ORErg181.xml Guide to the Speech Communication Department Records 1918-1996 Oregon State University Speech Communication Department Records Finding aid prepared by Bryce Henry and Elizabeth Nielsen. Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections & Archives Research Center 2012
121 The Valley Library Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-4501 Phone: 541-737-2165 Email: archives@oregonstate.edu Web: http://archives.library.oregonstate.edu
Finding aid encoded by Bryce Henry and Elizabeth Nielsen. 2012 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections & Archives Research Center Special Collections & University Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-4501 Phone: 541-737-2165 Email: archives@oregonstate.edu Web: http://archives.library.oregonstate.edu
RG 181 Oregon State University. Dept. of Speech Communication. Speech Communication Department Records 1918-1996 1930-1975 1.25 cubic feet, including 3 photographs 2 boxes 7 microfilm reels The Speech Communication Department Records document speech instruction at Oregon State University; speech, debate, and drama activities, especially during the 1920s through 1950s; and the activities of Earl W. Wells as a faculty member and department chair. Speech courses have been taught at Oregon State since its establishment in the late 1860s. The Speech Department was founded in 1920; Earl Wells was department chair from 1952 to 1962. Materials in English. Historical Note:

Courses in elocution and speech have been taught at Oregon State University since its founding in the 1860s. During the 1890s, these were taught by the Department of Elocution and later by the Department of Public Speaking. The Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics was established in 1920, as the first Speech Department in Oregon, and grew quickly during the 1920s. Courses in "speech correction" were added in the mid-1920s. When higher education in Oregon was re-organized in the early 1930s, responsibility for speech degrees was transferred to the University of Oregon and several faculty moved to establish the program. However, the service department at Oregon State continued to offer courses in debating, extempore speaking, oratory, voice and diction, and radio speech and coordinated an extensive program of forensics and dramatic activities for students.

In 1965-1966, the Speech Department was one of the first departments to offer an undergraduate degree in the new School of Humanities and Social Sciences. In 1970, the department name was changed to Speech Communication.

C.B. (Charles Buren) Mitchell joined the faculty of Oregon Agricultural College in 1920 to head the new Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics. Earl W. Wells joined the department at about the same time (1921); he was instrumental in developing the forensics and public speaking program and coached orators who gained national prominence. Wells served as Speech Department Chair from 1952 until his retirement in 1962.

The Speech Communication Department Records document speech instruction at Oregon State as well as speech, debate, and drama activities. The Records include orations and speeches, correspondence, reports, organization records, course materials, committee minutes, a scrapbook, and several photographs. Of special note are records of the Oregon State chapter of Delta Sigma Rho, the national honorary society for students in speech communications, and an Institute on Advanced Communications Skills for junior and senior high school English and Speech teachers offered at OSU in summer 1967. The photographs are of the Institute's participants.

The collection includes substantial materials pertaining to forensics and dramatic activities at Oregon State including orations and speeches; annual reports for debate squads during the 1930s through 1950s; and annual activities reports detailing the number of students participating, results of forensics competitions, plays performed, and number of attendees at dramatic productions. Materials pertaining to speech pathology and the Department's clinical activities, especially during the 1930s-1950s, are included in the records.

A significant portion of the microfilmed records (Subgroup 1) consist of the correspondence of Earl W. Wells and document Wells' activities as a faculty member and department chair and his participation in national, regional, and state-wide professional organizations. Some of C.B. Mitchell's correspondence is also included.

Collection is open for research.

The Speech Communication Department Records are arranged in two subgroups: 1. Microfilmed Records, 1921-1969 and 2. Paper Records, 1918-1996. The microfilmed records consist of 9 series: I. Orations, 1921-1962; II. Speeches, 1923-1948; III. Debates, 1930-1956; IV. Army Specialized Training Program, 1943; V. Intercollegiate Forensic Association of Oregon, 1932-1962; VI. Activities Reports, 1928-1958; VII. Correspondence of Earl W. Wells, 1922-1967; VIII. Reader's File, 1931-1969; and IX. Report on the Forensic and Dramatic Activities at Oregon State College, 1938.

The paper records (Subgroup 2) are arranged in 10 series: I. Correspondence, 1952-1985; II. Delta Sigma Rho Records, 1920-1975; III. History of the Speech Department, 1918-1989; IV. Minutes of Speech Department Meetings, 1959-1970; V. National Defense Education Act (NDEA) Institute in English: Advanced Communication Skills, 1965-1968; VI. Committees, Organizations, and Conferences, 1933-1989; VII. Publication, 1940-1996; VIII. Reports, 1949-1974; IX. Scrapbook, 1964-1970; and X. Subject Files, 1948-1961.

