Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
J. Kenneth Munford Collection, 1866-2000
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Munford, James Kenneth.
- Title
- J. Kenneth Munford Collection
- Dates
- 1866-2000 (inclusive)18662000
1930-2000 (bulk)19302000 - Quantity
- 4 cubic feet
- Collection Number
- Consult repository.
- Summary
- The J. Kenneth Munford Collection consists of a variety of materials assembled and created by Munford as a student, teacher, writer and editor, and local historian.
- 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 - Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Alumnus J. Kenneth Munford was a member of the Oregon State University faculty from 1939 until his retirement in 1977, with breaks for military service and further education. A native of Banks, Oregon, Kenneth Munford came to Corvallis in 1930 as a freshman at Oregon State College. After graduating in 1934 with a degree in education, he served as principal at the Harding Elementary School in Corvallis (1935-1937) and the junior high school in Newburg, Oregon (1938-1939) and taught classes at both schools as well. Kenneth Munford and Helen Marjorie ("Marge") Vannice were married in 1939.
In 1939, Munford became an English instructor at Oregon State College, a position he held until leaving for military duty in 1941. After receiving a Doctor of Education degree from Stanford University in 1948, he returned to OSC as an editor in the Office of Publications. He became Director of Publications in 1956 and spearheaded formation of the OSU Press in 1961. Active in the OSU Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi since his initiation in 1934, Munford also served as chapter President (1963-1964), correspondent for the chapter newsletter, and later President of the national headquarters (1968-1971) of the honorary society. In 1986, Munford was awarded Phi Kappa Phi's Distinguished Member Award.
Munford's interest in John Ledyard began in the mid-1930s while teaching a fifth-grade Oregon history class. He wrote an article for the Sunday Oregonian and with the encouragement of a Portland, Oregon, publisher, he quickly wrote a book, John Ledyard: An American Marco Polo, which was published in 1939. Through the years, he began to see that there was much more of historical value in the Ledyard story than had been revealed in his 1939 book, so Munford began preparing an annotated version of the Ledyard's journal. He began collaborating with Sinclair Hitchings, Keeper of Prints at the Boston Public Library, and John Ledyard's Journal of Captain Cooks's Last Voyage was published by the OSU Press in 1963.
Munford retired from Oregon State University in 1977, but continued to be an active writer and supporter of local history. In 1978, he was awarded the Oregon Historical Society's Henry Clinton Collins Award "for his writings on local and statewide history."
In 1983, Munford began writing a weekly column on local and regional history for the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Thirteen years and 561 columns later, his last column was published on January 15, 1996.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Series 1 includes several family photographs and an excerpt from Munford's mother's diary. The souvenirs of college (series 2) consist primarily of memorabilia of Munford's first year as an Oregon State College student in the early 1930s. Series 3 includes texts written by Oregon State College faculty member, Lillian Jeffreys Petri, that were used and annotated by Marge Munford when she studied piano with Petri in the late 1930s. Also included in Series 3 is sheet music for two pieces, Song Birds in the Twilight Calling and Sweet Oregon. Series 4 includes radio scripts and related notes, correspondence, and documentation pertaining to several radio productions on Oregon history and geography that Munford created in the mid 1930s and early 1940s.
Series 5 consists of materials pertaining to Munford's research and writing about John Ledyard. Specifically, these include research notes, manuscripts, correspondence, publicity, and reviews for a 1937 article about Ledyard in the Sunday Oregonian; a 1939 book, John Ledyard: An American Marco Polo; and the 1963 publication, John Ledyard's Journal of Captain Cook's Last Voyage.
Series 7 includes photocopies of all the columns on local and regional history written by Munford for the Corvallis Gazette-Times; a subject index and title list for the columns; and photographs assembled and/or acquired for use with the column. The photographs include images of various Corvallis landmarks, especially schools, as well as many individuals of local or regional significance. Series 8 includes materials pertaining to the early history of Corvallis College and other local and regional historical topics. The travel notes (series 9) were written during an extended trip to Maine, Canada, London, and Europe during the late summer and fall of 1971.
Series 10 consists of materials related to Munford's membership in Phi Kappa Phi and includes books, correspondence, a handbook, lists of chapter officers, minutes, newsletters, reports, and an unpublished manuscript on Munford's 45 years of involvement with the organization. Included among the subjects addressed in this series are: the 1997 Centennial Conference, the 1980 national Convention in Portland, and Phi Kappa Phi President Ilona Herlinger.
