Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
John C. Burtner Papers, 1926-1950
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Burtner, John C. (John Cole), 1895-
- Title
- John C. Burtner Papers
- Dates
- 1926-1950 (inclusive)19261950
1943-1950 (bulk)19431950 - Quantity
- 1.35 cubic feet, (2 boxes)
- Collection Number
- MSS Burtner
- Summary
- The John C. Burtner Papers document Burtner's roles as Director of the Oregon State College News Bureau and Extension Service Editor and include correspondence and related materials. Burtner graduated from Oregon Agricultural College in 1923 and returned to the College as a faculty member in Industrial Journalism the following year. He remained at Oregon State College as a writer, editor, and head of the College News Bureau until his death in 1950.
- 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.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
John C. Burtner earned a degree in horticulture from Oregon Agricultural College (OAC) in 1923 and a year later became a faculty member in the OAC Industrial Journalism Department. Burtner held various positions at OAC including journalism instructor, Director of the College News Bureau, and Extension Service Editor until his death in 1950. Noted for his award-winning writing on agricultural topics, Burtner published a number of articles in national farming magazines such as the Country Gentleman. Burtner's photographic work was featured in Life and Look magazines. John Cole Burtner was born in Pennsylvania in 1895; he died in Corvallis on December 22, 1950.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The John C. Burtner Papers were created and assembled by Burtner in the course of his work as Extension Service Editor and Director of the College News Bureau at Oregon State College. The Papers consist primarily of correspondence and also include employment records, meeting minutes, newsletters, and newspaper clippings. These materials document Burtner's interactions with Oregon State College administrators and staff as well as local, regional, and national newspapers and magazines; the Associated Press; advertising agencies; and professional organizations, such as the American Association of Agricultural College Editors. The records address a variety of agricultural topics as well as returning World War II veterans, the Oregon State College Public Relations Department, the Emergency Farm Labor Program during World War II, campus housing after the war, and the dismissal of Oregon State faculty member Ralph Spitzer.
The bulk of the materials were generated or assembled during or immediately following World War II and document the impact of the war on Oregon State College.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
John C. Burtner Papers (MSS Burtner), Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The Burtner Papers consist of one series: I. Oregon State College Professional Files, 1926-1950. Within the series, the materials are arranged alphabetically by correspondent or topic.
Processing Note
The donor, Shelley Wallace, refoldered the materials into acid-free folders, replaced metal paper-clips with plastic clips, and prepared a folder list for the collection before it was donated. A detailed document about processing of the materials by the donor is available in the collection file.
Custodial History
John C. Burtner's older son, Robert Burtner, kept the Papers until his death in 2011, when they became the custody of Robert's daughter (and John's granddaughter), Shelley Burtner Wallace.
Acquisition Information
These materials were donated to the Special Collections & Archives Research Center in 2012 by John C. Burtner's granddaughter, Shelley Wallace.
Related Materials
Biographical information about Burtner is available in the biographical files that are part of the News and Communications Services Records (RG 203); these records also include some News Bureau materials from the 1940s. Photographs made by Burtner are part of the Presidents of Oregon State University (P 001) and Gwil Evans (P 082) Photographic Collections as well as Harriet's Collection.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Oregon State College Professional Files, 1926-1950Return to Top
Series I consists of correspondence and related materials arranged alphabetically by correspondent or topic. Topical highlights of miscellaneous folders are included in the folder description. The series also includes one folder of personal correspondence.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | John C. Burtner Personal Correspondence |
1944-1949 |
| 1 | Agricultural News Clippings |
circa 1930 |
| 1 | Allen's Press Clipping Bureau |
1947-1950 |
| 1 | American Association of Agricultural College Editors |
1945-1948 |
| 1 | American College Public Relations Association |
1945-1950 |
| 1 | Associated Press |
1946-1950 |
| 1 | Astoria Experiment Station |
1945 |
| 1 | A Miscellaneous
Topics include Applegate Trail markers; pesticides development; Dr. W.J. VanWagtendonk; and the Vienna Boys Choir.
|
1945-1949 |
| 1 | F.L. Ballard |
1945-1947 |
| 1 | R.S. Besse |
1945-1948 |
| 1 | L.R. Breithaupt |
1945-1946 |
| 1 | Business Office |
1940-1947 |
| 1 | Charles D. Byrne |
1945-1949 |
| 1 | B Miscellaneous
Topics include Paul-Emile Bernier; James Dryden; and the 1948 Public Relations Department policy.
|
1944-1949 |
| 1 | Civil Service |
1945-1949 |
| 1 |
Country Gentleman
|
1945-1949 |
| 1 | C Miscellaneous
Topics include Civic Concerts; soil fumigation; subterranean clover; War Memorial; and Youth on Campus series.
|
|
| 1 | D Miscellaneous |
1945-1950 |
| 1 | E Miscellaneous
Topics include Pack Essay prizes and critique of student writing.
|
1945-1950 |
| 1 |
Farm Journal
|
1945-1950 |
| 1 | Flying Farmers |
1946-1948 |
| 1 | 4-H Club |
1945-1946 |
| 1 | F Miscellaneous
Topics include Food Technology Department; OSC building construction costs; and water forecast meetings.