Speech Communication Department Records (RG 181), Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

The records were transferred to the University Archives in several accessions from 1970 through 2005.

Additions to the collection are expected.

The Speech Department Photographs (P 088) include images of students who participated in speech and debate activities, faculty, and facilities. The Effie L. Wagner Scrapbook of the Women's Debate Tour documents the 1928 Women's Debate Tour of several colleges and universities in the western United States. The Special Collections & Archives Research Center's holdings also include the Drama, Debate, and Oration Scrapbooks for 1920-1963. Two compilations of Oregon State's achievements in intercollegiate oratorical competition for 1920-1945 by Earl W. Wells are available in the Special Collections & Archives Research Center's Vault Collection. Extensive documentation of theater and dramatics programs are available in the University Theater Records (RG 180), University Theater Photographs (P 112), and C.B. Mitchell University Theater Scrapbooks. General information about the Speech Department is available in the Memorabilia Collection.

Mitchell, C. B. (Charles Buren), 1886-1955. Wells, Earl W. (Earl William), b. 1898. Oregon Agricultural College--Students. Oregon State College--Students. Oregon State University--Students. Delta Sigma Rho. Delta Sigma Rho. Oregon State College Chapter. Oregon State Agricultural College. Dept. of Public Speaking and Dramatics. Oregon State College. Dept. of Speech. Oregon State University. Dept. of Speech. College and school drama, American--Oregon--Corvallis. College orations--Oregon State College. Debates and debating--Oregon--Corvallis. Drama--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis. Forensics (Public speaking) Oratory--Societies, etc. Oratory--Study and teaching--Oregon. Speech--Study and teaching--Oregon. Speech therapy--Oregon--Corvallis. Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis. Women--Oregon--Corvallis. Scrapbooks. Photographic prints. Colleges and Universities Performing Arts Student Life Women Oregon Corvallis Photographs Scrapbooks Subgroup 1 Microfilmed Records 1921-1969

Subgroup 1 consists of microfilmed Speech Department records documenting speech, debate, and drama activities; the work of Earl. W. Wells as faculty member and department chair; and department administration. The records are primarily for the 1930s thru 1950s and include correspondence, reports, speeches, and orations.

 Series I Orations 1921-1962

Series I consists of the texts of orations given at contests by Oregon State students as well as students from other regional colleges and universities.

 1 1 1921-1930 1 2 1931-1932 1 3 1932-1933 1 4 1933-1934 1 5 1934-1935 1 6 1935-1936 1 7 1936-1937 1-2 8 1937-1938 2 9 1938-1939 2 10 1939-1940 2 11 1940-1941 2 12 1941-1942 2 13 1942-1943 2 14 1943-1944 2 15 1944-1945 2 16 1945-1946 2 17 1946-1947 2 18 1947-1948 2 19 1948-1949 2 20 1949-1950 2-3 21 1950-1951 3 22 1951-1952 3 23 1952-1953 3 24 1955-1956 3 25 1956-1957 3 26 1957-1958 3 27 1958-1959 3 28 1959-1960 3 29 1960-1961 3-4 30 1961-1962 4 31 Oratorical Contest Speeches 1931-1948 Series II Speeches 1923-1948

Series II consists of speeches presented by Oregon State students at forensics competitions.

 Extempore Speeches 1923-1938 4 32 1923-1931 4 33 1931-1932 4 34 1932-1933 4 35 1933-1934 4 36 1934-1935 4 37 1935-1936 4 38 1936-1937 4 38 1936-1937 4 39 1937-1938 After-Dinner Speeches 1938-1948 4 40 1938-1939 4 41 1939-1940 4 42 1940-1941 4 43 1941-1942 4 44 1942-1943 4 45 1943-1944 4 46 1944-1945 4 47 1945-1946 4 48 1946-1947 4 49 1947-1948 4 50 Auto Accident Prevention Contest 1935

Contest for freshmen extempore speaking.

 Series III Debates 1930-1956

Series III includes reports of each debating season for the 1930s through mid 1950s documenting the members of the men's and women's debate squads, the number of debates each squad participated in, and the number of debates that were won by Oregon State squads. The series also includes information about the participation of Oregon State squads in the annual West Point Debates.

 4 51 Season Reports for Debate Squads 1930-1956 4 52 Radio Debates 1937 4 53 West Point Debates 1947-1951 Series IV Army Specialized Training Program 1943

Series IV consists of syllabi, correspondence, and related materials pertaining to speech training in AST 111.