Series 11 constitutes certificates, awards and plaques presented to Munford in honor of his work in local history and participation in Phi Kappa Phi. Organizations that awarded the certificates include: Benton County Board of Commissioners, Boy Scouts of America, Corvallis Historic Preservation Advisory Board, Daughters of the American Revolution, Oregon Historical Society, and Phi Kappa Phi. Series 12 consists of newspaper clippings pertaining to Munford's involvement in Phi Kappa Phi and a protest lodged by students over the firing of an English Professor, Frank Harper. Series 13 is a sound recording, The Face of Oregon, of the OSU Concert Band, Madrigal, Glee Clubs, and Choralaires performing several pieces in honor of the Oregon Centennial, April 23, 1959.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
J. Kenneth Munford Collection, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Organized into thirteen series: I. Munford Family; II. Souvenirs of college; III. Helen Marjorie Munford-Music Studies; IV. Radio Productions; V. John Ledyard Publications; VI. Scrapbook; VII. Corvallis Gazette-Times Columns; VIII. Other Publications on OSU and Corvallis History; IX. Travel Notes; X. Phi Kappa Phi Materials; XI. Certificates and Awards; XII. Newspaper Clippings; and XIII. Sound Recordings.
Custodial History
Most of these materials were donated by Munford to the Archives during 1996 and 1997. The final donation was accessioned in 2000. The Munford Family materials, the college memorabilia, and several of the items pertaining to local history were donated to the Horner Museum in the early 1980s and subsequently transferred to the Archives in 1996. The Gazette-Times columns and travel notes were transferred from the Archives' Memorabilia Collection in 1997.
Related Materials
The Office of University Publications and OSU Press (RG 18) includes materials pertaining to that office during Munford's years as Director. The KOAC Records (RG 15) include extensive records pertaining to the KOAC School of the Air and other radio programs. Materials pertaining to Adventures of a Home Economist, written by Munford and Ava Milam Clark, are available in the Ava Milam Clark Papers. Documents relating to Munford's involvement in Phi Kappa Phi can be also be found in the records of the OSU Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. The OSU Archives' holdings also include the Banks Dairy Products Company Records; Kenneth Munford's mother, Flora M. Munford, was a stockholder in the corporation and secretary of the Board of Directors.
The OSU Archives holdings include many other materials pertaining to OSU history as well and local and regional history. In addition, the Benton County Historical Museum's holdings include extensive documentary and visual materials pertaining to the history of Corvallis and Benton County.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Munford Family, ca. 1910-1915Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Diary of Flora M. Munford -
excerpt |
1915 |
| 2 | Photographs |
ca. 1910 |
Series II: Souvenirs of College, 1930-1934Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | Photographs |
1931 |
| 1 | Dance Cards 2 folders
|
|
| 1 | Grade Reports |
1931-1934 |
| 1 | Handbooks and Information for
Students |
1930-1932 |
| 1 | Financial Records |
1930 |
| 1 | Programs |
1930-1931 |
| 1 | Correspondence |
1930-1931 |
| 1 | Trial Study List |
1930-1931 |
| 1 | Membership Card |
1930/31 |
| 1 | Memorabilia |
1930-1931 |
| 1 | Theater Programs |
1933-1934 |
Series III: Helen Marjorie ("Marge") Munford - Music Studies, 1924-1953Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Texts by Lillian Jeffreys
Petri (annotated by Munford) |
||
| Box | ||
| 1 |
Mind Over Muscle
|
1924 |
| 1 |
The
ABC of Harmony or Music Fundamentals
Correlated
|
undated |
| 1 |
Music Fundamentals Correlated, Part II
|
undated |
Sheet Music |
||
| Box | ||
| 1 |
Song Birds in the Twilight Calling, Gilbert
Schaad |
1953 |
| 1 |
Sweet Oregon, Henry S DeMoss |
1930 |
Series IV: Radio Productions, 1936-1993Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 3 | Harding School (Corvallis)
Students - "Unfolding the Map of Oregon" on KOAC School of the Air |
1936-1993 |
| 2 | Photographs |
1936 and 1950 |
| 3 | Harding Jr. High School
(Newberg, Oregon) - "Harding is on the Air" on KOAC Junior Matinee
Program |
1939 |
| 3 |
" Hero Tales from Oregon
History" on KOAC School of the Air |
1940 |
| 3 | Staters' Quarter
Hour |
1941 |
Series V: John Ledyard Publications, 1936-1975Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | |||
| 3 | Correspondence and
Research |
1936-1946 | |
| 3 | John Ledyard:
" The First American to See
Oregon" , published in Sunday
Oregonian
|
31 Jan 1937 | |
| 3 | Correspondence, notes, and
published article |
1936-1938 | |
| 4 | Original copies of published
article
apx 20x24 in.
