Monthly Archives: February 2013

Special Thursday Feature — Happy Birthday to Linus Pauling

Linus Pauling and the Structure of Proteins: A Documentary History

Today is Linus Pauling’s birthday – he would have been 112 years old.  Every year on February 28th we try to do something special and this time around we’re pleased to announce a project about which we’re all very excited: the sixth in our series of Pauling documentary history websites.

Click on over to the Pauling blog to read the post “Linus Pauling and the Structure of Proteins: A Documentary History” for details about the site, fabulous pictures, and oh so many links for more learning!

Friday Feature: E. Dale Trout Papers

SCARC is pleased to announce a newly-released finding aid for the E. Dale Trout Papers.

This collection highlights the work of Dr. Edrie Dale Trout (1901-1977), a leader in the fields of radiology and radiation safety and the founder of OSU’s X-Ray Science and Engineering Laboratory. E. Dale Trout, a native of Indiana and a Franklin College graduate, began work at the Victor X-Ray Corporation in 1928 after a brief stint as a high school science teacher. Victor X-Ray later merged with General Electric and, during World War II, Trout managed GE’s Industrial Technical Department developing technologies for the war effort.  Following his retirement from GE in 1962, Trout accepted a position as Professor of Radiological Physics at Oregon State University. At OSU, he worked with his colleagues to establish the Radiation Center and founded the X-Ray Science and Engineering Laboratory in collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Radiological Health. He served as Director of the laboratory until his retirement in 1976. With the help of John P. Kelley, his Assistant Director, Trout developed x-ray training courses for undergraduate and graduate students, conducted extensive testing of various x-ray instruments, and contributed to ongoing radiation safety research. A prolific researcher, Trout published more than 100 papers over the course of his life, many of which he co-authored with Kelley.

The E. Dale Trout Papers include extensive correspondence assembled by both Trout and John Kelley, administrative records relating to the X-Ray Science and Engineering Laboratory, x-ray course instruction materials, many of his published papers and seminars, materials dating from his position as Vice President of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement, and a significant body of collected research materials. The Papers belie Trout’s deep interest in the future of radiology and his drive to inspire, train, and ensure the safety of future generations of researchers.

This collection offers a rich look at the history of radiology as it developed through the second half of the 20th century. It details the advancement of radiological techniques, practices, and instrumentation and provides a unique understanding of the contributions by corporate, academic, and government entities to the field. The work of E. Dale Trout and John P. Kelley also serves as a wonderful record of the development of radiology instruction and the growth of the OSU Radiation Center, one of the top ranked institutional programs of its kind in the country.

The Trout Papers joins a growing body of work relating to radiation research and policy held at the OSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives Research Center. Related materials include the Barton C. Hacker Papers, the Barton C. and Sally L. Hacker Nuclear Affairs Collection, the OSU Radiation Center Records, the History of Atomic Energy Collection, and the Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Papers.

 

Friday Feature: flicks of yesterday yesteryear shown yesterday

Films, popcorn, celebration of Oregon Statehood Day, and support for the Food Drive? Sign us up! Collections archivist Karl McCreary organized an event that featured footage from our collections, films highlighted historic views of campus, Beaver athletics, and Oregon wildlife.

Old Grad Comes Back, 1925 (8:05)

Old Grad Comes Back, 1925

This silent black-and-white film was prepared under the direction of the College Editor, E.T. Reed, and received rave reviews from audiences in Corvallis and around the state. Filmed on 35 mm nitrate stock, it was transferred to 16 mm safety base film in the 1960s. Produced originally in two parts; this version combines portions of both and includes the following vignettes: Homecoming; Commerce Hall; Alumni Headquarters; Pushball game; Montana Grizzlies vs the Beavers in football; OAC Wrestlers Northwest Champions, 1925; OAC Basketball Team, 1925 Champions of the NW Conference; OAC Baseball Team, 1925 Champions of the NW Conference; Alumni Luncheon Picnic, 1925; Class of 1911 in reunion at flag pole (class gift); Chiming hall clock, a gift of the Silver Jubilee, Class of 1900; The Academic Procession from Library to the gym; and Commencement.

“Rose Bowl Homecoming Banquet”, 1942. (7:16)

1942 Rose Bowl homecoming banquet

Includes footage of the Civil War football game between Oregon State College and University of Oregon in November 1941, the campus celebration that followed Oregon State’s win, and the Homecoming Banquet for the 1942 Rose Bowl team. Footage of card stunts, the marching band, and several plays in the Civil War game are included. The post-game campus celebration shows students gathering in the Memorial Union quadrangle and the front steps of the Memorial Union, yell leaders, and Coach Lon Stiner. The footage of the Homecoming Banquet includes Oregon Governor McKay, F.A. Gilfillan, Coach Lon Stiner, other dignitaries, and the players.