 4 54 General Series V Intercollegiate Forensic Association of Oregon 1932-1962

Series V consists of documents of the Intercollegiate Forensic Association of Oregon, which included representatives from colleges and universities throughout the state. The Association sponsored forensics contests and activities.

 4 55 Directories, Bulletins, and Minutes Series VI Activities Reports 1928-1958

Series VI consists of annual reports of dramatics and forensics activities at Oregon State, including the number of participating students; results of forensics competitions; plays performed; and number of attendees at dramatic productions.

 4 56 1928-1929 4 57 1929-1930 4 58 1930-1931 4 59 1931-1932 4 60 1932-1933 4 61 1934-1935 4 62 1935-1936 4 63 1936-1937 4 64 1937-1938 4 65 1938-1939 4 66 1939-1940 4 67 1940-1941 4 68 1941-1942 4 69 1942-1943 4 70 1943-1944 4 71 1944-1945 4 72 1945-1946 4 73 1946-1947 4 74 1947-1948 4 75 1948-1949 4 76 1949-1950 4 77 1950-1951 4 78 1951-1952 4 79 1952-1953 4 80 1953-1954 4-5 81 1954-1955 5 82 1955-1956 5 83 1956-1957 5 84 1957-1958 Series VII Correspondence of Earl W. Wells 1922-1967

Series VII consists of correspondence received and sent by Earl W. Wells in his role as a Speech Department faculty member as well as department chair. The series also includes some personal correspondence for Wells, such as that for the Corvallis Rose Society.

 5 85 Miscellaneous Current 1961-1962 Miscellaneous Past 1922-1961 5 86 Volume I 1922-1933 5 87 Volume II 1935-1940 5 88 Volume III 1940-1950 5 89 Volume IV 1950-1961 5 90 Radio and Television 1954-1958 5 91 Publishing Companies 1927-1937 5 92 NDEA Brochure Copy 1966-1967 Speech Faculty 1954-1962 5 93 1954-1955 5 94 1955-1956 5 95 1956-1957 5 96 1957-1958 5 97 1958-1959 5 98 1959-1960 5 99 1961-1962 5 100 President Jensen 1962 5 101 C.B. Mitchell's Personal Correspondence 1925-1943 Colby - Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences 1952-1961 5 102 1952-1953 5 103 1953-1954 5 104 1954-1955 5 105 1955-1956 5 106 1956-1957 5 107 1957-1958 5 108 1958-1959 5 109 1959-1960 5 110 1960-1961 5 111 Equipment - General 1956-1961 5 112 Speech Aptitude and Proficiency Test 1948-1952 5 113 Speech Correction Extension Vol. I 1927-1950 5 114 Western Speech Association Vol. III 1950-1960 5 115 American Association of University Professors 1946-1962 5 116 American Forensic Association 1958-1961 5 117 American Red Cross 1936-1947 5 118 American Speech and Hearing Association 1936-1963 5 119 Century Club 1936-1957 5 120 Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Relief 1936-1946 5 121 Clinical Staff 1948-1955 5 122 Committee on Scholarship 1938-1940 5 123 Committee on Teacher Selection 1940-1948 5 124 Corvallis Boy Scouts 1936-1938 5 125 Corvallis Camp Fire Girls 1937-1941 5 126 Corvallis Rose Society 1958-1960 5 127 Corvallis Summer Recreation and Educational Program 1935-1937 Delta Sigma Rho 5-6 128 Volume I 1926-1949 6 129 Volume II 1951-1955 6 130 Volume III 1955-1961 1 131 Democratic Party 1955-1960 6 132 Educational Activities Committee 1951-1955 6 133 Faculty Council 1957-1961 6 134 Future Farmers of America 1936-1960 6 135 Franklin Parent - Teachers Association 1931-1932 6 136 Faculty Men's Club 1957-1962 6 137 Graduate Division 1960 6 138 Inland Empire Education Association 1928-1930 6 139 Intercollegiate Forensic Association of Oregon 1931-1961 6 140 Liberal Arts Division 1949-1962 6 141 Order of the Spoon 1929-1939 6 142 Oregon High School Extempore Speaking and Interpretation Contests 1925-1932 6 143 Oregon High School Speech League 1942-1951 6 144 Oregon Speech and Hearing Association 1949-1962 6 145 Oregon Speech Association 1931-1950 Series VIII Reader's File 1931-1969

Series VIII consists of department correspondence arranged as reader's files. The correspondence documents the administration of the department, primarily during the 1950s and 1960s.

