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Drama, Debate, and Oration Clippings Scrapbooks, 1920-1963
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Oregon State University. Dept. of Speech.
- Title
- Drama, Debate, and Oration Clippings Scrapbooks
- Dates
- 1920-1963 (inclusive)19201963
- Quantity
- 3 cubic feet, (2 oversize boxes)
- Collection Number
- MSS Drama
- Summary
- The Drama, Debate, and Oration Clippings Scrapbooks consist of clippings from the campus, local, and regional newspapers documenting speech, debate, oratory, and dramatic activities at Oregon State University from the 1920s to early 1960s.
- 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
The Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics was established in 1920, as the first Speech Department in Oregon, and grew quickly during the 1920s. When higher education in Oregon was re-organized in the early 1930s, responsibility for speech degrees was transferred to the University of Oregon and several faculty moved to establish the program. However, the service department at Oregon State continued to offer courses in debating, extempore speaking, oratory, voice and diction, and radio speech and coordinated an extensive program of forensics and dramatic activities for students.
C.B. (Charles Buren) Mitchell joined the faculty of Oregon Agricultural College in 1920 to head the new Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics. As department head, he established and developed the dramatics and forensics programs at Oregon State. Earl W. Wells joined the department at about the same time (1921); he was instrumental in developing the forensics and public speaking program and coached orators who gained national prominence. Wells served as Speech Department Chair from 1952 until his retirement in 1962. Elizabeth Barnes also joined the faculty in the early 1920s (1922) and was the main force behind the theater program until her retirement in 1946.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Drama, Debate, and Oration Clippings Scrapbooks document speech, debate, oratory, and dramatic activities at Oregon State University from the 1920s to early 1960s. The scrapbooks include clippings, arranged chronologically, from the Barometer campus newspaper and the local Corvallis newspapers as well as newspapers published in Portland, Oregon, and elsewhere in Oregon. The clippings announce the results of speech and debate events; profile students participating in speech and drama activities; and includes announcements and reviews of dramatic performances at Oregon State.
The collection consists of 4 volumes. These are for 1920-1930 (volume 1); 1930-1937 (volume 2); 1937-1955 (volume 3); and 1959-1962 (volume 4). Loose clippings for 1962-1963 are included in a separate folder in the front of the 4th volume. Many of the clippings, especially in volumes 3 and 4, are detached from the scrapbook pages.
It is likely that the scrapbooks were assembled by the Speech Department.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Drama, Debate, and Oration Clippings Scrapbooks (MSS Drama), Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
The immediate source of the scrapbooks is unknown.
Related Materials
The Speech Communication Department Records (RG 181) document speech, debate, and drama activities, especially during the 1920s through 1950s. The Speech Department Photographs (P 088) include images of students who participated in speech and debate activities, faculty, and facilities. The Effie L. Wagner Scrapbook of the Women's Debate Tour documents the 1928 Women's Debate Tour of several colleges and universities in the western United States. Two compilations of Oregon State's achievements in intercollegiate oratorical competition for 1920-1945 by Earl W. Wells are available in the Special Collections & Archives Research Center's History of the Pacific Northwest book collection. Extensive documentation of theater and dramatics programs are available in the University Theater Records (RG 180), University Theater Photographs (P 112), and C.B. Mitchell University Theater Scrapbooks. Additional information about speech, drama, and forensics activities is available in the Memorabilia Collection.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- College and school drama, American--Oregon--Corvallis.
- College orations--Oregon State College.
- Debates and debating--Oregon--Corvallis.
- Drama--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis.
- Forensics (Public speaking)
- Oratory--Societies, etc.
- Oratory--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis.
- Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.
Corporate Names
- Oregon Agricultural College--Students.
- Oregon State College--Students.
- Oregon State University--Students.
Form or Genre Terms
- Scrapbooks.
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Oregon State Agricultural College. Dept. of Public Speaking and Dramatics. (creator)
- Oregon State College. Dept. of Speech. (creator)
Finding aid prepared by
Elizabeth Nielsen.
2013
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
