Chemistry Department Records, 1937-1997

Collection Overview

Title: Chemistry Department Records, 1937-1997

Predominant Dates: 1945-1981

ID: RG 098

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. Department of Chemistry

Arrangement: The records consist of 6 series: I. General Subject File, 1937-1963; II. Research, 1958-1962; III. National Science Foundation, 1958-1961; IV. Graduate School, 1945-1961; V. Building Renovation and Construction Planning Records, 1970-1981; and VI. Promotional Materials, 1997.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

Scope and Content Notes

The Chemistry Department Records document the research and graduate programs of the department. Series I-IV consist of microfilmed records, primarily from the post-war period of the late 1940s to early 1960s. Of particular note are extensive correspondence between the department chair and the Dean of the School of Science, F.A. Gilfillan; materials pertaining to the department's use of educational television for teaching general chemistry courses; research proposals and summaries of research projects; and records of the department's graduate program.

The paper records consist predominantly of building renovation and construction planning records for major renovations to Gilbert Hall and the construction of the Gilbert Addition. A 1997 booklet for prospective graduate students includes profiles of all department faculty.

The publications were issued in 1955-1997 and include lists of research publications and alumni newsletters. The lists of research publications provide an annual compilation of journal articles and books published by department faculty for 1954-1955 through 1968-1969. Beginning with the 1965-1966 list, citations are grouped by discipline. The collection does not include lists for all years in this time span. The alumni newsletters were published annually in 1982-1997. The newsletters include a message from the department chair, alumni news, profiles of new or retiring faculty, awards, and summaries of research.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Chemistry courses have been taught at Oregon State University since the earliest years of the institution; the first doctoral degree in Chemistry was awarded in 1935. A Chemistry Building (later named Gilbert Hall for Earl C. Gilbert) was constructed in 1939; it was extensively renovated and the Gilbert Addition was constructed in 1981.

John Fulton was department head from 1907 until 1940, when Earl C. Gilbert, who had been on the faculty since 1917 was appointed head. Bert Christensen followed Gilbert as Department Head in 1956.

Oregon State College was one of the first institutions to offer a chemistry course by television and to broadcast a course to students at several institutions simultaneously.

Administrative Information

Accruals: Additions to the collection are expected.

More Extent Information: 1 box; 4 microfilm reels

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: Transferred from the Chemistry Department in several accessions from 1966 through 1997.

Related Materials: Additional materials pertaining to the Chemistry Department are available in the College of Science Records (RG 024), the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC), and the College of Pharmacy Records (RG 105). The Chemistry Department Motion Picture Films (FV 205) include recordings of the General Chemistry course taught via interinstitutional television in 1958-1959. The Special Collections and Archives Research Center collections also include the Otto Ballhorn Chemistry Laboratory Notebook (MSS Ballhorn), the Harry Freund Collection (MSS Freund), the Joseph S. Butts Papers (MSS Butts), and the Robert W. Newburgh Papers (MSS Newburgh).

Preferred Citation: Chemistry Department Records (RG 098), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

People, Places, and Topics

Chemistry--Research--Oregon.
Chemistry--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon.
College buildings--Oregon--Corvallis.
History of Science
National Science Foundation (U.S.)
Oregon State College--Graduate students.
Oregon State College. Department of Chemistry
Oregon State College. School of Science
Oregon State University--Buildings
Oregon State University--Faculty.
Oregon State University--Graduate students.
Oregon State University. Department of Chemistry
Oregon State University. School of Science
Research grants--Oregon.
Television in higher education--Oregon.
University History

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: General Subject File, 1937-1963

The General Subject File consists primarily of correspondence sent and received by the department chairs (John Fulton, E.C. Gilbert, and B.E. Christensen); much of the correspondence is with the F.A. Gilfillan, Dean of the School of Science. The series also includes reports and statistics. Topics include research activities, budgets, student enrollment, graduate programs, and faculty.