|
||
| 4 | Maps of Travels
apx 20x24 in.
|
ca. 1937 | |
| 3 |
John
Ledyard: An American Marco Polo by Kenneth Munford, published in 1939 by
Binford and Morts |
||
| 3 | Published volume |
||
| 5 | Manuscript |
1938 | |
| 5 | Scrapbook of reviews,
clippings, correspondence and photographs |
1938-1939 | |
| 5 | Publishing contract, reviews,
and correspondence |
1938-1954 | |
| 5 | Advertisements |
1939 | |
| 4 | Dust jackets and advertising
poster
apx 20x24 in.
|
1939 | |
| 6 | Photographs of J.K. Gill
window display (prints in scrapbook) nitrate negatives |
1939 | |
| 5 | Mary Ledyard
Correspondence |
1940-1975 | |
| 5 |
" Did John Ledyard Witness
Captain Cook's Death?" , published in April 1963 Pacific Northwest Quarterly
|
1963 | |
| 5 |
John
Ledyard's Journal of Captain Cook's Last Voyage, edited by James Kenneth
Munford with an introduction by Sinclair H. Hitchings, published in 1963 by OSU
Press; Oregon State Monographs Studies in History Series no. 3 P |
||
| 5 | Published volume |
||
| 5 | Gould's notes on Bligh and
unpublished journals |
1962 | |
| 7 | Munford-Hitchings
Correspondence 3 folders
|
1963 | |
| 2 | Photographs used in
publication |
1963 | |
| Reel | |||
| 1 |
A
Journal of Captain Cook's Last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and in Quest of a
North-West Passage between Asia and America, by John Ledyard
Microfilm of original journal held by John Carter Brown
Library
|
1783 | |
| Box | Reel | ||
| 8 | 2 |
Journal
of Captain Cook's Last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean ... (probably written
by 2nd Lt. J. Rickman)
apx 12x17 in.
Microfilm of original journal held by John Carter Brown
Library
|
|
| 8 | Cover art, blue-line proofs,
title and typeface proofs
apx 12x17 in.
|
1963 | |
Series VII: Corvallis Gazette-Times Columns, 1979-1996Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | |||
| 7 | Index |
1996 | |
| 7 | Catalog of Titles |
1996 | |
| 7 | Columns |
1983-1996 | |
| Box | |||
| 9 | 10 | Columns
apx 12x17 in.
2 sets
|
1979-1995 |
Photographs |
1883-1994 | ||
| Box | |||
| 2 | View of lower campus and
Corvallis |
ca. 1890 | |
| 2 | Corvallis railroad
station |
ca. 1925 | |
| 2 | Cadets in front of water
tower |
ca. 1900 | |
| 2 | Corvallis water works
tower |
ca. 1890 | |
| 2 | Shepard Hall |
ca. 1908 | |
| 2 | Howard McKinley
Corning |
||
| 2 | Henry Villard on train;
Gold Spike ceremony |
1883 | |
| 2 | Francis A. Chenowith
portrait |
||
| 2 | B.F. Irvine and Gertrude
Avery Irvine at Oregon State College |
1939 | |
| 2 | B.F. Irvine and Milton C.
Sheely at Oregon State College |
1939 | |
| 2 | Ben Holladay |
||
| 2 | Esther Campbell
Holladay |
||
| 2 | J.W. Nesmith |
||
| 2 | Andrew Warren
Moore |
||
| 2 | Warren
Groshong |
1994 | |
| 2 | Hamilton
Campbell |
||
| 2 | Corvallis
Schools 7 prints
|
ca. 1900-1945 | |
| 2 | Fire in downtown
Corvallis (?) |
ca. 1930 | |
| 2 | Territorial capital in
Corvallis |
||
| 2 | Martha Henderson Gross
with "Old Mill Stones" monument |
ca. 1927 | |
| 2 | Central School and
students |
ca. 1890 | |
| 2 | Buxton Hotel (Buxton,
Oregon) |
||
| 2 | Corvallis riverfront with
sternwheeler at dock |
ca. 1915 | |
| 2 | Corvallis residence
street "on the road of a thousand wonders" |
||
| 2 | Ed Culp |
||
| 11 | Aerial view of downtown
Corvallis
apx 12x17 in.
