Chronological Files

Scope and content:

Arranged chronologically.

This series makes up the bulk of the collection and represents a monthly filing system kept by the donor. The series begins with a file comprised of two documents explaining Dr. Ingham's reasons for collecting and donating material related to the unrest at JMU during the 1990s. These two documents provide insight into the materials found in all subsequent series. Materials from the earliest years of 1986 - 1990 are grouped into one file, with the years 1991 and 1992 each representing one file. Beginning with January 1993 through December 1998, a file is kept for each month of each year. Within that span of years a few months are missing, most likely because the creator did not have materials for those months. January 1995 and February 1995 are the largest files and contain significant amounts of material related to the January 13, 1995 announcement by the JMU administration that the Physics major would be discontinued and the Physics Department disbanded. Other months that contain large amounts of material are April 1996 – relating to the honor code incident, and April 1997 - relating to the quashed subpoenas of Dr. Carrier and Zane Showker for the Jamie Raymond murder trial. See Box 96, Folder 1 for Ingham's explanation of the order of the files that includes details about the major events documented. This file is duplicated in Series 12: Subject Files, Box 110, Folder 21. Also of interest is the nine-page document entitled "NARRATIVE OF WILLIAM H. INGHAM'S ACTIVITIES AS A JMU FACULTY MEMBER WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO ACTIONS, STATEMENTS, AND DOCUMENTS WHICH MIGHT HAVE ANGERED PRESIDENT OF OTHER JMU ADMINISTRATORS" found in folder May 1995 (Folder 1 of 2). Files entitled 1999-2001 and Miscellaneous Articles have been created by the archivist out of loose materials within the boxes. As many of the folders are titled by their date range, each folder title includes two date ranges: 1) the folder title itself as provided by the creator and 2) the date range of materials within the file which may include undated items.

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Parent restrictions:
Collection is open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Parent terms of access:
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. Staff have taken special care to identify and remove sensitive materials, particularly those relating to students' academic records, found within this collection. However, in rare instances, privacy protected information may be revealed during use of this collection. Researchers agree to make no notes or other recordation of privacy protected information if found within this collection, and further agree not to publish or disclose such information for any purpose. Researchers agree to alert Special Collections staff if potentially privacy protected information is found within this collection. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

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