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G. Dennis Cooke papers

Special Collections and Archives

G. Dennis Cooke papers

Special Collections and Archives

G. Dennis Cooke papers

G. Dennis Cooke papers

May 4 Collection -- Box 11

Finding Aid

Prepared by Katie Panko and Virginia Dressler, August 16, 2006; Updated 2012; December 2016


Inclusive Dates: 1963-1970
Extent: 1.0 cubic foot (1 record storage box)
Physical Location: 12th floor; oversized materials are shelved in map case


Biographical Note: G. Dennis Cooke began his career at Kent State University in 1967 as a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and was teaching at the University during the time of the shootings on May 4, 1970. Cooke received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kent State, and a Master of Science and a Doctorate in Zoology from the University of Iowa. He retired from Kent State University as Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences.


Scope and Content: The bulk of this collection dates from approximately the first three to four months after May 4, 1970. Included are letters sent by Kent State University faculty during the summer after the shootings, meeting minutes of the Faculty Senate and the University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, and reports created by the various task forces with which Cooke was involved. The collection also contains lists of the task forces and other internal bodies created in response to May 4. A significant portion of the materials pertain to the conflicting opinions surrounding the ROTC's continued presence on campus.


Restrictions on Access: Some information included in this collection is restricted due to the presence of information protected by privacy laws. This information has been redacted where present on documents in the collection. Un-redacted originals, in all cases, have been retained by Special Collections and Archives.


Sponsor: Digitization of this collection was funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.


May 4 Collection: Box 11
Folder -- Contents

  1. Agenda, Proposed Resolution, May 28, 1970
  2. Agenda, regarding Commitment to Non-Violence, August 4, 1970
  3. Booklet, The Changing Profession: Information for Counseling on Air Force ROTC, 1970
  4. Correspondence, to Fine and Professional Arts Curriculum Committee from Murvin H. Perry, November 12, 1969
  5. Correspondence, to Bernard Hall from Seymour H. Baron, regarding continuation of ROTC on campus, circa 1970
  6. Correspondence, to University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence from various task forces, circa 1970
  7. Correspondence, to Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences from Bruce Harkness, 1970
    Scope and Content: Position Papers on the ROTC written by faculty members at Kent State University, and sent by Bruce Harkness to all faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences.
  8. Correspondence, to Students in GCI Environmental Pollution from Dennis Cooke and Eugene Wenninger, May 1970
  9. Correspondence, to Students in Limnology from Dennis Cooke, May 13, 1970
  10. Correspondence, to Dennis Cooke from students regarding grade options, May 1970
  11. Correspondence, to Dennis Cooke from Robert G. Peterson, May 18, 1970
  12. Correspondence, to Charles Kegley from President Robert I. White, May 27, 1970
  13. Correspondence, to Charles Kegley from Jerry Warnement, May 28, 1970
  14. Correspondence, to Commission (likely to the Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence from Charles Kegley), June 3, 1970
  15. Correspondence, to Dennis Cooke from V. Edwin Bixenstine, June 9, 1970
  16. Correspondence, to Vice-President and Provost Louis K. Harris from Bruce Harkness, July 3, 1970
  17. Correspondence, to Kegley Commission from James W. McGrath, July 6, 1970
  18. Correspondence, to Kegley Commission from Campus Security Task Force, July 10, 1970
  19. Correspondence, to Kegley Commission from Student Contact Task Force, July 23, 1970
  20. Correspondence, to Kegley Commission from Arvin Lubetkin, July 29, 1970
  21. Correspondence, to Richard W. Skinner from Bruce Harkness, July 31, 1970
  22. Correspondence, to Dennis Carey, July-August 1970
  23. Correspondence, to Task Force on ROTC from Dennis Cooke, August 6, 1970
  24. Correspondence, to James W. McGrath from William Stanton, August 11, 1970
  25. Correspondence, to Kegley Commission from Wilbur Franklin, August 16, 1970
  26. Correspondence, to Dennis Cooke from Bernard Hall, October 17, 1970
  27. Correspondence, to Dennis Cooke from Richard Bredemeier, includes Student Body Referendum Results, October 27, 1970
  28. Correspondence, to Members of the Educational Policies Council from Dennis Cooke, November 9, 1970
  29. Correspondence, to Faculty Members from John A. Flower, December 11, 1969
  30. List of Members of the University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, circa 1970
  31. List of Task Forces, May 31, 1970
  32. List of Task Forces, June 9, 1970
  33. List of Groups Formed Concerning the Crisis at KSU, June 16, 1970
  34. Memo on Emergency Arrangements, from the Office of the President, December 27, 1963
  35. Minutes, Commissions and Committee Chairmen regarding Areas of Concern, July 8, 1970
  36. Minutes, Curriculum Committee Meeting, March 18, 1970
  37. Minutes, Faculty Senate, October 1970
  38. Minutes, University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, May 1970
  39. Minutes, University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, June 1970
  40. Minutes, University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, July 1970
  41. Minutes, University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, August 1970
  42. Minutes, University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, September 1970
  43. My Manifesto by Donald A. Thigpen Jr., and supporting documents, circa 1970
  44. Newsletter, FYI #154, June 30, 1970
  45. Newspaper, Kent State University Summer News, July 10, 1970
  46. Newspaper, Daily Kent Stater, October 28, 1970
  47. Notes, Task Forces and Commissions, 1970
    Physical Location: One item from this file is shelved in the map case.
  48. Notes, ROTC Task Force Daily Meetings, June 1970
  49. Order of Injunction, Court of Common Pleas, Portage County, May 2, 1970
  50. Reader's Digest, "ROTC Under Attack," by Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, November 1969
  51. Recommendations to University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, May-August 1970
  52. Recommendation on Traffic Limitations and ID Checkpoints, circa 1970
  53. Report, Aerospace Studies, Quadrennial Review, circa 1970
  54. Report, Demurrer to a Minority Report from a Least Possible Minority, by R.D. Hill, undated
  55. Report, Nine Weeks that Followed May 4, circa 1970
  56. Resolution presented by the University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, June 5, 1970
  57. Return and Re-opening of KSU post May 4, 1970
  58. Report, Student Forum on ROTC, October 21-22, 1970
  59. Report, Student Justice Task Force, circa 1970
  60. Statement, Task Force on Peace-Keeping Activities, circa 1970
  61. Report, Up-Dating ROTC, August 10, 1970
  62. Review, Military Science Department, April 2, 1970
  63. Survey Results, student opinions of ROTC on campus, undated