Prepared by Jeffery Scaggs and James Geary, April 16, 1979; Prepared for the Web by Barbara Bass; Updated June 2011
41.33 cubic feet (40 record storage boxes, 2 half-size record storage boxes, 1 document case), Storage
This collection is housed in a climate-controlled environment off site and
requires up to fivc business days for retrieval. Please call or email
the department with requests for this material prior to your visit. Oversized
materials and box 38 (containing
cassette tapes) remain onsite in the Department of Special Collections and Archives.
Biographical Note
George Arvene Bowman was born May 11, 1893, in Galion, Ohio. Due to the
death of his father and illness of his mother, Dr. Bowman was raised by his
grandfather in Edison, Ohio. He finished high school in 1911 and received a
certificate which permitted him to teach elementary school in Ohio for one year.
In September, 1911, he began teaching at the one-room Gardner School. He then
worked for the Edison School System from 1912 to 1914. Here he held the
successive positions of teacher, principal and superintendent. In 1914 Dr.
Bowman became a full-time student at Adelbert College where he received his
A.B. degree in 1917. After his service in the Navy in World War I, Dr. Bowman
became Director of Athletics at Zanesville. From 1921 to 1923 he was principal
of Zanesville High School. On July 11, 1923, Dr. Bowman married Miss Edith
Fraser Duncan. The next day they moved to Chillicothe where he served as
Superintendent until 1928. While Superintendent of the Marion Schools
(1929-1934), he earned the A.M. degree in 1931 from Columbia University. Dr.
Bowman also received the following honorary degrees: Doctor of Laws from
Bowling Green State University on August 17, 1945; Doctor of Laws from
Youngstown University on June 1, 1960; Doctor of Humane Letters on June 13,
1960; Doctor of Laws from Miami University on February 3, 1963; and Doctor of
Laws from Kent State University on August 24, 1963. From 1934 to 1941 he was
Superintendent of Lakeview schools from where he moved to become Superintendent
of the Youngstown schools from 1941 to 1944. In 1944, Dr. Bowman was invited to
become the fifth President of Kent State University where he remained from July
1, 1944 to July 1, 1963. At the time of his retirement he was named President
Emeritus and resided in Kent until his death, Friday, May 7, 1976.
Scope and Content
The bulk of Dr. Bowman's material is dated from 1963 to 1976 although there
is earlier correspondence from the 1900's onward. This collection is the
combination of three collections. Mrs. Edith Bowman, wife of President Bowman
and Mrs. Margaret White, Dr. Bowman's secretary, donated the bulk of the
collection of pertinent miscellaneous materials that arrived in Special
Collections and Archives over the past few years which were incorporated
into the main collection.
All of the materials in this collection have been arranged first topically
and then chronologically, where possible, within each of the subject areas.
Oversized documents have been filed in 11th floor map case. Photographs are
stored in box 39 of the collection. Miscellaneous tapes and other recordings
can be found in box 38. In cases where a clipping was attached to a letter the
clipping has been removed and a photocopy attached. Any official correspondence,
memos or minutes of an organization are treated as correspondence and filed
in the appropriate folder.
Dr. Bowman's papers will prove of interest to researchers in a number of
different fields. There are folders on various organizations. For instance the
National Education Association and the Selective Service Committee. Also of
interest are school papers in his personal papers at the end of the collection
on such subjects as history and geography written by
Dr. Bowman at the ages of 11, 12 and 13 in 1904 to 1906. This collection will
prove especially valuable to individuals interested in the history of Kent State
University.
The general organization of this collection is as follows:
Correspondence is divided into three catagories. Box 1, Folders 1-6 is in chronological order. Box 1 through Box 4 contains
correspondence in alphabetical order. Box 5-24 contains correspondence in subject order.
