ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
3051 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, STOP 9000
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

GEORGE STRACHER PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL#238

DATES: 1927-1971

SIZE: 8.75 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The George Starcher Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by George Starcher on April 24, 1975.

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

George W. Starcher served in a number of university posts before his appointment as the seventh president of the University of North Dakota in 1954. He graduated from Ohio University in 1926 and received his A.M. in 1927 and Ph.D. in 1930 in mathematics from the University of Illinois. It was Ohio University that offered Starcher extensive experience in university administration. There he attained the rank of Professor of Mathematics and served as acting Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School (1943-1945), Dean of the University College, Freshman Division (1946-1951), and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (1951-1954), and was also a Fellow in Human Relations at Harvard (1945-1946).

Starcher's inauguration speech, "The Responsibilities of the University," outlined his broad vision:

"The mission of the University is to prepare men and women for life in a changing dynamic society. We would fail if we should concern ourselves solely with turning out men and women prepared to fit neatly into the grooves of an established society...Leadership is something that is required at all levels-not the dramatic heroic leadership demanded in a crisis, but the civilized leadership of many people working together as equals in peaceful collaboration for a common purpose."

Although Starcher responded vigorously to campus construction needs, the essence of his 17 year tenure focused on enhancing the academic stature of UND and instituting administrative reform. He encouraged graduate and faculty research activities and improved faculty compensation. He enacted a faculty tenure policy in 1964 and honored distinguished faculty with the rank of University Professor. A freshmen advisement program was established through a new University College in 1955 and an Honors Program began in 1961.

In striving towards a decentralized administration, Starcher appointed Thomas Clifford, Dean of the College of Business and Public Administration, as Vice President for Finance in 1959 and created two other new administrative positions, VP for Academic Affairs in 1962 and VP for Student Affairs in 1967. The Division of Nursing became the College of Nursing in 1959, the New School of Behavioral Studies in Education was created in 1968, and humanities, computer science, and aviation programs were introduced.

Starcher strengthened the intellectual life of the campus. He revived the North Dakota Quarterly in 1956 and established a faculty lecture series. He pressed for increased student scholarships, funded by both public and private monies, including gifts from Chester Fritz and Maxwell Upson. The first grant of federal monies came in 1957 when UND sponsored a summer science institute for high school teachers. This was followed by funding from 1960s "Great Society" programs. Starcher also cultivated alumni donations. The Robert D. Campbell Foundation was established in 1955 "to promote the best interests" of UND. Chester Fritz donated one million dollars in 1958 and in 1965 to build a library dedicated in 1961 and an auditorium completed in 1972.

President Starcher was well regarded by both the public and faculty and students. He encouraged student participation on University committees and in 1970 ten students were seated on University Senate. Although challenged by 25 faculty referred to as "Young Turks" in 1965 to institute faster reforms, Starcher's leadership was recognized nationally when he served as President of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, 1964-1965. The prestigious Alexander Meiklejohn Award of the American Association of University Professors in 1969 again honored Starcher for his leadership and outstanding contributions to academic freedom, a principle that permitted the appearance of Gus Hall in 1968 and Vietnam War protests. These never became disruptive as on other campuses.

President Starcher retired in 1971 leaving a greatly expanded institution. Enrollment and legislative appropriations tripled, endowments increased more than tenfold, and the physical plant quadrupled in value, for a total of 37 major construction projects, including several academic buildings, several dormitories, and the acquisition of Wesley College complex in 1965. Starcher modernized the University, academically, administratively, and physically.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The George Starcher Papers date from 1927-1971, and have been divided into six series as follows:

SERIES I: CORRESPONDENCE
This series consists almost exclusively of personal correspondence. Sub-Series A contains alphabetized personal correspondence files, dating from 1954-1970. Sub-Series B also contains personal correspondence, although these files are arranged chronologically from 1927-1961. Sub-Series C contains correspondence from Starcher's tenure at Ohio University, as well as congratulatory letters received when he was inaugurated as the seventh president of UND in 1954.

