Research Office Records (RG 170)
1960-2002
7.3 cubic feet and 6 reels of microfilm

Researcher in laboratory, ca. 1983. Research like that featured here begins not in the bottles of a lab shelf, but in the files of the Research Office, which coordinates and oversees all research projects at OSU's schools and colleges, as well as the 20 multi-disciplinary research centers and institutes managed by the University. In addition to reports summarizing grant projects, the records of the Research Office include minutes from committees involved in research and handbooks on research procedures and guidelines. [OSU Archives P181]

Scope and Content Note
These records were generated and acquired by the Research Office, the Natural Resources Policy Institute and several OSU research centers and institutes managed by the Research Office. In addition to reflecting the administration of these offices, the Research Office records also document the formation of procedures and policies regarding research, the review of various rearch projects at OSU, and the compilation of summary data on grant funding.

Given differences in the series designations between the paper and microfilm records in this group, the microfilm reels are described separately below and in the inventory.

The paper records are organized into three subgroups: 1. Research Administration, 2. Research Centers and Institutes and 3.The Natural Resources Policy Institute.

The records in Subgroup 1, Research Administration, consist of nine series: I. Reports and Summaries; II. Committees; III. Correspondence; IV. Reports/Publications; V. Sea Grant Program; VI. Research Highlights; VII. Research Council; VIII. Policies/Procedures; and IX. Reports of Gifts and Grants. The records document the management of the Research Office and its function of evaluating grant proposals, communicating with various University committees and research centers on matters of procedure and funding, and compiling summaries of the grant review process.

Series I contains reports summarizing research grant funding, proposals, and applications at OSU. Most of the reports are organized by year and some are listed by college and school, resource allocator and by function. Series II consists of minutes, correspondence, and memoranda generated by University committees involved in evaluating and coordinating research projects and proposals, organizing presentations of outside researchers, and formulating research policies and procedures.

Series III contains correspondence, memoranda, and research proposals from research boards and organizations on campus and relates to the daily management of the Research Office, membership in research-oriented fraternal clubs, and specific research projects. Also included in this series are announcements from the Vice Provost for Research e-mailed to various directors and department heads. These announcements pertain to new regulations regarding the use of animals and humans in research, Vice Provost for Research Wilson Hayes, and the solicitation of topics to be presented at the OSU Biology Colloquium. The reports in series IV consists on the proceedings on a research grant writing seminar and a report on research opportunities.

Series V pertains to research projects undertaken by the Sea Grant program and contains reports, correspondence, memoranda, and research proposals. Series VI consists of a report from 1983 regarding current research projects described in brief one-page statements and organized alphabetically by department and faculty member. Series VII consists of minutes from the Research Council. Reports and handbooks on research policies and procedures constitute Series VIII. Series IX consists of notification and statement of grant awards forms. The newspaper clippings in series X were clipped from The Daily Barometer and the Corvallis Gazette-Times and document various research projects and findings by OSU staff.

The records in Subgroup Two document research activities at 17 OSU centers and institutes managed by the Research Office and is arranged into 17 series by center. The records consist of correspondence, reports, studies, and minutes.

Subgroup Three consists of records from the Natural Resources Policy Institute and is organized into 5 series: I. Governor's Science Council; II. Correspondence; III. National Institute of Ecological Sciences; IV. Grant Proposals; and V. Committees.

Series I contains correspondence, minutes, reports, and informational materials from the Governor's Science Council, an advisory committee made up of representatives from the private sector, government, and academia with the mission of promoting scientific and technological research in Oregon. Young served on this council from 1987 to 1990. Series II primarily consists of correspondence and reports relating to foundation funding of the Institute, the campaign for HR Bill 3904, the impact of agriculture upon the environment, and projects from OSU research centers and institutes.

Series III pertains to the federal bill (HR 3904) to establish a National Institute of Ecological Sciences and consists of correspondence, reports, and testimonial statements before congress. Series IV consists of grant proposals sent to the Fred Meyer Charitable Trust and the William/Flora Hewlitt Foundation requesting funds to support the Natural Resources Policy Institute. Series V contains correspondence and minutes generated by university committees and relates to matters of research, foundation and corporate funding, and use of technology developed in research.

There are four series in the microfilm records: I. Correspondence (1965-1980), III. Reports (1966-1971), IV. Research Projects (1960-1975), and V. Committees and Councils (1964-1975). The records in all of these series' pertain to the administration and funding of research and address a range of procedural, ethical, and financial issues such as the protection of human subjects, patent regulations, federal government funding, and promotion and tenure guidelines. Included in the microfilm records are correspondence, reports, project proposals, clippings, minutes, brochures, notes, publications, bylaws, and newsletters.

About two-thirds of the microfilm records consist of correspondence files organized in three different methods, by subject, by organization and institution, and by individual.

On reel 3, folders 203 through 210 are personnel files containing confidential information and fall under the guidelines for restricted access. Original paper records that are illegible when on the microfilm are stored at the end of the paper records and are organized numerically by reel and file folder order.

New Accessions, 2007

New Accession, 2008

Historical Note
The Research Office, headed by the Vice Provost for Research, oversees and directs research in all of OSU's colleges as well as 20 multi-disciplinary programs, centers, and institutes. The Research Office was established in 1965 in response to a steady increase in research funding available to universities after World War II. Prior to 1965, the administration of research was directed by the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. In addition to heading the Research Office, the Vice Provost also serve as the chair of the Research Council, which reviews all research proposals for funding support. Since its inception, the Research Office has been headed by: Roy Young (1965-1976), John Byrne (1976-1981), George Keller (1981-1991), Dick Scanlan (1992-1998), Wilson "Toby" Hayes (1998-2001), and Richard Holdren (2001-). Roy Young also served as Director of the Natural Resources Policy Institute from 1986 to 1990.

Restrictions
On the microfilm, there are personnel records that contain confidential information. Access to these particular files are restricted and subject to review by the Archives staff.

Related Materials
In addition to the files of Research Office, there are other records that document both the administration and funding of research at OSU. Files on individual grant funded research projects summarized in Research Office reports can be found in the Research Accounting Records (RG 26). Records and photographs from the institutes and centers managed by the Research Office are also represented in the Archives: the Agricultural Experimental Station (RG 25, P 29), the Environmental Health Sciences Center (RG 155), the Environmental Remote Sensing Application Laboratory (RG 218), the Gene Research and Biotechnology Center (RG 216), the Mark Hatfield Marine Science Center (RG 194), the Oregon Productivity Center (RG 219), the Sea Grant College Program (RG 201, P 185), and the Transportation Research Institute (RG 30-Civil Engineering Dept. Records). The records of the Research Office include photographs (P 181). The Archives holdings also include the personal papers of Roy A. Young, the first Dean of Research and Director of the Natural Resources Policy Institute.

Shelf Locations
7/4/7/40-60, 7/4/8/10-40, 7/4/9/11; Microfilm cabinet

Series Outline

Inventory (paper records)

Inventory (microfilm)

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