Television (Educational): Proposals, Reports, etc.: 1951
Television (Educational): Proposals, Reports, Constitution, etc.: 1957-63
Tenure: 1960
Tenth Anniversity of President Bowman at Kent State University: 1954
Testimonial Dinner for Dr. Bowman: Feb. 23, 1963
Testimonial Dinner for Dr. Bowman (sponsored by the Student Body): Apr. 24, 1963
Testing Bureau: Reports: 1944-47
Traffic: 1953, 56
Travel: 1953-54
Treasurer Reports: 1960-63
Tri County Plan: Minutes, newsletters, agendas: 1960-61
Tri County Plan: Minutes, newsletters, agendas: 1961-62
United States Government: 1939-63
University Council: 1962-63
University Information: 1951-57, n.d.
University of Kentucky: Centennial Founder's Day: Feb. 22, 1965
University Policy: 1947-60
University School: 1962
Veterans Education: 1946-56
War Bond Drives: Certificates: 1945
Women's Dormitory: News release: 1953
"W" Miscellaneous: 1942-43
Series 3: Scrapbooks
Box 34
Folder -- Contents
Scrapbook containing news clippings: 1944-1955 and a few photographs
Scrapbook containing correspondence relating to the Testimonial Dinner
given February 23, 1963
Notebook presented to Mrs. Bowman from the Faculty Wives
Ohio Lives, book published by Historical Record Association: 1968.
Contains a short biography on Dr. Bowman.
Box 35
Folder -- Contents
Scrapbook with newsclippings: 1956-1963
Box 36
Folder -- Contents
Scrapbook containing news-clippings and photographs. The
newsclippings date from 1923-1964.
Series 4: Clippings and Printed Material
Box 37
Folder -- Contents
Clippings: 1944
Clippings on integrated housing policy: 1961
Clippings: "Kent State Semicentennial Celebration Will Open October 15": Record Courier, Sept. 22, 1959 (filed in 11th floor mapcase)
Clippings: 1921-1959
Clippings: 1944-1961
Clippings: 1957-1973
Clippings: April 1970-Sept., 1973
Clippings: miscellaneous
Clippings: miscellaneous
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Newspaper: Daily Kent Stater: Jan. 25, 1944 (filed in 11th floor mapcase)
Newspaper: Daily Kent Stater: Nov. 17, 1944 (filed in 11th floor mapcase)
Newspaper: The Daily Courier: Nov. 18, 1944 (filed in 11th floor mapcase)
Newspaper: Record Courier: Sept. 18, 1962 (2 copies) (filed in 11th floor mapcase)
Printed material: Delta
Printed material: "I Would Speak" by R.E. Manchester
Printed material: Kent Alumnus (special issue on Dr. Bowman): v.10, no3, Summer, 1963
Printed material: Kent State Univeristy Summer News: v. 9, no. 2 & 10, June 27 and August 22, 1963
Printed material: miscellaneous
Printed material: School: v. 11, no. 3, May 22, 1950
Printed material: Map of Kent State University: 1949 (filed in 11th floor mapcase)
Series 5: Photographs and Recordings
Box 38
Item no. -- Contents
Photograph album presented to Dr. and Mrs. Bowman by the Committee on
Recognition Programs, June 6, 1963. The photographs pertain to a dinner.
Record album (no. 1): Birthday Dinner for George A. Bowman, May 11, 1963
Record album (no. 2): Birthday Dinner for George A. Bowman, May 11, 1963
Reel to reel tape: Memorial service for Dr. George A. Bowman
Cassette tape: Faculty Women's Club Christmas Dinner: 1962
Cassette tape (no. 1): Speech by Dr. Bowman at Birthday Dinner, May 11,
1963
Cassette tape (no. 2): Speech by Dr. Bowman at Birthday Dinner, May 11,
1963
Cassette tape: Birthday for Dr. Bowman: May 11, 1963, pt. 2 (2 copies)
Cassette tape: Dr. Bowman's Commencement address: June 1963
Cassette tape and cards: Birthday and Christmas greetings: May 11, 1973 (cards filed in 11th floor mapcase)
Cassette tape: Bowman Breakfast: May 9, 1974
Cassette tape: Memorial service for Dr. Bowman
Cassette tape: Talk to 1922 class of [G.]? High School Reunion: n.d.