SERIES II: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
This series has been divided into three sub-series. Sub-Series A consists of fifteen scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, programs, and correspondence regarding highlights of his years as UND President. Sub-series B included miscellaneous UND files, including a biographical file on Starcher, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and correspondence. The final sub-series consists of files regarding student unrest and protests on the UND campus in the late 1960s.

SERIES III: NORTH CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
This series has been further sub-divided into three sub-series. Sub-series A is the largest, and contains accreditation reviews of colleges and universities throughout the United States. A majority of the files, however, are from institutions in the Midwest. Sub-series B consists of material from meetings of the North Central Association, while the final sub-series contains miscellaneous files.

SERIES IV: OTHER NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS
Material from this series includes files from the American Council on Education, Commission on Academic Affairs (sub-series A), the Institute for College and University Administrators (sub-series B), and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (sub-series C).

SERIES V: HUMAN RELATIONS
Dr. Starcher, by training a mathematician, taught courses in "Human Relations" at Ohio University, apparently in the late 1940s and early 1950s. "Human Relations" was a broadly defined term encompassing everything from the study of employer-employee contract negotiations to counseling distraught junior high school students. Generally speaking, in the period Dr. Starcher taught the subject, Human Relations was the study of inter-personal conflict in group situations. Dr. Starcher taught his Human Relations Courses with a "Case Study" method. Students studied and evaluated common hypothetical situations where conflict could take place.

SERIES VI: MISCELLANEOUS
This series includes Starcher's appointment books, the text of and notes for speeches he delivered, material related to the Army Advisory Committee, Ohio University, the University of California, and higher education in the state of Alaska.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Folder Title

Box-Folder

SERIES I: CORRESPONDENCE

Sub-Series A. Alphabetized Personal Correspondence Files

A: 1954-1956, 1970

2-23

B: 1954-1966

2-24

C: 1954-1966

2-25

D: 1954-1970

2-26

E: 1954-1959

2-27

F: 1954

2-28

G: 1954-1967

2-29

H: 1954-1965

2-30

I: 1954

2-31

J: 1954-1955

2-32

K: 1954-1960

2-33

L: 1954-1966

2-34

M: 1954-1968

2-35

N: 1955

2-36

O: 1954-1965

2-37

P: 1954-1966

2-38

R: 1954-1955

2-39

S: 1954-1964

2-40

T: 1954-1967

2-41

Y: 1956

2-42

W: 1954-1985

2-43

Sub-Series B. General Personal Correspondence Files

1927-1939

1-8

1943-1944

1-1

1954-1961

2-19

Sub-Series C. Other Correspondence

Appointment notices, reports, and correspondence at Ohio University, 1935-1944

1-7

John C. Baker, President of Ohio University, 1954-1964

3-1

Letters of congratulations on assuming Presidency of UND, March-June, 1954

6-5

Greetings sent by the University of Minnesota to UND upon Starcher's inauguration: 1954

7-4

Greetings sent by Brandeis University, the University of Michigan, and

San Jose State College to UND upon Starcher's inauguration: 1954

7-5

 

Folder Title

Box-Folder

SERIES II. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA

Sub-Series A: Scrapbooks. Articles and clippings, programs, correspondence, etc.

1950-1957

4-14

"1st Year at UND," 1954-1955

4-13

1955-1956

5-4

"75th Anniversary," 1957-1958

7-1

1957-1958

4-15

1958-1960

7-3

1960-1961

4-16

1961-1962

6-1

1962-1963

4-17

1963-1964

5-1

1964-1965

7-2

1965-1966

5-2

1966-1967

6-2

1967-1970

5-3

1971

6-3

Sub-Series B: Miscellaneous UND Files

Biographical file on George Starcher. Clippings and correspondence, primarily concerning Starcher's appointment as President of UND. April-May 1954

1-10

"The State of the University." correspondence, articles, and pamphlets, 1959, 1964-1965, 1968

