View XML QR Code

University of Washington Continuum College and related records, 1912-2015

Overview of the Collection

Creator
University of Washington. Continuum College
Title
University of Washington Continuum College and related records
Dates
1912-2015 (inclusive)
Quantity
approximately 108.12 cubic feet (138 boxes and 5 vertical files)
Collection Number
UW Resource No. 01000
Summary
Records of Contiuum College, which includes Extension, Distance Learning, Educational Outreach, and Professional and Continuing Education
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Public records, but advance notice is required to allow for screening of materials protected from disclosure by law. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Some material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Languages
English
Return to Top

Historical Note

University of Washington Continuum College, formerly Educational Outreach, is the continuing education and professional development unit of the University of Washington. Founded in 1912 as the University Extension, it was originally the branch of the university offering correspondence courses. The college’s mission and vision reflected the sentiments of the Progressive Movement in America at the time: To make knowledge more accessible to citizens of the state and strengthen democracy by enabling people to analyze and express ideas in civic discourse. Students could take courses in 22 subjects by mail or in-person during regular hours, evenings or Saturdays.

In 1921, the state legislature mandated the University Extension Services to operate as a financially self-sufficient unit. As the emphasis of the University Extension Services shifted toward providing educational opportunities for working adults, stories emerged about professionals taking on schoolwork to enhance their careers. Amid the Great Depression, Extension Services began printing and selling manuscripts written by faculty members that “would be useful to the layman.” The first of these, published in 1934, covered essential nutrition, food fads and purchasing and preparing food on a budget, which was timely information for families struggling with unemployment. After the Second World War, adult education was prominent among the UW’s postwar educational objectives in anticipation that veterans – especially married veterans – would want to continue their education while working full-time.

The 1950s brought changes in education and popular culture as an increasing number of homes and schools acquired a relatively new technology that would change how we live: television. The new medium allowed the Extension Services to air telecourses on KCTS-TV and supply study guides to people who wished to take TV classes for credit. These courses were in addition to programs offered on KUOW radio, licensed to the UW in 1951.

The emergence of personal computers in the 1980s sparked a revolution in how students could access, store, analyze and share information. In 1990, UW Extension added computer diskettes to the battery of supplementary learning materials used for distance learning. By 1994, students were corresponding with instructors and classmates via email and by 1998, courses started being delivered online.

In 2008, UW Extension took on a new name for a new decade, becoming UW Professional & Continuing Education (UWPCE), which is housed under the umbrella of UW Educational Outreach (UWEO). As UWEO’s programs continued to grow in 2016, Continuum College was adopted as the umbrella name for the organization, which houses all the programs and program lines within our portfolio. In 2020, COVID-19 brought institutional change to Continuum College and across UW. Continuum moved its programs online via Zoom, opening the organization’s program portfolio to students outside Seattle and beyond.

This UW unit provides wide-ranging programs for non-traditional and lifelong learning students, including degree programs, certificate programs, and select courses through UW Professional & Continuing Education, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), UW in the High School, UW Summer Quarter, UW Summer Youth, UW International & English Language Programs, Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning at the UW, and Conference Services.

Sources: https://www.continuum.uw.edu/about-us/our-history ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Washington_Continuum_College

Return to Top

Content Description

Course files (bulk), reports, correspondence, photographs and negatives, audiocassettes, videocassettes, brochures, marketing and publicity materials, bulletins, conference materials, class materials, materials pertaining to international programs or domestic programs for international students. Correspondence, proposals, reports and contact lists, reports, minutes, financial records, photographs, newsletters, conference materials, annual reports, committee records and records from then Dean of Continuing Education Lloyd W. Schram, regarding proposals submitted to the Washington State Technical Services Section of the department of Commerce and Economic Development, for educational services to business and industry under the State Technical Services Act of 1965.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Public Records (Use unrestricted when access is granted)

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into 45 accessions.