|
1943-1950 |
| 1 | Grange Bulletin |
1943-1946 |
| 1 | G Miscellaneous
Topics include Men's Garden Club of Corvallis and post-war industrial activity.
|
1942-1950 |
| 1 | Home Economics 50 Years 1889-1939
|
1939 |
| 1 | Honor System News Clippings |
undated |
| 1 | H Miscellaneous
Topics include memorial for President Kerr; OSC adaptation under war conditions; and Professor Hyslop and ladino clover.
|
1943-1950 |
| 1 | I Miscellaneous
Topics include subterranean clover.
|
1945-1948 |
| 1 | J Miscellaneous
Topics include Argentine alfalfa.
|
1944-1949 |
| 1 | Wallace L. Kadderly - KGW |
1945-1948 |
| 1 | K Miscellaneous |
1943-1949 |
| 1 |
Life (Veteran's Baby Show) |
1946 |
| 1 |
Look (Veteran's Baby Show) |
1947 |
| 1 | L Miscellaneous
Topics include Percy P. Locey; brief overview of OSC; organization and policies of OSC Public Relations Department; Thirteenth District Relator; and Tunison Park Development.
|
1945-1950 |
| 1 | Mailing List for Weeklies |
1945-1949 |
| 1 | McNitt's Inc. |
1945-1949 |
| 1 | M Miscellaneous |
1942-1950 |
| 1 | Navy |
1945-1948 |
| 1 | N Miscellaneous
Topics include Oregon seed potato test plot results; OSC policies and prospects; subterranean clover; veterans in farm work; and war housing on campus.
|
1945-1949 |
| 1 | Oregon Agricultural College History and Data News Clippings
|
undated |
| 1 | Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station First Fifty Years 1887-1937
|
1937 |
| 1 |
Oregon Farmer
|
1945-1949 |
| 1 |
Oregon Journal
|
1945-1949 |
| 1 | Oregon Normal School
|
1949 |
| 1 | Oregon State College Faculty Meeting Minutes
|
1948-1950 |
| 1 | Oregon State Employees Association
|
1949 |
| 1 | Oregon Trails Association
|
1945-1949 |
| 1 |
Oregonian - General
|
1945-1948 |
| 1 |
Oregonian - Loren Milliman
|
1943-1947 |
| 1 | O Miscellaneous
|
1945-1949 |
| 1 |
Pacific Dairy Review
|
1945-1948 |
| 1 | Phi Kappa Phi Committee Investments
|
1947 |
| 1 | Politics and Miscellaneous News Clippings |
1926-1944 |
| 1 | President's Office |
1945-1948 |
| 1 | P Miscellaneous
Topics include establishment of the Oregon State College Foundation and restrictions on out-of-state students.
|
1943-1950 |
| 2 | Q Miscellaneous |
1949 |
| 2 | Radio - KOAC |
1943-1946 |
| 2 | Radio - Oregon and Other Outside Stations |
1945-1947 |
| 2 | Recommendations |
1945-1948 |
| 2 | Requests for Information |
1945-1948 |
| 2 | R Miscellaneous
topics includes agricultural news coverage in Oregon newspapers.
|
1943-1950 |
| 2 | Jean Scheel |
1946-1947 |
| 2 | Lester A. Schlup (U.S. Department of Agricultural Extension Service) |
1945-1949 |
| 2 | William A. Schoenfeld |
1945-1946 |
| 2 | C.W. Smith and Clifford Smith |
1945-1946 |
| 2 | State Board of Higher Education Members |
1944-1949 |
| 2 | S Miscellaneous
Topics include farm labor war food field publicity job - Fred Shideler; President's Strand's address on Dr. Spitzer and Mr. LaVallee; and Smith-Livingston Air Services courses.
|
1943-1949 |
| 2 | W.L. Teutsch |
1945-1947 |
| 2 | T Miscellaneous
Topics include Turkey World.
|
1945-1949 |
| 2 | United Press |
1945-1948 |
| 2 | U Miscellaneous
Topics include U.S. Department of Agricultural Extension Service.
|
1945-1949 |
| 2 | Veterans from Oregon State
Outstanding service records.
|
undated |
| 2 | V Miscellaneous
Topics include veterans leaving college.
|
1945-1949 |
| 2 |
The Wesleyan
|
1949 |
| 2 | R.A. Work (Soil Conservation Service) |
1945-1949 |
| 2 | W Miscellaneous |
1945-1950 |
| 2 | XYZ Miscellaneous |
1947-1950 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Agricultural extension work--Oregon.
- Agriculture--Research--Oregon.
- American newspapers--Oregon.
- College publicity--Oregon.
- Universities and colleges--Public relations--Oregon--Corvallis.
- World War, 1939-1945--War work--Oregon--Schools.
Corporate Names
- Oregon State College--Faculty.
- Oregon State College. Federal Cooperative Extension Service.
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Oregon State College. News Bureau. (creator)
Finding aid prepared by
Elizabeth Nielsen.
2013
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
