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Reserve Officers' Training Corps records, 1894-2016

Overview of the Collection

Creator
University of Idaho
Title
Reserve Officers' Training Corps records
Dates
1894-2016 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 cubic feet
9.32 gigabytes, (39 files, 10 folders)  :  5 DVDs
Collection Number
UG 60
Summary
Records from the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC programs at the University of Idaho. The Navy ROTC records include documents related to Commander Roderick L. Mayer.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
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Content Description

The records of the ROTC span the years 1942 to 2016 with the bulk of the material covering the years 1950 to 1990. Included in the records are commencement programs, newsletters, alumni material, personnel reports, newspaper clippings, photographs of training exercises, and Navy ROTC records related to Commander Mayer. The Army, Navy, and Air Force are represented in the records.Additional scrapbooks, clippings, newsletters, and photographs were added in 2022, including photos of spring camp at Fort Lewis, annual rafting trip, women, National Advancement Leadership Camp, written histories, Raider Rendezvous in Elk River, charter.

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Historical Note

The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) was established at the University of Idaho in 1916 under provisions of the National Defense Act. The War Department authorized the creation of a two-year compulsory course of Senior Division ROTC. Before 1916, the University of Idaho administered a Military Science and Tactics department with Brigadier General Edward Chrisman as the program's first professor. The Military Science facility in the University's Memorial Gymnasium is known as the Chrisman Room.

Commander Roderick L. Mayer, a Navy pilot, was shot down while flying an airplane over North Vietnam in October 1965. Mayer was listed as missing in action for over a year, then as a prisoner of war until October 31, 1977, when the Navy presumed him killed in action.

Mayer was born in Lewiston, Idaho, and graduated from Lewiston High School. Recipient of a University of Idaho Naval ROTC scholarship, he was graduated cum laude from the University in 1961 with a bachelor of science degree.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Digital files of the User Digital Files (DVDs) are located on the archive drive. Folder path: Z:\Processed Collections\University Groups\UG 060 (Reserve Officers' Training Corps records). Contact University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives for access or questions.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The records transferred to Special Collections and Archives in 1987 and 1988 were in no discernible order when received and were subsequently organized by military branch, content of information, and type. The order of the records received in 2010 was retained, and the records were placed in acid-free folders. The newsletters received in 2012 were appropriately integrated into the collection. Later donations of scrapbooks were dismantled to prevent further deterioration of photographs and items. Clippings not able to be removed from scrapbook pages were photocopied.

Acquisition Information

The records of the ROTC were transferred to the University of Idaho Library in 1987, 1988, 2010, 2012, and 2016.

Processing Note

In 2007, Marilyn Sandmeyer processed records of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) transferred to the University of Idaho Library between 1987 and 1988. In 2012, Julie Monroe added University Accessions 2010-016, Navy ROTC records related to Commander Roderick L. Mayer, and 2012-012, Navy ROTC newsletters. In 2022, Amy Thompson added scrapbooks and other historical materials from University Accessions 2016-08 and 2016-09.

Preservation Note

Please note the digital materials of this collection are in bup, ifo, and vob formats formats, and copies are on DVDs.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College students
  • United States. Air Force ROTC
  • United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps
  • University of Idaho/Washington State University NROTC Unit

Finding aid prepared by Marilyn Sandmeyer. Updated by Sara Szobody in 2023.
2007

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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