  • Accession No. 70-023, University of Washington, Extension records, 1946-1958
  • Accession No. 75-005, University of Washington Continuing Education, Division of Community and Organization Development records, 1963-1975
  • Accession No. 78-074, University of Washington, University Extension Division, Municipal Research Bureau publications, 1916-1917
  • Accession No. 79-010, University of Washington, Extension records, 1917-1946
  • Accession No. 79-034, University of Washington, Continuing Education Office records, 1965-1966
  • Accession No. 80-024, University of Washington, Extension, Liberal Arts Seminars records, 1957-1975
  • Accession No. 80-074, University of Washington, Extension records, 1949-1980
  • Accession No. 82-016, University of Washington, Extension records, 1912-1939
  • Accession No. 82-046, University of Washington, Extension records, 1918-1959
  • Accession No. 82-061, University of Washington, Extension records, 1946-1958
  • Accession No. 82-078, University of Washington, Extension records, 1936-1938
  • Accession No. 82-109, University of Washington, Continuing Education Advisory Committee records, 1981-1982
  • Accession No. 83-053, University of Washington, Continuing Education Division records, 1939-1980
  • Accession No. 89-087, University of Washington, Extension, Department of Arts and Sciences and Professional Programs records, 1973-1980
  • Accession No. 89-131, University of Washington, Extension records, 1963-1975
  • Accession No. 90-032, University of Washington, Extension, Conference Management Office records, 1978-1983
  • Accession No. 90-049, University of Washington, Extension records, 1949-1988
  • Accession No. 90-171, University of Washington, Extension records, 1955
  • Accession No. 90-184, University of Washington, Extension records, 1960-1965
  • Accession No. 92-022, University of Washington, Extension records, 1982-1989
  • Accession No. 93-028, University of Washington, Extension records, 1980-1982
  • Accession No. 93-099, University of Washington, Extension, Correspondence Study Division records, 1966-1968
  • Accession No. 94-014, University of Washington, Extension records, 1973-1974
  • Accession No. 95-053, University of Washington, Extension records, 1984
  • Accession No. 95-120, University of Washington, Extension records, 1985-1989
  • Accession No. 95-127, University of Washington, Correspondence Study Division records, 1959-1960
  • Accession No. 95-128, University of Washington, Continuing Education Office records, 1964-1976
  • Accession No. 95-317, University of Washington, Extension records, 1979-1992
  • Accession No. 97-104, University of Washington, Extension records, 1985-1987
  • Accession No. 97-119, University of Washington, Extension, Distance Learning records, 1973-1996
  • Accession No. 98-080, University of Washington, Extension records, 1988-1995
  • Accession No. 99-027, University of Washington, Extension records, 1990-1994
  • Accession No. 04-047, University of Washington, Extension videotapes, 1987-1990
  • Accession No. 88-086, University of Washington Distance Learning Center records, 1964-1984
  • Accession No. 91-146, University of Washington Distance Learning Office records, circa 1970-1987
  • Accession No. 93-058, University of Washington, Distance Learning Office records, circa 1977-1985
  • Accession No. 95-353, University of Washington, Extension, Distance Learning records, 1974-1993
  • Accession No. 01-058, University of Washington, Educational Outreach Program, Distance Learning records, 1989-1999
  • Accession No. 90-083, University of Washington, Educational Outreach, Marketing and Public Relations Office records, 1965-1980
  • Accession No. 02-039, University of Washington, Educational Outreach Program, Distance Learning records, 1992-2001
  • Accession No. 00-040, University of Washington, Vice Provost for Educational Outreach records, 1988-1994
  • Accession No. 04-016, University of Washington, Educational Outreach records, 1986-2002
  • Accession No. 18-029, University of Washington Professional and Continuing Education records, 1976-2015
  • Accession No. 18-030, University of Washington Professional and Continuing Education records, 1994-2004
  • Accession No. 23-004, University of Washington, Educational Outreach records, 1985-2004

Processing Note

UW Resource 01000 brings together the records of University of Washington Extension (formerly UW Resource 00530), Vice Provost for Educational Outreach (formerly UW Resource 00002), Distance Learning (formerly UW Resource 00144), Continuing Education Office (formerly UW Resource 07407), and Educational Outreach, Marketing and Public Relations Office (formerly UW Resource 00145).

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Distance education students--Education
  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Schram, Lloyd W

Corporate Names

  • University of Washington. Continuing Education Office--Archives

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • University of Washington. Distance Learning Center (creator)
    • University of Washington. Distance Learning Office (creator)
    • University of Washington. Educational Outreach (creator)
    • University of Washington. Educational Outreach Program. Distance Learning (creator)
    • University of Washington. Educational Outreach. Marketing and Public Relations Office (creator)
    • University of Washington. Educational Outreach. Vice Provost (creator)
    • University of Washington. Extension (creator)
    • University of Washington. Extension. Conference Management Office (creator)
    • University of Washington. Extension. Correspondence Study Division (creator)
    • University of Washington. Extension. Department of Arts and Sciences and Professional Programs (creator)
    • University of Washington. Extension. Distance Learning (creator)
    • University of Washington. Extension. Liberal Arts Seminars (creator)
    • University of Washington. Extension. Travel-Study Program
    • University of Washington. Professional and Continuing Education (creator)
    • University of Washington. University Archives


2018 (Last modified: 4/4/2025)

CC0

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...