Munford Guide to the J. Kenneth Munford Collection 1866-2000 Munford (J. Kenneth) Collection Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. 2000 Oregon State University Archives
121 The Valley Library Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-4501 Phone: 541-737-2165 Email: archives@oregonstate.edu Web: http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/archives
Encoded by ArchProteus and Erin Whitesel-Jones. 2004 Finding aid written in English Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections & Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-4501 Phone: 541-737-2165 Email: archives@oregonstate.edu Web: http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/archives
Consult repository. Munford, James Kenneth. J. Kenneth Munford Collection 1866-2000 1930-2000 4 cubic feet 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. Materials in English. Biographical Note:

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.

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.

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.

J. Kenneth Munford Collection, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

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.

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.

 Ledyard, John, 1751-1789. Petri, Lillian Jeffreys. Munford, Helen Marjorie Vannice. Munford, James Kenneth. Corvallis College--History. Oregon State College--History. Oregon State University--History. Phi Kappa Phi. Oregon State Chapter. Phi Kappa Phi--History. Oregon--History. Benton County (Or.)--History. Corvallis (Or.)--History. Oregon--Geography. Radio programs--Oregon. Radio programs for children--Oregon. Piano--Instruction and study--Oregon--Corvallis. Photographs. Scrapbooks. Sound recordings. Corvallis Gazette Times. John Ledyard Oregon Photographs Scrapbooks Sound Recordings City and Town Life Colleges and Universities Journalism Pacific Northwest History Publishers and Publishing Series I Munford Family ca. 1910-1915 1 Diary of Flora M. Munford - excerpt 1915 2 Photographs ca. 1910 Series II Souvenirs of College 1930-1934 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 1924-1953 Texts by Lillian Jeffreys Petri (annotated by Munford) 1 Mind Over Muscle 1924 1 The ABC of Harmony or Music Fundamentals Correlated undated 1 Music Fundamentals Correlated, Part II undated Sheet Music 1 Song Birds in the Twilight Calling, Gilbert Schaad 1953 1 Sweet Oregon, Henry S DeMoss 1930 Series IV Radio Productions 1936-1993 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 1936-1975 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 apx 20x24 in. Original copies of published article 4 apx 20x24 in. Maps of Travels 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 apx 20x24 in. Dust jackets and advertising poster 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 1963 3 folders 2 Photographs used in publication 1963 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 1783

Microfilm of original journal held by John Carter Brown Library

 8 2 apx 12x17 in. Journal of Captain Cook's Last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean ... (probably written by 2nd Lt. J. Rickman)

Microfilm of original journal held by John Carter Brown Library

 8 apx 12x17 in. Cover art, blue-line proofs, title and typeface proofs 1963 8 apx 12x17 in. Series VI Scrapbook 1939-1941 Series VII Corvallis Gazette-Times Columns 1979-1996 7 Index 1996 7 Catalog of Titles 1996 7 Columns 1983-1996 9 10 apx 12x17 in. Columns 1979-1995 2 sets Photographs 1883-1994 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 ca. 1900-1945 7 prints 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 apx 12x17 in. Aerial view of downtown Corvallis Photograph by Western Ways. 1959 11 apx 12x17 in. View of Corvallis from west 1871 Series VIII Other Publications on OSU and Corvallis History 1866-1972 8 apx 12x17 in. Early Corvallis College History (including copies of Columbia Conference of Methodist Episcopal Church South records 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 7 Series IX Travel Notes 1971 Series X Phi Kappa Phi Materials 1934-2000 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 13 Barrs, James 1986-1999 13 Herlinger, Ilona 1982-1993 13 Hohenstein, Walt 1990-1997 13 General 1977-1997 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 1934-1997 14 apx 16x20 in. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation/Dept. Of the Interior 1988 14 apx 16x20 in. Air Force, U.S. 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 apx 16x20 in. Oregon Historical Society 1979 13 Phi Kappa Phi 1934-1977 Plaques 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 1931-1971 13 Frank Harper Protest/Student Counterculture 1969-1970 13 Phi Kappa Phi 1931-1971 Series XIII Sound Recordings 1959 15 The Face of Oregon, OSU Concert Band, Madrigal and Glee Clubs, and the Choralaires Oregon Centennial Concert April 23, 1959