Records of the Office of the Vice-President, Louis A. Pardue, 1950/1963

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Records of the Office of the Vice-President, Louis A. Pardue, RG 3/3, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
33.6 Cubic Feet 24 boxes
Creator:
Pardue, Louis Arthur, 1900-1963
Abstract:
This collection consists primarily of correspondence relating to Dr. Louis A. Pardue's duties both as Vice-President and Director of Graduate Studies. Materials consist of general correspondence, general reports, financial reports, enrollment statistics, commencement and inaugural reports, minutes, and departmental information collected by Pardue from 1950 through 1963. There are extensive correspondence and other material of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Science (ORINS), of which VPI was a member and Pardue served on the Council and Board of Directors.
Language:
The materials in the collection are in English.
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Records of the Office of the Vice-President, Louis A. Pardue, RG 3/3, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists primarily of correspondence relating to Dr. Louis A. Pardue's duties both as Vice-President and Director of Graduate Studies. There are extensive correspondence and other material of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Science (ORINS), of which VPI was a member and Pardue served on the Council and Board of Directors.

The collection comprises Education Policy and Program Committee minutes (1950-1951); correspondence with the General Education Board and the State Board of Education; correspondence, proposals, and committee minutes concerning establishment of joint Home Economics program for VPI and Radford; annual reports (1949-1951); Southern Association of Colleges and Universities material; minutes and other items from the Board of Control for Southern Regional Education; correspondence from the Department of Health Education and Welfare; correspondence with President Newman and President Hahn; reports from the Engineering Faculty concerning military situation at VPI; notices, memoranda, and reports from the Federal Communications Commission Joint Committee on Educational Television; Graduate Committee minutes (1949-1955); a list of advanced degrees given from 1889-1950; memoranda, general rules, articles and other items dealing with the Corps of Cadets and ROTC; correspondence, minutes, and other items concerning the National Collegiate Athletic Association; news releases; speech material; questionnaires on various subjects; State Board of Education material; Student Activities Committee material including charters and other items of various student organizations; correspondence and reports dealing with the VPI Educational Foundation; minutes and other material from conferences of Deans of Graduate Schools (1948-1954); Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools Committee material; Centennial Committee material; scattered Academic Council minutes and course proposals; Association of Land-Grant Colleges information; material concerning faculty listings, salaries, appointments, resignations, leaves of absence, and adjustments (1951-1962); correspondence with the agriculture, applied mechanics, applied science and business administration, architecture, biology, chemistry, engineering, English and foreign language, geology, mathematics, physics, physical education, philosophy and religion, vocational education, and veterinary medicine departments at VPI; letters to the United States Congress; information from the Atomic Energy Commission; material relating to the Fulbright program; correspondence from students and their families; correspondence to administrative departments and faculty; National Defense Education Act (NDEA) reports; scholarship, graduate assistantship, and doctoral fellowship information; correspondence from the Danville branch of VPI; National Science Foundation materials; nuclear energy information; Ford Foundation material; reports from the Association of University Professors; material used in summer programs at VPI for high school teachers; student information concerning commencement, foreign students, letters of recommendation, international exchange programs, and student censure; and Science Advisory Committee reports and correspondence.

The ORINS material includes correspondence, annual reports, Board of Directors minutes, budget reports, project reports and proposals, organizational charts, news releases, and Glenwood School drawings (architectural layouts for proposed addition to ORINS).

correspondence and reports concerning religion and education, accreditation, and acceleration of graduating engineering students

admittance information and correspondence with ROTC and Architecture departments

consideration of expansion of curriculum and activities of Agricultural Extension Division

salary survey of Virginia engineering schools

proposal from the dean about adding more humanities courses

possibility of losing department's accreditation

lack of VPI membership in A.A.C.U.

