International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) Records, 1970-2016

Overview of the Collection

Creator
International Students of Oregon State University.
Title
International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) Records
Dates
1970-2016 (inclusive)
1985-2016 (bulk)
Quantity
4.50 cubic feet, including 1395 photographs and 9 VHS videotapes; 2.65 Gbytes (13991 files), (6 boxes, including 1 oversize, and 1 map folder)
Collection Number
RG 247
Summary
The International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) Records document the administration, membership, and event programming of this organization and its affiliated student associations. The collection includes administrative records, promotional materials, photographs, scrapbooks, and video recordings. ISOSU was established in 1965 as the Foreign Students Association.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research with the exception of the International Student Directories in Series 15.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Established in 1965 as the Foreign Students Association, the International Students of OSU (ISOSU) oversees organizations of international students with administrative and budgetary support. These organizations, referred to as affiliates, identify themselves by a particular nation, geographic, or cultural region. Examples of these affiliates represented in this collection include: the African Students Association, the Association of Latin American Students, Chinese Students of OSU, the European Students Association, the Indian Students Associaton, Permias (the Indonesian Student Associaton), and the Vietnamese Students Association.

The mission of ISOSU is to facilitate cross-cultural engagement by hosting events and programs that provide social interaction and learning opportunities for international students and faculty as well as members of the Oregon State and Corvallis communities. Any recognized student organization at Oregon State that identifies itself as an international student organization or association can apply to become an affiliate organization of ISOSU. The organization also manages the International Resource Center (IRC) which was formed in 2009 to serve as a public space where international students, their visiting families, and culturally curious locals could gather together informally and for events. From 1977 to 1987, ISOSU was known as the International Student Organization.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) Records document the administration, membership, and event programming of the organization and its affiliated student associations. The records consist of materials generated and assembled by ISOSU and include: budget requests, certificates, constitutions, digital files, flyers, a guestbook, handbooks, meeting minutes, moving images, newsletters, newspaper clippings, officer lists, photographs, posters, publications, scrapbooks, survey materials, and VHS videotapes.

Administrative activities reflected in these records primarily focus on budgetary management and event planning. There are budget requests and related documentation generated by both ISOSU, as a body receiving annual funding from the Educational Activities Committee and later the Memorial Union Board, and the student associations, which in turn, receive annual support from ISOSU. There are also separate sets of constitutions reflecting the individual student associations and ISOSU.

The coordination and publicity of events, the central activity of ISOSU and its affiliates, is reflected in photographs, flyers, posters, budgetary records, scrapbooks, moving images, handbooks, and questionnaires for post-event evaluation. Some of these events are annual dinner and performance shows organized by the affiliates to showcase their particular culture(s)  (i.e. China Night, European Night, etc.). Much of the documentation generated by the affiliates reflect the organization and publicity of these shows. Other events reflected in these records, such as the International Cultural Exhibit, the International Spring Festival, and annual fashion shows, were organized by ISOSU to highlight all of the affiliate cultures in a single showcase. Traditionally, ISOSU coordinates 2-3 of these kind of events a year. Occasional ISOSU sponsored lecture series, forums, and workshops are also represented in these records.   

Born digital materials in this collection are in a variety of file formats: Word documents, PDFs, GIFs, JPegs, Bitmap images, and HTML documents. These files contain meeting minutes, posters, flyers, digital photographs, officer lists, newsletters, and moving images. The bulk of these files (13866 out of a total of 13991) are made up of digital images. They are available for viewing in the Reading Room.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) Records (RG 247), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The International Students of OSU (ISOSU) Records are made up of 21 series: 1. Correspondence, 1982-2014; 2. Meeting Minutes, 1970-2014; 3. Budget Requests and Information, 1975-2013; 4. Constitutions, 1978-2005; 5. Handbooks, 1986-2016; 6. Student Associations, 1976-2016; 7. Event Files, 1973-2015; 8. Publications, 1975-2010; 9. Surveys and Questionnaires, 2000-2014; 10. Flyers and Posters, 1981-2016; 11. Photographs, 1985-2012; 12. Certificates, 1994-2016; 13. Newspaper Clippings, 1971-2011; 14. Officer and Committee Member Lists, 1972-2003; 15. International Student Directories, 1982-circa 2010; 16. Business Cards, circa 1995-2016; 17. Guestbook, 2010-2015; 18. Officer Notebooks and Log, 1984-2011; 19. Scrapbooks, 1992-circa 2010; 20. Moving Images, 1993-2008; and 21. Plaque, 1997.