Sub-Series 1: 1937-1939

Reel-Folder 1.1: Chemistry Department Statistics Contract
Reel-Folder 1.2: Chemistry Building

Sub-Series 2: 1942-1947

Reel-Folder 1.3: Anti-malarial research correspondence
Reel-Folder 1.4: ASTP correspondence
Reel-Folder 1.5: Chemistry Department correspondence

Sub-Series 3: 1945-1950

Reel-Folder 1.6: Forest Products correspondence
Reel-Folder 1.7: Gifts to the Department of Chemistry
Reel-Folder 1.8: General correspondence
Reel-Folder 1.9: Board of Control Oregon State
Reel-Folder 1.10: Communications to the staff
Reel-Folder 1.11: Communications from the staff
Reel-Folder 2.1: School of Science correspondence
Reel-Folder 2.2: President's Office correspondence
Reel-Folder 2.3: Information analysis, outside requests correspondence
Reel-Folder 2.4: A. B. Scott correspondence
Reel-Folder 2.5: Dr. J. S. Butts correspondence
Reel-Folder 2.6: W. E. Caldwell correspondence

Sub-Series 4: 1946-1950

Reel-Folder 2.7: General Correspondence
Reel-Folder 2.8: Office of Naval Research U. S. Navy
Reel-Folder 2.9: Information and Analysis
Reel-Folder 2.10: Personal - E. C. Gilbert
Reel-Folder 2.11: President's Office Dr. Strand
Reel-Folder 2.12: Communications to and from staff
Reel-Folder 2.13: Communications to and from other departments
Reel-Folder 2.14: Gifts to the department
Reel-Folder 2.15: Information analysis
Reel-Folder 2.16: Oregon State Civil Defense Agency
Reel-Folder 2.17: School of Science F. A. Gilfillan
Reel-Folder 2.18: Personal E. C. Gilbert
Reel-Folder 2.19: Gifts to the Department
Reel-Folder 2.20: President's Office A. L. Strand

Sub-Series 5: 1950-1955

Reel-Folder 2.21: Interdepartmental correspondence, 1952-1953
Reel-Folder 2.22: Gifts to the Department, 1950-1951
Reel-Folder 2.23: President's Office A. L. Strand, 1950-1953
Reel-Folder 2.24: School of Science, 1950-1955
Reel-Folder 2.25: E. C. Gilbert Personal, 1950-1955
Reel-Folder 3.1: Graduate Assistance Correspondence

Sub-Series 6: 1955-1963

Sub-Subseries 1: Educational TV

Reel-Folder 3.2: 1957-1958
Reel-Folder 3.3: 1958-1959
Reel-Folder 3.4: 1959-1960
Reel-Folder 3.5: 1960-1961
Reel-Folder 3.6: Departmental Seminars, 1962-1963
Reel-Folder 3.7: Gilfillan Dinner

Sub-Subseries 2: Planning Committee

Reel-Folder 3.8: Minutes
Reel-Folder 3.9: Reports

Sub-Subseries 3: Publications

Reel-Folder 3.10: 1961
Reel-Folder 3.11: Staff
Reel-Folder 3.12: Department of Chemistry and Exchanges from Other Colleges
Reel-Folder 3.13: Richland General Electric Graduate Work
Reel-Folder 3.14: General Chemistry
Reel-Folder 3.15: Kasetsart University
Reel-Folder 3.16: Gifts for Commencement Program
Reel-Folder 3.17: Interdepartmental Correspondence, 1955-1956
Reel-Folder 3.18: Gifts and Awards
Reel-Folder 3.19: Interdepartmental Correspondence, 1956-1957

Sub-Subseries 4: President's Office

Reel-Folder 3.20: 1957-1958
Reel-Folder 3.21: Report
Reel-Folder 3.22: 1959-1960
Reel-Folder 3.23: School of Science, 1962-1963
Reel-Folder 3.24: President's Office, 1955-1956
Reel-Folder 3.25: Gilbert E. C., 1955-1956

Sub-Subseries 5: President's Office

Reel-Folder 3.26: 1956-1957
Reel-Folder 3.27: 1960-1961
Reel-Folder 3.28: 1961-1962

Sub-Subseries 6: School of Science

Reel-Folder 3.29: 1957-1958
Reel-Folder 3.30: 1955-1957
Reel-Folder 3.31: 1956-1957
Reel-Folder 3.32: Gifts
Reel-Folder 3.33: Registration Report, 1959-1960
Reel-Folder 3.34: 1959-1960
Reel-Folder 3.35: 1959-1960
Reel-Folder 3.36: 1961-1962
Reel-Folder 3.37: 1958-1959
Reel-Folder 3.38: 19601-1961

Series 2: Research, 1958-1962

Series II consists of research proposals and applications for graduate fellowships; proposals to the National Science Foundation for research projects and equipment purchases; and summaries of research being conducted in the Chemistry Department.