Photograph by Western Ways.
|
1959 | |
| 11 | View of Corvallis from
west
apx 12x17 in.
|
1871 | |
Series VIII: Other Publications on OSU and Corvallis History, 1866-1972Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 8 | Early Corvallis College
History (including copies of Columbia Conference of Methodist Episcopal Church
South records
apx 12x17 in.
|
1866-1893 |
| 7 |
" The Boswells of Boswell
Springs" , published in Oregon Historical
Quarterly, Winter 1982 (v. 83, no. 4) |
1979-1982 |
| 16 | Reference
materials |
|
| 7 | Corvallis' 125th Anniversary
Special Edition of Corvallis
Gazette-Times
|
1982 |
| 12 | Linn-Benton Partnership
(Thomas Hart Benton and Lewis Fields Linn) |
1979-1982 |
| 12 | Rumer, Thomas A.,
Correspondence with |
1988-1992 |
| 12 |
The
Wagon Train of '44
|
1990 |
Series IX: Travel Notes, 1971Return to Top
Container(s): Box 7
Series X: Phi Kappa Phi Materials, 1934-2000Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 13 | Books:
In Pursuit of Excellence: The Honor Society of Phi
Kappa Phi: 1897-1971, Edward Schriver |
1971 |
| 13 |
Making Heroes of Scholars: The Honor Society of Phi
Kappa Phi: 1971-1983, Neal O'Steen |
1985 |
| 13 | Centennial Celebration
Conference |
1997 |
| 13 | Conventions |
1992, 1995 |
| 13 | 1980 Convention (Portland,
Oregon) Investment Committee materials |
1980-1981 |
Correspondence |
||
| Box | ||
| 13 | Barrs, James |
1986-1999 |
| 13 | Herlinger,
Ilona |
1982-1993 |
| 13 | Hohenstein,
Walt |
1990-1997 |
| 13 | General |
1977-1997 |
| Box | ||
| 13 | Handbook for Phi Kappa Phi
Chapters |
undated |
| 13 | Manuscript:
" 45 Years With Phi Kappa
Phi" |
1986 |
| 13 | Memorabilia |
|
| 13 | Newsletters |
1961-2000 |
| 13 | OSU Chapter
materials |
1966-1999 |
| 2 | Photographs, Portraits of
Munford for Phi Kappa Phi
Photographer Ball Studio
|
ca. 1970, 1995 |
| 2 | Phi Kappa Phi members 1992
Convention |
Series XI: Certificates/Awards, 1934-1997Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 14 | Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation/Dept. Of the Interior
apx 16x20 in.
|
1988 |
| 14 | Air Force, U.S.
apx 16x20 in.
|
1972 |
| 13 | Benton County Board of
Commissioners |
1996-1997 |
| 13 | Benton County Historical
Society |
1992-1993 |
| 13 | Boy Scouts of
America |
1986 |
| 13 | Corvallis Historic
Preservation Advisory Board |
1988-1995 |
| 13 | Daughters of the American
Revolution |
1994-1995 |
| 13 | Kiwanis Club of
Corvallis |
1985 |
| 14 | Oregon Historical
Society
apx 16x20 in.
|
1979 |
| 13 | Phi Kappa Phi |
1934-1977 |
Plaques |
||
| Box | ||
| 13 | National President
1968-1971, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. |
|
| 13 | Distinguished Member, The
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. |
|
| 13 | For Meritorious Service
to The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi |
8-24-1977 |
Series XII: Newspaper Clippings, 1931-1971Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 13 | Frank Harper Protest/Student
Counterculture |
1969-1970 |
| 13 | Phi Kappa Phi |
1931-1971 |
Series XIII: Sound Recordings, 1959Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 15 |
The Face of Oregon, OSU Concert Band,
Madrigal and Glee Clubs, and the Choralaires Oregon Centennial
Concert |
April 23, 1959 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Piano--Instruction and study--Oregon--Corvallis.
- Radio programs--Oregon.
- Radio programs for children--Oregon.
Personal Names
- Ledyard, John, 1751-1789.
Corporate Names
- Corvallis College--History.
- Oregon State College--History.
- Oregon State University--History.
- Phi Kappa Phi--History.
- Phi Kappa Phi. Oregon State Chapter.
Geographical Names
- Benton County (Or.)--History.
- Corvallis (Or.)--History.
- Oregon--Geography.
- Oregon--History.
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs.
- Scrapbooks.
- Sound recordings.
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Munford, Helen Marjorie Vannice. (creator)
- Munford, James Kenneth. (creator)
- Petri, Lillian Jeffreys. (creator)
