Media Communications records

Record Group

Identifier: UA-8.1.1

Staff Only

Series Description

News Releases Series

The news releases contain information on students, graduations and honors lists for hometown newspapers; faculty biographies, awards, speeches, papers and publications; the official policies of the University; and campus non-athletic activities and events. One event that has a large number of news releases is the MSU Centennial, which took place in 1955. There are gaps in the series during the period 1956 to June 1965. There are also some small files of newspaper clippings from the 1950s. Arranged chronologically. Subject Files Series

The subject files contain various documents and news clippings assembled by the News Bureau. Topics include Presidents Hannah and Wharton, the creation of the MSU Computer Center, the Student Strike, commencement, affirmative action and other subjects applicable to University activities, especially student life. This series contains materials surrounding student protest events on MSU campus. Materials are both news clippings and photocopies of news clippings, position statements, and public correspondence. These documents reflect student protest activities for the years 1968-1971; as well as the May 1989 black student occupation of the Hannah Administration building. Arranged alphabetically by subject title.

University Presidents

This group contains the News Bureau files for publicity for President John Hannah. It includes a variety of materials, mainly speeches and news releases that the News Bureau collected during Hannah’s term. All photographs have been separated from this series and moved to the archive photo file. See the finding aid addendum of photograph separation titles. The papers are grouped loosely by subject, starting with prepared biographical materials on Hannah and working through his speeches, news clippings, speeches of others at Hannah involved events, correspondence, reports, and documentation of Hannah activities such as his 25th Anniversary Dinner as MSU President. This series may include materials of pre and post MSU President Hannah. Materials relating to Presidents Edgar Harden, John DiBiaggio and Cecil Mackey may also be found in this series. Arranged loosely by subject.

Faculty and Staff Biography Files Series This series contains the biographical files of retired and deceased faculty and staff members of Michigan State University. These files contain general information and may not include all faculty. Arranged alphabetically. The finding aid notes only the first and last individuals in each box. The materials arrived in multiple accessions. Please see the reference archivist for a complete list of files.

Centennial Records Series

A small group of Media Communications material, the Centennial Records span a four year period and focus on the Centennial Anniversary of Michigan State University. Materials found here include press releases, planning information, articles, news clippings, and calendars of events. Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Commencement Files Series

This series contains commencement programs, speeches from commencement speakers, news releases about various commencements, scripts relating to commencement, and some photos of the commencement speakers.

Audio/Visual/Photographic Records

Films and audio recordings developed, produced and kept by the Media Communications Department. The films include public service announcements, news releases, events coverage and outtakes. Subjects include the cyclotron, MSU presidents Cecil Mackey and Clifton Wharton, women engineers, the Clinical Center dedication and MSU in the news. Arranged by assigned reel numbers. Also includes photographs either taken or held by the department. The photos cover all aspecs of MSU adminisration and life. Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Video in a variety of formats including DVCam, MiniDV, VHS, Betacam, Oversize Betacam, and U-Matic are also included in this serie

Miscellaneous Series

This series includes miscellaneous publication information.

Microfilm Series

This series includes two reels of microfilm. Annual Reports Series

This series includes published and unpublished annual reports.

Serials Series

This series includes the MSU News Notes series.

Electronic Resources

This series includes issues of the electronic newsletter, MSU News, from 2009-2012. Also included here is a student-produced video of an open house event at the University Archives & Historical Collections in Conrad Hall at Michigan State University. The event was for a preview showing of the documentary, “Through the Banks of the Red Cedar” which took place on September 10th, 2015. There are also digital photographs. Digital photographs include people, campus and events

Dates

Creation: 1925 - 2015
Creation: Majority of material found within 1936 - 2003

Creator

Michigan State University. News Bureau (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Historical Note

During the 1920s and 1930s, University news releases were produced by the Department of Journalism and Publications. In 1943, the Department of Public Relations was created with Lloyd H. Geil as head, who in 1944 appointed Raymond W. (Jack) Wild as news editor. Fred Stabley followed Wild from 1946 until 1948 when he was appointed sports editor. Replacing Stabley was Alvie Smith who served as editor until 1953. A. Westley Rowland then served as editor until the Department of Information Services was restructured in 1956.

It was during 1956 that the News Bureau became a separate unit within the Department of Information Services with Frank Skinner as head. Upon Skinner’s resignation in 1962, Ed Zabrusky was appointed head. In 1981, the News Bureau was administratively placed under the Vice President for University Relations. In 1983, Zabrusky left and in 1985, Cheryl K. Jensen filled the position first under the title of Manager and then in 1986 as Assistant Director of Public Relations for News. In 1990, Jensen left the position and was followed after an interim period by Debra Pozega Pierce in 1992. In 1995 the title of the News Bureau office was changed to Media Communications, with Pierce still holding the position of Assistant Director of Public Relations as head of this unit. In 2008, the photography and video elements from Instructional Media Center moved to Media Communications. The Media Communications department and its predecessor units are responsible for the production and distribution of news releases for the University. The department also collects news clippings and articles of interest either containing released information or information relating to University activities, policies, matters and people. The department also retains audio recordings, photographs and video recording of select events and individuals. Until 1983, this unit was responsible for the publication of the MSU News Bulletin. In 1983 the MSU News Bulletin started publishing through a newly created publication unit titled MSU News Bulletin, MSU Today. The Media Communications unit is also responsible for the publication of News Notes, previously called News Sources.

Extent

172 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Preservica Public URL

https://msu.access.preservica.com/archive/sdb%3Acollection|e28e226e-82ee-4abe-857a-070d291976e0/

Legal Status

Donor(s) have transferred any applicable copyright to Michigan State University but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Copyright restrictions may apply.

Property Rights: Michigan State University.