 6 146 Bulletins: Business Office 1956-1957 Business Office 1956-1960 6 147 1956-1959 6 148 1959-1960 Colby - Dean of Liberal Arts 1946-1952 6 149 1946-1950 6 150 1950-1951 6 151 1951-1952 Faculty - Other 1950-1959 6 152 1950-1951 6 153 1951-1952 6 154 1953-1954 6 155 1954-1955 6 156 1955-1956 6 157 1958-1959 Lemon - Dean of Administration 1951-1954 6 158 1951-1952 6 159 1953-1954 Miscellaneous 1948-1959 6 160 1948-1950 6 161 1951-1952 6 162 1952-1953 6 162 1952-1953 6 163 1954-1955 6 164 1955-1956 6 165 1958-1959 6 166 Self Evaluation Report II circa 1960 6 167 Other Institutions 1951-1952 6 168 Physical Plant 1950-1953 President Strand 1931-1952 6 169 1931-1951 6 170 1951-1952 Zeran - Dean of Education 1952-1961 6 171 1952 6 172 1961 Chronological Reader's File 1963-1969 6 173 September 1963 6 174 October 1963 6 175 November 1963 6 176 December 1963 6 177 January 1964 6 178 February 1964 6 179 March 1964 6 180 April 1964 6 181 May 1964 6 182 June 1964 6 183 July 1964 6 184 August 1964 6 185 September - October 1964 6 186 November 1964 6 187 December 1964 6 188 January 1965 6 189 February 1965 6 190 March 1965 6 191 April 1965 6 192 May 1965 6 193 June 1965 6 194 July 1965 6 195 August 1965 6 196 September 1965 6 197 October 1965 6 198 November 1965 6 199 December 1965 6 200 January 1966 6 201 February 1966 6 202 March 1966 6 203 April 1966 6 204 May 1966 6 205 June 1966 6 206 September 1966 6 207 October 1966 6 208 December 1966 6 209 January 1967 6 210 February 1967 6 211 March 1967 6 212 April 1967 6 213 May 1967 6 214 June 1967 6 215 July 1967 6 216 August 1967 6 217 September 1967 6 218 October 1967 6 219 November 1967 6-7 220 December 1967 7 221 January 1968 7 222 February 1968 7 223 March 1968 7 224 April 1968 7 225 May 1968 7 226 June 1968 7 227 July 1968 7 228 August 1968 7 229 September 1968 7 230 October 1968 7 231 November 1968 7 232 December 1968 7 233 January 1969 7 234 February 1969 7 235 March 1969 7 236 April 1969 7 237 May 1969 7 238 June 1969 7 239 December 1969 Series IX Report on the Forensic and Dramatic Activities at Oregon State College 1938

Series IX consists of a report documenting the speech, debate, and drama activities of the department during the 1920s and 1930s.

 7 240 Report on the Forensic and Dramatic Activities at Oregon State College since the Establishment of the Department of Speech, Fall 1920 to Spring 1938 Subgroup 2 Paper Records 1918-1996

Subgroup 2 consists of Speech Communication Department Records in paper form documenting the curriculum, policies and procedures, faculty, and student activities of the department. Of special note are records of Delta Sigma Rho, the national honorary society for students in speech communications, and the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) Institute in English on Advance Communications Skills held at Oregon State in 1967.

 Series I Correspondence 1952-1985

Series I consists of correspondence received and sent from the department and documents the policies and procedures of the department, facilities, faculty, and courses. The fall letter to the Speeech Department from Earl W. Wells, Department Chair, introduces new and returning faculty, summarizes department policies and procedures, and lists advising responsibilities.

 Fall letter to members of Speech Department 1 1952-1961 Policy and Historical 1 1955-1967 General Speech Department Correspondence 1 1968-1985 Series II Delta Sigma Rho Records 1920-1975

Series II consists of records of the Oregon State University chapter of Delta Sigma Rho, the national honorary society for students in speech communications. The records include constitutions, correspondence, membership lists, initiation rituals, and financial records.

 Account ledger and finances 1 1931-1947 Correspondence 1 1920-1934 Correspondence 1 1954-1972 Initiation rituals 1 1941-1967 Membership lists 1 1929-1953 Procedures and constitutions 1 1966-1975 Sample membership cards 1 1932-1953 Series III History of the Speech Department 1918-1989

Series III consists of research notes on the history of the department compiled by Thurston Doler. The notes include correspondence as well as photocopies from the Beaver yearbook. Several short essays on the history of the Speech Department are also part of the series.