Cassette tape: Brewster at Kent State: n.d.
Cassette tape: Dr. Olds (2 tapes): n.d.
Box 39
Folder -- Contents
1-48.
Photographs, George Bowman
49-55.
Photographs, Edith Bowman
56-61.
Photographs, George and Edith Bowman
62-116.
Photographs, Group photographs
117.
Photographs, Kent State University buildings
118.
Photographs, Unidentified boys
119.
Photographs: Unidentified sailors
120.
Photographs, Unidentified man and fish
121.
Photographs, Unidentified school groups
122.
Photographs, Unidentified men
123.
Photographs, Unidentified houses
124.
Photographs, Athletic field
125.
Photographs, U.S.S. Massachusetts
126.
Photographs, Slides, George and Edith Bowman, 1970
127.
Photographs, Oversized photographs of George Bowman (filed in 11th floor mapcase)
128.
Photographs, Oversized print of dog (filed in 11th floor mapcase)
129.
Photographs, Oversized photograph of unidentified 1915 basketball team (filed in 11th floor mapcase)
Series 6: Publications
Box 40
Folder -- Contents
Address: "Compulsory Military Training in Peacetime Will Destroy Government by the People" by Hon. Robert A. Taft at Gettysburg National Cemetary: May 31, 1945
Address: "Radio and Education" by Arthur Hall Hayes, National Catholic Education Association Convention, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Apr. 26, 1957
Article: "How Long Is a College President?" by William K. Selden
Article: "Veterans Readjustment Asistance Act of 1952" from Higher Education: v.9, no.1, Sept. 1, 1952
Article reprint: "Statistics of attendance in American Universities and Colleges, 1956" by Raymond Walters
Article reprint: "Teaching With TV from Life magazine: Feb. 25, 1957
Article reprint: "Who's In Charge Here? The Universities or the Professional Associations" by Dayton D. McKean: from the The Colorado Quarterly, v. 6, no.4, Spring 1958
Book: Ashtabula County in Transition, (Ashtabula County Planning Commission): 1960
Book: Higher Education Planning and Management Data 1957-58
Book: Higher Education Planning and Management Data 1959-69
Book: Meeting Ohio's Needs for Vocational and Technical Education, Division of Vocational Education, State Department of Education: n.d.
Book: Voluntary Support of America's Colleges and Universities: 1958-59
Booklet: ACT (American College Testing): 1959
Booklet: An Analysis of Salary Schedules in Ohio School Districts: 1957-58
Booklet: An Approach to Citizenship Education: an eight months' progress report: May, 1950
Booklet: Bowling Green University Group Insurance Program
Booklet: By-Laws and Regulations of the Board of Directors of the University of Cincinnati: 1956
Booklet: Catalog of the Army Insitute
Booklet: Civil Service Laws of Ohio and Rules and Regulations: 1970
Booklet: College Teaching As a Career: 1954, 1958
Booklet: Constitution and By-Laws of the Inter-University Council of Ohio: 1962
Booklet: Credit for College: Student Loan Funds in the United States: 1959
Booklet: Danforth Foundation Program Activities
Booklet: Dept. of Education. Booklet No. R
Booklet: Education Beyond High School: 1956
Booklet: Education is Everybody's Business by Frank W. Abrams
Booklet: Educational Television Directory: Jan. 1960
Booklet: Faculty and Other Professional Staff in Institutions of Higher Education: First Term, 1957-58
Booklet: Forty-second Annual Conference. National Association of Student Personnel Administrators: Apr. 7-9, 1960
Booklet: Government University Relationships in Federally Sponsored Scientific Research and Development: 1958
Booklet: Index to Addresses and Proceedings: 1958
Booklet: Instructions for Preparation and Use of Controlling Board and Emergency Board Request Forms
Booklet: The Kingwood Center Story
Booklet: Leaders and Followers
Booklet: Looking Forward to College: 1951