Acquisition Information

These materials were transferred to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center between 2012 and 2017.

Future Additions

Additions to the collection are expected.

Related Materials

Other collections that document international students at Oregon State include: Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU) Records (RG 011), English Language Institute Records (RG 234), and the International Education Records (RG 164).

Photographs of international students, including views of ISOSU events and officers, can be found in Harriet's Photograph Collection (P HC), the News and Communication Services Photograph Collection (P 057), the Gwil Evans Photograph Collection (P 082), and the University Publications Photographs (P 094).

Collections reflecting other OSU international student organizations include the Chatter Club/Friendship Internationale Scrapbook (MSS ChatterClub), the Association of Latin American Students Records (MSS ALAS), the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center Records (RG 245) and the Asia University America Program Photographs (P 209). The OSU Yearbook also contains information on international student clubs and activities.

Interviews with international students that were conducted in 2015 by the OSU Special Collections and Archives Research Center as a part of the OSU Sesquicentennial Oral History Project can be accessed here.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  Correspondence, 1982-2014Return to Top

Series 1 is made up of correspondence, memoranda, and press releases documenting interaction amongst ISOSU members as well as with ASOSU and OSU adminstrators. Topics addressed include event planning, workshop announcements, budgetary management, and policy clarification.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.1
Correspondence
1982-1995
1.2
Correspondence
1996-2014

Series 2:  Meeting Minutes, 1970-2014Return to Top

Series 2 consists of agendas, minutes, and notes from meetings of the ISOSU Executive Team, the ISOSU Advisory Board, the Finance Committee, and the ISOSU Leadership Council. This series also contains digital files.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.3
Meeting Minutes
1970-1985
1.4
Meeting Minutes
1989-1999
1.5
Meeting Minutes
2006-2014
Meeting Minutes and Agendas
This folder contains 28 born digital files reflecting ISOSU meetings and is made up of minutes, agendas, a meeting schedule, and a rolecall list for meeting attendance. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.
1995-2008

Series 3:  Budget Requests and Information, 1975-2013Return to Top

Series 3 contains budget requests submitted annually by ISOSU to the Educational Activities Committee for funding. Other materials in this series relating to ISOSU's budgetary management include memoranda, meeting minutes, expenditure listings, and budget submission guidelines.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.6
Budget Requests and Information
1975-1985
1.7
Budget Requests and Information
1985-1987
1.8
Budget Requests and Information
1990-2001
1.9
Budget Requsts and Information
2006-2010
1.10
Budget Requests and Information
2010-2013

Series 4:  Constitutions, 1978-2005Return to Top

Series 4 is comprised of ISOSU constitutions.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.11
Constitutions
1978-2005

Series 5:  Handbooks, 1986-2016Return to Top

Series 5 consists of handbooks, manuals, and guidelines issued by ISOSU, the Office of Student Involvement, and the Educational Activities Committee. About half of the handbooks are general overviews of policies and procedures while others focus upon specific subjects such as: election guidelines, budgetary management, and event planning and publicity.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.12
Election Guidelines
1986-1999
1.13
Event Committee and Programs Manual
2010
1.14
Event Planning
1993-2007
1.15
Financial Manuals
1996-2011
1.16
General
1999-2008
1.17
General
2011-2015
1.18
International Resource Center Events Handbook
2016
1.19
International Resource Center Handbook
2016
1.20
ISOSU Ambassador Manual
2007
Guidelines and Application Packets
This folder is made up of 6 born digital files containing guidelines for the ISOSU election of 1996/97 and application packets for ISOSU officers with hiring guidelines and job responsibilities. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.
1996-2008

