Collections

This is an incomplete historical collection of audiovisual, digital, and paper-based materials documenting the history of distance learning at Central Michigan University (CMU).

This is an incomplete historical collection of audiovisual, digital, and paper-based materials documenting the history of distance learning at Central Michigan University (CMU). Papers include CMU publications such as fliers, brochures, reports, and class schedules, correspondence and memos, Memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and contracts for non-Michigan centers and military bases, budgets and financial reports, newsletters, faculty handbooks, and meeting minutes. Audiovisuals include photographs, photograph albums, CDs of images, VHS videotapes, and scrapbooks. Images document faculty, staff, librarians, and students and their families, at various centers working, learning, teaching, being trained, graduating, receiving awards, and attending social events such as Lem Tucker Award ceremonies, commencements, retirement parties, baby showers, and Halloween and Christmas gatherings, Military nurses are uniquely identifiable and documented in the CMU.IPCD Photograph Album, 1982-1988. Photographs also document buildings renovated for CMU purposes, the types of rooms created, how these rooms were equipped, and open houses. Most of the VHS videotapes are CMU-generated promotional and recruitment videos. There are three VHS videotapes of unedited and edited versions of testimonials of CMU students and faculty at the Atlanta, Georgia center, including military members, which were created by Barnes, Chase, and Davis. One video aimed at Detroit Metro recruitment and promotion includes President Mike Rao documents CMU Homecoming for online students and includes two Detroit Spots (short sections or advertisements) which feature John Arnold talking about Terry Faster and Ricardo Solomon, both Detroit CMU alums. Faster and Solomon each make very brief statements about CMU at the end of each spot. All boxes are letter-size and .5 cubic foot boxes unless otherwise specified. The collection is organized alphabetically and by format. The collection is in good physical condition

The strength of this collection is in the documentation of multiple CMU national centers and organizations CMU collaborated with including: Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland; Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.; Army National Guard, Washington, D.C.; ASIS (American Society for Industrial Security Foundation) in Dallas/Fort Worth Cohort, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Central Texas College, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Joint Education Center; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Fort Detrick, Maryland; Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Myers, Virginia; Hawaii; Merrifield, Virginia; the Pentagon; Portugal; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia National Guard (VaNG); Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; and Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Columbus, Ohio. Having functioning air conditioners and photocopiers and getting the garbage picked up regularly in southern locations was sometimes a challenge for CMU, as documented in the Center folders.

For CMU to teach out-of-state and on military bases or locations, CMU signed and gathered approved Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and agree to follow certain base and building rules approved by the boards of education in various states. CMU faculty, students, librarians, and staff worked with base ESOs or Education Service Officers, as documented in multiple communications. Off Campus Services librarians and staff were crucial to the success of distance faculty, students, and programs documented in the collection.

Michigan centers documented in the collection include Auburn Hills, metro Detroit, Flint, Mott College, Lansing, Livonia, Mount Pleasant, Southfield, and Troy.

Researchers may be interested in related collections documenting the evolution of CMU distance learning at the Clarke Historical Library and Off-Campus Library Services, part of CMU Libraries’ history. Researchers should search under the various names the unit had over time.

Processing Note: Approximately 6 cubic feet of duplicate, unidentified, and poor-quality audiovisuals and papers, including miscellaneous notes and financials, duplicates, reading materials, and materials with social security numbers, were withdrawn during processing. Scattered issues of two newsletters, CMU Communicator and CEL’s On Target, were added to those with the same title already separately cataloged in the Clarke Historical Library.

The collection contains biographical information, correspondence, photographs, reports, speeches, subject files, memorabilia, plaques, index card, and oversized materials of President Anspach.

