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Robert C. Notson papers, 1915-2003
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Notson, Robert Carver, 1902-1999
- Title
- Robert C. Notson papers
- Dates
- 1915-2003 (inclusive)19152003
(bulk)19601990 - Quantity
- 5.75 linear feet, (2 boxes and 12 scrapbooks)
- Collection Number
- WUA001
- Summary
- The Robert C. Notson papers consist of the personal and professional papers of Notson, journalist, editor and publisher of The Oregonian from 1925 to 1975 and long-time Willamette University Board of Trustee member. The collection also contains the scrapbooks of Notson's life as well as scrapbooks belonging to his wife, Adelia (White) Notson, and daughter, Jane (Notson) Gregg, documenting their respective experiences while students at Willamette University.
- Repository
-
Willamette University Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Mark O. Hatfield Library
900 State Street
Salem, OR
97301
Telephone: 5033706866
Fax: 5033706141
archives@willamette.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Robert Carver Notson was born in Lexington, Oregon on December 28, 1902, to Samuel Edward Notson (1867-1937) and Mary Ann Notson (nee Nelson), a family whose ancestors came to North America on the Mayflower. He attended grade school in Heppner, Oregon, and high school in Salem, Oregon. Notson's career in journalism began at age twelve when he edited and printed a community newspaper, The Heppner Budget. While at Salem High School, Notson served as editor of The Clarion newspaper and The Clarion Annual. After graduating in 1920, he enrolled at Willamette University, where he wrote for The Collegian and edited the Wallulah yearbook his junior year. During his senior year Notson served as news editor of The Oregon Statesman. Notson also participated in debate teams both in high school and college and toured nationally with Willamette's debate team. Notson '24 married classmate Adelia White '25 on June 5, 1926, and they had two children, Jane (Notson) Gregg '54 and Ann (Notson) Poling '57.
After graduating from Willamette, Notson attended Columbia University School of Journalism in New York City and then worked for The Brooklyn Eagle. He returned to Portland and was hired by The Oregonian to cover the Rose Festival in June of 1925, the start of a 50-year career at that newspaper.
Beginning as a reporter in 1925, Notson moved to the position of Assistant Night City Editor in 1933. In 1934 he was promoted to Night City Editor, a position he held for two years before moving up to City Editor in 1936. In 1941 Notson was made Managing Editor. From this position he moved to Executive Editor in 1965 and in 1968 he became the publisher of The Oregonian, the position he held until his retirement in 1975.
While at The Oregonian, Notson also served on various committees and boards. He was director of the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) from 1962 to 1968 and served as president from 1966 to 1967, during which time he had occasion to meet with President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House. He was President of Willamette University's Alumni Association in 1930 and served on the Board of Trustees from 1931 to 1971 (vice president from 1958 to 1971), later honored as a Willamette University Life Trustee. He served as a board member of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association (APMEA) from 1959 to 1965, and he was a member of the Advisory Council of the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center (UOHSC) after his retirement from The Oregonian. In his capacity as a Mayflower descendant, Notson was an active participant in both the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) and the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Oregon (SMDSO), serving, among other roles, as deputy governor and program chair of the latter organization.
Notson received many honors during his life time. He was given the Oregon Newspaper Association's Voorhies Awards in 1974 for his outstanding contributions to journalism. He was made an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Willamette University in 1971. He also received the Les Sparks Medallion from Willamette's Alumni Association in 1994, in recognition of his years of loyalty and service to the University.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Robert C. Notson papers consist of correspondence, writings, speeches, clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks dating from 1915 to 2003. The bulk of the materials are from the 1960s through the 1980s and document his career in journalism, including serving as editor and publisher of The Oregonian newspaper and president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. The collection also includes files relating to his position on Willamette University's Board of Trustees; his involvement in the Society of Mayflower Descendants; family correspondence (1945-1948); family photographs; his retirement; correspondence and speeches relating to the book he authored, "Making the Day Begin," and the book he co-edited with his wife, Adelia (White) Notson, "Stepping Stones: The Pilgrims Own Story." Many of Notson's speeches and writings have handwritten annotations and include such topics as Watergate, prayer in schools, and social security. Also included in the papers are scrapbooks documenting Notson's career and scrapbooks belonging to his wife, Adelia (White) Notson, and his daughter, Jane (Notson) Gregg, documenting their respective experiences as Willamette University students.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.
For further information, see the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Copyright Information: Before material from collections at Willamette University Archives and Special Collections may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permission. Persons wishing to quote from materials in any collections held by University Archives and Special Collections should consult the University Archivist. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Robert C. Notson papers, Archives and Special Collections, Mark O. Hatfield Library, Willamette University.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The papers are organized into four series: I. Professional, II. Monographs, III. Personal, and IV. Scrapbooks. These series have been further organized into subseries, which are described in detail below.