 Research notes 1 1918-1989 Essays 1 1966-1982 Series IV Minutes of Speech Department Meetings 1959-1970

Series IV consists of minutes of department meetings and compilations of the minutes of the Executive Committee and the Department Staff. These compilations consists of copies of the minutes that have been clipped and re-assembled by topic. A list of topics is in the front of the first folder for each. The Executive Committee minutes include materials relevant to the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) Institute at OSU in 1967.

 Department meeting 1 1959-1960 Executive committee 1 1964-1970 2 folders Staff meetings 1 1964-1970 2 folders Series V National Defense Education Act (NDEA) Institute in English: Advanced Communication Skills 1965-1968

Series V consists of the records of an National Defence Education Act (NDEA) Institute in English on Advance Communication Skills offered at Oregon State University. The 8-week course, from June 26 through August 18, 1967, was attended by 32 junior and senior high school English and Speech teachers. The program focussed on the multiple and interdisciplinary aspects of human communication skills. The records include the proposal, plan of operation, and final report; course materials; correspondence; brochures and clippings; lists of participants; and a group photograph of the participants.

 Correspondence 1966-1967 Dr. Milton Valentine's NDEA Institute correspondence 1 1966-1967 Exhibit requests 1 1967 General correspondence 1 1967-1968 Participant and alternate rejection letters 1 1967 Course Materials 1965-1967 Psychology of Reading undated 1 Various courses 1 1965-1967 Finances 1966-1968 4 Column Book 1 1967 Dr. Valentine's expenditure receipts and related correspondence 1 1966-1968 Stipend information and related correspondence 1 1967 Newspaper clippings and brochures 1967 1 Participant lists 1 1967 Participant group photograph 1967 1 2 prints and 1 120 negative Reports 1965-1967 Plan of Operation 1967 1 Proposal for NDEA Summer Institute in Advanced Communication Skills 1 1965-1967 Final Report 1 1967 Schedules 1 1967 Series VI Committees, Organizations, and Conferences 1933-1989

Series VI consists of the records of department committees, student organizations, and conferences and includes materials pertaining to forensics at Oregon State during the 1930s-1950s.

 Curriculum Committee undated 1 Dramatics Committee 1 1959 Executive Committee 1 1969-1970 Oregon High School Drama Conference 1 1959-1963 Oregon Speech Association 1 1960 Forensics 1933-1954 Associated Students, Forensic Division - accounting ledger 1934-1949 1 Intercollegiate Forensic Tournament of Champions 1 1950-1952 Pacific Forensic League events 1 1933-1954 Philosophies Committee undated 1 Seminars Committee - School of Humanities and Social Sciences 1 1961 Speech Chair Search Committee 1 1988-1989 Television Committee 1 1958 Series VII Publications 1940-1996

Series VII includes the program for the Model United Nations of the Far West 40th annual session; clippings; and a newsletter to theater departments at Oregon community colleges regarding a theater festival.

 Model United Nations 40th Annual Session conference book 1 1990 Newspaper Clippings 1 1940-1996 Oregon Community College Festival newsletter 1 1977 Series VIII Reports 1949-1974

Series VIII consists of reports, primarily from the 1950s and early 1960s, documenting the academic programs and activities of the Speech Department.

 Accreditation - Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools 2 1960 Annual Reports 2 1957-1962 Biennial Reports 2 1956-1962 The Philosophy and Future of Drama at Oregon State College 2 circa 1961 Policies and Procedures 2 1960s-1974 Report on Extempore, Impromptu, Experimental, and Discussion at Oregon State College 2 1949-1950 Report on the Model United Nations of OSU 2 1964 Speech Screening Test 2 1954-1960 Text Evaluation 2 circa 1962 Student Speech Activities at Oregon State College 2 undated A Statement on Operational Principles for the Department of Speech 2 undated Future Quarters for Department of Speech at Oregon State College 2 undated Series IX Scrapbook 1964-1970 2 folders 2

Series IX consists of a scrapbook assembled by the Speech Communication Department documenting Oregon State University theater productions, KBVR-TV programs, workshops, department faculty news, campus free-speech regulations, and a performance by a visiting San Francisco Mime Troupe. The scrapbook is predominantly newspaper clippings; it also includes brochures and flyers. The scrapbook was originally housed in a three-ring binder.

 Series X Subject Files 1948-1961

Series X consists of materials documenting speech courses and activities pertaining to live television. The series also includes biographical information for Paul Knoll, a Speech Department faculty member from 1927 until his death in 1957.

 Biographical file on Paul X. Knoll 2 1948-1957 Speech 111 course materials undated 2 Television - live 2 1961