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Dale P. Parnell Papers, 1965-1998

By Finding aid prepared by Tiah Edmunson-Morton.

Collection Overview

Title: Dale P. Parnell Papers, 1965-1998

Predominant Dates: 1979-1995

ID: MSS Parnell

Primary Creator: Parnell, Dale (1928-)

Extent: 8.1 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The Dale P. Parnell Papers document Parnell's career through personal correspondence, articles, publications, speeches, books, photographs, and videotapes.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection documents Parnell's career through his personal correspondence, articles, publications, speeches, books, photographs, and videotapes.

It contains Parnell's speeches and articles (1969-1996); statements issued by Parnell as president of San Joaquin Delta College (CA) (1977-79); books written and edited by Parnell; The Community and Junior College Journal, which was published by Parnell (1980-1992); the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges (AACJC) publications and project records; AACJC Letter, which was edited by Parnell (1981-1991); clippings and other news items pertaining to Parnell's accomplishments and activities (1965-1981); correspondence pertaining to his changes in jobs (1974-1992); Contextual Learning Institute and Consortium Research Project final report (1997); and 40 videotapes of speeches by Parnell, the Tech Prep Associate Degree Program series, and other activities.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Dale Paul Parnell was educated at Willamette University (B.A., 1951) and at the University of Oregon (M.Ed., 1956, D.Ed., 1964). He served as principal of Springfield High School, superintendent of Lane Intermediate Education District, and was instrumental in founding Lane Community College, serving as the College's first president from 1965 to 1968. When he left in 1968, Governor Tom McCall appointed Parnell to the position of Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction. In 1974, he became the chancellor for San Diego Community College; two years later, in 1976, he became president of San Joaquin Delta Community College. He was president of the American Association of Community Colleges from 1981to 1991, followed by a year as Oregon's community college commissioner.

He served on the faculty for Oregon State University's School of Education from 1992 through 1996, where he helped establish the Western Center for Community College Development. The Center was established at Oregon State University in 1991 to provide professional development, opportunities for partnerships, and assistance with curriculum to community colleges in the western United States.

Retiring from OSU in 1996, Parnell was named Professor Emeritus of Education. After retiring, he was a visiting professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Parnell was a prolific writer; his many publications include the book The Neglected Majority, which was published in 1985.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 40 videotapes and 5 photographs; 9 boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: These materials were donated by Dale Parnell and by the Lane Community College Archives in 1997.

Related Materials:

There are materials related to Parnell in The Western Center for Community College Development Records (RG 235). Brochures and news clippings about the Center are available in the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC) file "MC-Western Center for Community College Development". Materials pertaining to community colleges in the 1960s thru 1980s are available in the School of Education Records (RG 184). The Special Collections and Archives Reserch Center collections also include the E. Wayne Courtney Papers (MSS Courtney), documenting the work of an OSU School of Education faculty member.

The Lane Community College Archives houses the President's Office (Dale Parnell) Records, 1964-1969 (A-033) . Additional information about Parnell can be found in the Assistant to the President (Bert Dotson) Records (A-032 ), the online exhibit Lane Community College: The Parnell Years, and a 2003 oral history with Dale Parnell.

Preferred Citation: Dale P. Parnell Papers (MSS Parnell), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Processing Information: This collection is not fully processed; this guide is preliminary.

Other URL: A preliminary container list was created for this collection on or before November 14, 2014.

Creators

Parnell, Dale (1928-)
Lane Community College (Eugene, Or.)

People, Places, and Topics

Community colleges--Oregon--Administration.
Community colleges--Oregon.
Education--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon.
Oregon State College. School of Education
Universities and colleges--Oregon.
University History
Vocational education.

Forms of Material

Photographic prints.
Video recordings (physical artifacts)


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.