committee reports, budgetary information, and correspondence about graduate programs

report on first Pan-American Veterinary Congress held in Peru

committee reports, meeting agendas, and procedural guidelines

summary of budget requests and capital outlays as well as a budgetary report for the Engineering Experiment Station

contains letters from Central Scientific Co., a consultant firm, and Coe College

survey of departments in North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia; report on graduate programs

research proposals, report on the Reducing action of metals in ammonia

Federal grant application

standardization of the Teacher Education graduate program

list of the floor space used by the various departments

correspondence and faculty funding program information

regulations concerning student honor code offenders

enrollment information and correspondence concerning college programs affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America

meeting minutes

correspondence about graduate and undergraduate programs as

grade percentage statistics from English and Foreign language classes

fellowship program, correspondence about school work load for VPI freshmen

information about faculty promotions

correspondence from the General Institute of Technology and a general survey concerning religious attitudes of college students

correspondence regarding VPI exchanges with the GEB of New York City about scholarships and grants

proposal about establishing a geology camp at Saltville, Virginia

correspondence concerning the Selective Service Qualification test at VPI

correspondence from the Huston Alumni Chapter, F. Helsaback, and M. Huntley

statements about military draft deferments for college students, and a copy of higher education financial aid bill presented in the Senate

student and staff complaints concerning Home Economics department's administration

correspondence and proposals concerning the establishment of a joint program between VPI and Radford, minutes of committee set up to oversee this program

Fulbright division

accepted and rejected

study of remedial reading programs

debate over binding student theses

grade percentages and correspondence encouraging professors to teach fewer classes and conduct more research

instructions for behavior of corps of cadets and guidelines for compulsory two year participation in corps for students

reports and confidential memos concerning a perceived shortage of military personnel

includes survey from American Association of University Professors concerning salary increases for teaching faculty

complaints about shortage of laboratory equipment

Newman's involvement in a South Carolina lawsuit about racial segregation in education for more information about this lawsuit, see: files #1 and #65 in box 6 of Newman's papers

correspondence concerning financial assistance for employees attending VPI

reclassification of students' class standing (Freshmen, Sophomore,etc..); reports about history and by-laws of cadet corps

correspondence regarding instruction in radio and television technology

"survey of small classes" survey

annual reports, monthly bulletins, and circulars

annual reports and "outlines for suggested courses in government and history at Virginia's secondary schools"

U.S. Naval funding for research

re-admittance of former students and disciplinary actions against students

correspondence and reports concerning students called up by draft board and regulations on student-owned vehicles

proposal for introduction of business administration courses at the Danville branch

placement of VPI students in the veterinary program at University of Georgia

annual report to the board of directors

reports from "34th Annual Conference of White Instructors of Vocational Agriculture"

agricultural engineering newsletter

circulars, bulletins, inquiries, and announcements

statement on "Basic Division of VPI"

pasture and forage crop research

Petition to Southern Regional Education Board for "establishment of a Regional Center in Applied Mechanics at VPI"

proposed expansion of facilities and cooperative office supply purchase program

agenda for and correspondence about 66th annual meeting

VPI had no representative on Board of Directors, but received meeting minutes and newsletters

budget summary for vice-president's office

minutes from Lithographer's meeting

report from engineering faculty regarding discontent and high levels of resignation of cadet corps members

research proposals and departmental policy on "outside contract work"

agenda and reports from meetings

meeting agenda and reports

financial summary for Danville branch and redesign of merit salary increase programs

Biographical / historical:

Dr. Louis A. Pardue (1900-1963), a native of Scottsville, Kentucky, received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. in Physics from Yale University. He also taught physics at Yale University, Lehigh University, and Lincoln Memorial University. During World War II, he served both at Chicago, Illinois, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in the "Manhattan Project," which developed the atomic bomb, and along with 17 other scientists in the "Manhattan Project," signed a petition to the President of United States urging limited and responsible use of atomic weapons.

Pardue came to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1950 from the University of Kentucky, where he was Dean of the Graduate School. While at VPI, he held the offices of Vice-President and Director of Graduate Studies for roughly 13 years and is credited with playing a major role in the development of instructional and research programs at VPI.

Acquisition information:
The Records of the Office of the Vice-President, Louis A. Pardue were transferred to Special Collections and University Archives in 1973 and 1978.
Processing information:

The processing, arrangement and description of the Records of the Office of the Vice-President, Louis A. Pardue commenced in September 2000 and was completed in May 2005.

Arrangement:

The collection is primarily arranged into series chronologically then subdivided alphabetically by folder title. For each series, there may be some material dated prior to that particular year. The final two series are organized by subject and subdivided alphabetically then chronologically.

Physical location:
Please note: This collection is located in off-site storage and requires 2-3 days notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for more information.