J. Frank Ligon Papers, 1965-1979

The J. Frank Ligon Papers consist of materials created and assembled by Ligon in the course of a series of administrative roles for academic programs at Oregon State University – specifically his roles in the 1960s and 1970s as Director of Summer Term, Assistant to the President for Continuing Education, Curriculum Coordinator, and Assistant to the President for Community College Relations.   A portion of the records were created and assembled by Ligon’s predecessors and represent activities prior to his appointment to a specific role.  The records primarily consist of correspondence, reports, subject files, and related documentation.

The bulk of the records pertain to academic programs for undergraduates, undergraduate advising and general education requirements, and the coordination of academic programs with other Oregon State System of Higher Education institutions and community colleges.  In the mid-Willamette Valley, this coordination work was done through the Linn Benton Area Coordinating Council for Continuing Education and Community Service.   Materials documenting interactions with the Oregon Institute of Technology, Southern Oregon College, Eastern Oregon State College, and the Oregon College of Education are included.

Of special note are materials documenting efforts to reach and provide services to non-traditional college student populations.  These include adult students who were returning to college after a period of absence, residents of the Oregon State Penitentiary, low income or physically disabled students, and women.  The collection includes a 1967 report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Higher Education for Mature Women at OSU; a report of the Special Services Consortium – a consortium of community colleges and Oregon State that provided services to “low income or physically disabled students”; and materials assembled for a television program targeted at adult students.  The Oregon State Penitentiary program materials were assembled by Robert Philipps who preceded Ligon as Summer Term Director and was an instructor in the program in the 1960s.

Finally, the collection includes files documenting the arrangements for campus speakers hosted by the Summer Term Office – specifically, Julian Bond and Willi Unsoeld.  Bond was initially scheduled to speak in July 1969, but his visit was cancelled due to illness.  He subsequently spoke at Oregon State as part of the convocations and lecture series in October 1970.  Willi Unsoeld spoke at Oregon State in June 1969 about his climb of Mt. Everest and his work for Outward Bound as Executive Vice President.  The Unsoeld folder includes a copy negative of a print of Unsoeld.