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Gerald H. Chapman papers

Special Collections and Archives

Gerald H. Chapman papers

Special Collections and Archives

Gerald H. Chapman papers

Repository: Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Title: Gerald H. Chapman papers
Inclusive Date(s): 1912-1961
Author: Finding aid prepared by Tess Hamilton
Creation: Finding aid encoded by Tess Hamilton using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2017
Origination: Chapman, Gerald H., 1902-1965
Extent: .33 cubic feet (1 document case)
Physical Location: 11th floor
Finding Aid Identifier: OhKeUSC0180
Abstract: This collection, dating from 1912-1961, is comprised of correspondence to Gerald H. Chapman and photographs of buildings, staff and events from Kent State University. The collection also includes a small number of items that belonged to Gerald Chapman's brother Herman, who was a student at the Kent State Training School.
Language(s): The records are in English

Biography of Gerald H. Chapman

Gerald Howard Chapman was born on June 3, 1902 in Kent, Ohio. He was one of the first students enrolled in Kent's Teacher Training School in 1913 and graduated from Kent Normal High School in 1921. He then attended Kent State Normal College, graduating with a degree in education, and a specialization in math and science, in 1925. Chapman went on to earn a Master's degree in education from Ohio State University. He came back to Kent State as a faculty member in 1929 as a teacher at the Training School and became an associate professor of chemistry at the University in 1938. His wife, Vera Chapman, was a faculty member at the Teacher Training School and their daughter, Vera Melinda (Linda) Chapman was a student at the University. During his tenure, Chapman was actively involved on campus and served as senior class adviser, chairman of the commencement committee and a trustee of Delta Phi Sigma. The Atomic Energy Commission invited Chapman to observe testing of the atomic bomb at the Nevada Proving Grounds in 1953. He became one of the 16 radiological defense officers for the state of Ohio. Gerald H. Chapman died in 1965 at the age of 62.

Scope and Content

The Gerald H. Chapman papers primarily consist of his professional correspondence and photographs. Included are a small number of items that belonged to his younger brother Herman Chapman. Materials date from 1912-1961. In 1945, Gerald Chapman regularly presented a history of Kent State at University banquets, from which a number of photographs in this collection originated.

Statement of Arrangement

This collection is organized into three series: 1. The Gerald H. Chapman papers, 2. Herman Chapman papers, and 3. Photographs.

Preferred Citation

Gerald H. Chapman papers. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Acquisition Information

Vivian (Favors) Garl, a former student of the Chapman’s, donated the Gerald H. Chapman papers in the 1970’s.

Controlled-access Headings
The following topics are found in this collection:

Subjects:
Chapman, Gerald H., 1902-1965 -- Archives
Kent State University -- History -- Photographs
Kent State University -- History
Laboratory schools -- Ohio -- Kent -- History
Kent State Normal College -- Photographs
Kent State University. Teacher Training School -- Photographs
Organizations/Corporations:
Kent Normal High School
Kent State Normal College
Kent State University
Kent State Normal School
Kent State University. Teacher Training School
Functions:
College teaching
Occupations:
College teachers
Material Types:
Photographs
School yearbooks
Correspondence
Business correspondence



Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Gerald Chapman papers, 1948-1961
Scope and Content
This series primarily includes correspondence that Gerald Chapman received from faculty and students at Kent State University while he was senior class adviser.
Box 1 / Folder 1
Booklet: Senior class gifts from 1928-1961, 1948-1961
Scope and Content
The list was started in 1948, but backdates the class gifts to 1921. The list spans from 1921-1961.
Box 1 / Folder 2
Correspondence: President Bowman to class officer Owen McCafferty, July 12, 1949
Scope and Content
Receipt of class gift
Box 1 / Folder 3
Correspondence: President Bowman to Mr. Berg, December 20, 1949
Scope and Content
Gift of money
Box 1 / Folder 4
Correspondence: Class president Vince Herst to President Bowman, June 28, 1951
Scope and Content
Gift fund letter
Box 1 / Folder 5
Correspondence: Paul C. Kitchin Jr. to Dr. Chapman, June 6, 1952
Scope and Content
Junior class debt
Box 1 / Folder 6
Correspondence: Senior class memorial committee, 1952
Scope and Content
Memorial gift list
Box 1 / Folder 7
Correspondence: Senior class president Marion Moser to President Bowman, June 3, 1954
Scope and Content
Senior class gift
Box 1 / Folder 8
Correspondence: Class President Harris F. Brown Jr. to President Bowman, June 6, 1955
Scope and Content
Senior class gift
Box 1 / Folder 9
Correspondence: Glen T. Nygreen to Dr. Chapman, undated
Scope and Content
Engraving bill

