Extension and Experiment Station Communications, 1949-1995
(RG 69)
5.8 cubic feet; 3 reels of microfilm; 548 audio tapes
Scope and Content Note
This record group consists of nine series. Series one consists of audio tapes
and cue sheets of radio programs produced by this office. Series two consist
of public service announcement tapes (PSAs). Series three consists of audio
tapes used for other productions. Series four consists of speeches, lectures
and interviews audiotaped by this office. Series five consists of news releases:
News Tips Home Ec.; Oregon Farm Calendar; Speaking to the Consumer; Food Facts
Home Ec.; Tips for Type and Mike. Series six consists of audio and video projects
production records, including costs, correspondence and reports. Series seven
consists of reports on Agricultural Communications and on an Extension information
project, correspondence about radio broadcasts, lists of award winners, and
notes on the Agricultural Conservation Program. Series eight consists of publications
records: index cards listing information on technical papers issued by the Oregon
Agricultural Experiment Station costs, information, correspondence, drafts,
reviews, and evaluation reports. Series nine consists of biographical files
of extension agents and specialists who are no longer affiliated with the OSU
Extension Service because they have resigned, retired, or are deceased. These
files include biographical data sheets, info sheets, resumes, position announcements,
job appointment news releases, and death announcements.
New Accession
New Accession, 2005
Historical Note
The Extension Information Office (which later became Extension Communications)
and the Agricultural Experiment Station Information office (which later
became Agricultural Experiment Station Communications) were separate units
until 1983, when they were combined into a single unit in the College of
Agricultural Sciences. This new unit was called Agricultural Communications.
The name was changed in March of 1996 to Extension and Experiment Station
Communications to reflect the move at OSU to make Extension a university-wide
outreach activity. Extension and Experiment Station Communications is a
department in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Unit Leaders of the
combined unit have included Ken Kingsley, Department Head from April 1995
to the present, and as the interim department head from November 1991 to
April 1995; Gwil Evans was department head from 1983 to 1991. Extension
Information provided support in the design, production, and distribution
of educational materials, publications, news releases, feature stories,
radio programs initially, but have added in more recent years: videotape,
satellite delivery, web delivery.
The Extension Service appointed the first editor of bulletins, C.J. McIntosh, soon after the receipt of federal funds in 1914. Other heads of Extension Information included Arnold Ebert, who was head from 1956 to 1972, and Gwil Evans, from 1972 to 1983. This unit has provided training for Extension staff in such areas as: newsletters, writing for newspapers, radio, photography, etc.
The first experiment station bulletin was written by Director Edgar Grimm and published in 1889. Between 1889 and 1899, the Station published 58 bulletins and circulars on a variety of topics, many in response to farmers' questions. The Experiment Station Editor position was created in 1947 with Arland R. Meade filling that position until 1948. Other heads of the Agricultural Experiment Station Information office included Dick Floyd (1970 until 1983), Robert G. Mason (1953-1970), Norville Gish (1950-1953) and Sam Bailey (1948-1950). The Agricultural Experiment Station communications unit has worked with researchers to distribute the results of research to other researchers (via technical bulletins, etc.), and to make the public aware of and value the impact of research on their lives via newspaper and television releases, and Oregon's Agricultural Progress magazine.
The communication units were located in Extension Hall (previously Snell Hall), then moved to one of the upper floors of Waldo Hall, and moved into the Kerr Administration Building when it opened in 1971.
Related Materials
Agricultural Experiment Station (RG 25)
and Extension Service (RG 111) contain records
with information on Extension and Experiment Station Communications. Extension
and Experiment Station Communications Photographs (P 120) contains photographs
taken by the Communications office personnel; and Extension
and Agricultural Experiment Station Communications (P 120-Films) contain
films either used in Extension television programs or that were produced
by the Agricultural Experiment Station Communications office.
Other related collections include: Agricultural Experiment Station (P 29); Extension Service(P 62); Extension Bulletin Illustrations (P 20); Station Bulletin Illustrations (P 19); Experiment Station Publications (P 132) Photographic Collection, and films of the Agricultural Experiment Station (P 29-Films).
Shelf Locations
Return to Institutional Records Page
Return to Archives Home Page