J. Kenneth Munford Collection, 1866-2000

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Munford, James Kenneth.
Title
J. Kenneth Munford Collection
Dates
1866-2000 (inclusive)
1930-2000 (bulk)
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 VI:  Scrapbook, 1939-1941Return to Top

Container(s): Box 8

apx 12x17 in.

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)