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 consists of personal and career information of James Bradshaw 1926, 1990, and undated. Mildew Note: A strong essence of mildew is found throughout parts of the collection. Researchers with allergies should take appropriate precautions.

The collection consists of personal and career information of James Bradshaw, 1.75 Cubic Feet (in 4 boxes).

Personal: This section of the collection consists of materials documenting primarily Bradshaw’s time in school and the U.S. Army during World War II. Materials include: biographical material, school work, school newspaper articles, photographs, World War II Literature, and extensive wartime correspondence. Topics mentioned include life in the service, troop movements, interaction with other Allied forces personnel, occupied castles, and other similar subjects.

Career: This portion of the collection contains accumulated materials and works compiled during Bradshaw’s long career. Examples of the materials include: press correspondence, published and unpublished writings, which include some research materials, photographs, and presidential press materials related to President Eisenhower and (then) Vice-President Nixon’s tour of South America in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Press Kits may include: Programs, Itineraries, Route Map Press ID badge, Press releases, invitations, and Photographs. Several of the articles have a focus on Michigan history and Latin America economics.

Researchers may be interested to know that some of Bradshaw’s papers are in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and some in the Bentley Historical Library.

An addition to the collection was added in 2021. Except for three folders added to the end of Box 3, one of which is articles Bradshaw wrote about President John F. Kennedy, materials were interfiled into existing folders.

Processing Note: During processing 4 Cubic Feet of duplicates and peripheral materials were removed from the collection. Examples of removed documents include blanks, unrelated publications, non-specific correspondence, out of scope articles, and extensively water damaged materials. Due to the large amount of correspondence in this donation, samples were retained, similar, nonspecific and unrelated correspondence were withdrawn.

Mildew Note: A strong essence of mildew is found throughout parts of the collection. Researchers with allergies should take appropriate precautions.