Roberta Frasier Anderson Papers, 1959-1974

Title: Roberta Frasier Anderson Papers, 1959-1974

ID: MSS AndersonR

Primary Creator: Frasier, Roberta C.

Extent: 0.35 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

The Roberta Frasier Anderson Papers consist of biographical materials; newspaper clippings; lesson plans and training materials; speeches, presentation outlines, and conference papers; correspondence; publication drafts; and publications and article reprints. The biographical materials include the extensive, detailed nomination of Anderson for the Superior Service Award.

The bulk of the collection consists of publications written by Anderson to serve as lessons plans and training materials for Home Economics Extension family life and 4-H project leaders. These address a variety of topics that reflect the major social changes of the 1960s and early 1970s, including child development, the generation gap, sex education, teenagers, unwed parents, the changing roles of women, deaths in families and widowhood, and family communication. Instructional bulletins for a federal extension program focused on low income families authored by Frasier are also included.

The speeches include the text of a presentation by Anderson in the 1970 4-H Nutrition Education Workshop titled Life Styles of Indian and Mexican-Americans as They Affect EFNEP (the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program). The correspondence is predominantly thank you letters and notes of congratulations or inquiries regarding her presentations and publications.

Roberta C. Frasier was appointed Family Life Specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service in 1959, a position she held until her retirement in 1974. She trained Extension and 4-H educators and project leaders on a variety of topics pertaining to families, child development, aging, and communications within families; developed curriculum; and wrote guides and publications. She was the recipient of the first Osborne teaching award given by the National Council on Family Relations; the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Frasier its Superior Service Award for her creative programming in family life education.

Frasier earned a B.A from Washington State University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington. Prior to her appointment at Oregon State University, Frasier was chair of the Child Development Department at Washington State University from 1947 to 1959.

A mother of three children, Frasier was widowed in 1948. In 1972, she married Peter Rictor Anderson and began using the name Roberta Frasier Anderson.

More Extent Information: 1 box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Related Materials:

An oral history interview with Roberta Frasier Anderson is held in the Oregon State University Extension Service Faculty and Staff Oral History Collection (OH 014).

Extensive records pertaining to home economics extension and 4-H programs are available in the Extension Service Records (RG 111) and College of Home Economics and Education Records (RG 141). The Special Collections and Archives Research Center includes many collections documenting the work of Home Economics Extension and 4-H administrators, staff, volunteers, and organizations, including the Helen Cowgill Papers (MSS Cowgill), Ardis W. Koester Papers (MSS Koester), Buena Maris Mockmore Papers (MSS Mockmore) (a family life specialist in the 1930s), Florence Lynds Shuff Collection (MSS Shuff), Janet Taylor Papers (MSS TaylorJ), Esther Taskerud Papers (MSS Taskerud) the Malheur County 4-H Leader's Council Records (MSS Malheur), Oregon State University Collegiate 4-H Club Records (MSS 4HClub), and the Oregon State University Extension Asociation/4-H Records (OSUEA4H).

Preferred Citation: Roberta Frasier Anderson Papers (MSS AndersonR), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Frasier, Roberta C.
Oregon 4-H (Program)
Oregon State College. Federal Cooperative Extension Service
Oregon State University. Extension Service

4-H clubs--Oregon.
Bereavement.
Child development.
Child rearing.
Family life education.
Frasier, Roberta C.
Home economics extension work--Oregon.
Parenting.
Teenagers.
University History