Guide to the Robert Fluno Papers 1952-1990

Overview of the Collection

	Repository Name:		Whitman College and Northwest Archives 345 Boyer Ave. Walla Walla, WA 99362 (509) 527-5922 http://www.whitman.edu/content/penrose/archives archives@whitman.edu
	Collection Number:		USHTM_WCMss28
	Creator:		Fluno, Robert Younger
	Title:		Robert Fluno Papers
	Dates:		1952-1990 (inclusive)
	Quantity:		4 linear feet 5 boxes
	Languages:		Materials are in English
	Summary:		Writings, curricular materials, and documents regarding the political activities of a Whitman College political science professor

Biographical Note

Robert Younger Fluno was born on November 27, 1916 in Appleton, Wisconsin. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rollins College in 1938. Fluno went on to study at the American University in Washington, D.C. from 1938-1940; University of Minnesota from 1946-48; and the London School of Economics and Political Science from 1950-51; finally earning his doctorate of philosophy in 1952 from the University of Minnesota. During his study he taught political science at the University of Minnesota (1947-48) and Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio (1948-52). He accepted a position at Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA in 1952, where he served a 30-year tenure until his retirement in 1982. He was married to artist and poet, Ruth Fluno in 1944, until her death in 1974; and was remarried to Marcella Kerins in 1979.

During Fluno’s tenure at Whitman College, he was an active professor and advisor for the student body, serving as a pre-law advisor and Chairman of the Political Science Department, organizing a number of symposiums and seminars and, perhaps most notably, serving as the advisor to Whitman Political Union. The Whitman Political Union was formed in 1954-55, following the success of the Workshop in Practical Politics in April, 1954 and the Intercollegiate Mock Political Convention in March, 1956. The Political Union remained active for approximately twenty-five years as a bipartisan group fostering political awareness and student involvement. The group sponsored annual Mock Conventions, Student Legislatures, as well as a number of political speakers, and an annual seminar—Roots of Contemporary Democracy which ran annually from 1961-1969. In April, 1990, The Whitman Political Union held a reunion of its former participants who had been identified through listings in articles from the Whitman Pioneer (1952-1958). The reunion was organized by Sally Rodgers, Robb Ball, and Robert Fluno. Fluno was the keynote speaker.

Shortly after the Political Union Reunion, Robert Younger Fluno died on October 6, 1990, at the age of 73 in his home in Berkeley, CA.

Content Description

The collection contains Robert Fluno’s writings and curriculum proposals and records the leadership of the Political Union at Whitman College. Student work and unpublished writings record a wide-range of educational processes. The collection provides a record of the political and social dimensions of political science education.

Arrangement

By series.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by Marcella Kerins Fluno in October, 1992.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research.

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright not transferred to Whitman College.

Preferred Citation

Robert Fluno Papers, Whitman College and Northwest Archives.

Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Fluno, Robert Younger--Archives

Whitman College

Whitman College--Authors, faculty

Washington (State)--Politics and government--20th Century

Education, Higher--Washington (State)--Walla Walla

Political science teachers--Washington (State)--Walla Walla

Political science--Study and teaching

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1: Political Union and Politics, 1952-1990, (bulk 1952-1973)

2.3 linear feet2 boxes

This series contains materials regarding the Political Union. The Union sponsored several mock conventions and hosted a semiannual political-awareness series entitled “Roots of Contemporary Democracy.” Fluno and the Political Union were also instrumental in the organization of the Cordiner Symposium, which featured panels of guest scholars who spoke on a series of social issues. Programs for events and speakers are included along with correspondence and letters nationally recognized political leaders. The series holds a scrapbook of Political Union activities that includes a lengthy explanation of goals and aims of the Political Union. This series also includes the plans and correspondence surrounding the Political Union Reunion in 1990.

Container(s)

Description

Dates

box/folder
1/1

Cordiner Symposium

1968-1969

1/2

Cordiner Symposium

1970-1971

1/3

Cordiner Symposium -- Invitation Letters

1971

1/4

Cordiner Symposium

1971-1972

1/5

Cordiner Symposium -- Committee and Arrangement

1972-1973

1/6

Cordiner Symposium -- Publication

1972-1973

1/7

Cordiner Symposium -- Speakers

1972-1973

1/8

Pioneer Clippings, Political Union and Political Involvement

circa 1952-1969

1/9

Political Union Programs, "Name" Speakers Correspondence

1956-1961

1/10

Political Union Programs, 1954 Workshop

1954

1/11

Political Union Programs, 1956 Convention

1956

1/12

Political Union Programs, 1957 Legislature

1957

1/13

Political Union Programs, 1960 Convention

1960

1/14

Political Union Programs, 1961 Legislature

1961

1/15

Political Union Programs, 1962 Legislature

1962

1/16

Political Union Programs, 1964 Convention

1964

1/17

Political Union Programs, 1965 Legislature

1965

1/18

Political Union Programs, 1966 Legislature

1966

1/19

Political Union Programs, 1968 Convention

1968

1/20-21

Political Union Reunion

circa 1988-1990

box
2

Political Union Scrapbook

1954-1958

box/folder
3/1

Political Union, Misc.

circa 1959-1970

3/2