Series 6:  Student Associations, 1976-2016Return to Top

Series 6 documents the student affiliate organizations administered by ISOSU and reflects financial management, event planning, annual reviews, and mission statements. This series includes budget proposals, constitutions, correspondence, flyers, newspaper clippings, and digital files.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.21
African Students Association
1982-2015
1.22
Arab Students Association
1994-2006
2.1
Association of Latin American Students
1984-2016
2.2
Bangladesh Student Association
1984-1985
2.3
Cambodian Student Association
1994-2015
2.4
Chinese Association at OSU
1976-2016
2.5
The Club Down Under
"To promote Australian/New Zealander/Oceanic cultural awareness"
1995
2.6
European Student Association
1985-2012
2.7
Friends of Palestine
1982-1985
2.8
Hmong OSU
2004-2016
2.9
Hong Kong Student Association
1985-2010
2.01
Indian Student Association
1982-2016
2.11
Indonesian Student Association (PERMIAS)
1992-2016
2.12
Iranian Student Association
1983-1998
2.13
Isang Bansang Pilipino (Filipino students)
1992-2016
2.14
Japanese Student Association
1984-2015
2.15
Korean Student Association
1986-2011
2.16
Kuwaiti Student Association
2005-2006
2.17
Laos Student Association
1992-2016
2.18
Malaysian Student Association
1982-2016
2.19
Pakistan Student Association
1984-1996
2.02
Persian Student Association
1996-1997
2.21
Saudi Arabian Student Association
2009-2011
2.22
SPICMACAY of OSU (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth)
1997-1999
2.23
Taiwanese Student Association
2005-2013
2.24
Thai Student Association
1984-2010
2.25
Tunisian Student Association
1984-1985
2.26
Turkish Student Association
1994-2007
2.27
Vietnamese Student Association
1979-2016
Student Associations
This folder contains 16 born digital files that are primarily made up of mission statements for 13 of the ISOSU affiliate organizations. These appeared on the ISOSU website in 2007. There is also a blank application packet for affiliate registration for the 2008-2009 year. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.
2007-2008

Series 7:  Event Files, 1973-2015Return to Top

Series 7 pertains to the planning and publicity of events organized by ISOSU and the various student associations. In addition to programs and flyers for the events, this series also contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, event schedules, checklists, recipes, and registration paperwork. This series also contains born digital files.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2.28
A Cultural Affair: Cultures of OSU
2013
2.29
End of the Year Celebration
undated
2.30
Event Programs
1992-2004
2.31
General
1984-2014
2.32
Healthy Campus Initiative
2013
2.33
International Cultural Exhibitions
1993-1996
2.34
International Food Fair
1984-1986
2.35
International Nights
1973-1998
2.36
International Resource Center Grand Opening
2015
2.37
International Student Experience Forum
2011-2012
2.38
ISOSU Coffee Hours
2008-2013
2.39
ISOSU Homecoming Conference
2013
2.04
ISOSU Retreats
2009-2010
2.41
International Thanksgiving Dinner
2002-2003
2.42
International Week
1983-2001
2.43
Planning Materials and Forms
1988-2013
2.44
Planning Materials and Forms
1998-2009
2.45
Sign-In Sheets
2008-2011
2.46
Spring Festival
2000-2013
2.47
Spring Festival
2012
2.48
Winter Festival
1985-2011
Event Files
This folder consists of 39 digital files relating to ISOSU events. In addition to monthly calendar listings of events, these files also contain letter templates for the soliciting of event sponsorship, a roster of ISOSU Fashion Show participants, and a list of budgetary resources available to the affiliates for annual event expenses. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.
1995-2008