Booklet: Looking Toward College: 1952
Booklet: Manual of Information for Administrators, Clerk-Treasurers, Payroll Officers: 1957
Booklet: 1958-1959 College Facts Chart prepared by the National Beta Club
Booklet: One Century of Professional Growth, Centennial Anniversary of Ohio Education Association: Dec. 30, 1947
Booklet: Public Debt Management and the Savings Bond Program: mar. 1950
Booklet: Proposed Minimum Standards for State Approval of Teacher Preparing Institutions, Circular No. 251: 1952
Booklet: Quality is the Answer: the role of the Rotc in supreme contest of our times by the Honorable Wilber M. Bruckner, Secretary of the Army
Booklet: ROTC
Booklet: Representative Government Best Sellers for 1954
Booklet: Revised Standards and Policies for Accrediting Colleges for Teacher Education of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
Booklet: Service Facts: questions and answers about Selective Service, The Armed Forces and Veterans' Benefits
Booklet: Summer Institutes for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Teachers: 1960
Booklet: Teachers Insurance & Anuity Association of America. Annual Report and Investment Supplement: 1953
Booklet: Time to Check on Your Retirement
Booklet: Trend is Up, Council for Financial Aid to Education, Inc.: Aug. 1958
Booklet: The United States Track and Field Federation Handbook
Booklet: University of Toledo. Faculty Handbook: 1957-58
Booklet: Your Career as a College Teacher, Ohio College Association: c1959
Curriculum: Aultman Hospital School for Medical Technologists
Flyer: "Economics in Action", 9th Annual program, Case Institute of Technology: June 18-July 16, 1960
Index: Biennia Survey of Education in the United States: 1959-54
Manual: A Manual of General Information and Instructions Concerning the National Defense Student Loan Program
Manual: National Defense Language Development Program Manual: Pt. 1, Dec. 1, 1959
Miscellaneous: Ohio Society of New York Directory: July 1953
Miscellaneous: School Teachers and Employees Retirement Act of Ohio: 1953, 1957
Miscellaneous: State Teachers Retirement Systems of Ohio. Law: 1945
Miscellaneous: A Statistical Comparison of Graduate Degrees Awarded by Members of the Association of Graduate School and by all U.S. Universities, 1957-58, by John L. Chase, James B. Blessing and Grandis L. King: 1960
Miscellaneous: U.S. Department of Health, Education and WelfareJan. 16, 1961
Music: "The Sun Shines in Splendor" by Richard Warner: c1959
Newsletter: Box Score on Educational Television: Feb. 15, 1954
Pamphlet: Questioning Applicants for Employment, Ohio Fair Employment Practices Act
Pamphlet: Refugee Relief Act of 1953
Pamphlet: Roster of Women Holding Earned Doctorates, American Association of University Women
Pamphlet: Rules and Procedures of the Committee on Academic Misconduct: Oct. 1958
Pamphlet: Salary Schedule for Positions in the Classified Civil Service: 1945
Pamphlet: Savings Bonds information
Pamphlet: Service Facts: Questions and answers about Selective Service and the Armed Forces and Veterans' Benefits, Office of Secretary of Defense
Pamphlet: : Apr. 15, 1946
Pamphlet: Threshold of the Future: 1960
Periodical: Corporate Direcot: v. 3, no. 14, Nov. 1953
Periodical: Higher Education: v. 16, no. 5, Jan. 1960
Periodical: National Review Bulletin: v. 10, no. 6, Feb. 18, 1961
Periodical: Oberlin Today: v. 17, no. 4, Fourth Quarter 1959
Periodical: Outpost: v. 3, no. 2-3, mar. 2, May 11, 1954
Periodical: School and Society: v. 74, no. 1931, Dec. 22, 1951
Periodical: WUS in Action (World University Service): v. 5, no. 9, June 1955
Program: American Council on Education Program and Preliminary Program: 36th, Oct. 8-9, 1953
