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WSU News Subject Files, 1940-2011

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Washington State University. Office of News and Information Services
Title
WSU News Subject Files
Dates
1940-2011 (inclusive)
1960-2000 (bulk)
Quantity
86 linear feet of shelf space, (86 Boxes)
Collection Number
Archives 333 (collection)
Summary
The collection consists of primarily of print material, but also includes electronic and audio/visual material collected or created by the WSU News department, primarily between 1950 and 2010.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

WSU News is the central news office for Washington State University. The roots of the department date to 1907, when students with newspaper experience began sending news to northwest press on a volunteer basis. This informal start evolved into the Office of Publication, and in 1946 the College News Bureau was split off from that. Circa 1985 it became News and Information Services. Circa 2012, the Washington State University News Service and WSU Today merged to become WSU News.

The university began its internal news publication in June 1974 in the form of a newsletter titled the University Bulletin. In 1975, it changed to a tabloid format and the name was changed to the Bulletin/Calendar. In 1989, the Bulletin/Calendar was renamed as WSU Week, and in 2001, it became WSU Today. WSU Today ceased print publishing in 2009, moving to an online-only format.

WSU News and its predecessors have had varied responsibilities and ties over the years. During the earliest years of its existence the Office of Publication was loosely associated with the college s journalism program. During World War II it acquired responsibility for the college s alumni newsletter (the PowWow) and the athletic news service, though those were returned to their original departments following the war. By 2013 it is responsible for the campus daily news stories (delivered electronically), the alumni magazine, and the major campus social media sites.

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Content Description

The collection consists of primarily of print material, but also includes electronic and audio/visual material collected or created by the WSU News department, primarily between 1950 and 2010. The materials were primarily either used in the creation of news stories or had been retained as reference materials for potential future stories. Though the files were primarily the creation of the news service proper, they were shared by the alumni newsletter and campus newsletter, and materials from both are included. Subjects include buildings, programs, events, personnel, publications and topics relating to Washington State University and branch campuses as well as issues and events involving Washington State University in local, regional, and national issues. The collection includes extensive coverage of faculty members and alumni as well as a large quantity of original photographic materials.

On rare occasions (two or three times a year) some additional subsequent materials have been added into this collection, continuing its original use as a vertical file.

Series 1: Awards, Distinguished Professorships, Scholarly Activities, Celebrations

Series 2: Branch Campuses: General and Spokane

Series 3: Buildings and Facilities

Series 4: Departments and Programs

Series 5: Events

Series 6: Government, Legislature, and Regents Activities

Series 7: Organizations Alumnus, Clubs, Fraternities, Sororities

Series 8: People Alumni, Distinguished Visitors, Faculty and Staff, Presidents, Regents

Series 9: WSU Publications and Brochures

Series 10: Topics

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]

Washington State University News Subject Files, 1940s-2011 (Archives 333)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The materials are grouped into 10 series, each with a number of subseries. Materials are arranged alphabetically within each level.

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were transferred to MASC from Tim Steury and Matt Haugen of Washington State University s WSU News on March 11th, 2013 and retained as accession UA2013-04.

Processing Note

This collection was processed with funding from the Lawrence R. Stark Graduate Fellowship, an endowment created in 2008 to honor former WSU university archivist, Larry Stark.

The collection was processed by History graduate student Robert Redder Franklin in June-September of 2013. The material was primarily retained in its original subject-based working order, with slight changes as follows. The main ten series were reorganized into an alphabetical arrangement. Some miscellaneous sets of materials were filed into those series (or subseries) for ease of discovery. With series and sub-series, materials were alphabetized where they had not been.

During processing, significant quantities of duplicate materials were discarded. For efficiency of processing, materials have been retained in their original folders whenever possible.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Finding aid prepared by Robert Redder Franklin
2013

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

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