Descriptive
summary
|
creator: |
Emmerson,
James Thomas |
|
title: |
Papers |
|
dates: |
1986-2007, n.d. |
|
extent: |
2.94
linear feet (7 document boxes) |
|
collection number: |
RS
13/13/18
|
|
repository: |
University Archives, Special Collections Department,
Iowa State University. |
Administrative
information
|
access: |
Open for research |
|
publication rights: |
Consult Head,
Special Collections Department
|
|
preferred citation: |
James
Thomas Emmerson Papers, RS 13/13/18, Special Collections
Department, Iowa State University Library. |
|
Biographical note
|
|
James Thomas “Tom” Emmerson earned a B.S.
(1960) and an M.S. (1964) in journalism from Iowa State
University, and a Ph.D. (1973) from the London School of
Economics and Political Science. He became an Associate
Professor (1974-1981) of Journalism and Mass Communications
at Iowa State University and was promoted to Professor
(1981-2004). Dr. Emmerson also served as the Chair
(1986-1993) of the Department of Journalism and Mass
Communication. During that time, he faced several
challenges, including the duplication study by Peat,
Marwick, and Main Consultants, which recommended the
elimination of the journalism program at Iowa State, as well
as the sale of the WOI-TV station. Dr. Emmerson took a
leading role in working against these measures by writing
articles, editorials, and newsletters. He also garnered
considerable student and alumni support, and worked closely
with university administrators, the Board of Regents, and
state legislators. He retired from Iowa State in 2004.
In 1991, Dr. Emmerson became active
with the organization, Iowans for WOI-TV. This organization
was formed for the purpose of keeping WOI-TV a
university-owned operation, and in 1992 its members filed a
law suit challenging the Board of Regents’ right to sell the
station. Though a district court found in favor of Iowans
for WOI-TV, the decision was subsequently appealed to the
Iowa Supreme Court, which overruled the decision in 1993.
(For more information regarding Iowans for WOI-TV, please
see the Iowans for WOI-TV Records, MS 584, Special
Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.) |
|
Collection description
|
|
This
collection (1986-2007, n.d.) includes records regarding Dr.
Emmerson’s tenure as Chair of the Department of Journalism
and Mass Communications, the proposed elimination of the
Journalism Program, and the sale of WOI-TV. The papers
consist of correspondence with faculty, alumni,
administrators, and media professionals, as well as
memoranda, news clippings, reports, and cassette tapes of
radio broadcasts. |
|
Organization
|
|
This collection is arranged into three
series:
Series 1: Department of Journalism and
Mass Communications, 1986-2007 (alphabetical)
Series 2: Proposed Elimination of the
Journalism Program, 1989 (alphabetical)
Series
3: Sale of WOI-TV, 1991-1993, n.d. (alphabetical) |
Description of
series
|
|
|
|
|
Series 1 |
Department of Journalism and
Mass Communications |
1986-2007 |
|
extent: |
0.42 linear feet (1 document
box) |
|
|
description: |
This
series consists of materials pertaining to Emmerson’s
tenure in the Department of Journalism and Mass
Communications, including his years as Chair of the
department. Materials include departmental evaluations,
reports, faculty meeting minutes, news clippings, and
memoranda. |
Container list
|
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
|
1 |
1 |
Accreditation evaluation |
1992 |
|
7 |
11 |
Address: “100 Years of ISU Journalism in 18.5 Minutes” |
2005 |
|
7 |
12 |
Address
to introduce Wayne P. Davis as recipient of James W.
Schwartz Award |
2005 |
|
1 |
2 |
Annual
report |
1988-1989 |
|
1 |
3 |
Faculty
meeting minutes (1 of 2) |
1988-1989 |
|
1 |
4 |
Faculty
meeting minutes (2 of 2) |
1988-1989 |
|
1 |
5 |
Iowa
State University Summer High School Workshops |
1989 |
|
1 |
6 |
Memoranda |
1986-1989 |
|
1 |
7 |
News
clippings |
1989-2007 |
|
1 |
8 |
Report:
“Affirmation and Expectation for Iowa’s Land Grant
University” |
1988 |
|
1 |
9 |
Report:
“The Land Grant Universities Student Credit Hour
Comparisons: Comments and Observations about Journalism
and Mass Communications” |
1987 |
|
1 |
10 |
Report:
“Suggested Goals for Departmental Committees” |
1986 |
Description
of series
|
|
|
|
|
Series 2 |
Proposed Elimination of the
Journalism Program |
1989 |
|
extent: |
2.52 linear feet (6 document
boxes) |
|
|
description: |
This series consists of
materials regarding the controversy that occurred
following the duplication study by Peat, Marwick, and
Main Consultants. The duplication study recommended the
elimination of the Department of Journalism and Mass
Communication at Iowa State. The measure was defeated.
