Memorial Union Videotapes, 1977-1990

Title: Memorial Union Videotapes, 1977-1990

ID: FV 198

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. Memorial Union

Extent: 1.45 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

The Memorial Union Videotapes consist of recordings made of the Ceramics 80 Conference held in 1980; a videotape orientationto the Memorial Union prepared in 1989; and several recordings pertaining to George Stevens. The Ceramics 80 recordings consist of 10 3/4" Umatic videotapes. About half of these tapes contain interviews with professional ceramicists and artists invited to speak at the conference; the remainder depict various events including registration, an exhibit and receptionat the Corvallis Arts Center, an informal discussion session at the end of the conference, and tile decoration at the McAlexander Fieldhouse.

The Memorial Union Orientation videotape (FV198:1) was produced in 1989; the 14-minute videotape provides an introduction to the programs and activities of the Memorial Union and includes footage of the full range of student activities including recreational sports, the Craft Center, homecoming, Moms Weekend, the cultural centers, and student media. The videotape includes footage of all Memorial Union facilities as well as registration and commencement activities at Gill Coliseum. The collection includes 2 copies of the final production, a videotape of a sample edit, and a continuous play version (1 hour 53 min). All four videotapes are VHS format.

The George Stevens videotapes are all VHS format. They include Stevens lecturing to the Political Science 406 class on November 15, 1988 (FV 198:2) about the student fees budgeting process at Oregon State; speakers at Stevens' retirement dinner in June 1990 (FV198:3); and a news story about Stevens produced and aired by the KVAL-13 television station in Eugene in June 1990 (FV198:4). The news story is reported by Ann Robinson and includes footage of many Memorial Union staff.

An addition to the collection (Accession 2015:003) consists of video recordings produced and collected by the Memorial Union. Numbering 8 VHS videotapes and 3 U-Matic tapes, these recordings document various subjects relating to the Memorial Union including a profile on artist Henk Pander, Memorial Union Program Council field training, and a program for Memorial Union director George Stevens. Events documented on these recordings include: the dedication ceremony for the opening of Memorial Union East (Snell Hall), the 1987 Mom's Weekend Fashion Show, and the Chips Invitational Mascot Ski Race in Colorado (where Benny Beaver took to the slopes).

The Memorial Union was dedicated in 1929 as the student union for the Oregon State campus and provides services and facilities to the campus and Corvallis communities. One of the Memorial Union's many programs is the Craft Center, which offers non-credit classes and access to studios for ceramics, photography, fiber arts, wood working, flass, fine arts, jewelry, and metalwork.

The Ceramics 80 Conference, held in June 1980, was organized by Oregon State University Craft Center Manager Don Johnson and three others in the ceramics community. The conference was held in Snell Hall on campus and at other campus and community locations. The event featured presentations and workshops by nine nationally known ceramicists, including Rudy Autio, F. Carlton Ball, Dorothy Bearnson, Daniel Rhodes, and Paul Soldner.

George Stevens served as director of the Memorial Union from 1963 until his retirement in 1990. Stevens was appointed Associate Dean of Students for Student Activities in 1971 and promoted to Assistant Vice-President for Student Affairs in 1981. He taught graduate-level courses in college student services administration and was active in professional organizations. Stevens was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1926 and died in Corvallis in 1996.

More Extent Information: 25 videotapes and 3 U-Matic tapes; 2 boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions: Copyright, reproduction, and use restrictions may apply to the videotape of the news story about George Stevens produced and aired by KVAL-13 television station in Eugene.

Acquisition Note: The videotapes were transferred to the Archives in 1995 and 2005.

Related Materials: The Memorial Union Records (RG 099) and the Memorial Union Photographs (P 198) include extensive documentation of the Memorial Union building and student activities, including paper records and images pertaining to the Ceramics 80 Conference. The OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC) includes biographical information about Stevens (MC-Stevens, George) as well as additional information about the Craft Center. Photographs of Craft Center facilities and programs are available in various photograph collections.

Preferred Citation: Memorial Union Videotapes (FV 198), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Oregon State University. Memorial Union
KVAL-TV (Television station : Eugene, Or.)
Stevens, George F.

Autio, Rudy, 1926-
Ball, F. Carlton, 1911-
Bearnson, Dorothy
Ceramics.
College environment--Oregon--Corvallis.
College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
Oregon State University--Students.
Oregon State University. Memorial Union
Rhodes, Daniel, 1911-1989
Soldner, Paul.
Stevens, George F.
Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.
Student unions--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History

Video recordings (physical artifacts)