Program: Annual Meeting National Council of Chief State School Officers and Study Commission. Workshop on State School Administration, Biloxi, Mississippi: Nov. 27-Dec. 10, 1949
Program: Association of American Colleges: jan. 9-11, 1962
Program: Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, 75th Annual Convention: Nov. 11-14, 1962
Program: 50th Anniversary Meeting Association of American Geographers: Apr. 11-15, 1954
Program: Meeting of the Ohio College Association and Allied Studies, 83rd: April 2-3, 1954
Program: National Interfraternity Conference, Program, bulletin, preview of recorded preaching: Nov. 28-29, 1947
Program: Ninth Annual Ohio Industrial Arts Teacher Education Conference; Kent State University: Apr. 20-21, 1951
Program: Ohio College Association and Allied Societies: 87th-88th, 1958-59
Program: U.L. Light Dedication: Nov. 1953
Publication: A Call for Action to Meet the Impending Increase in Colleg and University Enrollment From the American Council on Education
Publication: Ohio Tax Facts and What They Mean: 1954
Report: Capital Improvements Construction Fund Status Report: 1956-61
Report: The Capital Plan for the Fiscal Biennia 1960-1961, 1962-1963, 1964-1965
Report: Confernce on College and University Teaching-Ohio College Association, Northeast District Dec. 10, 1955
Report: Cooperation Between Secondary Schools and Colleges by Manning M. Pattillo, Jr. and Lorence Stout
Report: Corporte Alumnus Program: 1958
Report: Corporate Support of Higher Education: a report of the third bienniel survey of financial support given to America's colleges and universities by 352 business corporations: 1959
Report: Educational Television in Ohio, Ohio Legislative Service Commission: March 1955
Report: Educational Television Program Survey Research Report: June 15, 1957
Report: The Effects of Television on College Football Attendance. Report no. 3; prepared for National Collegiate Athletic Association by the National Opinion Research Center; University of Chicago: April 22, 1952
Report: The Effects of Television on College Football Attendance. Report no. 5; prepared for National Collegiate Athletic Association by the National Opinion Research Center; University of Chicago: April 22, 1954
Report: The Facts Behind the Report: an analysis of the report of the National Security Training Commission (on Universal Military Training): Jan. 1952
Report: Financial Report of the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio: 1953-58
Report: Findings and Conclusions, Cleveland Commission on Higher Education
Report: Guidance in grades Seven, Eight and Nine: March 1960
Report: Higher Education and Dollar Support: Jan. 26-27, 1959
Report: How Can Ohio's Education Heritage Be Preserved?: 61st annual meeting, Ohio Chamber of Commerce: Oct. 28, 1954
Report: International Teacher Development Program: Coordinator's Report, College of Education, Dept. of Elementary Education, Kent State University: 1959
Report: Kent State University Report to Association of American Universities: June 1947
Report: Major Highways: Transportation study report no. 1, 1960
Report: Manufacturing Complex: Economic base report no. 1, 1960
Report: Nearing the Breathrough: report on a survey of plant needs among 885 leading colleges and universityies in the decade 1957-1967: June 1959
Report: Ohio Directory of Research Laboratories, State of Ohio. Dept. of Industrial & Economic Development: March, 1962
Report: Organization of Public Relations in American Colleges and Universities: cApril 1953
Report: The Pasadena Story: an analysis of some forces and factors that injured a superior school system, National Education Association: June 1951
Report: Physical Education for College Men and Women, report of the Conference Oct. 4-6, 1954, Washington, D.C.: Revised in 1959
Report: Portage County School Survey: n.d.