This series includes correspondence with alumni,
university administrators, media professionals, state
legislators, and students, as well as news clippings,
reports, and notes by Dr. Emmerson. |
Container list
|
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
|
1 |
11 |
Alumni Mailings |
1989 |
|
1 |
12 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Governor Branstad and the Board of Regents (1 of 9) |
1989 |
|
1 |
13 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Governor Branstad and the Board of Regents (2 of 9) |
1989 |
|
2 |
1 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Governor Branstad and the Board of Regents (3 of 9) |
1989 |
|
2 |
2 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Governor Branstad and the Board of Regents (4 of 9) |
1989 |
|
2 |
3 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Governor Branstad and the Board of Regents (5 of 9) |
1989 |
|
2 |
4 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Governor Branstad and the Board of Regents (6 of 9) |
1989 |
|
2 |
5 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Governor Branstad and the Board of Regents (7 of 9) |
1989 |
|
2 |
6 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Governor Branstad and the Board of Regents (8 of 9) |
1989 |
|
3 |
1 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Governor Branstad and the Board of Regents (9 of 9) |
1989 |
|
3 |
2 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Tom Emmerson (1 of 4) |
1989 |
|
3 |
3 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Tom Emmerson (2 of 4) |
1989 |
|
3 |
4 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Tom Emmerson (3 of 4) |
1989 |
|
3 |
5 |
Correspondence from alumni
to Tom Emmerson (4 of 4) |
1989 |
|
4 |
1 |
Correspondence with the
Board of Regents |
1989 |
|
4 |
2 |
Correspondence with Governor
Branstad and State of Iowa Legislators |
1989 |
|
4 |
3 |
Correspondence with
newspaper editors, television journalists, and news
media organizations |
1989 |
|
4 |
4 |
Correspondence regarding
Peat, Marwick, and Main Consultants |
1989 |
|
4 |
5 |
Correspondence with
President of Iowa State University |
1989 |
|
4 |
6 |
Correspondence with
University administrators |
1989 |
|
4 |
7 |
Double major proposal |
1989 |
|
4 |
8 |
Duplication Study by Peat,
Marwick, and Main Consultants (sections pertaining to
journalism and mass communications programs) |
1989 |
|
4 |
9 |
Editorials regarding the
proposed elimination of the Department of Journalism and
Mass Communication |
1989 |
|
4 |
10 |
Essays regarding the
proposed elimination of the Department of Journalism and
Mass Communication |
1989 |
|
4 |
11 |
Faculty briefings regarding
the proposed elimination of the Department of Journalism
and Mass Communication |
1989 |
|
4 |
12 |
“Fat Regent Controversy” –
concerning the results of a mention in the Des Moines
Register that someone in Hamilton Hall was overheard
saying that “it ain’t over ‘til the fat regent sings” |
1989 |
|
5 |
1 |
General correspondence |
1989 |
|
5 |
2 |
Governor Branstad’s press
conference (1 cassette tape) |
1989 |
|
5 |
3 |
Humorous correspondence and
news clippings |
1989 |
|
5 |
4 |
“Iowa Board of Regents
Duplication Study” by visiting consultants Mary Ann
Yodelis Smith and Dwight L. Teeter |
1989 |
|
5 |
5 |
Letters to concerned
students |
1989 |
|
5 |
6 |
Letters to the editor and
thank you letters from Dr. Emmerson |
1989 |
|
5 |
7 |
Long Range Strategic Plan
for the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication |
1989 |
|
5 |
8 |
Memoranda regarding the
proposed elimination of the Department of Journalism and
Mass Communication |
1989 |
|
5 |
9 |
Merger of Telecommunicative
Arts and Journalism Programs |
1989 |
|
6 |
1 |
Minutes and notes from Board
of Regents meetings |
1989 |
|
6 |
2 |
News clippings |
1989 |
|
6 |
3 |
Reactions to the Peat,
Marwick Duplication Study |
1989 |
|
6 |
4 |
Recommendations from the
Board of Regents |
1989 |
|
6 |
5 |
Specialized journalism
majors |
1989 |
Description
of series
|
|
|
|
|
Series 3 |
Sale of WOI-TV |
1991-1993, n.d. |
|
extent: |
0.84 linear feet (2 document
boxes) |
|
|
description: |
This series contains
materials pertaining to the sale of WOI-TV and to the
organization Iowans for WOI-TV. These include
correspondence with state legislators, the Board of
Regents, university administrators, students, and
alumni, as well as memoranda, news clippings, reports,
and notes made by Dr. Emmerson. |
Container list
|
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
|
6 |
6 |
Correspondence: WOI-TV |
1991-1993 |
|
6 |
7 |
“Excerpts from the Decision
Regarding the Sale of WOI-TV” by District Court Judge
Ronald H. Schechtman |
1992 |
|
6 |
8 |
Faculty Senate Ad Hoc
Committee to Study the Proposed Sale of WOI-TV |
1992 |
|
6 |
9 |
“Jischke on WOI-TV No Sale,”
comments on a Department of Journalism and Mass
Communications Program (1 cassette) |
1992-1993 |
|
6 |
10 |
Iowans for WOI-TV: meeting
minutes |
1992-1993 |
|
6 |
11 |
Iowans for WOI-TV:
organizational materials |
1992-1993 |
|
6 |
12 |
Iowans for WOI-TV vs. Iowa
State Board of Regents |
1992 |
|
7 |
1 |
Memoranda Concerning WOI |
1992-1993 |
|
7 |
2 |
News Clippings: WOI-TV
(folder 1 of 2) |
1992-1993 |
|
7 |
3 |
News Clippings: WOI-TV
(folder 2 of 2) |
1992-1993 |
|
7 |
4 |
Newsletter: “WOI-TV Update” |
1992 |
|
7 |
5 |
Notes on WOI-TV and
journalism |
1992-1993 |
|
7 |
6 |
Pamphlet: “The Student and
5-TV” |
n.d. |
|
7 |
7 |
Proposed asset purchase
agreement between Iowa State University and Capital
Communications Company |
1992 |
|
7 |
8 |
Report: “Iowa State
University Broadcasting Review and Reassessment” |
1992 |
|
7 |
9 |
Report: “Statement to the
Board of Regents Regarding Proposed Sale of WOI-TV” |
1992 |
|
7 |
10 |
Votes of Legislature and
Board of Regents on WOI-TV |
1992 |
|