1-2

"Two State University" at UND. Clippings and correspondence, April-May 1967

1-5

General clippings on UND, 1967-1969

1-6

Sub-Series C: Student Unrest in the Late 1960s

 

Jack Stewart Scholarship controversy, September-November 1967, and Mike Jacobs editorial controversy, December 1968

1-4

Correspondence, pamphlets, and articles regarding student protests on campus, 1967-1968

1-11

Articles, pamphlets, and correspondence on student unrest, 1968-1969

2-21

Correspondence and related documents concerning student unrest, 1968-1969

2-20

 

Folder Title

Box-Folder

SERIES III. NORTH CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Sub-Series A: Accreditation reviews of colleges and universities

Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana: Review, reports, and correspondence, 1961, 1963, 1965-1967

1-19

Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana: Correspondence, April 1966-January 1968

1-18

Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana: Correspondence concerning Ed. D. and Ph.D. degrees in Education, March-September 1967

1-20

Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois: Reports and correspondence. November-December 1969

2-1

Lea College, Albert Lea, Minnesota: Correspondence, January-April 1967

2-11

Lea College, Albert Lea, Minnesota: Correspondence, January-March 1969

2-10

Lea College, Albert Lea, Minnesota: Correspondence and reports, February-June 1969

2-9

University of Minnesota School of Nursing: Correspondence, January-February 1971

2-12

Quachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Report and correspondences, October 1968-January 1970

2-4

Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa: Correspondence and reports, April 1963 and March-May 1968

2-17

St. Cloud State College, St. Cloud, Minnesota: April-August 1967, November 1970, and January-April 1971

2-18

West Virginia State College, Institute, West Virginia: Correspondence and reports, April-May, November 1971

2-13

Winona State College School of Nursing, Winona, Minnesota: Correspondence and reports, January-February 1969

2-6

University of Wisconsin at Whitewater: Correspondence and reports, December 1970-March 1971

2-14

Sub-Series B: North Central Association Meetings

Annual Meeting, 1968. Reports on a number

of colleges and universities

2-16

Summer Meeting, July 1970. Miscellaneous correspondence and related documents

2-15

Conference on Evaluative Procedures, October 1970

2-2

Sub-Series C: Other North Central Association Files

Special nursing reports, 1966-1969

2-7

General Correspondence and related documents, January-September 1968

2-3

General Correspondence and related documents, circa September 1968

2-8

Technical and vocation education. Pamphlets, correspondence, and agendas for meetings, January-February 1968

2-5

 

Folder Title

Box-Folder

SERIES IV. OTHER NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS

Sub-Series A: American Council on Education Commission on Academic Affairs

Agendas, minutes of meetings, related pamphlets, July-November 1969

1-13

Minutes of meetings and memorandum, December 1969-May 1970

1-14

Minutes of meetings, May 1971

1-12

Sub-Series B: Institute for College and University Administrators

Case studies. Reports on various (mythical) colleges, 1949-1955

1-22

Margaret Starcher case book file, June 1955

3-6

Case studies. Reports on various (mythical) colleges, November 1957

3-5

Sub-Series C: National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges

Commission on Arts and Sciences. Correspondence and related documents, April-November 1969

1-17

84th Annual convention. Commission on Arts and Sciences, Correspondence, September-November 1970 (Probably)

1-16

 

Folder Title

Box-Folder

SERIES V. HUMAN RELATIONS

Sub-Series A: Human Relations Class 203-204, Ohio University

Background to the class- Course plans, 1946-1950

4-8

Background to the class- Examinations given, circa 1947

3-28

Background to the class- Lecture notes, circa January 1948

3-30

Background to the class- Reading lists, circa 1948

3-32

Background to the class- Grade charts and evaluation forms

4-5

Examples of work assigned- Written reports, circa November 1946

3-33

Examples of work assigned- Final papers and evaluation of class, 1951-1952

3-31

Examples of work assigned- Papers and case evaluations, 1951-1952

3-19

Resource files- Case method and Human Relations, Reports, 1947-

1948

4-7

Resource files- Human Relations and Science, 1947-1948

4-9

Resource files- General File: numerous notes, memos and articles,

1948, 1969-1970

2-22

Resource files- Efficiency and Cooperative Behavior, April 1950

4-11

Sub-Series B: Case Studies

Individual case studies- Joe Burmes, George Plummer, and Edward Sheldon, circa February 1946

