University of Connecticut, Office of Public Information Records
Abstract
The office created, handled and distributed the official communications of the instituions with the public and press communities. These operations were transferred to the Athletic Communications Office and the University Relations Office (currently known as University Communications) in 1977-19782 and 2000, respectively.
Dates
- Creation: undated, 1918-1989
Access
The collection is open and available for research.
Restrictions on Use
Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.
History
The University Editorial Office was opened in 1922 under the direction of Walter Stemmons, College Editor. In 1954, after Mr. Stemmons retired, the office was renamed to reflect its broadened responsibilities. The Division of Communication, directed by John H. Gleason, had four subdivisions: General News (News Office), Sports Information, University Photography (Photo Lab), and Publications-Central Duplicating. In 1962, Donald Friedman became head of the office. In 1964, the name was again changed, this time to Office of Public Information and Publications. This office absorbed University News, Sports Information, Photography, Publications, and Central Duplicating. In 1967, Raymond J. Buck became Director of University Publications when the Office became the Office of Public Information (OPI). Friedman continued to work for Buck as director of OPI until 1977 when Walter S. McGowen became the director. Sports Information was transferred to the Division of Athletics in 1977/1978.
In 1986, the office was renamed the Office of University Relations and Karen Grava Williams was named Director of Institutional Relations. The following year, the office was divided into two offices: Institutional Relations and University Publications.
Although the responsibilities of the unit have remained the same, by 2005 was, and continues to be, known as University Communications.
Extent
215 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The records are divided into eight series:
Series I: Morgue Files (1955-1979) is a general subject file consisting of information on various University activities and functions. The series is divided into three subseries of overlapping dates: A: 1955-1958, B: 1958-1967, and C: 1960-1979; and contains news releases on subjects in completed form and/or rough draft. [Use Series V for news releases.] Subjects include University schools and divisions, branches, summer sessions, honorary degrees, and student activities and organizations. There are also newspaper clippings, photos, commencement files for 1951-1962, a file on President Babbidge (last updated 1963), speeches of President Jorgensen, ROTC files and other University topics. Within each subseries, the files are arranged hierarchically reflecting the administrative reporting lines.
Series II: Office Files (1918-1978) contains correspondence and information on activities, which were probably the general office files utilized by Stemmons, Gleason, Friedman and McGowen. The series is arranged in two subseries: A: 1918-1961 [1956-1960 bulk dates] and B: 1961-1978. Within each subseries, the files are arranged alphabetically by topic, name, or office.
Series III: Office of Sports Information (1921-1981)
Note: The files in this series have been integrated with those transferred by the Athletic Communications Office Records in order to present sports information as an integrated whole.
Series IV: Scrapbooks (1922-1976) consists of 21 scrapbooks of newspaper clippings. The majority of the clippings are of school sports events, although some pertain to social and other events. Pencilled on many clippings is the name and date of the paper; most are from local newspapers. The scrapbooks are in poor condition; the papers is brittle, and clippings are deteriorating and becoming unglued. Additional and potentially similar scrapbooks can be found in the University Scrapbook Collection.
Series V: News Releases (1954-2000) contains press, radio, and television news releases on University topics such as University offices and departments, students' achievements, faculty honors, new programs, Loeb Awards, and activities at both the Benson Museum of Art and Jorgensen Auditorium. The news releases are filed in chronological order by month. Except for boxes 36-39, the press releases are not separated from the radio and television releases. Also included in this series are news release logs, 1961-1983, which can be used as a topical index for these years. Series I, box 6 contains logs for 1957-1960. Series II, box 9 contains logs for 1973-1974.
Series VI: Biographical Files (1957-1978, bulk 1965-1971) contains information on University faculty, staff, and administration. The files consist of press releases and drafts, publication lists, announcements of achievements, awards and activities. Photographs, originally filed in this series have been incorporated into the Biographical files [ask at the reference desk for access]. The series is arranged alphabetically by name.
Series VII: Morgue (1963-1984) is a general subject file consisting of information on various University activities and functions. The series is further divided into two subseries of overlapping dates: 1963-1979 [1974-1978] and 1974-1984 [1979-1983]. Within each subseries, the files are arranged hierarchically. (This series continues Series I.)
Series VIII: University Presidents is arranged in three subseries: Albert N. Jorgensen, Homer D. Babbidge, and Glenn W. Ferguson. Each subseries contains biographical information, commencement addresses, speeches, and news clippings.
Acquisition Information
The records of the Office of Public Information were transferred to the University Archives in August 1979, September 1981, and January 1988. News releases are transferred to the University Archives on a regular basis. In October 1989, 23 boxes of BIOGRAPHICAL FILES and MORGUE FILES were transferred to the University Archives.
- Title
- University of Connecticut, Office of Public Information (OPI) Records
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Archives & Special Collections staff
- Date
- 2011 June
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Archives and Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library Repository
University of Connecticut Library
405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs Connecticut 06269-1205 USA US
860-486-2524
archives@uconn.edu