Woods, Water, and Wildlife ca. 1930 (15:04)

By William L. Finley and Arthur N. Peck of the American Nature Association. Includes footage of fishing at Celilo Falls and the Oregon Coast (including Cape Perpetua, Heceta Head Lighthouse, Sea Lion Caves, and Three Arch Rocks). Includes title panels Crater Lake National Park; The Harvest of the Columbia; and Salmon, the main food of the Indians.

The Passing of the Marshlands ca. 1930 (13:55)

The Passing of the Marshlands, circa 1930

By William L. Finley and Arthur N. Peck of the American Nature Association. Includes title panels: The Reclamation Service turns Lower Klamath over to land promoters; Clear Lake Reservation in 1912; A waterfowl refuge partly drained and leased to stockmen; Malheur Lake Reservation in 1915; and A dry lake, no birds and a world of dust.

 

The event raised over $60 for the food bank.

Friday Feature: sniffle, sniffle, sneeze, sneeze

Though the clouds still hang low in the mid-Willamette Valley, spring will be upon us soon (someday) and to accompany the colorful array of flowers blooming and birds chirping will be people sneezing…

The Hay Fever Clinic cover, 1987

Yes, that hay fever is a regrettable addition to the bliss that comes with the return of the sun in the Pacific Northwest, but for archivists it comes in a fun package. The booklet The Hay Fever Clinic is a compilation of thank you notes to the Vet Med Department from the 4th grade field trip by Inavale School students in 1987. The children showed their thanks with drawings and notes about what they learned on their field trip. SCARC student worker Susanne Ranseen says “my personal favorites are about necropsy (aka the dead animal surgeries).”

Necropsy, 1987

I, on the other hand, am partial to “The Mysterious Llamas.”

The Mysterious Llamas, 1987

So take a look and enjoy a little Hay Fever this spring.

This recent addition to the College of Veterinary Medicine Records, 1923-1976 (RG 175) hasn’t been fully accessioned, but if you are interested in learning more contact Karl McCreary at karl.mccreary@oregonstate.edu.

Friday Feature: New web resources for Historian William Appleman Williams

The OSU Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center is pleased to announce the release of two new websites devoted to the life and work of the influential historian William Appleman Williams (1921-1990), a former OSU professor remembered today as a founder of “revisionist history.”

William Appleman Williams near his home at Waldport, Oregon, circa 1970s. Source: William Appleman Williams Papers, 5.004.25.

The first project is “A Good Life and A Good Death: A Memoir of An Independent Lady,” a comprehensive biography written by Williams about his mother, Mildrede Williams. And while Mildrede remains the central character of the remembrance, the piece likewise reveals a great deal about Williams’ early life as well.  The memoir, which was never published, was used extensively by authors Paul Buhle (who provides an introduction to the two new websites) and Edward Rice-Maximin in their 1995 biography William Appleman Williams: The Tragedy of Empire.  The web version of this resource is available at:  http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/coll/williams/goodlife/index.html

The second project is “Unpublished Manuscripts,” a collection of speeches, lectures, book proposals and essays previously available only to scholars visiting the Williams Papers at OSU Libraries. The full text of thirteen manuscripts, spanning the years 1970-1990, comprise this digital collection. Its contents include topics familiar to students of Williams’ unique perspective on American history – politics, democracy, foreign policy, the Cold War, Karl Marx, the importance of higher education, and the future of America.

William Appleman Williams was a renowned author and historian who rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s for a collection of writings highly critical of U.S. foreign and economic policy. His essay “A Second Look at Mr. X” was published in the journal Monthly Review in 1952, and proved to be highly influential.  Two books that followed, The Tragedy of American Diplomacy (1959) and The Contours of American History (1961) are considered to be classics of revisionist historical analysis.  In addition to his often scathing critiques of American foreign policy, Williams also wrote extensively on American history, Russian history, U.S.-Russian/Soviet relations, and maritime history.

An Iowa native, Williams enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a university professor, working primarily at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1957-1968) and Oregon State University (1968-1986). A past President of the Organization of American Historians (1980), Williams retired from OSU in 1986 and his papers are held in the OSU Libraries.

Contact Chris Petersen at 541-737-2810 for more!