3-10

Individual case studies- Robert Lenty, Ted Mijer, and Ray Thomton, 1946-1947

3-14

Individual case studies- Ralph Stetson, September 1947

3-23

Individual case studies- Alfred Feylich, 1948

3-9

Individual case studies- Carl Spencer, February 1948

3-21

Archer Coleman, Ted Gerber, Davis Greene, Patty Lane, and Ted Polanski, 1946-1952

3-13

Individual case studies- Margaret Ann Bailey, 1949

4-10

Individual case studies- Louise Brant, 1949

4-12

Individual case studies- Jinny Stover, undated

3-22

Individual case studies- A. C. Gubity, undated

3-17

Individual case studies- "Carelli Case,” undated

3-12

Business case studies- Superior State Quarry, 1938-1939

4-2

Business case studies- Peale Manufacturing Company, 1945 and 1951

4-1

Business case studies- Jack and Heinz Company, October 1947

3-38

Business case studies- Lincoln Electric Company, 1947

3-37

Military case study: 25th Quartermaster Service Company (Colored), circa 1943

3-16

Interviewing- Interviews conducted with employees of major corporations, 1928-1940..

3-34

Interviewing- Articles on interviewing techniques, 1940 and 1948

3-36

Interviewing- Three undated case studies

3-26

Correspondence- Graduate School of Business Administration examples of employee interviews available for case study, Harvard University, 1942-1946

4-3

Correspondence- Colgate University, 1946-1951

3-20

Correspondence- New case studies, Lists of various studies available (Harvard?), September-December 1947

3-18

Correspondence- Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University, new case studies, 1950-1952

4-4

Miscellaneous- Examples of poor case studies, circa 1946

3-15

Miscellaneous- Middletown, Ohio, study documents on the UN (case study?), circa 1946

3-29

Sub-Series C: Conferences

Human Relations Conference, Harvard Business School, May, 1947. Program and related documents, 1947-1948

4-6

Conference on Human Relations, Ohio University, April 1954. Correspondence, agenda, etc.

3-11

"Notebook on Readings." from an undated Human Relations Conference at Harvard University

3-3

"Notebook on Readings," from the undated "Mayo Seminar" on Human Relations

3-4

Sub-Series D: Miscellaneous Human Relations Files

"Fruitful Errors of Elton Mayo," Fortune , November 1946. Notes and comments

3-27

Talks on Human Relations, by Professor Wallace B. Donham and related documents, 1946-1948

3-35

 

Folder Title

Box-Folder

SERIES VI. MISCELLANEOUS

Speech notes: 1954-1964

3-2

Texts of speeches, introductions, and eulogies: 1954-1971

1-21

U.S. Air Force Certificate of Appreciation to George Starcher as Military Coordinator and President of UND

6-4

Army Advisory Committee Commission on Staff Colleges. Fort Leavenworth trip. Correspondence, pamphlets, and agendas: May 1969-November 1970

1-15

"Higher Education in Alaska: A Study with Recommendations." January 1972 (George Starcher, Director of Study)

3-7

"Higher Education in Alaska." Follow-up Reports: September 1972, November 1972, January 1973

3-8

Cutler Hall Rededication (Ohio University): Picture, speeches, and program: November 1947

3-25

Loyalty Oath at the University of California, January 1952

3-24

"Social Capers” (Appointment books): 1955-1959

1-9

 

 Original Donation: 1927-1971  First addition: 1955-1970
 Second addition: 1954-1979  Third addition: 1954-1958

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