Series 8:  Publications, 1975-2016Return to Top

Series 8 consists of publications generated and collected by ISOSU that include newsletters, brochures, reports, and two editions of a cookbook featuring recipes from the world. There are also publications from the OSU Office of International Education, the OSU International Cultural Service Program, and other universities. This series also contains born digital files.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2.49
Informational Brochures
2005-2016
2.50
International Cookbooks
Published by ISOSU and the International Cultural Service Program. Some of the recipes were featured in ISOSU's 1985 and 1987 International Food Fair events.
1987; 1996
2.51
International Cultural Service Program Roster
2001
2.52
International Student Assessment Report
2010
3.1
ISOSU Newsletters
1975-2009
3.2
ISOSU Year End Report
2002
3.3
Non-University Brochures and Programs
1985-2000
3.4
Office of International Education Newsletters
1984-1998
3.5
Publications from Other Universities
1970-2000
Publications
This folder contains 11 born digital files of ISOSU newsletters and resource guides prepared for international students at OSU. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.
2008

Series 9:  Surveys and Questionnaires, 2000-2014Return to Top

Series 9 relates to surveys and questionnaires distributed to attendees of ISOSU sponsored events and to international students to assess their needs and feelings at OSU. Primarily comprised of completed evaluation forms, this series also contains correspondence, blank forms, and aggregate data compiled from surveys.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3.6
Blank Survey Forms
2013
3.7
Career in the U.S. Workshop
undated
3.8
Evaluations of ISOSU
2000
3.9
International Cultural Service Program Speakers
2014
3.01
International Student Clime Assessment
2010
3.11
International Student Experience Forum
2012
3.12
ISOSU International Week Kickoff Event
2001
3.13
ISOSU Retreat Evaluations
2001
3.14
OSU Without Borders Event
undated
3.15
Questionnaire For International Students
2007-2008
3.16
Winter Break Activities
Undated

Series 10:  Posters and Flyers, 1981-2016Return to Top

Series 10 is made up of posters and flyers publicizing events organized by ISOSU as well as the OSU Asian and Pacific Cultural Center. This series also contains digital files.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3.17
Posters and Flyers
1981-2016
5.1
Posters and Flyers
1983-2016
map-folder
6
Posters and Flyers
2013-2016
Posters and Flyers
This folder consists of 18 born digital files containing posters and flyers publicizing events organized by ISOSU and it's affiliated organizations. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.
2003-2008

Series 11:  Photographs, 1985-2012Return to Top

Series 11 consists of photographic and digital images documenting ISOSU events, students, and staff. In total, there are 1207 physical photographs in this series (981 prints, 173 slides, and 53 negatives) and 13866 digital images.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3.18
Africa Nights
1997
3.19
China Night
2002
3.02
Chinese New Year
1996
3.21
Chinese Student Association
1999
3.22
Colorado Trip
1997
3.23
European Nights
1997-2002
3.24
Filipino Night
2002
3.25
Group Shots
1996
3.26
Hui o Hawaii Luau
1997
3.27
Images Used as Part of an Unidentified Display
The photographic images are portrait shots of ISOSU officers printed out on paper. The other parts of the display are graphics of flags of various countries and geographical border outlines.
undated
3.28
India Night
2002
3.29
International Cultural Exhibits
1989-1995
3.30
International Education Week Kickoff
2001
3.31
International Fashion Shows
1985-1997
3.32
International New Year Celebration
2000
3.33
International Night
1994
3.34
International Night
1996
3.35
International Night
1998
3.36
International Night
1998
3.37
International Spring Festival
2000
3.38
International Spring Festival
2002
3.39
Latin Night
1996
3.40
OSU Without Borders Lecture Series
2002
3.41
Portrait Shots
1995-2012
3.42
Staff Retreat
2002
3.43
Unidentified Events
1985-2000
3.44
Vietnamese New Year
1996
3.45
"What Is Race"? Workshop
1999
Photographs
This folder contains 13866 digital photographs arranged in 428 digital folders. They were taken by ISOSU staff and document various ISOSU events. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.
2004-2012

Series 12:  Certificates, 1994-2016Return to Top

Series 12 is made up of certificates awarded to ISOSU by the Office of Student Involvement and the Student Activities Center in recognition of the organization of cultural events for OSU. There are also certificates given by ISOSU to individual student organizations for various honors.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3.46
Certificates
1994-2016

