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Clair V. Langton Papers, 1914-1973

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Langton, Clair Van Norman, 1895-1973.
Title
Clair V. Langton Papers
Dates
1914-1973 (inclusive)
1925-1964 (bulk)
Quantity
11 cubic feet, including 208 photographs, (13 boxes, including 1 oversize box)
Collection Number
MSS Langton
Summary
The Clair V. Langton Papers consist of materials created and assembled by Langton, primarily during his years as faculty member in physical and health education at Oregon State University from 1928 until 1964. In addition to substantive records of the national and regional organizations in which he was active, the collection includes correspondence, course materials, publications, military and personal records, ephemera, and photographs.
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 materials in Series II (School Health Problems folders) that require approval of the University Archivist for access.

Languages
English, German
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Biographical Note

Clair Van Norman Langton was born on November 1, 1895 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada to Margaret and Robert Langton, and grew up in Michigan. He served with the U.S. Army in El Paso along the Mexican border in 1916 and 1917, and in Europe in 1918 and 1919. From 1922 through 1928 he was captain of the Michigan National Guard Signal Corps. In 1923 he received a B.S. in Education from the University of Michigan. He received a M.S. in Public Health and Hygiene in 1925 and a Doctorate in Public Health in 1928, also from the University of Michigan. From 1923 through 1928 Langton was the Assistant Director of Intramural Athletics at the University of Michigan and taught physical education and hygiene.

Langton came to Oregon State College in 1928 as Director of the Division of Health and Physical Education, and served in that capacity until 1964. Langton received the Doctor of Education degree from the University of Oregon in 1938. He wrote numerous articles for professional journals, authored Orientation in School Health in 1941 and Principles of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation in 1962, and co-authored several other books on health education.

Langton was very active in many national and state professional organizations, as well as the Corvallis Rotary Club. He was a fellow of the American Public Health Association and the American Association for Health Physical Education and Recreation. Langton married Hazel F. Edwards of Detroit, Michigan, on December 26, 1923; they had a son and a daughter. He died on April 19, 1973 in Corvallis. Langton Hall, formerly the Men's Gymnasium, was named for him in July of 1973.

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Content Description

The Clair V. Langton Papers consist of materials created and assembled by Langton, primarily during his years as faculty member in physical and health education at Oregon State University from 1928 until 1964. The bulk of the collection consists of materials documenting Langton's involvement in state, regional, and national professional organizations, including the Oregon Tuberculosis and Health Association (OTHA), the Western College Physical Education Associaion (WCPEA), and the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (AAHPER). The Papers also include substantive correspondence as well as course materials, publications, military and personal records, ephemera, and photographs.

The collection documents Langton's teaching and writing in health and physical education, school health programs and teacher training, public health, hygiene, and sanitation.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Clair V. Langton Papers, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in 10 series: I. Professional and Civic Organizations, 1949-1973; II. Course Materials, 1923-1964; III. Correspondence, 1920-1972; IV. Manuscripts of Publications and Speeches, 1931-1964; V. Military Records, 1916-1949; VI. Personal Records, 1918-1972; VII. Publications, 1922-1964; VIII. University Activities, 1937-1964; IX. Ephemera, 1914-1973; and X. Photographs, 1920-1972.

Processing Note

The Langton Papers were initially processed in 1993; the materials were re-foldered and a finding aid with folder-level list was prepared. Additional processing was conducted in 2010; at that time the papers were arranged in series, the small 1996 addition was incorporated, and the finding aid was significantly revised and expanded.

Acquisition Information

The papers were donated to the Archives in 1979 by Langton's daughter, Marie Langton Swancutt. Additional materials, including 3-dimensional artifacts, were donated to the Horner Museum in 1979 by Swancutt; a small number of documentary items from that donation were subsequently transferred to the OSU Archives in 1996.

Related Materials

The College of Health and Human Performance Records (RG 031) include substantive materials pertaining to Langton's role as a teacher and administrator. The OSU Archives' holdings include the papers of several other physical education faculty including Arthur Koski, Natalie Reichart, Edward J. Slezak, Edward A. Stevens, and Betty Lynd Thompson.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Health education--Study and teaching (Higher)--Michigan.
  • Health education--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon.
  • Health education.
  • Hygiene.
  • Physical education and training.
  • Public health.
  • Recreation.
  • School hygiene.
  • Teachers--Training of--Oregon.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Film negatives.
  • Photographic prints.

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. (creator)
    • College Physical Education Association (U.S.) (creator)
    • Oregon Tuberculosis and Health Association. (creator)
    • Oregon State College. Division of Physical Education. (creator)
    • Oregon State University. Division of Physical Education. (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Ashley Norberg, Lawrence A. Landis, and Elizabeth Nielsen.
2010

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

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