Othniel R. Chambers Papers, 1922-1951

Title: Othniel R. Chambers Papers, 1922-1951

Predominant Dates: 1934-1949

ID: MSS Chambers

Primary Creator: Chambers, Othniel Robert (1894-)

Extent: 1.0 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

The Othniel R. Chambers Papers document Chambers' graduate education in psychology at Ohio State University and his teaching, research, and outreach activities at Oregon State College. The bulk of the collection consists of radio lectures and related materials for numerous radio programs that Chambers presented on KOAC in the 1930s and 1940s. These programs include Getting Along with Others, The Individual Today and Is My Child Growing Up?. The collection also includes 6 16-inch phonograph records with recordings of radio talks given in 1935-1936 as Is My Child Growing Up? programs in the Family Life Series as well as the Homemakers' Hour. The recorded talks address children's behaviors, prejudices, and capacities; attitudes toward play; and children following a leader.

The papers also include class notes from Ohio State University, class notes and lectures presented at Oregon State, publications and student papers, reprints of professional journal articles, and newspaper clippings. The student papers include an undated report by Helen Steyaert, Medical Practices Among the Pacific Northwest Indians, written in the 1930s or early 1940s. Documents that are identified as "book reviews" appear to be Chambers' notes and summaries of books and articles he read and studied.

The collection also includes materials assembled by Chambers' wife, Gladys Dawson, pertaining to food preparation, 4-H activities, and household management. Most of the items were published in the 1920s and many were prepared by the Ohio State University Extension Service. Materials pertaining to the Women's Club at Ohio State, of which she was a member, are also included.

The photograph is of Othniel R. Chambers and his wife.

Othniel Robert Chambers was a professor of psychology at Oregon State College from 1929 until his death in 1951. Born in Jasper, Indiana on April 19, 1894, Chambers received his A.B. and M.A. from Indiana University (1922) and his Ph.D. from Ohio State University (1926). He taught at Ohio State University in 1923-1926 and at the University of Texas in 1926-1929. In 1929, Chambers moved to Oregon, where he became a professor and head of Oregon State College’s Department of Psychology. During the 1930s and 1940s, he gave numerous radio lectures for KOAC.

Chambers was active in numerous psychological associations throughout the region. He served as president of the Benton County Hygiene Committee (1950) and was a member of the Pacific Northwest Council of Family Relations. He was also a member of numerous social and honorary societies.

More Extent Information: 1 photograph; 2 boxes, including 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The materials were donated to the Archives by Chambers' family in 1979.

Related Materials: The Special Collections and Archives Research Center collections include the Jesse F. Brumbaugh Papers (MSS Brumbaugh), a psychology professor at Oregon State from 1915 until 1939. The Leo George and Ruth Ann Kramer Papers (MSS Kramer) include class materials from a psychology course taken by Leo Kramer in 1951. Additional materials about child development research are available in the Human Development and Family Sciences Department Records (RG 085) and the College of Home Economics and Education Records (RG 141). Extensive materials pertaining to KOAC radio programs are part of the KOAC Records (RG 015).

Preferred Citation: Othniel R. Chambers Papers (MSS Chambers), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Chambers, Othniel Robert (1894-)
KOAC (Radio station : Corvallis, Or.)
Ohio State University. Department of Psychology
Ohio State University. Extension
Oregon State Agricultural College. Department of Psychology
Oregon State College. Department of Psychology
Steyaert, Helen Elizabeth

Chambers, Othniel Robert, 1894-
Child development.
Oregon Multicultural Archives
Psychology--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon--Corvallis.
Radio in higher education--Oregon--Corvallis.
Radio programs--Oregon.
University History

Phonograph records.
Photographic prints.