Folders largely maintain original order. There is a certain amount of subject overlap between series as well as duplicate materials in various folders. Researchers are encouraged to examine the entire collection in order to cover all material addressing their interest.
Location of Collection
Mark O. Hatfield LibraryCustodial History
Jane (Notson) Gregg and Ann (Notson) Poling, daughters of Robert C. Notson
Acquisition Information
These papers were donated to Archives and Special Collections by Jane N. Gregg, Executor of the Estate of Robert C. Notson and the Estate of Adelia W. Notson on June 26, 2006.
Processing Note
Processed in 2006.
Related Materials
Ralph W. Barnes papers
Robert Blanding Beta Theta Pi collection
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Professional Files, 1930-2000Return to Top
This series documents Notson's fifty-six year career with The Oregonian and his work with other organizations such as the ASNE (American Society of Newspaper Editors) and the Mayflower Societies. Included in the series are editorials written for The Oregonian, copies of speeches, correspondence, news clippings and texts of articles Notson wrote.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Subseries A: Speeches and Writings
Folders in this subseries contain the bulk of Notson's speech and article texts, encompassing a wide range of events such as Watergate, prayer in schools, and social security, along with topics such as the overall direction of the United States and Oregon in the context of world history. Also included are anecdotes and memoirs from Notson's personal and professional life, and a variety of clippings on subjects of personal interest to Notson.
|
1940-2000 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 1 | Court Decisions' Editorial, Sunday Forum |
1965 |
1 | 2 | Porno - Ballot Measure |
1974-1975 |
1 | 3 | Prayer in Schools |
1966,1980-1983 |
1 | 4 | San Clemente |
1974 |
1 | 5 | Social Security |
1989-1994 |
1 | 6 | Older Speeches |
1940-1960 |
1 | 7 | Speeches |
1951-1959 |
1 | 8 | Speeches |
1966-1975 |
1 | 9 | Speeches |
1971-1975 |
1 | 10 | Speeches |
1985-1988 |
1 | 11 | Speeches - Watergate Perspective |
1973-1974 |
1 | 12 | Watergate - Rotary Speech |
1974 |
1 | 13 | Personal - Watergate Letters
Contains letters relating to the Rotary Speech on Watergate.
|
1974 |
1 | 14 | Clippings |
1945, 1973-1983 |
1 | 15 | Clippings and draft articles |
1955, 1980-1990 |
1 | 16 | Heppner Flood, etc.
Contains a reproduction of the 1903 Oregonian coverage of the flood in the June 14, 2000 Oregonian and a clipping of a 1973 article by Notson about the flood.
|
2000 |
1 | 17 | Meier and Frank |
1949-1965 |
1 | 18 | Memoirs - Background |
1951-1980 |
1 | 19 | Watergate - Columns - Comments |
1972-1974 |
Subseries B: The Oregonian History
Folders in this subseries contain clippings, correspondence, and other writings relating to the history of The Oregonian as an institution; clippings, correspondence and speeches relating to The Oregonian staff, including Notson; and correspondence relating to the development of a scholarship in honor of former The Oregonian publisher Michael Frey.
|
1930-1999 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 20 | Oregonian Backgrounds |
1930-1981 |
1 | 21 | 50-Yr Congratulatory Letters |
1975 |
1 | 22 | ASNE (American Society of Newspaper Editors) Convention |
1967 |
1 | 23 | Death of Robert Notson |
1999 |
1 | 24 | Jalmer Johnson book
Collection of Jalmer Johnson's articles for The Oregonian.
|
1930-1986 |
1 | 25 | Letters of Congrats – ASNE President |
1966 |
1 | 26 | Memoirs and anecdotes |
undated |
1 | 27 | Mr. Notson - Congratulatory Letters (re: becoming Publisher of The Oregonian) |
1968 |
1 | 28 | Notson Obituaries and Memorial Service Programs |
1999 |
1 | 29 | Notson - Biographical |
1937-1974 |
1 | 30 | Notson Clippings |
1965-1967, undated |
1 | 31 | Notson - Personal |
1965-1993 |
1 | 32 | Notson Retirement |
1975 |
1 | 33 | New York Herald-Tribune |
1957-1979 |
1 | 34 | Oregonian Masthead |
1955, 1965 |
1 | 35 | Quarter Century Club |
1966-1972 |
1 | 36 | Retirements |
1972-1973 |
1 | 37 | Sale of Oregon Journal Monopoly Charge |
1972-1973 |
1 | 38 | S. I. (Samuel Irving) Newhouse |
1950-1974 |
1 | 39 | Swan clippings
Letters and articles regarding Notson's retirement (swan song).
