Chemistry Department Records, 1937-1997

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Oregon State University. Dept. of Chemistry.
Title
Chemistry Department Records
Dates
1937-1997 (inclusive)
1945-1981 (bulk)
Quantity
0.75 cubic foot, (1 box)
4 microfilm reels
Collection Number
RG 098
Summary
The Chemistry Department Records document the research and graduate programs in chemistry at Oregon State University, primarily in the post-war period of the late 1940s to early 1960s, as well as building renovations and construction in the 1970s.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Chemistry courses have been taught at Oregon State University since the earliest years of the institution; the first doctoral degree in Chemistry was awarded in 1935. A Chemistry Building (later named Gilbert Hall for Earl C. Gilbert) was constructed in 1939; it was extensively renovated and the Gilbert Addition was constructed in 1981.

John Fulton was department head from 1907 until 1940, when Earl C. Gilbert, who had been on the faculty since 1917 was appointed head. Bert Christensen followed Gilbert as Department Head in 1956.

Oregon State College was one of the first institutions to offer a chemistry course by television and to broadcast a course to students at several institutions simultaneously.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Chemistry Department Records document the research and graduate programs of the department. Series I-IV consist of microfilmed records, primarily from the post-war period of the late 1940s to early 1960s. Of particular note are extensive correspondence between the department chair and the Dean of the School of Science, F.A. Gilfillan; materials pertaining to the department's use of educational television for teaching general chemistry courses; research proposals and summaries of research projects; and records of the department's graduate program.

The paper records consist predominantly of building renovation and construction planning records for major renovations to Gilbert Hall and the construction of the Gilbert Addition. A 1997 booklet for prospective graduate students includes profiles of all department faculty.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Chemistry Department Records (RG 098), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The records consist of 6 series: I. General Subject File, 1937-1963; II. Research, 1958-1962; III. National Science Foundation, 1958-1961; IV. Graduate School, 1945-1961; V. Building Renovation and Construction Planning Records, 1970-1981; and VI. Promotional Materials, 1997.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Chemistry Department in several accessions from 1966 through 1997.

Future Additions

Additions to the collection are expected.

Related Materials

Additional materials pertaining to the Chemistry Department are available in the College of Science Records (RG 024), the Memorabilia Collection, and the Chemistry and Pharmacy Department Records. The Chemistry Department Motion Picture Films (FV P 205) include recordings of the General Chemistry course taught via interinstitutional television in 1958-1959. The Archives collections also include the Otto Ballhorn Chemistry Laboratory Notebook, the Harry Freund Collection, and the papers of Joseph S. Butts and Robert W. Newburgh.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  General Subject File, 1937-1963Return to Top

The General Subject File consists primarily of correspondence sent and received by the department chairs (John Fulton, E.C. Gilbert, and B.E. Christensen); much of the correspondence is with the F.A. Gilfillan, Dean of the School of Science. The series also includes reports and statistics. Topics include research activities, budgets, student enrollment, graduate programs, and faculty.

Container(s) Description Dates
1937-1939
Reel
1
1: Chemistry Department Statistics
1
2: Chemistry Building Contract
1942-1947
Reel
1
1: Anti-malarial research correspondence
1
2: ASTP correspondence
1
3: Chemistry Department correspondence
1945-1950
Reel
1
1: Forest Products correspondence
1
2: Gifts to the Department of Chemistry
1
3: General correspondence
1
4: Board of Control Oregon State
Communications
Reel
1
5: to the staff
1-2
6: from the staff
Correspondence
Reel
2
7: School of Science
2
8: President's Office
Reel
2
9: Information Analysis, outside requests
2
10: A.B. Scott
2
11: Dr. J.S. Butts
2
12: W.E. Caldwell
1946-1950
Reel
2
1: General Correspondence
2
2: Office of Naval Research U.S. Navy
2
3: Information and Analysis
2
4: Personal - E.C. Gilbert
2
5: President's Office Dr. Strand
Communications
Reel
2
6: To and from staff
2
7: To and from other departments
Reel
2
8: Gifts to the Department
2
9: Information Analysis
2
10: Oregon State Civil Defense Agency
2
11-14: School of Science F.A. Gilfillan
2
15: Personal E.C. Gilbert
2
16: Gifts to the Department
2
17: Presidents Office A.L. Strand
1950-1955
Reel
2
1: Interdepartmental Correspondence
1952-1953
2
2: Gifts to the Department
1950-1951
2
3: President's Office A.L. Strand
1950-1953
2
4: School of Science
1950-1955
2-3
5: E.C. Gilbert Personal
1950-1955
3
6: Graduate Assistance Correspondence
1955-1963
Educational TV
Reel
3
1957-1958
3
1958-1959
3
1959-1960
3
1960-1961
Reel
3
5: Departmental Seminars
1962-1963
3
6: Gilfillan Dinner
Planning Committee
Reel
3
7: Minutes
3
8: Reports
Publications
Reel
3
1961
3
10: Staff
3
11: Department of Chemistry and Exchanges from Other Colleges
Reel
3
12: Richland General Electric Graduate Work
3
13: General Chemistry
3
14: Kasetsart University
3
15: Gifts for Commencement Program
3
16: Interdepartmental Correspondence
1955-1956
3
17: Gifts and Awards
3
18: Interdepartmental Correspondence
1956-1957
President's Office
Reel
3
1957-1958
3
20: Report
3
1959-1960
Reel
3
22: School of Science
1962-1963
3
23: President's Office
1955-1956
3
24: Gilbert E.C.
1955-1956
President's Office
Reel
3
1956-1957
3
1960-1961
3
1961-1962
School of Science
Reel
3
1957-1958
3
1955-1957
3
1956-1957
3
31: Gifts
3
32: Registration Report
1959-1960
3
1959-1960
3
1961-1962
3
1958-1959
3
1960-1961