Series 13:  Newspaper Clippings, 1971-2011Return to Top

Series 13 is made up of articles and advertisements clipped from the Daily Barometer newspaper about ISOSU sponsored events, ISOSU members, and budgeting issues.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4.1
Newspaper Clippings
1971-2011

Series 14:  Officer and Committee Member Lists, 1972-2008Return to Top

Series 14 contains listings of officers for both the ISOSU administration and the affiliate student associations. Some of these lists are featured on student organizaton annual review forms. This series also contains born digital files.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4.2
Officer and Committee Member Lists
1972-2003
Officer Lists
This folder is comprised of 7 born digital files containing lists of ISOSU officers. These files are available for viewing in the Reading Room.
1996-2008

Series 15:  International Student Directories, 1982-circa 2010Return to Top

Series 15 consists of directories listing international students enrolled at OSU. These directories contain confidential information and their access is restricted.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
7.1
International Student Directories
1982-circa 2010

Series 16:  Business Cards, circa 1995-2016Return to Top

Series 16 is made up of business cards collected by ISOSU that reflect a combination of ISOSU members, OSU staff in various departments, ASOSU members, student media staff, and off-campus businesses.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4.3
Business Cards
circa 1995-2016

Series 17:  Guestbook, 2010-2015Return to Top

Series 17 consists of a guestbook containing messages, drawings, and poems written by visitors to the International Resource Center.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4.4
Guestbook
2010-2015

Series 18:  Officers' Notebooks and Log, 1984-2011Return to Top

Series 18 is made up of notebooks assembled by ISOSU officers that reflect administrative activities and contain budgetary information, meeting minutes, memoranda, notes, and positon descriptons.The log contains written messages between officers.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4.5
Officers' Log
1984
4.6
Officers' Notebook
1999/2000
4.7
Officers' Notebook
2010/2011

Series 19:  Scrapbooks, 1992-circa 2010Return to Top

Series 19 is made up of four scrapbooks assembled by ISOSU staff and students. Primarily comprised of photographs and newspaper clippings, the scrapbooks document ISOSU events as well as containing stories about malevolent spirits and haunted places from around the world. This series contains 188 photographic prints.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4.7
1991/1992
box-item
5.2
2004/2005
Box/Folder
4.8
Haunted Houses Around the World
Contains images (printed from the web) and descriptions of buildings and places around the world connected with legends of ghosts and hauntings. Loose squares of paper with images of demonic figures from different cultures found inside the scrapbook are beng retained in the same folder as the scrapbook. The scrapbook is handmade with sheets of paper bound by pieces of ribbon.
circa 2010
4.9
Scary Stories from Around the World
Contains images (printed from the web) and stories of haunted folk tales from Japan, Mexico, Australia, and other places. The scrapbook is handmade with sheets of paper bound by pieces of ribbon.
circa 2010

Series 20:  Moving Images, 1993-2008Return to Top

Series 20 consists of nine VHS Videotapes and two digital files containing recorded footage of ISOSU events, including: China Night, Japan Night, International Thanksgiving, and the International Fashion Show.

Container(s) Description Dates
box-item
4.1
European Night
1993
4.2
International Fashion Show
1995
4.3
Latin Night
1996
4.4
European Night
1998
4.5
International Night
1998
4.6
International Thanksgiving
2003
4.7
Spring Showcase and Japanese Night
undated
4.8
Japanese Night
undated
4.9
ISOSU Collage
undated
China Night
Video can be accessed here.
2007
Promotional Video for ISOSU
Video can be accessed here.
2008

Series 21:  Plaque, 1996Return to Top

Series 21 is comprised of a plaque recognizing the service of ISOSU presidents from 1989/90 to 1995/1996.

Container(s) Description Dates
box-item
4.12
Plaque
1996

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Clubs--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Students, Foreign--Oregon--Corvallis.

Corporate Names

  • International Students of Oregon State University.
  • Oregon State University--Students.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Born digital.
  • Digital images.
  • Photographic prints.
  • Scrapbooks.
  • Video recordings.

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Oregon State University. Foreign Student Association. (creator)
    • Oregon State University. International Student Organization. (creator)