The collection is divided into the following series: Biographical Information (2 cubic ft.), 1912, 2001, undated, including: obituaries (copies), his doctoral dissertation and thesis, certificates, citations, diaries, 1932-1958 (scattered) and 1960-1973, honorary degrees, inauguration materials, scrapbooks, 1948-1959, testimonials and tributes, and his Last Will and Testament, 1977; Correspondence (approximately 1 cubic ft.), 1932-1977, with various individuals, organizations, colleges, boards, and programs; Meeting Minutes (1.5 cubic ft.), 1939-1973, for various CMU departments, committees, and other organizations, councils, and programs; Photographs and Photograph Albums (1.25 cubic ft.), 1941, 1943, 1949-1968, 1971, undated; Reports (approximately 1 cubic ft.), 1937-1941, 1943-1959, 1964, 1970, undated, from CMU departments and committees, and other organizations, councils, and committees; Speeches (4.5 cubic ft.), on a plethora of topics, including speeches recorded on paper, 1929-1976, undated, speeches recorded on reel-to-reel tapes, 1958, 1967, 1971-1973, undated, and programs of speeches given by President Anspach, 1940-1973, undated; Subject Files (4.25 cubic ft.) for a wide variety of CMU organizations, committees, events, a plethora of issues, Michigan and national organizations, councils, boards, and issues of concern to President Anspach, 1931-1977, 1979-1982, undated; Miscellaneous Materials (Memorabilia) (2 cubic ft.) including a wide variety of Masonic, Boy Scout, and CMU memorabilia, such as: Masonic plate; CMU miniature cigarette lighter; Masonic penny; Masonic aprons; Medals; CMU Paperweights (2); numerous Pins; Shriner’s (Masonic) Caps; a gavel; and miscellaneous, 1948, 1950, 1963-1974, undated; and Plaques (.5 cubic ft.), 1959, 1964, 1969, 1972-1973, undated, and a Boy Scouts statue, 1943-1945; and Index Cards (1 cubic ft.) to Articles and Photographs of Anspach in CMU’s school newspapers, CSLife, later CMLife, 1939-1959. Oversized Materials (approximately 4 cubic ft.), including photographs and photograph albums, 1905-1972 (scattered), undated, certificates, 1946-1976 (scattered), undated, diplomas, 1920, 1923, a resolution, 1967, posters, undated, a guest book, 1939, and miscellaneous, are housed in three flat boxes

The collection extensively documents President Anspach’s life and activities during his tenure as President of CMU. His activities in peace and religiously oriented organizations, with children’s organizations and causes, the Boy Scouts, Masons, and various educational organizations and issues are well documented. His personal life at Ashland College, CMU, and after his retirement from CMU are documented to a lesser degree in the collection.

The collection includes the following series, biographical information, including a photograph, correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, speeches, subject files, and congratulatory notices (letters) documenting Edward B. Jakubauskas' tenure as Central Michigan University's president, 1970, 1989.

The collection consists mainly of his Subject Files (approximately 2 cubic ft.), with various Meeting Minutes, Correspondence, and Reports. Congratulatory Notices (Letters) from many universities on the subject of his inauguration at CMU (1 cubic ft.) are the second major series in the collection. His Speeches, 1988-1991 (.25 cubic ft.), mostly relating to CMU events, the third major series, complete the collection.

The collection includes the following series, biographical information, photographs, correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, speeches, subject files, and other materials documenting William B. Boyd's tenure as Central Michigan University's president, 1968-1978.

The collection is organized by the following series: Biographical Information, Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, Photographs, Reports, Speeches, and Subject Files. The collection includes: Biographical Information, 1968-1974 (5 folders); Correspondence, 1968-1978 (about 1 cubic ft.); Meeting Minutes from CMU entities and Education-related institutions and organizations, 1968-1978 (about 1 cubic ft.); a few Photographs, 1969-1971, undated (more are in the Commencement folders and other Subject Files); Reports from CMU entities and educational related institutions and organizations, 1968-1978 (about 1 cubic ft.); Speeches, 1968-1975 (9 folders); and Subject Files on a wide variety of topics relations to education, CMU, and numerous CMU departments and social issues and organizations, 1968-1978, undated (7.75 cubic ft.), including Congratulatory letters to Boyd on his inauguration as CMU’s seventh president (2 folders).

The heart of the collection is in the Subject Files, which documents the change of focus for CMU during Pres. Boyd’s tenure. The topics of Affirmative Action, African American- Curriculum, History Week, and Professorship, and Afro-American Cultural Center; Black Symposium, Black White Convocation, United Black Student Association, Diversity Gay Rights, and Handicapped students all debut during his administration. Other topics of interest include the Lettuce Boycott, May 1972 problems (an incident with the Governor’s car on campus), Native American Affairs, Nigerian Project, Students for a Democratic Society, the Thailand Project (part of the Inter-Institutional Affiliation Project), Korean Orphanage, and the Vietnam Moratorium (which includes a photograph of the protest on campus). There are many topics that with ‘Student” covering the Code of Conduct, various committees, teaching, senate resolutions, unrest, etc. Case files of some students who were “problems” also are included, such as the Anthony Syroccki Case.

Other topics of interest include the Dedication folders for new buildings including the High Rise (later called “the Towers”), McNeel Nature Center, Perry Shorts Stadium, Ryan Hall, and the Tribal Community Center.

There are also many folders related to the faculty and their evaluation or assessment, funding, appropriations, and CMU Development endeavors and the budget.

In the Box and Folder Listing the following abbreviations are used: MI for Michigan, Dept. for Department, and Co. for Company. On folders where abbreviations for names were used, the full name, if known, is given in parenthesis at the end of the folder title.