|
1975 |
1 | 40 | Notson photographs |
undated |
1 | 41 | Frey, Rosemary - Scholarship |
1979-1982 |
1 | 42 | Mr. Frey - Personal |
1965-1987 |
1 | 43 | Navy Public Relations |
1940-1950 |
1 | 44 | Nixon Correspondence |
1963, 1985-1987 |
1 | 45 | Report to Frey |
1940-1960 |
Subseries C: Press Ethics and Organizations
Folders in this series contain clippings, press reprints, reports, and speech texts, many written by Notson, relating to the topics of press relations, free press and fair trial, and general press ethics. Also included are correspondence, clippings and paraphernalia relating to Notson's ASNE (American Society of Newspaper Editors) presidency and the convention he attended in Washington, D.C. during that period.
|
1954-1975 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 46 | Federal Responsibility for a Free and Competitive Press |
1963 |
2 | 47 | Fair Trial - Free Press |
1954, 1963-1966 |
2 | 48 | Fair Trial - Free Press |
1955, 1960-1972 |
2 | 49 | Miscellaneous - Backgrounds |
1967-1968, 1972-1975 |
2 | 50 | Notson - Personal |
1966, undated |
2 | 51 | Open Meetings - Interpretations |
1973 |
2 | 52 | Reporter Shield Laws |
1959, 1967-1973 |
Series II: Monographs, 1970-1989Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Subseries A: Making the Day Begin |
1975-1976 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 53 | Making the Day Begin
Copy of the book.
|
1976 |
2 | 54 | Making the Day Begin
Correspondence regarding the publication of the book.
|
1976 |
2 | 55 | Making the Day Begin - letters of congratulation |
1975-1976 |
Subseries B: Stepping Stones |
1970-1988 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 56 | Pilgrims - Stepping Stones, (correspondence) |
1970-1974, 1988 |
Subseries C: The Strike that Failed: An Analysis of the Portland General Newspaper Strike of 1959-65 against The Oregonian and Oregon Journal |
1984-1989 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 57 | Rosemary Frey Correspondence |
1989 |
2 | 58 | The Strike that Failed |
1985 |
2 | 59 | The Strike that Failed - Correspondence |
1984 |
Series III: Personal Files, 1920-2003Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Subseries A: Family |
1920-1982 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 60 | Envelope of Family Letters |
1940-1950, 1977, 1982 |
2 | 61 | Salem High School Clarion Annual |
1920 |
Subseries B: Mayflower Descendants Organizations
Folders in this subseries contain correspondence regarding Notson's participation and leadership in the General Society of Mayflower Descendants and the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Oregon, including a speech given at the Triennial Congress of the GSMD in 1978.
|
1971-1995 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 62 | Mayflower Society |
1989, 1993-1994 |
2 | 63 | Mayflower Society Events |
1982-1986 |
2 | 64 | Mayflower Talk - Correspondence |
1978-1979, 1988 |
2 | 65 | "People Capable of Greatness" Speech |
1978-1979 |
2 | 66 | Pilgrims - Miscellaneous |
1971-1973 |
2 | 67 | Speeches - Mayflower |
1978-1979, 1987 |
2 | 68 | Stepping Stones and Mayflower Business |
1987-1988 |
2 | 69 | Stepping Stones and Mayflower Business |
1990-1993 |
2 | 70 | Stepping Stones and Mayflower Business |
1992-1995 |
Subseries C: University of Oregon Health Sciences Center (UOHSC) |
1976-1980 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 71 | UOHSC Advisory Council |
1976 |
2 | 72 | Veteran's Hospital |
1977 |
2 | 73 | Veteran's Hospital |
1978 |
2 | 74 | Veteran's Hospital |
1979-1980 |
2 | 75 | Veteran's Hospital - Press |
1977-1978, 1980 |
Subseries D: Willamette University |
1942-2003 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 76 | Fraternal |
1983-1984 |
2 | 77 | Fraternal |
1985, 1997 |
2 | 78 | Mahoney, Barbara (Ralph Barnes) |
1943, 1990-1992, 2003 |
2 | 79 | Ralph Barnes |
1990, 1992, 2003 |
2 | 80 | Willamette University - Knopf |
1942 |
2 | 81 | Willamette U. - Miscellaneous |
1953-1983 |
Series IV: Scrapbooks, 1915-1994Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
3 | 1915-1939 | |
4 | 1939-1953 | |
5 | 1954-1957 | |
6 | 1957-1960 | |
7 | 1961-1963, 1994 | |
8 | 1964-1965 | |
9 | When Dad was President of ASNE |
1966-1967 |
10 | 1967-1969 | |
11 | 1970-1972 | |
12 | 1969-1991 | |
13 | Adelia A. (White) Notson |
1921-1975 |
14 | Jane (Notson) Gregg |
1950-1954 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Personal Names
- Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhouse), 1913-1994
Corporate Names
- Associated Press Managing Editors Association
- General Society of Mayflower Descendants
- Oregonian (Firm)
- Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Oregon
Occupations
- publishers