These records are housed in 2 cubic foot boxes, 2 document boxes, and 1 16x20 oversize box.
Inventory
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to Manuscript Collections PageMacVicar, Robert W., Papers, 1942-1995
MacVicar, Robert W., 1918-1998
2.1 cubic feet
Scope and Content Note
The MacVicar Papers document the activities of Robert MacVicar,
who served as President of OSU from 1970 to 1984. These records
primarily focus upon MacVicar's work and personal life outside
the university.
These papers are organized into six series: I. Correspondence; II. Publications;
III. Speeches ; IV. Projects; V. Certificates and Awards; and VI. Photographs
and Prints.
The correspondence in series I documents interaction between MacVicar and friends
and colleagues concerning MacVicar's retirement from OSU, receipt of various
honors and accolades, community speaking engagements, the economic and
political state of higher education in Oregon, Southern Illinois University, and
international projects MacVicar pursued as a consultant.
Primarily made up of journal article reprints, the publications also
include membership directories, a chapter from an annual report, and
various items from Southern Illinois University (SIU). The materials
from SIU consist of 3 yearbooks, student unrest reports, and a underground
student newspaper. Series III contains notes for a eulogy in honor
of former OSU president James Jensen.
Series IV pertains to various projects pursued by MacVicar primarily
after retirement as a consultant or committee member and includes
budgetary materials, correspondence, donor lists, grant proposals,
meeting minutes, reports, publications, studies, survey records, and
treasurers reports. Among the subjects addressed by these projects include
pharmacy education in the northwest, a supercollider facility in Oregon,
the impact of Ballot Measure 5, a Sea Grant Program in Latin America,
Peruvian agriculture, and the development of NorthWestNet by the Northwest
Academic Computing Consortium. Committees documented in this series include:
the United Nations Day Committee (for the State of Oregon), the Benton/Corvallis
Library Art Committee, and the Northwest Academic Planning Forum, which
MacVicar chaired from 1985 to 1987.
Series V is primarily made up of certificates of recognition presented to MacVicar
by various Corvallis service organizations, honor societies, OSU clubs, and various
branches of the U.S. armed forces honoring MacVicar for his service to OSU and involvement in
the military. In addition to a honorary doctorate from Dankook University in Korea,
this series also features small posters of poetry and sayings, including a copy of a
poem read by William Stafford, Poet Laureate of Oregon, at the second inauguration of
Victor Atiyeh as Governor of Oregon in 1983. The photograph and prints in series VI
consist of an image of John E. Kirkpatrick, (who was a major supporter of the Oklahoma
technical branch campus in Oklahoma City), a print of the Memorial Union by Alma Schulmerich,
and a print of a doorway in "Old Kuwait".
Biographical Note
Robert W. MacVicar, OSU President from 1970 to 1984, was born at Princeton, Minnesota on September
28, 1918. He attended the University of Wyoming, graduating with
honors in 1939 with a B.S. degree in Chemistry. He was awarded
a Rhodes Scholarship in 1939, but he was unable to attend due
to World War II. MacVicar continued his education at Oklahoma
State University where he received a masters degree in Chemistry
in 1940. After serving in the Army from 1939 to 1945, MacVicar
attended the University of Wisconsin, where he completed his Ph.D.
in Biochemistry in 1946.
MacVicar returned to Oklahoma State as Associate Professor
in Agricultural Chemistry Research and Chemistry and as Professor
of Biochemistry from 1946-1964. He served as Dean of the Graduate
School at Oklahoma State from 1953 to 1964. From 1957 to 1964
MacVicar also served as Vice President for Academic Affairs. He
became Chancellor of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
in 1968.
MacVicar came to Oregon State University in 1970 where he served
as President until his retirement in 1984. He simultaneously held
the position of Professor of Chemistry. During President MacVicar's
tenure in office, the decentralization of the top administration
of the university began, when he added a number of vice presidents.
After his retirement, he was named Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
and President Emeritus, Special Assistant to the Chancellor. He
also served as Acting President of the College of Ganado, a small
college in Arizona, for seven months in 1985.
In 1983-1984 MacVicar served on the Tanzania Study Team
at the Sokoine University of Agriculture. He was honorary chair
for the State of Oregon of the United Nations Day Committee for
1990 and 1991. He also served as the chair of the Benton/Corvallis
Library Art Committee for 1990-1991.
Related Materials
MacVicar's presidency is documented in the record group for the
The
President's Office (RG 13), in subgroup 14. Other institional records
pertaining to to MacVicar can be found in the records of the
Alumni
Relations (RG 35) office. Among manuscript collections, The
Roy A. Young Papers, also has materials pertaining to MacVicar.
Photographic images of MacVicar and his family can be found in a number of collections:
The
Presidents of Oregon State University Photograph Collection (P
1); The
President's
Office Photograph Collection (P 92); The KBVR
Photograph Collection (P 170); and Harriet's
Collection. A recording on videotape of a broadcast interview of MacVicar can be found
in the
Extension and Experiment Station (P 120) Videotape/Film Collection.
Container Note
These records are housed in 2 cubic foot boxes, 2 document boxes, and 1 16x20 oversize box.
Inventory
Return
to Manuscript Collections Page