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News and Communication Services Records, 1940-2004

By Finding aid prepared by Bryce Henry, Lawrence A. Landis, Karl McCreary, and Elizabeth Nielsen.

Collection Overview

Title: News and Communication Services Records, 1940-2004

Predominant Dates: 1952-2000

ID: RG 203

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. News and Communication Services

Extent: 14.7 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The records are arranged in 7 series: I. Policy and Historical Correspondence, 1952-1970; II. Policies and Procedures, 1942; III. Scripts, 1980; IV. Biographical Files, 1940-2000; V. Sound Recordings, 1966-1987; VI. News and Press Releases, 1941-2004; and VII. Subject Files, 1952-1987.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The News and Communication Services Records document the public relations activities of Oregon State University, especially with the news media. The records consists primarily of biographical files for faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and others affiliated with Oregon State and press releases.

Items from this collection have been digitized and made available in Oregon Digital. In addition, all of the audiocassette tapes described in series 5 have been digitized and are available upon patron request.

Scope and Content Notes

The News and Communication Services Records document the public relations activities of Oregon State University, especially with the news media. The collection consists predominantly of biographical files for faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and others affiliated with Oregon State and news and press releases. The biographical files provide information for more than 2000 individuals and include completed biographical forms, personal histories, news releases, clippings, vitae and publications lists, awards, obituaries, and correspondence. The biographical files are available on microfilm and in paper form. The news and press releases are primarily for the period 1988-2004; some releases form the 1940s-1970s are also included in the collection.

The collection also includes sound recordings; policies and procedures; and subject files. The sound recordings include speeches, special events, and news conferences; promotional radio spots, audio news features, and public service announcements; and interviews with Oregon State University faculty, administrators, coaches, and athletes. Of note are several recordings of OSU presidents Robert MacVicar and John Byrne. The policies and procedures document a proposed reorganization of university relations functions in the 1960s; minutes of the University Relations Council, which was established in 1968; and a 1942 News Bureau Office Manual.

The subject files include materials pertaining to numerous campus buildings; notable campus visitors; oceanography research and academic programs; and OSU presidents James Jensen, Robert MacVicar, and John Byrne.

An addition to the News and Communication Services Records (Accession 2013:077) is made up of news and press releases in 7 bound volumes, each containing a year of releases arranged chronologically. The dates represented are: 1959, 1963, 1973, 1975, and 1977 through 1979.

Items from this collection have been digitized and made available in Oregon Digital, and all of the audiocassette tapes described in series 5 have been digitized and are available upon patron request. In addition, the contents of the biographical files in box-item 5.88, 9.310, 4.80, 4.140, 4.238, 9.43, and 1.788 have been digitized and are available upon request.

Biographical / Historical Notes

A Department of Information was established at Oregon State College in the 1950s to provide news about the College to off-campus media. It became the Department of News and Communication Services in 1991 with the purpose of fostering close ties with the newspapers, wire services, radio and television stations, and professional publications of the state, region, and nation.

Administrative Information

Accruals: Additions to the collection are expected.

More Extent Information: 129 sound recordings; 19 boxes; 2 microfilm reels

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The Records were transferred to the Archives in numerous accessions from 1978 through 2006.

Related Materials:

Earlier records documenting public and news relations are part of the Information Department Records (RG 010); an extensive collection of news articles about Oregon State College published in Oregon newspapers is part of the Journalism Department Records (RG 091). News and Communication Services Photograph Collection (P 057) include photographs separated from biographical and subject files as well as extensive photographic files created and assembled by the department.

The News and Communication Services Motion Picture Films and Videotapes (FV 057) consist of raw footage and final productions of news releases and public service announcements documenting and promoting Oregon State University. Biographical information for faculty, staff, and alumni is also available in the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC), Alumni Association Records (RG 035), and Extension and Experiment Station Communications Records (RG 069) as well as many academic department records. The College of Forestry Records (RG 139) and College of Home Economics and Education Records (RG 141) also include extensive biographical files for faculty.

Preferred Citation: News and Communication Services Records (RG 203), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Oregon State University. News and Communication Services
Oregon State College. News Bureau
Oregon State University. Department of Information Services

People, Places, and Topics

Byrne, John Vincent, 1928-
College presidents--Oregon.
College publicity--Oregon.
History of Science
Jensen, James H.
MacVicar, Robert William, 1918-
Natural Resources
Oceanography--Research--Oregon.
Oregon Multicultural Archives
Oregon State College--Alumni and alumnae.
Oregon State College--Buildings.
Oregon State College--Faculty.
Oregon State College--Research.
Oregon State College--Students.
Oregon State University--Alumni and alumnae.
Oregon State University--Buildings
Oregon State University--Faculty.
Oregon State University--Research.
Oregon State University--Students.
Oregon State University. News and Communication Services
Universities and colleges--Oregon--Corvallis--Employees.
Universities and colleges--Public relations--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History

Forms of Material

Audiocassettes.
Audiotapes.


Box and Folder Listing