Series II:  Research, 1958-1962Return to Top

Series II consists of research proposals and applications for graduate fellowships; proposals to the National Science Foundation for research projects and equipment purchases; and summaries of research being conducted in the Chemistry Department.

Container(s) Description Dates
Research Proposals
Reel
3
1958-1959
3
1959-1960
3-4
1960-1961
4
1961-1962
Reel
4
2: Research Project Outline
1958
4
3: Shell Fellowship
4
4: Research Reports of
1959-1960
4
5: Fellowship bulletins

Series III:  National Science Foundation, 1958-1961Return to Top

Series III includes announcements and publications issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as well as correspondence with NSF regarding research programs in chemistry at Oregon State.

Container(s) Description Dates
Reel
4
1958-1959
4
1959-1960
4
1960-1961

Series IV:  Graduate School, 1945-1961Return to Top

Series IV provides information about graduate programs in the Chemistry Department including degree requirements and curriculum; graduate assistantships; and applications and inquiries from prospective graduate students.

Container(s) Description Dates
Reel
4
1945-1946
4
1946-1947
4
1947-1948
4
1948-1953
4
5: Graduate Student Notices
4
6: Graduate Committee
1946-1951
4
7: Graduate School
1955-1961
4
8: Graduate School Committee Departmental

Series V:  Building Renovation and Construction Planning Records, 1970-1981Return to Top

The Building Renovation and Construction Planning Records pertain to the renovation of Gilbert Hall and the construction of the Gilbert Addition and include meeting minutes for various building committees, proposals, students, program descriptions, reports, correspondence, and dedication materials. All files include correspondence.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Space Requests Design Literature Space Requirements Committee
1968-1970
1
Minutes of New Building Committee Planning Records Reports
1969-1974
1
New Building Priorities
1969-1974
1
Building Committees
1970-1974
1
Building Program Reports
1970-1974
1
Program Design Standards
1971-1974
1
Proposal Planning Review
1972-1978
1
Exhaust and Cross Contamination Study
1973
1
Feasibility Study
1973-1974
1
Architects' Folios Facilities Inventory
1973-1974
1
Program
1974
1
New Building (Executive Order Space Inventory)
1974
1
Architects Proposals
1974
1
Project Description Preliminary Estimate
1974-1975
1
Award of Contract
1976
1
New Building Early
1975-1977
1
New Building Committee Fall
1977
1
Proposal Ways and Means
1977
1
Energy Requirements
1977-1978
1
Movables
1977-1978
1
Space Utilization (Lab)
1978
1
Project Summary
1978
1
Final Review
1978
1
Bids Clippings
1978
1
New Building Dedication
1981

Series VI:  Promotional Materials, 1997Return to Top

The Promotional Materials consist of a booklet for prospective graduate students about the Chemistry Department graduate and research programs that includes profiles of all faculty.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Booklet for Prospective Graduate Students
1997

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Chemistry--Research--Oregon.
  • Chemistry--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon.
  • College buildings--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Research grants--Oregon.
  • Television in higher education--Oregon.

Corporate Names

  • National Science Foundation (U.S.)
  • Oregon State College--Graduate students.
  • Oregon State College. School of Science.
  • Oregon State University--Buildings.
  • Oregon State University--Faculty.
  • Oregon State University--Graduate students.
  • Oregon State University. School of Science.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Christensen, Bert Einar, 1904- (creator)
    • Fulton, John, 1868-1953. (creator)
    • Gilbert, Earl C. (creator)
    • Gilfillan, F. A. (Francois Archibald), 1893-1983 (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Oregon State College. Dept. of Chemistry. (creator)