Oregon State University Libraries
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



Guide to the Chemistry Department Records, 1937-1997


RG 098





Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Nielsen.

Finding aid encoded by Ashley Norberg., 2008


Overview of the Collection

 
Repository Name:
 

Oregon State University Libraries
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

 
Collection Number:
 

RG 098

 
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

 
Languages:
 

Materials in English. 

 
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.

 

Historical Note

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 Description

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.

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.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information 

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

Future Additions 

Additions to the collection are expected.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation 

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

Related Information

Related Materials 

Additional materials pertaining to the Chemistry Department are available in the College of Science Records (RG 024) (text/html) , the Memorabilia Collection (text/html) , and the Chemistry and Pharmacy Department Records. The Chemistry Department Motion Picture Films (FV P 205) (text/html)  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.

Subjects

National Science Foundation (U.S.)
Oregon State College. School of Science.
Oregon State College--Graduate students.
Oregon State University. School of Science.
Oregon State University--Buildings.
Oregon State University--Faculty.
Oregon State University--Graduate students.
Chemistry--Research--Oregon.
Chemistry--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon.
College buildings--Oregon--Corvallis.
Research grants--Oregon.
Television in higher education--Oregon.
Other Creators :
Christensen, Bert Einar, 1904-
Fulton, John, 1868-1953.
Gilbert, Earl C.
Gilfillan, F. A. (Francois Archibald), 1893-1983
Oregon State College. Dept. of Chemistry.

Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Series I:  General Subject File, 1937-1963

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
   
1937-1939
 
reel
1


1:   Chemistry Department Statistics
 


2:   Chemistry Building Contract
   
1942-1947
 


1:   Anti-malarial research correspondence
 


2:   ASTP correspondence
 


3:   Chemistry Department correspondence
   
1945-1950
 


1:   Forest Products correspondence
 


2:   Gifts to the Department of Chemistry
 


3:   General correspondence
 


4:   Board of Control Oregon State
   
Communications
 


5:   to the staff
 
1-2

6:   from the staff
   
Correspondence
 
2

7:   School of Science
 


8:   President's Office
 


9:   Information Analysis, outside requests
 


10:   A.B. Scott
 


11:   Dr. J.S. Butts
 


12:   W.E. Caldwell
   
1946-1950
 


1:   General Correspondence
 


2:   Office of Naval Research U.S. Navy
 


3:   Information and Analysis
 


4:   Personal - E.C. Gilbert
 


5:   President's Office Dr. Strand
   
Communications
 


6:   To and from staff
 


7:   To and from other departments
 


8:   Gifts to the Department
 


9:   Information Analysis
 


10:   Oregon State Civil Defense Agency
 


11-14:   School of Science F.A. Gilfillan
 


15:   Personal E.C. Gilbert
 


16:   Gifts to the Department
 


17:   Presidents Office A.L. Strand
   
1950-1955
 


1:   Interdepartmental Correspondence, 1952-1953
 


2:   Gifts to the Department, 1950-1951
 


3:   President's Office A.L. Strand, 1950-1953
 


4:   School of Science, 1950-1955
 
2-3

5:   E.C. Gilbert Personal, 1950-1955
 
3

6:   Graduate Assistance Correspondence
   
1955-1963
   
Educational TV
 


1:   1957-1958
 


2:   1958-1959
 


33:   1959-1960
 


4:   1960-1961
 


5:   Departmental Seminars, 1962-1963
 


6:   Gilfillan Dinner
   
Planning Committee
 


7:   Minutes
 


8:   Reports
   
Publications
 


9:   1961
 


10:   Staff
 


11:   Department of Chemistry and Exchanges from Other Colleges
 


12:   Richland General Electric Graduate Work
 


13:   General Chemistry
 


14:   Kasetsart University
 


15:   Gifts for Commencement Program
 


16:   Interdepartmental Correspondence, 1955-1956
 


17:   Gifts and Awards
 


18:   Interdepartmental Correspondence, 1956-1957
   
President's Office
 


19:   1957-1958
 


20:   Report
 


21:   1959-1960
 


22:   School of Science, 1962-1963
 


23:   President's Office, 1955-1956
 


24:   Gilbert E.C., 1955-1956
   
President's Office
 


25:   1956-1957
 


26:   1960-1961
 


27:   1961-1962
   
School of Science
 


28:   1957-1958
 


29:   1955-1957
 


30:   1956-1957
 


31:   Gifts
 


32:   Registration Report, 1959-1960
 


33:   1959-1960
 


34:   1961-1962
 


35:   1958-1959
 


36:   1960-1961

 

Series II:  Research, 1958-1962

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
   
Research Proposals
 
reel
3


1:   1958-1959
 


1a:   1959-1960
 
3-4

1b:   1960-1961
 
4

1c:   1961-1962
 


2:   Research Project Outline, 1958
 


3:   Shell Fellowship
 


4:   Research Reports of, 1959-1960
 


5:   Fellowship bulletins

 

Series III:  National Science Foundation, 1958-1961

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
 
reel
4


1:   1958-1959
 


2:   1959-1960
 


3:   1960-1961

 

Series IV:  Graduate School, 1945-1961

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
 
reel
4


1:   1945-1946
 


2:   1946-1947
 


3:   1947-1948
 


4:   1948-1953
 


5:   Graduate Student Notices
 


6:   Graduate Committee, 1946-1951
 


7:   Graduate School, 1955-1961
 


8:   Graduate School Committee Departmental

 

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

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
 
box
1


Space Requests Design Literature Space Requirements Committee, 1968-1970
 


Minutes of New Building Committee Planning Records Reports, 1969-1974
 


New Building Priorities, 1969-1974
 


Building Committees, 1970-1974
 


Building Program Reports, 1970-1974
 


Program Design Standards, 1971-1974
 


Proposal Planning Review, 1972-1978
 


Exhaust and Cross Contamination Study, 1973
 


Feasibility Study, 1973-1974
 


Architects' Folios Facilities Inventory, 1973-1974
 


Program, 1974
 


New Building (Executive Order Space Inventory), 1974
 


Architects Proposals, 1974
 


Project Description Preliminary Estimate, 1974-1975
 


Award of Contract, 1976
 


New Building Early, 1975-1977
 


New Building Committee Fall, 1977
 


Proposal Ways and Means, 1977
 


Energy Requirements, 1977-1978
 


Movables, 1977-1978
 


Space Utilization (Lab), 1978
 


Project Summary, 1978
 


Final Review, 1978
 


Bids Clippings, 1978
 


New Building Dedication, 1981

 

Series VI:  Promotional Materials, 1997

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
 
box
1


Booklet for Prospective Graduate Students, 1997