Series 2: Herman Chapman papers, 1919-1924
Scope and Content
This series contains materials from Gerald Chapman's younger brother, Herman Chapman. He also attended the Kent State Training School.
Box 1 / Folder 10
Handmade Yearbook: "Kent State Normal College, 8th grade", 1919
Box 1 / Folder 11
Yearbook: Kent State Normal High School, 1922
Box 1 / Folder 12
Kent State Normal College Quarterly: A Course In The Study Of Birds and Insects, 1924
Scope and Content
This item belonged to Harold L. Hulme and has notes written in the margins. It was in the possession of Herman Chapman.

Series 3: Photographs, 1913-1956

Sub-Series 1: Buildings and Grounds, 1913-1949
Scope and Content
This series contains photographs of various campus buildings, and construction of the athletic fields and tennis court.
Box 1 / Folder 13
Photograph: College Farm, Man in field of barley, 1927
Box 1 / Folder 14
Photograph: College Farm, West, 1927
Box 1 / Folder 15
Photograph: Construction along unidentified roadway, undated
Scope and Content
Possibly part of or related to athletic field construction.
Box 1 / Folder 16
Photograph: Franklin Hall and McGilvrey Hall, undated
Box 1 / Folder 17
Photograph: Lowry Hall, under construction, undated
Box 1 / Folder 18
Photograph: Lowry Hall, view from unpaved Hilltop Drive, 1913
Box 1 / Folder 19
Photograph: Lowry Hall, view from Front Campus, 1914
Box 1 / Folder 20
Photograph: Lowry Hall, view from Front Campus, undated
Box 1 / Folder 21
Photograph: McGilvrey Hall, front, undated
Box 1 / Folder 22
Photograph: McGilvrey Hall, front, undated
Box 1 / Folder 23
Photograph: McGilvrey Hall, front, Winter 1948-1949
Box 1 / Folder 24
Photograph: McGilvrey Hall, back, undated
Box 1 / Folder 25
Photograph: Merrill Hall, Summer 1913
Scope and Content
Helen Atkinson sitting on steps.
Box 1 / Folder 26
Photograph: Merrill Hall, front, undated
Box 1 / Folder 27
Photograph: Merrill Hall, view from Hilltop Drive, undated
Box 1 / Folder 28
Photograph: Merrill Hall, under construction, 1913
Box 1 / Folder 29
Photograph: Stockdale building, 1949
Box 1 / Folder 30
Photograph: Stockdale building, 1949
Box 1 / Folder 31
Photograph: Stopher Dorm, under construction, November 1948
Box 1 / Folder 32
Photograph: Tennis Courts, view from the Northeast, August 30, 1941
Box 1 / Folder 33
Photograph: Tennis Courts, lightning strike, undated
Box 1 / Folder 34
Photograph: Tennis Courts, under construction, 1941
Box 1 / Folder 35
Photograph: William A. Cluff Teacher Training School, 1949
Box 1 / Folder 36
Photograph: William A. Cluff Teacher Training School, 1949
Box 1 / Folder 37
Photograph: Wooded area, future site of Applied Arts Building, 1930
Box 1 / Folder 38
Negative: Unidentified construction featuring bulldozers and people, undated
Box 1 / Folder 39
Photograph: Unidentified road, 1913

