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Oregon State College History of World War II Project Records, 1940-1947

By Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Nielsen.

Collection Overview

Title: Oregon State College History of World War II Project Records, 1940-1947

Predominant Dates: 1944-1947

ID: MSS OSCWW2

Primary Creator: Cressman, Luther Sheeleigh (1897-1994)

Extent: 0.4 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The Oregon State College History of World War II Project Records document military service of Oregon State students, alumni, and faculty as well as wartime activities and programs conducted by the College. The records were assembled in the mid-1940s by a committee charged with collecting and preserving records pertaining to Oregon State College's role in World War II.

This collection has been digitized and is available upon request.

Scope and Content Notes

The Oregon State College History of World II Project Records document the military service of Oregon State students, alumni and faculty as well as wartime programs and activities. The records include lists of materials compiled; reports from academic departments and administrative units on military service by faculty, programs and activities conducted by the unit during the war period, and the war work activities of faculty and staff; correspondence; brochures; and certificates. The reports include A History of the Development and Accomplishments of the Wartime Nutrition Program in Oregon, 1941-1945 and a School of Home Economics bulletin by Maud Wilson, Rooms for War Guests.

The records include lists of Oregon State College students, alumni, and faculty who served in the military during World War II, received honors, or died during the war. A compilation of information about staff members that were granted leaves of absence for military service or other war work in 1940-1946 is included; this compilation includes lists as well as a completed form, Record of Staff Members Released for War Activities, for each individual.

Of special note are completed war service record forms for Oregon State graduates and former students who died in World War II. These forms were completed by family members and include information about when the individual attended Oregon State, their military service, the date and circumstances of their death, and surviving family members. These forms were received by the Alumni Association. Some of the forms include accompanying correspondence or published obituaries.

This collection has been digitized and is available upon request.

Biographical / Historical Notes

In 1944, Oregon State College President A.L. Strand established a campus committee with the assignment of "collecting and preserving all records having to do with Oregon State College's role in the present war". Delmer Goode, Editor of Publications, chaired the committee and coordinated this work. The committee was formed at the request of L.S. Cressman, Director of the World War II History Project of the Oregon State Defense Council's Committee on Conservation of Cultural Resources.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 2 boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The immediate source of these materials is unknown; the materials may have been assembled by Harriet Moore during the 1960s in her role as University Archivist. The records were separated from the Memorabilia Collection in 2012 to form this separate collection.

Related Materials: The Special Collections and Archives Research Center's holdings include many collections documenting the extensive role of Oregon State College in World War II. Of particular note are the Army Specialized Training Program (RG 059), College of Science Records (RG 024), College of Engineering Records (RG 062), Eugene Starr Papers (MSS Starr), and the Oregon State Yank Collection (MSS Yank). The Center's holdings also include collections documenting the wartime activities of individuals and organizations; these include the Alpha Lambda Delta Records (MSS AlphaLambdaDelta), Delta Zeta Sorority Chi Chapter Scrapbook (MSS DeltaZeta), and the Wesley Ross Memoir of World War II (MSS RossW).

Preferred Citation: Oregon State College History of World War II Project Records (MSS OSCWW2), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Cressman, Luther Sheeleigh (1897-1994)
Goode, Delmer M.
Oregon State Defense Council

People, Places, and Topics

Oregon State College--Alumni and alumnae.
Oregon State College--Faculty.
University History
World War, 1939-1945--War work--Oregon--Schools.


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