Speech Communication Department Records (RG 181) document speech, debate, and drama activities, especially during the 1920s through 1950s. The Speech Communication Department Photograph Collection (P 088) include images of students who participated in speech and debate activities, faculty, and facilities. The Effie L. Wagner Scrapbook of the Women's Debate Tour (MSS WagnerEffie) documents the 1928 Women's Debate Tour of several colleges and universities in the western United States.

Two compilations of Oregon State's achievements in intercollegiate oratorical competition for 1920-1945 by Earl W. Wells are available in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center's History of the Pacific Northwest book collection. Extensive documentation of theater and dramatics programs are available in the University Theatre Records (RG 180), University Theatre Photographs (P 112), and the C.B. Mitchell University Theater Scrapbooks (MSS Mitchell). Additional information about speech, drama, and forensics activities is available in the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC).

Preferred Citation: Drama, Debate, and Oration Clippings Scrapbooks (MSS Drama), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Oregon State University. Department of Speech
Oregon State Agricultural College. Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics
Oregon State College. Department of Speech

People, Places, and Topics

College and school drama, American--Oregon--Corvallis.
College orations--Oregon State College.
Debates and debating--Oregon--Corvallis.
Drama--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis.
Forensics (Public speaking)
Oratory--Societies, etc.
Oratory--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis.
Oregon Agricultural College--Students.
Oregon State Agricultural College. Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics
Oregon State College--Students.
Oregon State College. Department of Speech
Oregon State University--Students.
Oregon State University. Department of Speech
Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History

Forms of Material

Scrapbooks.


Creative Commons License
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