The University of Chicago Library > The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center > Finding Aids > Guide to the University of Chicago. Office of Public Relations. Records 1924-1926
© 2006 University of Chicago Library
| Title: | University of Chicago. Office of Public Relations. Records |
|---|---|
| Dates: | 1924-1926 |
| Size: | 1.5 linear ft. (3 boxes) |
| Repository: |
Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center |
| Abstract: | Contains the correspondence of Henry Justin Smith who, as Assistant to the President, was responsible for publicity and public relations at the University of Chicago, 1924-1926. Also contains some correspondence of Smith's predecessor, Charles Russell Pierce. Correspondence is primarily with editors of newspapers regarding University activities. Other correspondents include Max Farrand, Frank Lowden, William Mayo, H.L. Mencken, Ezra Pound, Julius Rosenwald, and Carl Sandburg. Also includes texts of radio talks given by faculty. |
No restrictions.
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: University of Chicago. Office of Public Relations. Records, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
In September of 1924, Henry Justin Smith was appointed Assistant to the President of the University. He came to the University after some twelve years with the Chicago Daily News, and left again in 1926 to become its Managing Editor. During his time as Assistant to the President, Henry J. Smith was in charge of publicity and public relations for the University. Beginning in the 1920s the University hired public relations officers to disseminate information about University events and programs. Press releases were regularly sent to Chicago newspapers, wire services, and other news offices as appropriate.
Series I: Correspondence, 1924-1925
Some of the papers in this collection predate Smith's tenure in office. His apparent predecessor, although without his title, was Charles Russell Pierce; many of the letters from early 1924 are Pierce's. Most of the collection, however, is Smith's correspondence. It has been left in alphabetical order by individuals or organizations as it was found, with one exception: the correspondence with the various editors of the Chicago newspapers has been pulled together under the names of the newspapers.
The correspondence is primarily with the editors of newspapers and journals about news of activities at the University; frequently Smith acknowledges an article or an editorial, supplies copy for press releases, or imparts general information. In addition he makes arrangements for speakers, for photography, and for occasions like cornerstone layings. His correspondence, as a result, also contains letters to and from many of the faculty members, particularly deans and heads of departments, and the officers of administration. A few persons outside the University who should be mentioned are Thomas B. Costain, Max Farrand (the Commonwealth Fund), Frank Lowden (Governor of Illinois), Dr. William Mayo, H.L. Mencken, Ezra Pound, Dr. Ben L. Reitmen (the Hobo College), Julius Rosenwald, Carl Sandburg, and John N. Wheeler (editor of Liberty). Almost every important faculty member is in the collection.
Series II: Radio lecture series, 1926
Early in 1926 the University launched an extensive program of radio talks given by the faculty. The third and last box of this collection contains the texts of many of these lectures, as well as the press releases that accompanied them. For an overview of the entire radio program the reader is directed to Box 3, Folder 18.
The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/spcl/select.html
Office of Public Relations. Press Releases
Series I: Correspondence 1924-1925 |
| Box 1 Folder 1 | A |
| Box 1 Folder 2 | Be |
| Box 1 Folder 3 | Bl-By |
| Box 1 Folder 4 | Burton, Ernest Dewitt |
| Box 1 Folder 5 | Ca |
| Box 1 Folder 6 | Ch-Cr |
| Box 1 Folder 7 | Chicago Daily News |
| Box 1 Folder 8 | Chicago Herald-Examiner |
| Box 1 Folder 9 | Chicago Tribune |
| Box 1 Folder 10 | Chicago American; Chicago Daily Journal; Chicago Evening Post |
| Box 1 Folder 11 | Chicago Touring Companies |
| Box 1 Folder 12 | Clippings Bureaus |
| Box 1 Folder 13 | D |
| Box 1 Folder 14 | Development, Committee on |
| Box 1 Folder 15 | E |
| Box 1 Folder 16 | Fa-Fl |
| Box 1 Folder 17 | Fairweather, G.E., Assistant Business Manager of the University |
| Box 1 Folder 18 | Free, E.E., editor of Scientific American and science editor of Forum |
| Box 1 Folder 19 | Frost, E.B., Director of Yerkes Observatory |
| Box 1 Folder 20 | G |
| Box 1 Folder 21 | H |
| Box 1 Folder 22 | I |
| Box 1 Folder 23 | K |
| Box 1 Folder 24 | L |
| Box 2 Folder 1 | Ma |
| Box 2 Folder 2 | Mc-Me |
| Box 2 Folder 3 | Mi |
| Box 2 Folder 4 | Mo-Moo |
| Box 2 Folder 5 | Moulds, John F., Committee on Development |
| Box 2 Folder 6 | Mou-Mu |
| Box 2 Folder 7 | N |
| Box 2 Folder 8 | Newsletter , University |
| Box 2 Folder 9 | O |
| Box 2 Folder 10 | Pa |
| Box 2 Folder 11 | Pe-Pu |
| Box 2 Folder 12 | Pierce, C. Russell (personal) |
| Box 2 Folder 13 | Q |
| Box 2 Folder 14 | R |
| Box 2 Folder 15 | Radio |
| Box 2 Folder 16 | Sa-Sc |
| Box 2 Folder 17 | Se-Si |
| Box 2 Folder 18 | Sm-So |
| Box 2 Folder 19 | St |
| Box 2 Folder 20 | Su-Sy |
| Box 2 Folder 21 | Science Service |
| Box 2 Folder 22 | Stagg, A.A., Physical Education |
| Box 2 Folder 23 | Swift, Harold, Board of Trustees |
| Box 2 Folder 24 | Ta-Th |
| Box 2 Folder 25 | To-Tu |
| Box 2 Folder 26 | U |
| Box 2 Folder 27 | V |
| Box 2 Folder 28 | Wa-We |
| Box 2 Folder 29 | Wh |
| Box 2 Folder 30 | Wi-Z |
| Box 2 Folder 31 | Miscellaneous |
Series II: Radio Lectures, 1926 |
| Box 3 Folder 1 | Abbott-Angarola
|
| Box 3 Folder 2 | Atkins-Boynton
|
| Box 3 Folder 3 | Bretz-Burgess
|
| Box 3 Folder 4 | Charter-Cramp
|
| Box 3 Folder 5 | Duddy-Fisher
|
| Box 3 Folder 6 | Freund-Harvey
|
| Box 3 Folder 7 | Hektoen-Judd
|
| Box 3 Folder 8 | Kuh-Leland
|
| Box 3 Folder 9 | Leland-McLaughlin
|
| Box 3 Folder 10 | Merriam-Morrison
|
| Box 3 Folder 11 | Mott-Norton
|
| Box 3 Folder 12 | Noyes-Price
|
| Box 3 Folder 13 | Simpson-Smith
|
| Box 3 Folder 14 | Smith-Thrasher
|
| Box 3 Folder 15 | Thurlstone-Ware
|
| Box 3 Folder 16 | Wells-Wright
|
| Box 3 Folder 17 | Press releases on various radio lectures without texts of the lectures, January-April 1926. |
| Box 3 Folder 18 | General press releases about the program of radio talks for 1926. |
| Box 3 Folder 19 | Miscellaneous releases about radio programs: Blackfriars, etc. |