Report: The Price of Liberty: a condensed version of the first report to the Congress by the National Security Training Commission: Dec. 1951
Report: Report of the Institutional USAF Conference on Air Force ROTC Affairs: Dec. 9-10, 1959
Report: Report of the N.C.A.A. Television Committee: 1953, 1962
Report: Report to the Forty-sixth Annual Convention of the National Collegiate Athletic Association: Jan. 10-12, 1952
Report: Salaries Paid and Salary Practices in Universityies, Colleges and Junior Colleges, National Education Association: 1957-58
Report: Science and Technical Industrial Programs, Syracuse, New York: 1958
Report: State of Ohio Controlling Board and Emergency Board Powers and Procedures: Feb. 1, 1960
Report: State Supported Higher Education in Ohio: a statement by Charles H. Wesley: 1962
Report: State Tax Dollars per Full Time Equivalent Student Appropriated by Forty-two States for Educational and General Operating Expenses of Eighty State Universities for the Fiscal Year 1959-60
Report: Statistics of Attendance in American Universities and Colleges: 1950
Report: Student Decisions to Elect ROTC After One or More Quarters of University Attendance: a supplementary study by Robert L. Latrop, Research Associate and Elliott H. Donnels, Research Fellow: 1962
Report: A Study of Local Credit for TV Teaching F.G. Macomber and Laurence Siegel, Miani University, Oxford, Oh: Oct. 1958
Report: A Study of the Medical Education Facility Needs of the State of Ohio: April 1962
Report: Survey of Industrial Requirements; Economic base report no. 2
Report: A Survey of Policies Concerning Ranks, Promotions, Salary Schedules, and Tenure in Thirty-eight Colleges and Universities in Midwestern and Southern States: May 20, 1950
Report: Teacher Certification in State of Ohio, Dept. of Education: 1953, 56-57
Senate Bill 376: Statement of C.S. Dorgusch, Tax Counsel, The Ohio Manufacturers' Association Before the Senate Tax Committee
State Legislation, Bills, Amendments, Acts: 1957-60
Survey: Concientious Objectors and Compulsory ROTC: a brief survey of the status of concientious objectors in colleges and universities having compulsory reserve officers training: [1958?]
Series 7: Personal papers
Box 42
Folder -- Contents
Correspondence: 1865
Correspondence: 1901
Correspondence: 1922
Correspondence: Apr.-May 1923
Correspondence: 1925
Correspondence: May-Dec. 1926
Correspondence: Feb.-Oct. 1927
Correspondence: Oct.-Dec. 1928
Correspondence: July-Dec. 1929
Correspondence: May-Dec. 1931
Correspondence: Mar-Dec. 1932
Correspondence: Apr.-Sept. 1933
Correspondence: Jan. 1-25, 1944
Correspondence: Jan. 26-27, 1944
Correspondence: Jan. 28-30, 1944
Correspondence: Feb. 1-8, 1944
Correspondence: Feb. 9-28, 1944
Correspondence: Mar. 1944
Correspondence: Apr. 1944
Correspondence: June 1970
Correspondence: June-Dec. 1974
Correspondence: Jan.-July 1975
Correspondence: Aug.-Dec. 1975
Correspondence: Jan.-Feb. 1976
Correspondence: Mar.-Nov. 1976
Antropometric chart: 1915
Bank accounts: 1922, 1924-29
Christmas poem by E.C. Baird
Certificates: 1911-1975 (filed in 11th floor mapcase)
Christmas poem by Lucille Foreman
Christmas poem by Abbie Graham
Church bulletin: The Forecaster, First Presbyterian Church, Youngstown: Dec. 16, 1943
Commencement program: Troy Township High School: 1907
Commencement programs: Edison High School: 1909, 1914
Commencement program: Western Reserve University: 1917
Congratulations: Marion, 1928-Lakewood, 1934
Contract: G.W. Bowman: 1891
Debate: "The Future of the U.S."
Deeds: 1874, 1891, 1925, 1927
Education Conference: 1939
Genealogy of the Bowman family
Grade reports: 1904-1909
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous poem
Miscellaneous receipts: 1925-1933
Miscellaneous receipts: 1952-63
Postgraduate papers
Printed material: The Y.E.A. Bulletin: May 29, 1941