Sub-Series 2: Kent State Normal College and the Teacher Training School, 1913-1937
Scope and Content
This sub-series contains photographs of student life from the Kent State Normal College and the William A. Cluff Teacher Training School.
Box 1 / Folder 40
Photograph: First graduating class with President McGilvrey, 1914
Box 1 / Folder 41
Photograph: First graduating class reunion, 1937
Box 1 / Folder 42
Photograph: Outside assembly, 1915
Box 1 / Folder 43
Photograph: Outdoor class, Merrill Hall, 1913
Box 1 / Folder 44
Photograph: Outdoor class observation, Merrill Hall, 1913
Box 1 / Folder 45
Photograph: Students in Lowry Hall dining room, 1913
Box 1 / Folder 46
Photograph: Students and teachers on the 2nd floor floor of the library, Merrill Hall, 1914
Box 1 / Folder 47
Photograph: Student performance, 1915
Box 1 / Folder 48
Photograph: Student performance, 1915
Box 1 / Folder 49
Photograph: Summer school assembly, 1914
Scope and Content
This is from the first summer school session held in the Tabernacle.
Box 1 / Folder 50
Photograph: Summer school class photo, 1915

Sub-Series 3: Faculty, Staff and Events, 1916-1956
Scope and Content
This sub-series contains photographs of Kent State staff members and various University events.
Box 1 / Folder 51
Photograph: Allyn, Dean Arden L., Business, 1947
Box 1 / Folder 52
Photograph: Atkinson, Charles and Benjamin McGinnis, undated
Box 1 / Folder 53
Photograph: Begala, Joe, Wrestling Coach, 1949
Box 1 / Folder 54
Photograph: Berg, Emil, Business Manager, 1949
Box 1 / Folder 55
Photograph: Bowman, President George, presenting Hearst award, July 1956
Box 1 / Folder 56
Photograph: Bowman, President George, presenting military medal, July 1956
Box 1 / Folder 57
Photograph: Bowman, President George and Former President Leebrick, Raymond Clark and Raymond Manchester, July 1956
Box 1 / Folder 58
Photograph: Bowman, President George and Colonel Thomas Wall, 1949
Scope and Content
At an ROTC award ceremony.
Box 1 / Folder 59
Photograph: Clark, Raymond, Head of the Graduate School, undated
Box 1 / Folder 60
Photograph: Cunningham, Harry A., Biology, 1947
Box 1 / Folder 61
Photograph: Doyle, Peter W. and Edwin F. Moulton, Board of Trustees, 1916
Scope and Content
They are pictured in a horse drawn carriage.
Box 1 / Folder 62
Photograph: Graduation processional, 1949
Box 1 / Folder 63
Photograph: Graduation, various military members, 1949
Box 1 / Folder 64
Photograph: Grecni, Marilyn, Majorette, 1948
Box 1 / Folder 65
Photograph: Hudson, Hersel W., Economics, undated
Box 1 / Folder 66
Photograph: Manchester, Raymond E., Dean of Men, undated
Box 1 / Folder 67
Photograph: Manchester, Raymond E. and Larry Wooddell with the ROTC flag, 1948
Box 1 / Folder 68
Photograph: McGilvrey, President John, oil portrait, undated
Box 1 / Folder 69
Photograph: McGilvrey, President John, and wife, 1940
Box 1 / Folder 70
Photograph: Munzenmayer, Lester, Director of the Bureau of Appointments, July 1956
Box 1 / Folder 71
Photograph: Palmer, Maurice, Physics, 1949
Box 1 / Folder 72
Photograph: Roberts, A. Sellew, History, 1948
Box 1 / Folder 73
Photograph: Satterfield, Chester E., English, undated
Box 1 / Folder 74
Photograph: Stewart, Alfred W., Secondary Education, 1948
Box 1 / Folder 75
Photograph: Van Deusen, Clinton, in front of Kent Hall, 1916
Box 1 / Folder 76
Photograph: Wall, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas, with ROTC, 1947
Box 1 / Folder 77
Photograph: Woodell, Lawrence, Superintendent of Maintenance, undated