Sub-Series 1: Research Proposals

Reel-Folder 3.39: 1958-1959
Reel-Folder 3.4: 1959-1960
Reel-Folder 4.1: 1960-1961
Reel-Folder 4.2: 1961-1962
Reel-Folder 4.3: Research Project Outline, 1958
Reel-Folder 4.4: Research Reports, 1959-1960
Reel-Folder 4.5: Fellowship bulletins

Series 3: National Science Foundation, 1958-1961

Series III includes announcements and publications issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as well as correspondence with NSF regarding research programs in chemistry at Oregon State.

Reel-Folder 4.6: 1958-1959
Reel-Folder 4.7: 1959-1960
Reel-Folder 4.8: 1960-1961

Series 4: Graduate School, 1945-1961

Series IV provides information about graduate programs in the Chemistry Department including degree requirements and curriculum; graduate assistantships; and applications and inquiries from prospective graduate students.

Reel-Folder 4.9: 1945-1946
Reel-Folder 4.10: 1946-1947
Reel-Folder 4.11: 1947-1948
Reel-Folder 4.12: 1948-1953
Reel-Folder 4.13: Graduate Student Notices
Reel-Folder 4.14: Graduate Committee, 1946-1951
Reel-Folder 4.15: Graduate School, 1955-1961
Reel-Folder 4.16: Graduate School Committee Departmental

Series 5: Building Renovation and Construction Planning Records, 1970-1981

The Building Renovation and Construction Planning Records pertain to the renovation of Gilbert Hall and the construction of the Gilbert Addition and include meeting minutes for various building committees, proposals, students, program descriptions, reports, correspondence, and dedication materials. All files include correspondence.

Box-Folder 1.1: Space Requests Design Literature Space Requirements Committee, 1968-1970
Box-Folder 1.2: Minutes of New Building Committee Planning Records Reports, 1969-1974
Box-Folder 1.3: New Building Priorities, 1969-1974
Box-Folder 1.4: Building Committees, 1970-1974
Box-Folder 1.5: Building Program Reports, 1970-1974
Box-Folder 1.6: Program Design Standards, 1971-1974
Box-Folder 1.7: Proposal Planning Review, 1972-1978
Box-Folder 1.8: Exhaust and Cross Contamination Study, 1973
Box-Folder 1.9: Feasibility Study, 1973-1974
Box-Folder 1.10: Architects' Folios Facilities Inventory, 1973-1974
Box-Folder 1.11: Program, 1974
Box-Folder 1.12: New Building (Executive Order Space Inventory), 1974
Box-Folder 1.13: Architects Proposals, 1974
Box-Folder 1.14: Project Description Preliminary Estimate, 1974-1975
Box-Folder 1.15: Award of Contract, 1976
Box-Folder 1.16: New Building Early, 1975-1977
Box-Folder 1.17: New Building Committee Fall, 1977
Box-Folder 1.18: Proposal Ways and Means, 1977
Box-Folder 1.19: Energy Requirements, 1977-1978
Box-Folder 1.20: Movables, 1977-1978
Box-Folder 1.21: Space Utilization (Lab), 1978
Box-Folder 1.22: Project Summary, 1978
Box-Folder 1.23: Final Review, 1978
Box-Folder 1.24: Bids Clippings, 1978
Box-Folder 1.25: New Building Dedication, 1981

Series 6: Promotional Materials, 1997

The Promotional Materials consist of a booklet for prospective graduate students about the Chemistry Department graduate and research programs that includes profiles of all faculty.

Box-Folder 1.26: Booklet for Prospective Graduate Students, 1997