View XML QR Code

Washington State University Publications, 1891-2018

Overview of the Collection

Title
Washington State University Publications
Dates
1891-2018 (inclusive)
Quantity
500 Linear feet of shelf space, (1000 Boxes)
Collection Number
WSU 001-999 (collection)
Summary
Publications created by departments or institutions within Washington State University, running from 1891 to present. They originate at all levels of the university.
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
Return to Top

Historical Note

Washington State University was authorized by the state of Washington and the federal government as a land-grant institution in 1890. It began instruction in January of 1892, under the name Washington Agricultural College and School of Science. In 1905 it became the State College of Washington (WSC), and then Washington State University in 1959.

Return to Top

Content Description

The collection contains publications from various academic and administrative departments within Washington State University, dating back to the school's early organization (1891). Materials from student organizations are also occasionally included.

It should be noted that virtually every academic department within the university has merged, split, or had name changes over the 125 plus years the school has existed. In many cases the department names used as series titles may be out of date, and papers from a given field could conceivably be located in multiple collections if that field resided in different departments.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Many of the more important series within these collections have been digitized, and can be found within the WSU Libraries' digital collections.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

Washington State University Publications: [Department Name] (WSU [###])

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

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

The materials in this collection are arranged into several hundred series, based on the departments originating the materials. While these series were originally loosely arranged in an alphabetical order, some series have been merged into other collections, and many new series have been added, giving the collection as a whole a slightly chaotic feel.

Within each series, an attempt is usually made to organize those materials, but the organizational structure can depend on the nature of the materials. In most cases, a subject-based order is established, with items ordered chronologically at the lowest level. Where a literal publication series exists (e.g. Agricultural Extension Services' Extension Bulletin Series, found in WSU 17-39), the published numbering of the items almost always takes precedence over chronological order.

Acquisition Information

The "WSU Publications" collections are an accumulation of materials transferred to Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections on a nearly daily basis. Some items are transferred directly by the University's printing department. Many other materials have been forwarded by the Library's serials cataloging unit. Other items come directly from university departments, and a significant number of publications have been donated by individuals. Most materials in it have no accession records.

Processing Note

The "WSU Publications" collection is an effort to amass significant or representative publications of the University. The effort began in 1955. Until 1977, the publications were managed as part of the university archives. In that year, office records were separated from the publications in order to follow the spirit of the Washington State public records laws. The separation was all but complete; nonetheless, small quantities of non-published materials, records, remain among the WSU Publications. In 1970-1975, Library employees prepared a library card catalog for the WSU Publications collection. That catalog was transcribed and adapted by Tyler Evans and Jeff Zundel in 2005-2006 and served as the original basis for the evolving "finding aid format" list below. This guide is in almost constant change, both as new items are added, and as existing series descriptions are expanded.

Related Materials

WSU Publications can be found in many of the University Archives collections as well; most will be listed in the relevant finding aids. Building dedication brochures can often be found in PC 3, the WSU Building Photographs collection.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Scholarly publishing

Corporate Names

  • Washington State University -- Periodicals

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Washington State University (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Lawrence Stark; Mark O'English; Tyler Evans; Jeff Zundel
2020

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

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...